A REFLECTION

The Inter School Drama Competition was held this morning. It didn't go as well as I hoped.

I feel very frustrated because I've got a lot of ideas, I've spent a lot of time on the preparations and not to mention the money spent on the production.

When my students performed this morning, they gave a very poor performance. They had over a month to rehearse but unfortunately I could not get a full attendance every time they were asked to attend rehearsal. I find that it's very difficult to get their commitment. Cooperation from parents is very much to be desired.

Some of the students were required to wear black t-shirt, black pants and black shoes. This morning some turned up in their sports house t-shirt and school uniform! I do not expect them to buy the black attire if they don't have any. They could always borrow. Unfortunately, they were not committed enough to put in any effort towards fulfilling the requirements asked of them. Cooperation from parents?.....zilch!

I bought a box of mineral water for the students to quench their thirst. When we got to the school that host the competition, none carried the box down because I forgot to assign anyone specific to do so. By the time I realised that the box of mineral water was left on the bus, it has already left!

When it was time to arrange the props on stage, I was the one to do so! That's how hopeless this bunch of students were. They seemed to be clueless when it comes to having to voluntarily pitch in.

Parents out there need to be aware of the importance of encouraging their children to participate in co-academic activities. At the same time, parents also should give their support in whatever ways they can to ensure that such activities are successfully carried out.

Among the reasons given by my students who do not attend rehearsal are:

"I have to attend tuition"
"My mother/father cannot drive me to school "
"My father/mother won't let me"
"I have to study"
"My father is not happy of having to drive me to school on Saturday"

I find all such excuses very irritating.

Enhancing language proficiency could not be achieved from lessons in class alone. The English Language Panel and the English Language Society do organise a lot of activities, not just at school level but also inter-school competitions. Unfortunately, students' participation is very lacking and support from parents is very wanting.

So, please....don't ever point fingers at the teachers if your children fail to be proficient in English Language. We teachers have done everything that we possibly can for your children. Ask yourselves, what is your contribution towards supplementing the teachers' effort?

TEN TIPS FOR ENSURING SECURE AND SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT

1. DO NOT GET INTO TROUBLE......



2. AIM FOR GREATER HEIGHTS.....


3. STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR JOB.....

4. EXERCISE TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH....

5. PRACTICE TEAM WORK....

6. RELY ON YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER TO WATCH YOUR BACK.....

7. SAVE FOR RAINY DAYS......

8. REST AND RELAX.....

9. ALWAYS SMILE WHEN YOUR BOSS IS AROUND.....

10. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!

ISU PPSMI TERUS MENGUNDANG PERDEBATAN

Posting Che Det berkenaan PPSMI mengundang sehingga 579 komen sehingga waktu ini. Ramai yang menyokong pelaksanaan PPSMI, tak kurang juga yang membantah. Berbagai hujah yang diberi bagi menyokong pandangan masing-masing.

Kepada mereka yang kononnya memperjuangkan Bahasa Melayu, apa yang mungkin berlaku kepada Bahasa Inggeris ini mungkin juga berlaku kepada Bahasa Melayu?

Jika benar-benar memperjuangkan Bahasa Melayu, kenapa masih lagi ada sekolah-sekolah vernakular? Jika Bahasa Melayu itu Bahasa Kebangsaan, kenapa pula ditukarkan jadi Bahasa Malaysia? Mana Bahasa MELAYUnya?

Apa peranan RTM dalam memperkasakan Bahasa Melayu?

Menjelang 12 tengahari tadi disiarkan melalui TV1 nyanyian Lagu Kebangsaan Kita....sebaik sahaja jam 12 tengahari...Berita dalam Bahasa China!! RTM pun "flip-flop" juga?

Apa pula peranan pakar-pakar Bahasa Melayu dan DBP bagi memperkasakan Bahasa Melayu?

Walaupun saya seorang guru Melayu, saya tidak berani untuk mengajar Bahasa Melayu kerana banyak sangat berlaku perubahan dari segi tatabahasa, ejaan, sebutan dan sebagainya. Bahasa Melayu yang saya belajar sekitar tahun 60an dan 70an tidak lagi sama dengan Bahasa Melayu yang diajarkan di sekolah sekarang.

Sebaliknya, Bahasa Inggeris yang saya belajar di zaman persekolahan saya sama dengan apa yang saya ajarkan kepada anak didik saya.

Ini menunjukkan betapa rapuhnya Bahasa Melayu itu. Semua yang berkenaan perlu melakukan sesuatu bagi memantapkan lagi Bahasa Melayu, dan seterusnya memperkasakannya dengan memastikan penggunaan nya yang lebih meluas. Tidak memadai dengan hanya meMELAYUkan Bahasa Inggeris, sebagaimana yang sering dilakukan sekarang.

Berbalik kepada PPSMI, tidakkah kejayaan cemerlang Nik Nur Madihah membuktikan bahawa mempelajari Matematik dan Sains dalam Bahasa Inggeris itu bukan hanya sesuai untuk murid-murid di bandar sahaja?

ANAK YANG MEMBAWA REZEKI

Kecemerlangan yang diraih oleh Nik Nur Madihah mengundang rezeki yang datang mencurah-curah bagi anak ini dan keluarganya. Syukur alhamdulillah!

Dato' Noh Omar menjanjikan penajaan MARA secara "automatic", tanpa perlu mengisi borang atau melalui sesi temu duga.

Bank Negara Malaysia dan Petronas juga menawarkan penajaan.

Nik Nur Madihah perlu memilih dengan bijak. Di antara penaja-penaja ini, yang mana satu bukan sekadar membiayai pengajian, tetapi juga menjanjikan peluang pekerjaan sebaik tamat pengajian nanti.



Nasib keluarga Nik Nur Madihah juga nampak terbela apabila ada yang menjanjikan rumah yang lebih selesa untk mereka. Diharap akan betul-betul menjadi kenyataan dan bukan sekadar untuk siaran telivisyen sahaja.

Sekali lagi, SYABAS DAN SELAMAT MAJU JAYA!

TAHNIAH NIK NUR MADIHAH!

Setinggi tahniah diucapkan kepada Nik Nur Madihah bt Nik Mohd. Kamal di atas kejayaan cemerlangnya dengan mendapat 20A di dalam SPM nya.

Kejayaan anak ini membuktikan bahawa kemiskinan tidak menjadi penghalang baginya untuk mencapai kecemerlangan. Walaupun hidup dalam serba kekurangan, berkat usaha yang gigih di samping doa yang berterusan, kejayaan menjadi miliknya.

Nik Nur Madihah seterusnya perlu diberi bantuan dan bimbingan agar beliau terus berjaya. Permata yang berharga ini perlu dijaga dan dipelihara dengan sebaik-baiknya agar terus berkilauan. Anak ini adalah aset negara dan bangsa yang amat berharga.

Diharap agar anugerah yang diterima oleh anak ini dari Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani tidak terhenti di situ sahaja.

Syabas Nik Nur Madihah! Kejayaan anda akan menjadi dorongan kepada anak-anak kampong yang lain untuk mencapai kecemerlangan.

SELAMAT MAJU JAYA!

THE HISTORY OF RECIPES

I was looking around for corn cake recipes when I came across this interesting piece of information:

Recipes as an idea can be traced back into antiquity, certainly as far into history as ancient Egypt, and maybe even further. Having said that, generally, these early recipes were just very simple pictorial, hieroglyphic or cunieform recipes for food preparation.

Fascinatingly, the oldest recipe found, according to academics are some clay tablets in ancient Sumerian which show the making of bread which is then used to make a drink, quite possibly a form of beer as it is recorded as having made people feel blissful and exhilarated.

Progressing into The time of the romans 25BC a man called Apicius created a collection of scripts describing recipes enjoyed by wealthy roman citizens. In his publication, Apicius describes how the roman meals were divided into hors d`oeuvres, main meal and desserts, something we still use today. Aspicius also recounts how the cooks of Roman times made use of many different spices, including a few you will know such as thyme, mint and dill.

As our culinary historical trip moves to more modern times we have two interesting books from the fourteenth century : a cookery book titled `Forme of Cury`, and another entitled `Curye on Inglish`. Surprisingly, these books are unconnected to the indian curry that is familiar to us all today, but rather recipes for the types of meals served to the rich and wealthy people of that time.

In the 15th century, knights returning from the crusades brought us many foods, spices and herbs from the Middle-East, including spices like parsley, basil and rosemary. These new herbs and spices created an eruption in books on cookery, most of which still exist in private collections.

By the arrival of the twentieth century, cooking publications are in high demand, due to increased literacy, people having increased free time and having more disposable income.

The introduction of television brought us cooking programs and the spin-off recipe books.

Which brings us neatly to the present day and the internet revolution, allowing everybody to search through thousands of recipes like those on this recipe site .

PPSMI LAGI

Pada tahun 60an dan 70an, di kampong saya ada 3 aliran sekolah rendah dan 2 aliran sekolah menegah: SRJK(Cina), SRJK(Inggeris), SRK, SMK dan SMJK (Inggeris). Ramai ibu-bapa memilih untuk menghantar anak-anak mereka belajar di SMJK(I), termasuk yang tinggal di kampong-kampong yang agak jauh dari sekolah. Mereka terpaksa menyewa bilik di rumah-rumah yang berhampiran sekolah. Begitulah kesukaran yang dilalui oleh anak-anak kampong pada masa itu demi untuk menuntut ilmu, mempelajari Maths dan Science dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Pada masa itu komputer belum ujud lagi. Buku rujukan tak mampu nak beli. Guru-guru yang mengajar adalah bukan Melayu yang tinggal di bandar-bandar. Mereka hanya hadir di sekolah semasa waktu persekolahan sahaja. Tiada bimbingan tambahan dari mereka untuk anak-anak kampong ini. Nak pergi kelas tuisyen pun tak mampu.

Mereka semua berjaya menguasai Maths and Science dalam Bahasa Inggeris atas usaha mereka sendiri.

Pada masa ini, berbagai kemudahan disediakan. Komputer, buku rujukan, lembaran kerja yang disediakan oleh guru dan yang penting sekali guru-guru yang mengajar sebilangan besarnya Melayu yang boleh memberi bimbingan tambahan terhadap anak-anak didik mereka. Jadi apa masaalahnya? Kenapa mesti dipertikaikan lagi dasar pendidikan yang diilhamkan oleh seorang pemimpin yang berpandangan jauh ke depan, untuk kebaikan Bangsa dan Negara kita?

Usahlah membuang masa dan menimbulkan keadaan huru-hara. Semua patut bekerjasama bagi memastikan anak bangsa berjaya sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan.

PPSMI...WHY ALL THE FUSS?

I truly don't understand what the fuss is all about. Does teaching Maths and Science in English really deprives those in the rural areas from mastering the two subjects? Has any studies been done to back this claim?

To make such claim based on students performance in central examinations alone is not sufficient. Students performance in examinations are determined by many other factors. Those who are against PPSMI shouldn't be making such simplistic assumptions.

I very much agree to what Jebat Must Die has to say on the matter.

I am a Malay who learned Maths and Science in English. My late father was a clerk at the local council. He's fluent in English, but I don't recall ever getting any coaching from him.

My late mother was a housewife. Her education was only from a "Sekolah Rakyat" at primary level. She could read and write. She liked to read the newspaper and was versed on current issues. She didn't really like to write. I used to do that for her.

What I'm trying to put forward here is that family background does not determine ones ability to gain knowledge.

I received my primary and secondary education in a rural school. My siblings and I were not eligible for 'SPBT'. We were not eligible for the federal scholarship either. We never go for tuition classes since we couldn't afford it.

Anyway, I achieved excellence in Maths and Science because I wanted to excel and I worked very hard for it, and not because my parents were English teachers (which they were not), or my family speaks in English (which we did not).

I received my tertiary education in England. I am very much a Malay now as I have always been. I teach English Language at school, but I still lead the life of a Malay.

Being competent in a second language is undoubtedly very beneficial. It does not mean that I have undermined the Malay language. I do believe that Malaysians should master both languages for reasons given by Royal Professor Ungku Aziz.

EASY vs DIFFICULT

EASY to occupy a place in the telephone directory.
DIFFICULT to occupy the heart of somebody.

EASY to judge errors of others.
DIFFICULT to recognize our own errors.

EASY to hurt those whom we love.
DIFFICULT to heal those wounds.

EASY to forgive others.
DIFFICULT to ask for forgiveness.

EASY to exhibit victory.
DIFFICULT to assume defeat with dignity.

EASY to dream every night.
DIFFICULT to fight for a dream.

EASY to pray every night.
DIFFICULT to find a God in the smallest of things.

EASY to say we love.
DIFFICULT to demonstrate it every day.

EASY to criticize everybody.
DIFFICULT to better/perfect ourselves.

EASY to think of improving.
DIFFICULT to stop thinking & really do it.

EASY to receive.
DIFFICULT to give.

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