Result.

Assalamualaykum.

So sorry for the long silence..
[not that anyone cares..]
I've been busy with things at work.
The usual stuff that need to be done before school ends.
Hence, I couldn't find time to blog or even blog-hopping...
[I miss reading pa'chik's ramblings.. Ms Istanbul's stories.. et cetera..]

Alhamdulillah, my kids bring a smile to me today.
2 of my kids scored 5As in their UPSR examination.
That's BIG news for us teachers in such small school like mine.
Sadly, my school Headboy got 4As and 1C.. his C was for my subject!
Huhhuhuhuhuhu.. felt like crying..
But seeing his I'm-already-satisfied-with-those-As face, I smiled.
I know my kids had done their best.

Alright, I guess that's all for now.
Still got some work to do before going back tomorrow.
Take care!!

Wassalam.

UPSR

Assalamualaykum..

Today is THE DAY.
At this very moment my kids are fighting for their battle.. UPSR..
If you're reading this, I'd like to ask for a favor.

Please recite AL-FATIHAH for my kids.
Once is good enough.
Hopefully your prayers and mine will help them go through the exam.

Semoga dipermudahkan segala urusan mereka..
Aminnnnnnn~

Wassalam~

Course!

Assalamualaykum..

Thanks for the visits these past few days, people..
Lately I'm busy with my kids' exam.. [UPSR trials to be exact..]
Hence no posts/entries from moi since the last one.. :)
InsyaAllah I'll be updating my blog a.s.a.p.
And am having a one-day course at the moment..

And err... pa'chik... everything's ok.
:)

Wassalam.

Patient!

Assalamualaykum.

Just finished my class with my Year 6 kids.
Well, today I think my patience goes up way beyond the limit.
Why? Read below.
The scenes happen in the same day (which is today-lah).

+++++++++++

Scene 1:

TeacherFizzy: I want you to take out the homework that I asked you to do. Put up your hands those who didn't finish that homework.

(almost half of the class put up their hands.)

TeacherFizzy: Was it that hard?I only asked you to write 10 SIMPLE sentences using words that I had already given you the meanings. And we have gone through the words a few times already!

Those who didn't finish their homework, I want you to get out of my class. Get out! I don't have time for those who are not interested in learning.

(students obidiently [and happily] got out of the class.)

* * *

Scene 2:

TeacherFizzy: I want each of you to share your sentences with your friends, write it on the board. 1 sentence for 1 person.

(the remaining students began writing on the board.)

TeacherFizzy: "Just now, I drew my mother and father picture." Amer, what do you want to say here actually? 'Saya lukis gambar ibu bapa saya', atau 'saya melukis gambar untuk ibu bapa saya'?

(no answer.)

TeacherFizzy: Do you hear me? Apa maksud ayat yang awak tulis ni? Come on, your wrote it yourself, mesti la tahu maksud kan? Saya bukan marah, saya nak tahu apa yang awak cuba maksudkan lepas tu saya akan betulkan lah.

(still no answer, he didn't even look at me when I asked him.)

TeacherFizzy: Amer!! Saya dah cakap BM ni. Faham tak soalan saya? Saya cuma nak tahu maksud ayat awak ni. Bukan saya kata ayat awak salah. Bila dah tahu apa yang awak cuba sampaikan, baru saya boleh betulkan mana-mana yang patut. Kalau tak, jadi lain pulak. Awak akan salah faham nanti!

(he remained silent and my body started shaking, tears suddenly filled my eyes.)

TeacherFizzy: MasyaAllah! Answer me, Amer. Is it that hard to understand my question? Itu ayat yang awak buat sendiri, bukan ayat yang saya bagi. So you MUST know the meaning kan?

(tears rolled down my cheek by now..)

Amer: "Saya melukis gambar ibu bapa saya."

TeacherFizzy: There!!! Boleh pun jawab. Itu lah yang saya tanya dari tadi lagi. That's what I want to hear. Kenapa dari tadi awak tak bagi maksud tu? Nak saya menangis dulu baru awak nak jawab? So, your sentence should be like this: " Just now, I drew a picture of my mother and father."

(after a bit of 'lecture', the class continue as usual.)

+++++++++

Yeah, I cried in front of my students.
The first time this year.
Does that make me a bad teacher?
I do sound like one, don't I?

Sigh~

Wassalam.

Break!!

Assalamualaykum.

Yes, it's here.
The school break is finally here.
Can't really say that I'm happy because I still have to travel to school from home during the school break.
For what?
Hrmmmm.. let's see..

There are extra classes for Year 4,5 and 6.
One-day course on Sunday, 27th of May.
PTK examination on the 6th of June.

So, no need to be jealous just because I have two weeks break.
It's not really cuti anyway.
[I pity my Year 6 kids, they have extra classes on EVERY SINGLE DAY of the break.. kesian kan?]
Till then, have a nice weekend!

Wassalam~

of English and me~

Assalamualaykum.

Being an English teacher, people [especially parents], always ask me this particular question:

"How do we/our children become good in English?"

That's one helluva trickiest question to answer, I might say.
Because I don't think I'm good in the language at all.
But my answer is always simple and the same to everyone.
You've got to love the language.

Don't think of it as an alien language, especially these days when English is used everywhere and anywhere.
Even if you're watching Datuk Yusof Haslam's "Sembilu ", the subtitle is in English.
Or the cartoons.
In a way, we are learning the language without realizing it.

When my housemates asked me how did I end up being an English teacher, I told them I had great teachers inspiring me since I was in primary school.
Teacher Zabedah, Teacher Ong, Mr Thank Swee Hong, Mrs Hiew.
And when I went to Tunku Kurshiah, I was taught by Mr Pillay, Mr Shamser, Puan Hafizah.
They were equally great.
When I was doing my diploma, I had a group of inspiring lecturers like Puan Ros Amisha, Puan Rozanah, Puan Azizah, Puan Aziah, Puan Umai, Miss Ong and Mr Joseph.
They taught me as a student, advised me like I was their own child and hang out with me like I was one of their friends.
So, how can I not be inspired by all of them?

And as I was watching a show @ E! [Astro channel 76], I thought of another reason why I developed a liking in the language.

I grew up with it.

I've always love watching TV series, even until now.
And back in the late 80s and early 90s, there were loads of shows that I liked.
To name a few..,

Full House
Growing Pains
21 Jump Street
Doogie Howser M.D.
Anne of Green Gables
Twin Peaks
My Secret Identity
The Girl From Tomorrow

And when I was in primary school, I was Tommy Page's die hard fan,you know?!
I remembered waiting for his "Time" or "A Shoulder To Cry On" music video when I got back home right after school. *giggles*


You may laugh, but I don't think my students listen to any English songs at all.
I don't know what went wrong, but the only nursery rhyme that they are familiar with is "Twinkle² Little Star".
They don't know "Baa Baa Black Sheep", "London Bridge", "If You're Happy" etc.
My school was in a kampung too, for Goodness sake, if that's their excuse for not being exposed to the songs/rhymes.
Or maybe the current curriculum is to be blamed?
My lips are sealed.~

The most important thing is what you read.
It's a great way to learn, be it English or anything at all.
Don't you think so?
I have my father to thank when it comes to developing my interest in reading English stuff.
Though Abah doesn't read much English, but he bought me a Sidney Sheldon for my UPSR gift.
And that was my first time reading an English book/novel that's an inch thick.
Hehehehe..

Please don't get me wrong, this entry was not meant to 'mengagung-agungkan' English.
But being in the education field, especially in the current curriculum, English knowledge is vital.
I pitied my little kids that had to struggle learning Science and Mathematics in English when their skills in the language is not to be proud of.

I pray that Allah will give me the strength.
Amin~

Wassalam.

Let's Get Patriotic!

Assalamualaykum..
When I first got the news that I was going to be posted here in Terengganu, SETIU to be exact, some of my friends got mixed up.
Some thought Setiu was in Perak! (WTH kan?? LOL. )
Well, truth be told I have this 'thing' against Terengganu, you know.
It's unexplainable, giving thought that my Abah was born in Terengganu.. [Jerteh..]
So that means, in a way, I'm half Terengganu kan? hehehehe..
But I'm loving it, as Setiu is not that far from Kelantan.

Well, actually today's post was merely to share this particular song called "Setiuku" that we had to sing during our Teacher's Day celebration yesterday.
Laugh all you may but it shows how much I 'love' LOVE this district in Terengganu called SETIU. (gulp!)

++++++++++

SETIUKU

Lahirnya di bumi Terengganu
Setiu daerah bongsu
Bangkit dalam deru
Bergerak menuju maju

Dari pantai sampai ke gunung
Nelayan petani mengukir senyum
Membina kemakmuran
Generasi wawasan

Setiuku oh Setiuku
Bangun pagi, bersama mentari
Bangun membangun perindustrian
Membangun pelancongan, pertanian, perikanan
Bangun mencapai awan

Setiuku oh Setiuku
Dari Merang sampai ke Bintang
Dari Fikri ke Seri Harapan
Bangun membangun desa
Bangun membangun kota
Membangun hidup cemerlang

Batu Rakit dan Permaisuri
Langkap serta juga Jabi
Bersatu dalam barisan
Bersatu dalam wawasan

Setiuku oh Setiuku
Daerah bongsu di bumi Terengganu
Setiu oh Setiuku
Daerahku menuju maju

+++++++++++

Patriotic, am I? Hehehehehe..
Even Pasir Mas/Tumpat, Seremban or Cheras don't have a song made especially for them.
So that simply means Setiu is special after all, kan?
*giggles*
Wassalam~