Malaysians comprise of various races, namely, Malays, Chinese and Indians. We have all been living in harmony in this prosperous country. Efforts have been made by various quarters to ensure that all the races can function as one unit, as Malaysians. Each and every one of us must participate in achieving unity. After all, "UNITED we stand, divided we fall".
Sadly though, inspite of the efforts to unite all the races, they are still those who prefer to be divided.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
LANGUAGE AND NATIONAL LANGUAGE
What is language? What is national language?
My first posting which was in respond to TDM's has somehow irked Mr Onlooker. It seems that he does not understand what I was writing about. I was not questioning about the economic importance of English or Chinese language. My argument was and still is, how can you or anyone else for that matters, claim to belong to a nation if you can't even speak the national language?
How can one represent one's nationality? Is just a piece of paper sufficient? If the citizens are of numerous races, how then do all of them represent themselves as belonging to one nation?
Since the national language of Malaysia is Malay, then by right every Malaysian should be able to speak the language. The market value of the language shouldn't even be an issue.
Malay language is known as MALAY language because this language originates from the MALAY archepalago, which includes our beloved country MALAYsia. On the other hand Chinese language is known as CHINESE language because it originates from CHINA, while ENGLISH language originates from ENGLAND.
As far as Malaysia is concerned, MALAY is the language for the Malaysian. Whatever race you might be, if you are a Malaysian, then you should be able to speak Malay.
There seems to be no end to the arguments on this matter. But for now I'd rather go to sleep.
Bye for now.
My first posting which was in respond to TDM's has somehow irked Mr Onlooker. It seems that he does not understand what I was writing about. I was not questioning about the economic importance of English or Chinese language. My argument was and still is, how can you or anyone else for that matters, claim to belong to a nation if you can't even speak the national language?
How can one represent one's nationality? Is just a piece of paper sufficient? If the citizens are of numerous races, how then do all of them represent themselves as belonging to one nation?
Since the national language of Malaysia is Malay, then by right every Malaysian should be able to speak the language. The market value of the language shouldn't even be an issue.
Malay language is known as MALAY language because this language originates from the MALAY archepalago, which includes our beloved country MALAYsia. On the other hand Chinese language is known as CHINESE language because it originates from CHINA, while ENGLISH language originates from ENGLAND.
As far as Malaysia is concerned, MALAY is the language for the Malaysian. Whatever race you might be, if you are a Malaysian, then you should be able to speak Malay.
There seems to be no end to the arguments on this matter. But for now I'd rather go to sleep.
Bye for now.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Hotcake
This recipe is a modification of Anna Olson's and the result is very much similar to the one sold at certain McD's outlet.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup milk
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp dried yeast
1 cup flour
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg (slightly beaten)
vanilla
1. Heat milk and butter till butter melts. Leave to cool to lukewarm.
2. Add yeast. Leave aside.
3. Mix all dry ingredients. Add milk. Stir till just combined. Leave aside for 1 hour.
4. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.
4. Cook on greased hot pan.
This hotcake is delicious with banana and icecream.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup milk
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp dried yeast
1 cup flour
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg (slightly beaten)
vanilla
1. Heat milk and butter till butter melts. Leave to cool to lukewarm.
2. Add yeast. Leave aside.
3. Mix all dry ingredients. Add milk. Stir till just combined. Leave aside for 1 hour.
4. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.
4. Cook on greased hot pan.
This hotcake is delicious with banana and icecream.
Monday, June 2, 2008
What is wrong with my students?
Today I managed to mark the answer scripts from the previous mid-year exam for two form two classes I'm teaching. It puzzles me as to why most are not able to write decently. The frustating part is, during the weeks before the exam, I practically gave them the question that they are going to get for the exam, and even discussed with them on how to write the answers! Where did I go wrong?
I reminded my students every so often that they need to:
I reminded my students every so often that they need to:
- refer to the dictionary
- refer to examples
- not copy their friends' answers blindly
- make sure that they understand what they are writing
- ask when they do not understand
- always do corrections for mistakes made
The list of advises and reminders goes on and on. And yet nothing seems to change. Am I fighting a losing battle here?
I find that many of my students are not committed with their studies. They do not put in much effort (or not at all) in whatever task given to them. They claim that they go to school to learn and yet...
- they do not bring their text books (the ones they got for FREE) to school
- their exercise books are always missing, especially when its time for them to hand them in
- they almost never do corrections
- many a time, exercies are done hurriedly by coppying from friends who copied from another friend whose answers are full of errors, but copied still since the teacher wants to collect the exercises
- some of the Muslims (especially boys) take 45mins (sometimes even 70 mins) to perform solat zohr or asr
How do I change these students mindset? Do I advise them? Have done that but doesn't seem to work. Negative reinforsement? Positive reinforsement? Have all been carried out but without success. So what next?
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