Ask any kid where they would like to grow up and they would say they would want to be exactly where they are because they do not know any different. Ask any adult where they would have liked to have grown up and you could get a myriad of responses because having seen the world and all it has to offer, we adults are always craving for something better.
As a child growing up in Ipoh, life was idyllic. Traffic was minimal, life was simple and uncomplicated. Girls went to girls’ schools and boys went to boys’ schools. Entertainment was the occasional film show at the local cinemas, Lido and Cathay. You never hung out at shopping malls because there were none to speak of. A day out with friends would be a show and maybe a visit to a coffee house nearby.
This was in the 60s and 70s when families were close knit and life revolved around school and home. On weekends, it was church services. Black and white TV sets were not found in all households till the late 60s and the dial-up telephone was found in most homes only in the early 70s.
When I look back, I wonder how we managed to pass the days and nights in those days. This is especially so when I look at the younger generation today. Our parents would never have dreamt of buying us a notebook or a handphone. These would have been considered luxuries that we could do without. We managed to survive without these luxuries. Even clothes were considered a luxury and we lived on hand-me-downs, not only from siblings but also from cousins and close friends.
How times have changed! How fortunate (or unfortunate!) the younger generation is today. I pity the parents who are forced to give their children the best, for if they do not, their children will not fit into society. If I was asked when I would have liked to be born, then or now, my answer would definitely be then, not now. Not having what I really wanted and using hand-me-downs has made me a more understanding, caring and compassionate person, I am sure!
Introspection
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Laws and Values
Values are instilled into our lives from the time we are born by our parents and caregivers. Values come in the form of religious and cultural beliefs and traditions. To instill positive values into our lives, rules or laws have been formulated. Some say that laws have to be made because of a lack of values. To make sure that the rules are adhered to, there is enforcement.
Just recently, I heard of a case where an intruder molested a senior citizen as she was entering her house after visiting her neighbours. Why are our neighbourhoods so unsafe? We have grilled our doors and windows. We have even installed alarms and fixed locks for exits to the airwell. We dare not even walk in the park nor take up jogging as a form of exercise. We are too afraid of the consequences.
Across the border, however, windows of bungalows are left wide open. There are no grilles and no locks. People can be seen jogging and taking their dogs and children for a walk at a leisurely pace at any time of the day or night. Life seems so safe and secure.
Why is there this disparity between the two neighbouring countries? Have Malaysians lost their sense of values? Haven’t these values been successfully instilled into the lives of the residents of Malaysia? With the teaching of Pendidikan Moral (Moral Education) in schools, why is there still so much crime? Are the perpetrators not afraid of the punishment if they are caught? It is time that we try to find a solution to this problem. We should try to deal with the cause and not the symptoms.
Just recently, I heard of a case where an intruder molested a senior citizen as she was entering her house after visiting her neighbours. Why are our neighbourhoods so unsafe? We have grilled our doors and windows. We have even installed alarms and fixed locks for exits to the airwell. We dare not even walk in the park nor take up jogging as a form of exercise. We are too afraid of the consequences.
Across the border, however, windows of bungalows are left wide open. There are no grilles and no locks. People can be seen jogging and taking their dogs and children for a walk at a leisurely pace at any time of the day or night. Life seems so safe and secure.
Why is there this disparity between the two neighbouring countries? Have Malaysians lost their sense of values? Haven’t these values been successfully instilled into the lives of the residents of Malaysia? With the teaching of Pendidikan Moral (Moral Education) in schools, why is there still so much crime? Are the perpetrators not afraid of the punishment if they are caught? It is time that we try to find a solution to this problem. We should try to deal with the cause and not the symptoms.
Choices
One of my student’s responses for everything under the sun is “I had no choice.” Are our lives really devoid of choice? In ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost, we can see that we need to make choices at every step of the way from the moment we wake up in the morning till we lay our heads on the pillow for the night.
Yes, we do have choices. However, most of the time, we are afraid to make the wrong choice. What do we do then? We decide to join the crowd and do what everyone else is doing. Life does not become a threat then! We ‘go with the flow’.
If, on the other hand, we decide to break free, there will be a lot of opposition from friends and relatives. This is when our true lives as human beings will be tested. Can we take up the challenge to be different? Will we be ostracized? If we dare to venture into unchartered waters, what will our lives be like?
Yes, we do have choices. However, most of the time, we are afraid to make the wrong choice. What do we do then? We decide to join the crowd and do what everyone else is doing. Life does not become a threat then! We ‘go with the flow’.
If, on the other hand, we decide to break free, there will be a lot of opposition from friends and relatives. This is when our true lives as human beings will be tested. Can we take up the challenge to be different? Will we be ostracized? If we dare to venture into unchartered waters, what will our lives be like?
Of things bizarre!
How many times have you come across incidents that were bizarre. An acquaintance considered my life bizarre as I had stayed in the same house for more than 40 years. On the other hand, I considered his life bizarre as he had shifted home on a yearly basis, not only within his country but also internationally (because of various job opportunities that came his way).
Pondering on life, I sometimes can’t fail to wonder why our lives are so very different from one another’s. What would happen if we were in the other person’s shoes? Would we have taken the same precautions and actions that he or she were taking and doing? Life indeed has many routes and each of us has taken our own course of action. Some bizarre, some not so.
For example, I recently heard of a lady who pays her live-in boyfriend RM30 per day to look after their baby. She works twelve hours a day while he stays home with the baby. Somehow, it would not sound so bizarre if it were the man who was earning and she was a stay-at-home mum, don’t you think? Or am I just biased and prone to stereotyping?
Pondering on life, I sometimes can’t fail to wonder why our lives are so very different from one another’s. What would happen if we were in the other person’s shoes? Would we have taken the same precautions and actions that he or she were taking and doing? Life indeed has many routes and each of us has taken our own course of action. Some bizarre, some not so.
For example, I recently heard of a lady who pays her live-in boyfriend RM30 per day to look after their baby. She works twelve hours a day while he stays home with the baby. Somehow, it would not sound so bizarre if it were the man who was earning and she was a stay-at-home mum, don’t you think? Or am I just biased and prone to stereotyping?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Time Spent Wisely
Teachers should have the time to read up on what research has to say about their teaching methodology after they have had all the facts of their teaching lessons at their finger tips.
Action research should be encouraged among teachers so that they can improve their methodology of teaching.
Personally, as a freelance tutor, and no more working for the government, I find that I have improved my methods of teaching over the years. From merely resorting to filling the time by doing workbook exercises, today I challenge myself to prepare lessons where the students challenge themselves.
Today, for example, I got my Upper Primary students to write a one-paragraph book report.
Action research should be encouraged among teachers so that they can improve their methodology of teaching.
Personally, as a freelance tutor, and no more working for the government, I find that I have improved my methods of teaching over the years. From merely resorting to filling the time by doing workbook exercises, today I challenge myself to prepare lessons where the students challenge themselves.
Today, for example, I got my Upper Primary students to write a one-paragraph book report.
Worthwhile Meetings
Teachers are always complaining about a heavy workload. Being a teacher does not involve only teaching and the marking of books, but also attending meetings and keeping a record of what transpired at meetings.
I remember once the Senior Assistant of the school I was teaching at insisted that we have a small briefing session every morning. The rest of the teachers could not understand the necessity of taking away valuable time from our classroom lessons on a daily basis. So we had to come to school earlier.
The Senior Assistant always came up with some items to discuss just to fill up the time. Once we even spoke about the cows that left their trail of dung at the entrance of our school the previous night. Surely that was not an item that needed to be discussed among the teachers. He should have spoken to the cowherd!
I remember once the Senior Assistant of the school I was teaching at insisted that we have a small briefing session every morning. The rest of the teachers could not understand the necessity of taking away valuable time from our classroom lessons on a daily basis. So we had to come to school earlier.
The Senior Assistant always came up with some items to discuss just to fill up the time. Once we even spoke about the cows that left their trail of dung at the entrance of our school the previous night. Surely that was not an item that needed to be discussed among the teachers. He should have spoken to the cowherd!
Putting theory into practice
No matter what the public (especially those involved with education) has to say about teachers and the education system in Malaysia through the media, there is a body that rebuts. This body is the Corporate Communications Unit of the Education Ministry.
It seems then that a lot is put down on paper, but the education sector is not aware of the theory behind the implementation of certain policies of the Ministry. It is quite obvious that in practice things do not work out as they are planned to.
I am not throwing the spanner into the wheel but I wonder if something could be done so that whatever is planned in theory can be filtered down to the masses more effectively so that it can be put into practice.
It seems then that a lot is put down on paper, but the education sector is not aware of the theory behind the implementation of certain policies of the Ministry. It is quite obvious that in practice things do not work out as they are planned to.
I am not throwing the spanner into the wheel but I wonder if something could be done so that whatever is planned in theory can be filtered down to the masses more effectively so that it can be put into practice.
Better Quality Teachers
I read in the newspapers recently that someone suggested the quality of teachers in Malaysia be changed. In my opinion, Malaysia has good quality teachers who are well trained. It is the mindset of the policymakers that has to be changed.
Teachers have long been the scapegoats. They merely follow instructions from the higher echelons of the education system. Thus there are schools where students from exam classes have all co-curricular activities scrapped. Teachers know that ‘All work and no play make jack a dull boy.’ However, there is nothing that they can do about it as they need to produce As in their school.
With the Education Ministry dangling the carrot of higher pay and accolades like Master Teacher in front of them, the newly-qualified teacher slowly becomes subservient to the system. Many have given up their ideals during their sojourn as teachers. They are bogged down by paperwork and meetings, which normally means more paperwork. With rampant indiscipline and the unrealistic demands of the head of the school, they are just too tired to cope.
The ideal teacher should have the time to read up on her subject, to improve her knowledge and the delivery of her lessons, to help mould students to excel not only in their studies but also in life.
However, all this is not happening in schools today. Teaching and character-building does not seem to be part of the job description of a teacher today.
Teachers have long been the scapegoats. They merely follow instructions from the higher echelons of the education system. Thus there are schools where students from exam classes have all co-curricular activities scrapped. Teachers know that ‘All work and no play make jack a dull boy.’ However, there is nothing that they can do about it as they need to produce As in their school.
With the Education Ministry dangling the carrot of higher pay and accolades like Master Teacher in front of them, the newly-qualified teacher slowly becomes subservient to the system. Many have given up their ideals during their sojourn as teachers. They are bogged down by paperwork and meetings, which normally means more paperwork. With rampant indiscipline and the unrealistic demands of the head of the school, they are just too tired to cope.
The ideal teacher should have the time to read up on her subject, to improve her knowledge and the delivery of her lessons, to help mould students to excel not only in their studies but also in life.
However, all this is not happening in schools today. Teaching and character-building does not seem to be part of the job description of a teacher today.
Indiscipline among schoolchildren
A survey was carried out by the STAR poll entitled ‘Would you consider indiscipline among schoolchildren in Malaysia to be getting worse over the years?’ It ended on 26 May 2010.
Out of a total of 18,323 respondents, there were 17,634 votes (96%) supporting the view that indiscipline was getting worse. This paints a gruesome picture for the future of Malaysia. This is because the schoolchildren of today will be the Malaysian adults of tomorrow.
If today we read in the newspapers about wife-battering, the abandoning of babies and cases of child abuse, robberies, molests, rapes and murders, I dread to think what the news headlines of the future will be?
Out of a total of 18,323 respondents, there were 17,634 votes (96%) supporting the view that indiscipline was getting worse. This paints a gruesome picture for the future of Malaysia. This is because the schoolchildren of today will be the Malaysian adults of tomorrow.
If today we read in the newspapers about wife-battering, the abandoning of babies and cases of child abuse, robberies, molests, rapes and murders, I dread to think what the news headlines of the future will be?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
With Deep Gratitude
It was with a sense of pride that I read Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye’s letter, ‘Finally, Mission Schools Get Recognition’ (STAR, Letters to the Editor, Tuesday, 24 February 2009).
Being a product of two local missionary schools myself, I can’t help but be appreciative to the missionaries who established these schools in our country.
These missionaries who initially left their homelands to venture thousands of miles with the vision and mission of setting up educational establishments which cater to the needs of the youth of that time do deserve a standing ovation.
When Malaysia gained its independence, however, missionary schools were sidelined to a certain extent and many will not know that the missionaries who were working with such great determination and dedication were actually receiving half the pay of their counterparts in government schools.
How many of today’s teachers treat their job as a vocation and would willingly give up half of their salary to carry on in the profession? It is because of their selflessness that the missionaries have been able to nurture the minds of the youth of their time with marvellous values.
To all missionaries in the education field in Malaysia who are still alive today, thank you!
Being a product of two local missionary schools myself, I can’t help but be appreciative to the missionaries who established these schools in our country.
These missionaries who initially left their homelands to venture thousands of miles with the vision and mission of setting up educational establishments which cater to the needs of the youth of that time do deserve a standing ovation.
When Malaysia gained its independence, however, missionary schools were sidelined to a certain extent and many will not know that the missionaries who were working with such great determination and dedication were actually receiving half the pay of their counterparts in government schools.
How many of today’s teachers treat their job as a vocation and would willingly give up half of their salary to carry on in the profession? It is because of their selflessness that the missionaries have been able to nurture the minds of the youth of their time with marvellous values.
To all missionaries in the education field in Malaysia who are still alive today, thank you!
Retain original identity and character
I was filled with great pride when I read in the Ipoh Echo, Ipoh’s Community Newspaper, (Issue 76, June 16-30, 2009) about how the French priests opened the first Catholic mission in Perak in 1875. They worked hand in hand with the local Chinese in places like Taiping and Batu Gajah, helping the community there to eke a living.
The early Catholic missionaries in the form of not only priests but also religious brothers and sisters have left an indelible mark in the lives of many a practicing Catholic today. They were the pioneers of the Catholic faith, setting up schools, hospitals and churches all over Malaya.
Unfortunately, the younger generation has never known these missionaries and many will not be able to comprehend their impact on Malaysian society. In fact, many of today’s boys and girls do not know what it means to be a religious as they have not come across any. Catholic priests, brothers and sisters are indeed a dying breed!
The only concrete evidence of the existence of these early pioneers of the faith is the buildings that have been left behind in the form of schools, hospitals and churches.
However, because of harsh weather conditions and the passing of time, these physical structures will definitely require restoration and structural repairs. It is hoped that those responsible for undertaking maintenance of these buildings will preserve history by retaining their original identity and character.
We owe that much to the pioneers of the Catholic faith in this region!
Printed in the Herald - The Catholic Weekly (August 9, 2009)
The early Catholic missionaries in the form of not only priests but also religious brothers and sisters have left an indelible mark in the lives of many a practicing Catholic today. They were the pioneers of the Catholic faith, setting up schools, hospitals and churches all over Malaya.
Unfortunately, the younger generation has never known these missionaries and many will not be able to comprehend their impact on Malaysian society. In fact, many of today’s boys and girls do not know what it means to be a religious as they have not come across any. Catholic priests, brothers and sisters are indeed a dying breed!
The only concrete evidence of the existence of these early pioneers of the faith is the buildings that have been left behind in the form of schools, hospitals and churches.
However, because of harsh weather conditions and the passing of time, these physical structures will definitely require restoration and structural repairs. It is hoped that those responsible for undertaking maintenance of these buildings will preserve history by retaining their original identity and character.
We owe that much to the pioneers of the Catholic faith in this region!
Printed in the Herald - The Catholic Weekly (August 9, 2009)
Licence to teach
The Deputy Education Minister says that teachers need to sit for an exam to get a licence to teach (The Star, 22 May 2010. Ministry mulls over licence for teachers).
To become a teacher one needs to undergo training. During the course of training, there are sessions to attend to familiarize oneself with the art of teaching through pedagogical studies. The prospective teacher needs to know the psychological development of his prospective students. There are usually exams to sit for and assignments to do to be qualified as teachers. Now the Ministry is suggesting another exam. Isn’t it redundant?
At this point, it may be good to ponder over what makes a good teacher. Is he the result of the exams that he has passed? Or is a teacher good because of the experience that he has earned over the years that qualifies him to impart his knowledge well?
There are so many types of teachers. Some may have experience teaching the same subjects in the same old way for the past 10-30 years. Others take it as a challenging profession since they venture to try out new methodologies and give new experiences to their students.
There are those who teach very well, but are not academically successful in their particular field. On the other hand, there are those who are experts in their field but do not know how to carry the message across to make their students understand what the content of their subject is all about.
What makes a good teacher then? He does not need to be an all-rounder. He does not need to pass exams. His main duty would be to ensure that his learners have learnt something from what he has taught. The students should be inspired to want to know more. Does he need to sit for an exam to prove this? You may have come across the following adage:
The mediocre teacher tells;
The good teacher explains;
The superior teacher demonstrates;
The great teacher inspires
Many people may not know this but there is already a requirement by the local government that all teachers have a teaching permit while teachers from days gone by possess a ‘Blue Book’ which is their lifelong teaching 'passport'. I don’t think one needs to sit for another exam to get a licence to teach.
To become a teacher one needs to undergo training. During the course of training, there are sessions to attend to familiarize oneself with the art of teaching through pedagogical studies. The prospective teacher needs to know the psychological development of his prospective students. There are usually exams to sit for and assignments to do to be qualified as teachers. Now the Ministry is suggesting another exam. Isn’t it redundant?
At this point, it may be good to ponder over what makes a good teacher. Is he the result of the exams that he has passed? Or is a teacher good because of the experience that he has earned over the years that qualifies him to impart his knowledge well?
There are so many types of teachers. Some may have experience teaching the same subjects in the same old way for the past 10-30 years. Others take it as a challenging profession since they venture to try out new methodologies and give new experiences to their students.
There are those who teach very well, but are not academically successful in their particular field. On the other hand, there are those who are experts in their field but do not know how to carry the message across to make their students understand what the content of their subject is all about.
What makes a good teacher then? He does not need to be an all-rounder. He does not need to pass exams. His main duty would be to ensure that his learners have learnt something from what he has taught. The students should be inspired to want to know more. Does he need to sit for an exam to prove this? You may have come across the following adage:
The mediocre teacher tells;
The good teacher explains;
The superior teacher demonstrates;
The great teacher inspires
Many people may not know this but there is already a requirement by the local government that all teachers have a teaching permit while teachers from days gone by possess a ‘Blue Book’ which is their lifelong teaching 'passport'. I don’t think one needs to sit for another exam to get a licence to teach.
Better quality teachers needed?
It was mentioned recently that the quality of teachers in Malaysia should be changed. I beg to differ. Malaysia has good quality teachers who are well trained. It is the mindset of the policymakers that has to be changed.
Teachers have long been the scapegoats of policies implemented by the authorities. They are forced to follow instructions from the higher echelons of the system. Thus there are schools where students from exam classes have all co-curricular activities scrapped as students have to prepare for their major public exams. Teachers know that ‘All work and no play make jack a dull boy.’ However, there is nothing that they can do about it as they need to produce As in their school.
With the Education Ministry dangling the carrot of higher pay and accolades like 'Master Teacher' in front of them, the newly-qualified teacher slowly becomes subservient to the system. Many have given up their ideals during their tenure as teachers. They are bogged down by paperwork and meetings, which normally results in more paperwork. With rampant indiscipline and the unrealistic demands of the head of the school, they are just too tired to cope.
The ideal teacher should have the time to read up on her subject, to improve her knowledge and the delivery of her lessons, to help mould students to excel not only in their studies but also in life. However, all this is not happening in our Malaysian schools. Teaching and character-building does not seem to be part of the job description of a teacher today. Why have we lost our focus on what is important?
Teachers have long been the scapegoats of policies implemented by the authorities. They are forced to follow instructions from the higher echelons of the system. Thus there are schools where students from exam classes have all co-curricular activities scrapped as students have to prepare for their major public exams. Teachers know that ‘All work and no play make jack a dull boy.’ However, there is nothing that they can do about it as they need to produce As in their school.
With the Education Ministry dangling the carrot of higher pay and accolades like 'Master Teacher' in front of them, the newly-qualified teacher slowly becomes subservient to the system. Many have given up their ideals during their tenure as teachers. They are bogged down by paperwork and meetings, which normally results in more paperwork. With rampant indiscipline and the unrealistic demands of the head of the school, they are just too tired to cope.
The ideal teacher should have the time to read up on her subject, to improve her knowledge and the delivery of her lessons, to help mould students to excel not only in their studies but also in life. However, all this is not happening in our Malaysian schools. Teaching and character-building does not seem to be part of the job description of a teacher today. Why have we lost our focus on what is important?
Indiscipline
A survey was carried out by the STAR entitled ‘Would you consider indiscipline among schoolchildren in Malaysia to be getting worse over the years?’ It ended on 26 May 2010.
Out of a total of 18,323 respondents, there were 17,634 votes (96%) supporting the view that indiscipline was getting worse. This paints a gruesome picture for the future of Malaysia. This is because the schoolchildren of today will be the Malaysian adults of tomorrow.
If today we read in the newspapers about wife-battering, abusing of children, robberies and molest, rape and murder cases, what will the news of tomorrow be about?
Maybe we should all engrave in our minds the words of Albert Einstein who said, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
Out of a total of 18,323 respondents, there were 17,634 votes (96%) supporting the view that indiscipline was getting worse. This paints a gruesome picture for the future of Malaysia. This is because the schoolchildren of today will be the Malaysian adults of tomorrow.
If today we read in the newspapers about wife-battering, abusing of children, robberies and molest, rape and murder cases, what will the news of tomorrow be about?
Maybe we should all engrave in our minds the words of Albert Einstein who said, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
Don't abolish exams!
The Deputy Education Minister claims that school-based evaluation is better than exams (STAR, 29 June 2010, School-based evaluation better, says Ministry). But is it?
Take the case of the oral English examination which used to be conducted nationwide in Form 3 and in Form 5 in the 1980s. Teachers were sent to other schools to assess the language proficiencies of students there in those days. This was scrapped and school-based assessments are conducted throughout the year by conscientious teachers who follow guidelines given by the Ministry of Education.
Yet, there are many discrepancies regarding how this evaluation is done in the classroom, if it is done at all. Some students read a text to the teacher only, while some have to read to the whole class. Some have to memorise a text and present it to the whole class. What is happening here is that teachers take it upon themselves to decide how the students should be assessed depending on the capabilities of the students. The evaluation is thus not standardized throughout the country. Yet the results will be taken into account for their final examinations at national level (either PMR or SPM).
The Deputy Education Minister further states that parents are too obsessed with As and that is why they spend thousands of ringgit to send their children for tuition. Aren’t the school-based evaluations going to be graded? What is to stop a parent from spending money to make sure that their childrens’ folios get good grades? Does he know that today’s kids, because of lack of time, have not only parents doing their folios for them, but they also copy from their seniors. Teachers are just pleased that students have got folios to produce when the deadline is reached.
Also the Deputy Education Minister should be informed that As are not the sole reason why students are sent for tuition classes. One very important reason is to keep them occupied so that they do not waste their time sleeping or playing computer games. Another reason could be that parents know their children are weak in the subject and the teachers in schools have no time to give their children personal coaching. Yet another reason is that going for tuition has become a culture of the Malaysian society.
The Deputy Education Minister goes on to assure parents that their children will be assessed at school level as his Ministry will monitor the situation. The question arises as to how they will be assessed. Evaluation and assessment would be left to the discretion of the teacher. A great amount of monitoring will definitely have to be carried out as even though there are many conscientious and dedicated teachers who go by the book, there are an equal number of lazy and callous teachers who will try to find the easy way out in every situation. The latter could implement open-book tests, record marks without having checked on the work of the students and even expect students to curry favour for higher marks.
We have all had bad experiences with exams but they have made us diligent and committed to want to improve our performance. Standardized nation-wide examinations are very necessary for separating the wheat from the chaff, to measure the performance of each individual student against his peers who come from different schools in different states in our 1Malaysia.
Maybe at this stage, the mindset of the policy-makers should be changed. On the one hand, they are now spearheading the issue of the abolishment of examinations. On the other hand, they have informed controlled schools that the children there cannot afford to fail their examinations. If children as young as nine years old (in Std 3) fail their examinations, they will be retained for a year and if they fail again, they will be kicked out of the controlled schools. What message are they trying to disseminate to the people of Malaysia concerning the issue of examinations?
That the policymakers see a need for a change regarding the issue of examinations is commendable, but abolishing them is definitely not the answer!
Take the case of the oral English examination which used to be conducted nationwide in Form 3 and in Form 5 in the 1980s. Teachers were sent to other schools to assess the language proficiencies of students there in those days. This was scrapped and school-based assessments are conducted throughout the year by conscientious teachers who follow guidelines given by the Ministry of Education.
Yet, there are many discrepancies regarding how this evaluation is done in the classroom, if it is done at all. Some students read a text to the teacher only, while some have to read to the whole class. Some have to memorise a text and present it to the whole class. What is happening here is that teachers take it upon themselves to decide how the students should be assessed depending on the capabilities of the students. The evaluation is thus not standardized throughout the country. Yet the results will be taken into account for their final examinations at national level (either PMR or SPM).
The Deputy Education Minister further states that parents are too obsessed with As and that is why they spend thousands of ringgit to send their children for tuition. Aren’t the school-based evaluations going to be graded? What is to stop a parent from spending money to make sure that their childrens’ folios get good grades? Does he know that today’s kids, because of lack of time, have not only parents doing their folios for them, but they also copy from their seniors. Teachers are just pleased that students have got folios to produce when the deadline is reached.
Also the Deputy Education Minister should be informed that As are not the sole reason why students are sent for tuition classes. One very important reason is to keep them occupied so that they do not waste their time sleeping or playing computer games. Another reason could be that parents know their children are weak in the subject and the teachers in schools have no time to give their children personal coaching. Yet another reason is that going for tuition has become a culture of the Malaysian society.
The Deputy Education Minister goes on to assure parents that their children will be assessed at school level as his Ministry will monitor the situation. The question arises as to how they will be assessed. Evaluation and assessment would be left to the discretion of the teacher. A great amount of monitoring will definitely have to be carried out as even though there are many conscientious and dedicated teachers who go by the book, there are an equal number of lazy and callous teachers who will try to find the easy way out in every situation. The latter could implement open-book tests, record marks without having checked on the work of the students and even expect students to curry favour for higher marks.
We have all had bad experiences with exams but they have made us diligent and committed to want to improve our performance. Standardized nation-wide examinations are very necessary for separating the wheat from the chaff, to measure the performance of each individual student against his peers who come from different schools in different states in our 1Malaysia.
Maybe at this stage, the mindset of the policy-makers should be changed. On the one hand, they are now spearheading the issue of the abolishment of examinations. On the other hand, they have informed controlled schools that the children there cannot afford to fail their examinations. If children as young as nine years old (in Std 3) fail their examinations, they will be retained for a year and if they fail again, they will be kicked out of the controlled schools. What message are they trying to disseminate to the people of Malaysia concerning the issue of examinations?
That the policymakers see a need for a change regarding the issue of examinations is commendable, but abolishing them is definitely not the answer!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
More to education than just academia
WHAT a disappointment to read that our Deputy Prime Minister is planning to reward educators with cash incentives for boosting the academic performance of their schools, “Muhyiddin announces performance incentives for teachers,” (Sunday Star, May 16).
It is common knowledge that not all students are academically bright. Granted that some students need prodding and encouragement and this is where the teachers, head teachers and principals will play a pivotal role in their academic success.
However, not all schools are blessed with an enrolment of academically-inclined students. Besides, why is it so very important to be academically-inclined? Again, it is common knowledge that one can be a success in life without having a string of academic degrees after one's name.
Is academia all there is to education in Malaysia?
What has happened to our education philosophy where teachers have to see to the all-rounded development of the individual?
The STAR, Letters to the Editor (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)
It is common knowledge that not all students are academically bright. Granted that some students need prodding and encouragement and this is where the teachers, head teachers and principals will play a pivotal role in their academic success.
However, not all schools are blessed with an enrolment of academically-inclined students. Besides, why is it so very important to be academically-inclined? Again, it is common knowledge that one can be a success in life without having a string of academic degrees after one's name.
Is academia all there is to education in Malaysia?
What has happened to our education philosophy where teachers have to see to the all-rounded development of the individual?
The STAR, Letters to the Editor (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)
Why turn to Australia for English language teachers?
I REFER to Hussaini Abdul Karim's letter “Get it right, it'll speak volumes for our English” (The Star, April 6) in which he says, “The best, practical and cheapest way to teach or re-teach our students the English language at primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities is to bring back retired British-trained English teachers.”
What about British-trained Malaysian teachers or even Malaysian students who have been trained in Britain or those who have been trained by the British-trained Malaysian teachers? There is a plethora of English language expertise that the Government can tap on.
It is difficult to comprehend why the Government is turning to Australia for help with the English language in Malaysia. The Australians speak English with an accent which is difficult to understand. They use slang and idiomatic expressions which are not commonly heard of in the rest of the world.
Can you imagine how a person from China would sound if he had learnt English from a Frenchman?
That is exactly how out-of-place our Malaysians would feel if they learnt English from the Australians.
English has become a foreign language in Malaysia. To learn English in Malaysia, however, Malaysians are fortunate to have an abundance of resources for all ages, especially in the form of entertainment.
Our local English language teachers should make use of all these resources like websites, TV shows, radio, newspapers and magazines, and not depend fully on the textbook and workbook with the sole aim of getting students to score As in the examination.
Making use of the listening skill is imperative, too. Give students practice so that they are aware of how words are strung together and pronounced.
I think that getting British trainers to teach the trainee teachers to use these resources will see better results in the long run than getting a few Australian teachers to teach a handful of students on a short-term basis.
The STAR, Letters to the Editor,(Wednesday April 7, 2010)
What about British-trained Malaysian teachers or even Malaysian students who have been trained in Britain or those who have been trained by the British-trained Malaysian teachers? There is a plethora of English language expertise that the Government can tap on.
It is difficult to comprehend why the Government is turning to Australia for help with the English language in Malaysia. The Australians speak English with an accent which is difficult to understand. They use slang and idiomatic expressions which are not commonly heard of in the rest of the world.
Can you imagine how a person from China would sound if he had learnt English from a Frenchman?
That is exactly how out-of-place our Malaysians would feel if they learnt English from the Australians.
English has become a foreign language in Malaysia. To learn English in Malaysia, however, Malaysians are fortunate to have an abundance of resources for all ages, especially in the form of entertainment.
Our local English language teachers should make use of all these resources like websites, TV shows, radio, newspapers and magazines, and not depend fully on the textbook and workbook with the sole aim of getting students to score As in the examination.
Making use of the listening skill is imperative, too. Give students practice so that they are aware of how words are strung together and pronounced.
I think that getting British trainers to teach the trainee teachers to use these resources will see better results in the long run than getting a few Australian teachers to teach a handful of students on a short-term basis.
The STAR, Letters to the Editor,(Wednesday April 7, 2010)
A step closer to unity
FINALLY, the powers-that-be are beginning to see the light in not making it a necessity to state our race in official forms. This is definitely a step forward towards achieving 1Malaysia.
At the Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia office in Ipoh recently, I saw the 1Malaysia concept epitomised.
The female Indian officer at the information counter adeptly spoke in English and Bahasa Malaysia to most of her clients and when a Tamil-speaking client was at the counter, she skilfully switched to Tamil.
If she only knew Mandarin, she would have been the envy of many.
Language then could be the other step we should take towards a 1Malaysia. Why limit ourselves to Bahasa Malaysia as the lingua franca in Malaysia? We are in a country where a host of languages and dialects are spoken.
As true Malaysians, we should each try to have knowledge of these languages and dialects and use them to foster unity.
The STAR, Letters to the Editor (Thursday, August 20, 2009)
At the Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia office in Ipoh recently, I saw the 1Malaysia concept epitomised.
The female Indian officer at the information counter adeptly spoke in English and Bahasa Malaysia to most of her clients and when a Tamil-speaking client was at the counter, she skilfully switched to Tamil.
If she only knew Mandarin, she would have been the envy of many.
Language then could be the other step we should take towards a 1Malaysia. Why limit ourselves to Bahasa Malaysia as the lingua franca in Malaysia? We are in a country where a host of languages and dialects are spoken.
As true Malaysians, we should each try to have knowledge of these languages and dialects and use them to foster unity.
The STAR, Letters to the Editor (Thursday, August 20, 2009)
Ipoh's public transport system driving us all nuts
IT IS indeed admirable to read that South-East Asian countries are learning from each other. South Korea emulated Malaysia in deciding to teach Mathematics and Science in English (The Star, June 13).
Malaysia plans to implement the gantry toll collection system used in Singapore and Hong Kong (The Star, June 13).
Now Perak wants to learn Singapore’s method of conserving heritage sites (The Star, June 13).
A more pressing area that the Perak government should look into is Singapore’s efficient transport system.
Even though Ipoh has achieved city status, it has a deplorable public transport system. Traffic is heavy and roads are congested mainly because the people do not have confidence in the buses and taxis which look old and ramshackled.
Why can’t Ipohites have the pleasure of enjoying a comfortable ride on buses, and which run on a regular basis?
New housing areas are sprouting up like mushrooms and yet no buses service these areas. Residents need to have their own transport or resort to taxis which do not use the meter to move within the city and nearby areas. The result is traffic congestion.
Another bone of contention is the bus terminals. The Inter-city bus terminal at Medan Gopeng is dark and dingy. It is so obvious that it was never meant to be a bus station.
The covered car park is dimly lit and the whole building needs sprucing up and regular maintenance.
The intra-city bus station at Medan Kidd has been in existence for ages. The town has grown into a city, but the premises have remained unchanged. It looks drab and definitely needs a fresh coat of paint.
Ipoh only recently began enjoying the shuttle train service to Kuala Lumpur, and shuttle flights to Singapore are beginning in July.
Can the Perak government improve the road transport system as well to make it safe and secure for residents? While at it, it should also investigate ways and means to coordinate the various modes of transport so that places in Ipoh are more easily accessible.
The STAR, Letters to the Editor (Monday, June 15, 2009)
Malaysia plans to implement the gantry toll collection system used in Singapore and Hong Kong (The Star, June 13).
Now Perak wants to learn Singapore’s method of conserving heritage sites (The Star, June 13).
A more pressing area that the Perak government should look into is Singapore’s efficient transport system.
Even though Ipoh has achieved city status, it has a deplorable public transport system. Traffic is heavy and roads are congested mainly because the people do not have confidence in the buses and taxis which look old and ramshackled.
Why can’t Ipohites have the pleasure of enjoying a comfortable ride on buses, and which run on a regular basis?
New housing areas are sprouting up like mushrooms and yet no buses service these areas. Residents need to have their own transport or resort to taxis which do not use the meter to move within the city and nearby areas. The result is traffic congestion.
Another bone of contention is the bus terminals. The Inter-city bus terminal at Medan Gopeng is dark and dingy. It is so obvious that it was never meant to be a bus station.
The covered car park is dimly lit and the whole building needs sprucing up and regular maintenance.
The intra-city bus station at Medan Kidd has been in existence for ages. The town has grown into a city, but the premises have remained unchanged. It looks drab and definitely needs a fresh coat of paint.
Ipoh only recently began enjoying the shuttle train service to Kuala Lumpur, and shuttle flights to Singapore are beginning in July.
Can the Perak government improve the road transport system as well to make it safe and secure for residents? While at it, it should also investigate ways and means to coordinate the various modes of transport so that places in Ipoh are more easily accessible.
The STAR, Letters to the Editor (Monday, June 15, 2009)
Monday, May 17, 2010
The Importance of Computer Literacy in Education
The development of the modern day computer is the result of advances in technology. Today, nearly every student has a computer because a computer is very useful in education.
Using the computer gives us easy access to information via the Internet at the click of a button. Besides that, we can find any information we need to know via the Internet. This information could be from books, newspapers and magazines and they can be found in websites and webblogs. Anybody with Internet access can upload and key-in information, whether it is reliable or not. So we must be careful when we make use of the information found online.
Nowadays the computer has become very important to everyone. Its advantages are immense, for example, the computer has a wealth of information. It contains many text documents and millions of videos and pictures that can help us to learn more. We can therefore get more data from a source besides books. So we could buy a computer and have Internet connection instead of buying millions of books to get information.
With the computer which has Internet access, we can also learn with students from other places. They need not be in the same class or school or country. With an e-mail account, we can share information about what we learn in school. We can also exchange examination papers. By sharing information, we will know more about education in other countries. We can also learn from the experiences of others.
The computer is like our assistant. We can carry out research for assignments, essays and reports. The information can be stored, edited and retrieved easily. Without Internet access, the computer can be used to make our assignments, essays and reports look more professional, if we decide to print out our work, rather than write by hand.
Thus, the computer is very important in the life of a student. Every student should have one, and get assess to the Internet. We should be computer literate to become better students today.
Using the computer gives us easy access to information via the Internet at the click of a button. Besides that, we can find any information we need to know via the Internet. This information could be from books, newspapers and magazines and they can be found in websites and webblogs. Anybody with Internet access can upload and key-in information, whether it is reliable or not. So we must be careful when we make use of the information found online.
Nowadays the computer has become very important to everyone. Its advantages are immense, for example, the computer has a wealth of information. It contains many text documents and millions of videos and pictures that can help us to learn more. We can therefore get more data from a source besides books. So we could buy a computer and have Internet connection instead of buying millions of books to get information.
With the computer which has Internet access, we can also learn with students from other places. They need not be in the same class or school or country. With an e-mail account, we can share information about what we learn in school. We can also exchange examination papers. By sharing information, we will know more about education in other countries. We can also learn from the experiences of others.
The computer is like our assistant. We can carry out research for assignments, essays and reports. The information can be stored, edited and retrieved easily. Without Internet access, the computer can be used to make our assignments, essays and reports look more professional, if we decide to print out our work, rather than write by hand.
Thus, the computer is very important in the life of a student. Every student should have one, and get assess to the Internet. We should be computer literate to become better students today.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
'ir'
‘ir’ in the words irresponsible and irrational is a prefix in the adjectives responsible and rational. When ir is used with these words to describe someone, the prefix tells us that the person is not responsible nor rational respectively.
Everyone likes a person who is responsible. We are responsible when we know how to take care of our belongings and also the belongings of others. When we borrow things without returning them, we are being irresponsible. When we are careless and lose or damage what has been borrowed, we are irresponsible, too. Are you a responsible person? Can you give other examples of irresponsibility which you may have experienced with your friends and siblings? Do you think that it is important to be responsible?
An irrational person is one who does not think before taking action. He will follow his heart without paying heed to the consequences of his actions. Road bullies, for example, are irrational. When there is a mishap on the road, their emotions rule. They become angry with the other party even though they may have caused the mishap. I wonder if they ever regret their actions on hindsight or whether they feel justified for what they had done. Can you give more examples of irrational behavior?
To widen your vocabulary, look up the dictionary for more words which could have ‘ir’ as a prefix and share them with us.
Everyone likes a person who is responsible. We are responsible when we know how to take care of our belongings and also the belongings of others. When we borrow things without returning them, we are being irresponsible. When we are careless and lose or damage what has been borrowed, we are irresponsible, too. Are you a responsible person? Can you give other examples of irresponsibility which you may have experienced with your friends and siblings? Do you think that it is important to be responsible?
An irrational person is one who does not think before taking action. He will follow his heart without paying heed to the consequences of his actions. Road bullies, for example, are irrational. When there is a mishap on the road, their emotions rule. They become angry with the other party even though they may have caused the mishap. I wonder if they ever regret their actions on hindsight or whether they feel justified for what they had done. Can you give more examples of irrational behavior?
To widen your vocabulary, look up the dictionary for more words which could have ‘ir’ as a prefix and share them with us.
BEING LITERATE
One of the main objectives of learning a language is to be able to express our thoughts and feelings in words. When we are able to use the language, we would be able to communicate with others who know the same language. If two people do not speak the same language, they would be like a hen and a duck.
One of the objectives of this blog is to give you, my students, an avenue to express yourselves in the written word. It is meant to be interactive, in the sense that you not only read what is written but you also respond by writing down your thoughts and feelings on the issues discussed. Being English language students, you are expected to write in grammatically correct sentences and to be courteous.
These days, writing has become a great part of our lives. We leave messages for our parents and siblings at home, and our friends at school. We send SMS messages to friends and family members. We put down our comments on Facebook. We chat with our friends online. We send e-mail messages, which are so much faster and more convenient than snail mail. Of course, we also have to write when we do our schoolwork and homework.
Can you imagine what your world would be like if you did not know how to read or write in English? What are the benefits of being English literate?
One of the objectives of this blog is to give you, my students, an avenue to express yourselves in the written word. It is meant to be interactive, in the sense that you not only read what is written but you also respond by writing down your thoughts and feelings on the issues discussed. Being English language students, you are expected to write in grammatically correct sentences and to be courteous.
These days, writing has become a great part of our lives. We leave messages for our parents and siblings at home, and our friends at school. We send SMS messages to friends and family members. We put down our comments on Facebook. We chat with our friends online. We send e-mail messages, which are so much faster and more convenient than snail mail. Of course, we also have to write when we do our schoolwork and homework.
Can you imagine what your world would be like if you did not know how to read or write in English? What are the benefits of being English literate?
Friday, March 12, 2010
EVEN THIS SHALL PASS AWAY
Once in Persia reigned a King
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before the eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance,
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they:
"Even this shall pass away."
Trains of camels through the sand
Brought his gems from Samarcand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these.
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main;
"What is wealth?" the king would say;
"Even this shall pass away."
In the revels of his court
At the zenith of the sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests;
He amid his figs and wine,
Cried: "Oh loving friends of mine!"
"Pleasure comes but not to stay;"
"Even this shall pass away."
Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield;
Soldiers with a loud lament
Bore him bleeding to his tent;
Groaning from his tortured side,
"Pain is hard to bear," he cried,
"But with patience, day by day,
Even this shall pass away."
Towering in the public square,
Twenty cubits in the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone,
Then, the king, disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name
Musing meekly, "What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay
Even this shall pass away."
Struck with palsy, sere and old,
Waiting at the gates of gold,
Said he with his dying breath;
"Life is done, but what is death?"
Then, in answer to the King,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Showing by a heavenly ray,
"Even this shall pass away."
This is a poem by Theodore Tilton that I would like to share with you. I would like to let you know that as young students our problems may seem like mountains, but life goes on and somehow we manage to survive. So we will need to plod on and face the music. What do you think?
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before the eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance,
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they:
"Even this shall pass away."
Trains of camels through the sand
Brought his gems from Samarcand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these.
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main;
"What is wealth?" the king would say;
"Even this shall pass away."
In the revels of his court
At the zenith of the sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests;
He amid his figs and wine,
Cried: "Oh loving friends of mine!"
"Pleasure comes but not to stay;"
"Even this shall pass away."
Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield;
Soldiers with a loud lament
Bore him bleeding to his tent;
Groaning from his tortured side,
"Pain is hard to bear," he cried,
"But with patience, day by day,
Even this shall pass away."
Towering in the public square,
Twenty cubits in the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone,
Then, the king, disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name
Musing meekly, "What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay
Even this shall pass away."
Struck with palsy, sere and old,
Waiting at the gates of gold,
Said he with his dying breath;
"Life is done, but what is death?"
Then, in answer to the King,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Showing by a heavenly ray,
"Even this shall pass away."
This is a poem by Theodore Tilton that I would like to share with you. I would like to let you know that as young students our problems may seem like mountains, but life goes on and somehow we manage to survive. So we will need to plod on and face the music. What do you think?
HOLIDAYS
Most of you are enjoying a one week break from going to school. I say 'most of you' because some of you will still be going back to school for extra classes or sports and games. Some of you will also be involved in school camps.
Many of you have had your monthly tests and you can be considered lucky because you will not need to spend your time studying during this one week break. For those whose tests are after the holidays, it will always be at the back of your mind that you will need to get ready for your tests. That is the life of a student, especially a Malaysian student since doing well in exams and tests is of utmost importance.
How are you spending your holidays? Do you like staying at home? Or do you prefer to go to school? There are many things one can do while on holiday, even if you spend your time at home. Cleaning up the mess in your room could be your top priority. Also, you should try to help your parents with some of the household chores. You could also spend time on your hobbies and interests.
Some of you will be going for a short vacation to another town or even a holiday resort. It will be a good change from the normal routine of life at home. I hope you appreciate the opportunities for adventure that you might have.
In whatever way you are spending your holidays, please do take some time to tell us about it. We will be eagerly awaiting your postings. As for me, I will be carrying on with my usual classes. I hope that you will be present for your language classes.
Many of you have had your monthly tests and you can be considered lucky because you will not need to spend your time studying during this one week break. For those whose tests are after the holidays, it will always be at the back of your mind that you will need to get ready for your tests. That is the life of a student, especially a Malaysian student since doing well in exams and tests is of utmost importance.
How are you spending your holidays? Do you like staying at home? Or do you prefer to go to school? There are many things one can do while on holiday, even if you spend your time at home. Cleaning up the mess in your room could be your top priority. Also, you should try to help your parents with some of the household chores. You could also spend time on your hobbies and interests.
Some of you will be going for a short vacation to another town or even a holiday resort. It will be a good change from the normal routine of life at home. I hope you appreciate the opportunities for adventure that you might have.
In whatever way you are spending your holidays, please do take some time to tell us about it. We will be eagerly awaiting your postings. As for me, I will be carrying on with my usual classes. I hope that you will be present for your language classes.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Home Schooling
Have you ever thought what it would be like if you did not have to go to school, but instead were taught at home?
Would you have the discipline needed to study on your own? You would need to buy the prescribed books but other reading material would be made available online. You would have a set timetable to follow. There would be homework to do and examinations to sit for. It does sound like attending a normal school, doesn't it? The main difference is that you would not need to step out of your house.
Besides that, what would you be missing out on? Friends and human contact would be the number one loss, unless, of course, your parents made arrangements for you to meet up with other homeschoolers now and then.
You would be missing out on all the extra-curricular activities. You would only do what you chose to do. So what do you think your world would be like?
Many parents these days choose to homeschool their children for one reason or another. Do you think that your parents have made the right choice in enrolling you in a school which you have to attend like all other children of school-going age?
What are the benefits of going to a building where you are
- exposed to different academic subjects (many of which do not interest you),
- taught these subjects not on a one-to-one basis, but in a classroom filled with students of the same age and
- expected to be at par and sometimes perform even better than the rest of your classmates?
Would you have the discipline needed to study on your own? You would need to buy the prescribed books but other reading material would be made available online. You would have a set timetable to follow. There would be homework to do and examinations to sit for. It does sound like attending a normal school, doesn't it? The main difference is that you would not need to step out of your house.
Besides that, what would you be missing out on? Friends and human contact would be the number one loss, unless, of course, your parents made arrangements for you to meet up with other homeschoolers now and then.
You would be missing out on all the extra-curricular activities. You would only do what you chose to do. So what do you think your world would be like?
Many parents these days choose to homeschool their children for one reason or another. Do you think that your parents have made the right choice in enrolling you in a school which you have to attend like all other children of school-going age?
What are the benefits of going to a building where you are
- exposed to different academic subjects (many of which do not interest you),
- taught these subjects not on a one-to-one basis, but in a classroom filled with students of the same age and
- expected to be at par and sometimes perform even better than the rest of your classmates?
Tuition Classes
Why do you come for English language classes?
Many students would say that it is to try to pass their examinations with flying colours.
To some, it is just a trend. Since they have been going for tuition from young, they must carry on attending these classes. Sometimes, it is because their friends are going, so they have to tag along and be one of the ‘in’ group.
From a distance, many people will view tuition classes as a waste of time and money since free education is being provided to all students studying in Government schools.
In my opinion, tuition classes are an avenue for students to grow and mature into more independent adults. Besides being exposed to the subject matter taught, it is in these classes where their discipline is checked. They learn discipline by attending classes punctually, doing the work assigned to them and paying their fees promptly.
They learn to communicate in their small group classes when they mingle and socialize with students from other schools. Some even go on to become lifetime friends.
If it is a language class, the students can take advantage of the opportunity of being in the tuition class (where the numbers are small) to speak the language they are learning. In the school, their overflowing classes would deter them from sounding a single word.
In short, attending tuition classes is not all about scoring straight As. It is akin to university students attending tutorial classes after the lecture sessions.
So why do you come for English language classes?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)