Teslians of UPSI for 2006-2010 Cohort.

We attended our practicum briefing just now. When the briefing ended, it also marked the end of our current academic days at UPSI, at least for this semester. It was quite a poignant moment for me as once again I had to part with my friends from this alma mater, especially my TESL friends.

My course mates have taught me many things directly and indirectly. In fact, I have learned at least one thing from everyone of them. Thus, everyone of them is my angel. As I am probably not going to meet some of them, I would like to tell them that I love all of them. I am sorry that sometimes I let my friends down. I used to oppose what my friends had planned to do. I am really sorry about that. I hope I am forgiven.

Last but not least, I want to dedicate the song composed by Pete Teo and vocalized by Atilia titled Angel to all of my TESL friends. This song is also one of the theme songs in the locally produced movie, Talentime.

Enjoy!

Malaysia: The Land of Fallacies and Myths.

I believe that this land is not only rich in tales but more that. Let me elaborate on this in the chronology of time. First, it is written in Malay Annals (Sejarah Melayu) that the founder of the Sultanate of Malacca was originated from Bukit Siguntang, Palembang. The founder of this kingdom is also said to be a descendant of Alexander the Great, the great conqueror from Macedonia. Wow! This simply means that some rulers in this country are descended from Alexander the Great. In that case, one of my lecturers, a royalty herself can also claim that Alexander is her forefather. Omigosh! I am quite puzzled! Alexander is a Greek, is not he? But then, Tun Seri Lanang believed to be the author of Malay Annals claims that the Malay rulers of Sultanate of Malacca were descended from Alexander and this could also mean that some present rulers in Malaysia are from the lineage of Alexander. Please note that they are Malays. Perhaps who knows that they are the genuine diasporic offspring of Alexander the Great or Iskandar Zulkarnain. Even some scholars are not agreeable that Alexander and Iskandar are actually the same person.

Second, the ancient Chinese Kingdom of Ming had made the ancient Malaccan Kingdom as its protectorate. China through Admiral Zheng He actually warned the then Siamese King to stop harassing Malacca. The Siamese Kingdom was the only threat to the Malaccan Kingdom when the latter started to set its foot in the region of South East Asia. After Sultan Mansur Syah married to Princess Hang Li Poh, the princess requested the sultan to send regards to her father, the then emperor of China. At first, Sultan Mansur was reluctant fearing that something bad would happen to the emperor. He believed that he was the sovereign ruler and thus by sending regards to other kingdoms would result the latter to face the ill consequences or tulah (a curse). After that, the sultan did extend his regards to his father-in-law, the emperor. Guess what? The emperor got a weird sickness after that. The only remedy to cure his sickness was the sultan’s air basuh kaki. Eventually, the emperor got healed after bathing with the leftover water used to be washed Sultan Mansur Syah’s feet. Wow! The then Malacca was protected by China. But the Chinese emperor whose kingdom was a lot greater than the sultan’s kingdom had to get the tulah. Even the existence of Hang Li Poh is disputable. Is Hang Li Poh a fictitious character in the Malay Annals? A few years back, it was revealed that actually four of the five warriors by the names of Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu were Chinese. Omigosh! Historians are jokers. If Herodotus, the father of history were still breathing, I hope he will kick all these so-called historians’ asses.

Third, many will be surprised that Bruce Lee, the guy who kicks asses on the screen had actually been defeated by Dato’ Meor Abdul Rahman and Dicky Zulkarnain before his death. I am not sure whether these defeats are true or not. But, before we blindly believe things like this, please note that these are not beyond the reasonable doubt. When you read about how Dato’ Meor was born, you will be questioning on most of the accounts on his birth. Can you believe that Dato’ Meor’s was the twin of a worm? You can google on his birth accounts to find out more on this. Besides, there are two versions of tales on how Bruce Lee was defeated by the Mahaguru of Silat Gayong. Regarding of the claim that Dicky Zulkarnain has actually beaten Bruce Lee, this so-called fact is also a doubt. In fact, Dicky once claimed that he was not the one who had beaten Bruce Lee. Instead, he said that Mahaguru Meor was the one who had actually defeated Bruce.

Fourth and last, I have heard that the most profitable business around is owned by churches. These churches through their priests give sermons saying that one should be cheerful in offering tithes to the church one attends to. I once attended a church in which its people used to preach that you would earn a hundred-fold when you gave cheerfully. They collected money to build a new church building. I am not sure how much the construction of that church did cost. But, the number of that sum should be in seven figures. The church was fully constructed in year 2001. Recently, this church was collecting for another building fund from Christians who attended that church. Their target for that fund was RM 15 million. I am not sure whether the present church is going to be re-sized or another church building is going to be constructed. But, I do hope that religious institutions will not be corrupted and unscrupulous especially big sums of money are concerned.

In conclusion, let me stress that this is not an academic piece of writing and thus it does not comply with the academic protocol. So issues on citations and quotations shall not arise from this writing. The partial piece of this writing contains some of my opinions which could be true and untrue depending on how one perceives this writing. So, discretion and wisdom are needed to evaluate this writing.

Fcuk Godot? Why?

Why I can only crush to somebody but nobody will give me their love?
Can someone tell me who on earth likes me? I mean likes me romantically?
Why I was born not good looking, poor, not intelligent and with no strong work ethics?
Why others were born with silver spoons in their mouths but I was born a pauper?
Fcuk Godot! Yes, you do not read it wrongly. I say fcuk Godot!
Call me an atheist, but I want to voice everything from my heart.
I want to voice out what is on my mind.
Why Godot is not being fair and square with me?
If disparities happen in this world, all these were created by Godot
If people are being treated badly, all these were caused by Godot
Why? Why Godot did not allow all human beings to be born equal?
If one was born poor, everyone should be born poor.
If one was born rich, everyone should be born rich.
Godot is the chief cause of all the calamities on this planet called Earth.
FCUK GODOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodbye to Written Tests at UPSI and Welcome to the Life of Teaching

I am glad that I am not bound to sit for written tests at my alma mater anymore. In formal testing system, these written tests are known as paper-and-pencil tests. Now, I only need to do homework for my practicum. The supervisor who will be observing me is the only English Professor at UPSI. She was also my supervisor while I was working on my project paper. I am worried as my communicative skills are very bad. My teaching experience is shallow. Hopefully, I will be prepared to teach the real kids at SMK Methodist. Hello, my future students. I am looking forward to see you guys!

My Project Paper Report: Perceptions of TESL Learners on Their Readiness to Administer English Language Tests in Schools.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to find out the perceptions of future English teachers who would become teachers and English language testers on their readiness to administer language tests at schools. To realize this study, 31 student teachers at Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI) were selected to participate in this study. The methods of questionnaire and interviews were used to carry out this study. Findings and results revealed that positive and negative perceptions were drawn from their responses with regard to this study. This study is important as the researcher believes that future teachers’ viewpoints can also contribute towards the change of status quo in the education system of this country particularly in the field of English Language testing as they are going to become the agents to implement any educational policy set by the government of the day. Besides, the report of this study also provides some suggested solutions to problems which are happening in the present language testing scenario in Malaysia. It is hoped that this study will become a reference for student teachers, teachers, language testing instructors, university administrators and personnel in the Ministry of Education to consider for very much needed amendment to take place in the field of language testing.

For full report please click here or here.

My heart-throbs...

There are at least three fair souls whom I have interest at my alma mater. These three people are not only damn smart, they are also damn intelligent and damn hardworking. Two of them are currently in their fifth semester and the other one is in her seventh semester. Well, I have no look nor brain. I also don't have a strong discipline and most importantly I am an under-achiever. So, obviously I could not set my eyes on anyone of them. I hope that I can win any of these fair ladies' hearts when I become somebody, not just a below-achieving anybody.

Who are these fair ladies? For the time being, I could not disclose who they are. Only time will reveal their true identities.

Well, the call of examination is nudging me to...you know...emmm....I think you know-lah!

Yeah, 'I syok sendiri'

I always 'syok sendiri' thinking that I am better than others, but actually I'm not...

I always 'syok sendiri' thinking that I can survive on my own, but actually I cannot...

I always 'syok sendiri' thinking that I am a cheerful giver, but actually I'm not...

I always 'syok sendiri' thinking that others will love me, but actually they don't...

I always 'syok sendiri' thinking that I am indispensable, but actually I'm not...

When am I going to wake up and face the reality? Come on, wake up and make up your fucking mind...

Do you still want to confine yourself in your world of illusion?

Wake up! You have been living like this for over twenty years.

You're an under-achiever!

Get up and face the reality!

My old schoolmates.

I have been informed that one of my friends is pursuing an MBA in the States. The other friend is furthering his studies for the master's degree. He is also said to be a potential candidate for the PhD.

Two of my old schoolmates have got married. In fact, two of them are siblings. Their husbands are not their used-to-be boyfriends. These two boyfriends were also my schoolmates at Sekolah Menengah Jalan Junid, Muar.

I am proud of what my old school friends are doing now. I was touched when I heard good things about them. But, deep in my heart I am sad. I am here struggling to complete my thesis at UPSI. I am such a dick head. When will I ever learn? When will I ever grow up? Why am I still immature?

More than just a good grammar...

I think I cannot be an academic. Because I don't even know how to cite. Sigh...

No posting for two years after 2010?

Can anyone tell me what is this all about?

Does this mean that those who loan the money from PTPTN may delay for their payments?

What does it mean when it is reported that the government of the day is having a financial problem?

If the government knew that they would be in this deep shit, why did they insist on sending a spaceflight participant into the space?

Last but not least, will the recipients of KPTM scholarship be affected?

So, you know how the policymakers in Malaysia work?

???

The Pledge of My Life

I swear with my life that I will not allow myself to extend my academic period. I see new hopes to complete every single assignment. I keep on winning battle by battle. I could win this war. Yeah, Malaysia Boleh! Yeow Chee Kheong Pun Boleh!

What's the shelf life for a friendship?

I leave it to the readers to decide...

I need a lifeline

SOS!!! I need to complete every single assignment or else my graduation day will be at stake. I don't want to extend my academic period!!!