Without realizing 14 weeks have just gone with a blink of eyes. Soon we will be leaving UPM. (Sigh….) This will be my final blog for this topic. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all my lecturers in UPM. You all have really polished us!
Thank you once again!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN THIS COURSE.
This course has made me aware of many things in terms of coming up with a project paper as well as exposure to the different types of literary writing that we have. In this course we are required to come up with two papers, position and research papers. Both helped me to improve my critical thinking as well as writing skill. I just wish I could have taken the EDU 3067 course before I take this EDU 3234 course. This is simply because I think I could have really improved my analysis as EDU 3067 entails many notions on how things are viewed, the approach and many other essential topics solely on literature. However, I am happy with my work.
Looking at the readings that we have done in class, well it is extremely useful and remarkable. Every moment was a knowledge receiving moment in the reading of literary text classes. We had many discussions that were thought provoking. We have read about many famous figures’ writing. Let it be their letters or diary or speech or anything. It is fun learning these types of literary text as we get to know about the writer’s attitude and things like that. So now if I ever to read a letter, a diary or a speech I think I will be able to detect certain things about the writer (it is going to be very helpful for me in the future).
In short, this course has moulded me to become a better literature person as well as a good critique and most of all a frequent BLOGGER!
Looking at the readings that we have done in class, well it is extremely useful and remarkable. Every moment was a knowledge receiving moment in the reading of literary text classes. We had many discussions that were thought provoking. We have read about many famous figures’ writing. Let it be their letters or diary or speech or anything. It is fun learning these types of literary text as we get to know about the writer’s attitude and things like that. So now if I ever to read a letter, a diary or a speech I think I will be able to detect certain things about the writer (it is going to be very helpful for me in the future).
In short, this course has moulded me to become a better literature person as well as a good critique and most of all a frequent BLOGGER!
Martin Luther’s Speech…
In today’s class, on the second hour, we discussed on the speech of Martin Luther King. I would strongly say that it actually deserves the fame and recognition that it has now as it is really well written! (as I only saw it on paper yet to hear the speech which is available in the website entitled English as Second Language). We thoroughly examined the language of the speech- the sentence structure, the choice of words and many other elements which it is really rich with. The speech actually has a very strong message that can make one ponder on the idea of equality, segregation and discrimination.
After the discussion, my lecturer talked about how important is speeches and put forward the question why we Malaysian do not have or examine any speeches from our very own great people in the country? This made me to think! Yes, actually we should expose Malaysian with the speeches that would some sort create awareness and instill patriotism in the young ones. Our father of independence Tunku Abdul Rahman’s speech should be revealed to all Malaysian so that we would and will have the strong sense of belonging to the country. I think in the future I will take the effort to put in practice what my lecturer has suggested as I think it is very important and very convincing. I will share with my students the speeches that our statesmen has spoke so that the young ones will benefit out of it, will know more things and will break the rules of not knowing anything on the convictions that they have made.
After the discussion, my lecturer talked about how important is speeches and put forward the question why we Malaysian do not have or examine any speeches from our very own great people in the country? This made me to think! Yes, actually we should expose Malaysian with the speeches that would some sort create awareness and instill patriotism in the young ones. Our father of independence Tunku Abdul Rahman’s speech should be revealed to all Malaysian so that we would and will have the strong sense of belonging to the country. I think in the future I will take the effort to put in practice what my lecturer has suggested as I think it is very important and very convincing. I will share with my students the speeches that our statesmen has spoke so that the young ones will benefit out of it, will know more things and will break the rules of not knowing anything on the convictions that they have made.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Gaining some insight from the movie History Boys
After having much excitement watching, the movie The Freedom Writers, we watched another movie entitled “The History Boys”. This movie is a British movie so it is sophisticated in terms of the language and also the portrayal of the issue depicted in the movie. Overall, it is an interesting movie. The plot of the story plays a big role. It has the captivating nature that made me to hook up with the movie. I wanted to know what is going to happen next…next…next…
In this movie, one of the prominent issues that I think should be highlighted here is the expectation that a student has on his or her teacher. I think I did and do have certain expectations on my teachers. And from the movie I have learned the teacher’s part well- meeting the students’ expectation is not that easy! (Lesson for the day-I should not expect more from my teacher).
Apart from that, in the movie, there were three teachers teaching 7 boys. Different teacher had a different way of approach in his / her teaching. Well this part is very useful for future teachers like me.
In the movie, there is also an issue on homosexuality which I don’t know how to elaborate more. The issue on this is not that serious but it does cause a death!
In short, History Boys is a sophisticated, classy movie that one can watch when they need some boost on how a teacher can eventually have great satisfaction on the profession that they are attach to.
In this movie, one of the prominent issues that I think should be highlighted here is the expectation that a student has on his or her teacher. I think I did and do have certain expectations on my teachers. And from the movie I have learned the teacher’s part well- meeting the students’ expectation is not that easy! (Lesson for the day-I should not expect more from my teacher).
Apart from that, in the movie, there were three teachers teaching 7 boys. Different teacher had a different way of approach in his / her teaching. Well this part is very useful for future teachers like me.
In the movie, there is also an issue on homosexuality which I don’t know how to elaborate more. The issue on this is not that serious but it does cause a death!
In short, History Boys is a sophisticated, classy movie that one can watch when they need some boost on how a teacher can eventually have great satisfaction on the profession that they are attach to.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Reading "diary"
Where do you express your deepest self? Well one of the answer would be in a “Diary”. Writing diary is something like you are keeping track on your stuff, expressing your inner most thought…and extra. The audience of a diary is none other than the diarist simply because it is very much personal. BUT for a little change…try to read someone’s diary! It is interesting…you can really know a lot of things about the diarist through his of her diary entries. Recently in class, we discussed Andy Warhol’s diary entries. Only after the discussion and much input from my lecturer, I gained some insight about the significant of reading a diary. The example given was Virginia Woolfs diary entries whereby she talks about her struggle to write. Reading a diary actually creates a particular effect on the reader. I could see this, in the movie The Freedom Writer too. The teacher, Erin encourages / made her students to read the diary of Anne Frank to expose them the personal suffering that she went through which can be a boost to her students. Thus reading famous’ / important people’s diaries do give you and impact! Now I am in the process of reading Virginia Woolfs diary…
The movie-THE FREEDOM WRITERS!
The freedom writers! An interesting, motivating and most of all an inspiring movie for all teachers and teacher trainee I would say. The story line of the movie is remarkable! This movie is actually a boost for a person like me. After being so long as a teacher trainee, only this semester (6th) I started to have the strong feeling to become a teacher, to be in the field of education and to serve for the young ones. By watching this movie it has reinforced my recent feelings to be a teacher, a good teacher! This movie definitely has left a very great impact on me.
Even though the situation or the scenario in Malaysian school is not that intense as in the movie but I think such exposure gives me a better idea of the challenge a teacher undergoes and as well as the power of A TEACHER! A teacher can do wonders! They can reform the thinking of the young generation which is extremely amazing. Thus, I came to a conclusion that there is nothing impossible for a teacher…everything is possible!
Basically many good notion and teaching strategy can be grabbed from the movie. The different approach that the teacher, Erin, uses to tackle her students is something to look upon. It gives me an idea that teaching is a process...a learning process for a teacher! Apart from that, the dedication that Erin has towards teaching makes me to salute and admire her. She had to sacrifice many things in life in order to achieve her goal and give the best in her field. She did not regard teaching as a “job”, for her it is beyond that. What counts in this profession is self satisfaction that one gets when the product is out there. I just hope this inspiration in me will never fade but grow for the better!
Even though the situation or the scenario in Malaysian school is not that intense as in the movie but I think such exposure gives me a better idea of the challenge a teacher undergoes and as well as the power of A TEACHER! A teacher can do wonders! They can reform the thinking of the young generation which is extremely amazing. Thus, I came to a conclusion that there is nothing impossible for a teacher…everything is possible!
Basically many good notion and teaching strategy can be grabbed from the movie. The different approach that the teacher, Erin, uses to tackle her students is something to look upon. It gives me an idea that teaching is a process...a learning process for a teacher! Apart from that, the dedication that Erin has towards teaching makes me to salute and admire her. She had to sacrifice many things in life in order to achieve her goal and give the best in her field. She did not regard teaching as a “job”, for her it is beyond that. What counts in this profession is self satisfaction that one gets when the product is out there. I just hope this inspiration in me will never fade but grow for the better!
Monday, March 10, 2008
A sudden change in my research paper.
It is a Sunday morning, and I was reading The Straits Times while slowly sipping my hot white coffee. I was flipping the pages and suddenly my action stopped and my mind was into my research paper. I thought for myself ‘there isn’t much that I can research on if I stick to the 2 short fictions, A White Heron and Boys and Girls.’ The story Barn Burning by William Faulkner came to my mind. It actually has a quite similar plot line with A White Heron whereby the climaxes of both the stories are making moral decision. Thus, I thought I can write more and research more by looking at the similarities of both stories on how the authors presents / portrays their theme of growing up. They next day I went to my supervisor’s office to discuss the insight that I have gained. However, I couldn’t locate her. Hence, I went on the next day, Tuesday and luckily she was there. I told her about my notion and she said that it is convincing. She asked me for a write-up. I gave it to her after two day which is on Thursday and now I am still waiting for her second approval.
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