Dearest students,
So thankful to Him as though the exam paper today was not a piece of cake at least the task was not an uphill battle for some of my in charge. The theme that i had asked them to commit to memory bore fruits and what a relief to see some of them grinning from ears to ears after exiting from the hall. I must be thankful to the invigilator who happened to be an English teacher. He was a great help to some students who were stuck with difficult words especially for guided writing as some of the vocabulary are not in students' lexicon for their lack of reading. i could not thank him more for his help as who else to give a hand at that time of moment - but was the act morally wrong or enough if i regard such an act as a helping hand only.
So thankful i am to Madam Farah for her tips a couple of days prior to the exam. She amongst others mentioned about constructing compact essay that includes in it a variety of sentences and tenses aside from some powerful language expression be it idioms, passive voice and so forth. The sentences must be perfectly elaborated.
I could now feel the so called a void after the students finished both first and second paper for English. So, i must buck up and do something to better improve my own language acquisition. SPM candidates under my tutelage will sit the exam in no time. Preparation breeds success, the more small success we acquired the
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
OO ALLAH HELP THEM PLEASE
Dear students,
It is a known fact that miracles happen everyday. They know yet select day when the Almighty said so, things will be going as ordained. We tend to forget Him if things go our away, instead we invariably brag ourselves by taking full credits while basking in success that we forgot both success and failure are God's test to see whether or not we are in fear of Him. We usually prefer to be in solitude for self-reflection if things went wrong aside from blaming others but ourselves. This is not actually the attitude i we should put in practice as what should matter most is the efforts we have put in. The result, let the Almighty God decide as He knows best who deserve the most.
Sometimes, in the eyes of us mortals, certain students deserve but to Allah they are still not fit enough to be accorded a success for their bad deeds or for any reason only God knows like the laws of karma as some religious adherents hold onto strongly. He is of course All-knower. His knowledge is beyond our imagination. He gave us knowledge but very little.
Sadly to admit that despite being able to anticipate the outcome of last year's batch.The pain and shame rendered us reeling in shock and guilty for failure to convert even a student from lower grades to ace. This alone has since taught me some invaluable lessons that i hardly found elsewhere. So true when a once renowned US singer, Alanis in his song's lyrics read , i lose i learn i cry i learn and so forth. Learning is continuous act and it stops once we answer His call or we ourselves prefer to call it a quit though our mental and physical strength said no.
I hardly close my eyes as the time is counting and nothing much could i do now except keeping fingers across that the Almighty Allah we award us accordingly in proportion with the efforts that we put it. I know i could have done better should i have a comprehensive master plan, but this type of thinking dissipates our energy more than any other things.Why? because we put much attention to things in the past that no one can make amend. If the accident victim succumbed to injuries or impact, students as well teachers might paralysed mentally due to failure.
Oo Allah help us please as this will enable us to chart a new life especially students so that they would be able to give greater contribution to the Ummah of Muhammad. Let us chant salawats at all times without fail.
Sir
It is a known fact that miracles happen everyday. They know yet select day when the Almighty said so, things will be going as ordained. We tend to forget Him if things go our away, instead we invariably brag ourselves by taking full credits while basking in success that we forgot both success and failure are God's test to see whether or not we are in fear of Him. We usually prefer to be in solitude for self-reflection if things went wrong aside from blaming others but ourselves. This is not actually the attitude i we should put in practice as what should matter most is the efforts we have put in. The result, let the Almighty God decide as He knows best who deserve the most.
Sometimes, in the eyes of us mortals, certain students deserve but to Allah they are still not fit enough to be accorded a success for their bad deeds or for any reason only God knows like the laws of karma as some religious adherents hold onto strongly. He is of course All-knower. His knowledge is beyond our imagination. He gave us knowledge but very little.
Sadly to admit that despite being able to anticipate the outcome of last year's batch.The pain and shame rendered us reeling in shock and guilty for failure to convert even a student from lower grades to ace. This alone has since taught me some invaluable lessons that i hardly found elsewhere. So true when a once renowned US singer, Alanis in his song's lyrics read , i lose i learn i cry i learn and so forth. Learning is continuous act and it stops once we answer His call or we ourselves prefer to call it a quit though our mental and physical strength said no.
I hardly close my eyes as the time is counting and nothing much could i do now except keeping fingers across that the Almighty Allah we award us accordingly in proportion with the efforts that we put it. I know i could have done better should i have a comprehensive master plan, but this type of thinking dissipates our energy more than any other things.Why? because we put much attention to things in the past that no one can make amend. If the accident victim succumbed to injuries or impact, students as well teachers might paralysed mentally due to failure.
Oo Allah help us please as this will enable us to chart a new life especially students so that they would be able to give greater contribution to the Ummah of Muhammad. Let us chant salawats at all times without fail.
Sir
Monday, October 8, 2012
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Dear students,
What is so equally hard and interesting as it pumps our adrenaline hard is the nature of exam which forces us to keep guessing. Then at times the uhhs and ahhs will follow thereafter i mean after or while the exam. As a teacher whose knowledge of both pedagogical and subject per se is far from being at par with those the old timers of dons, a pang of guilty is of course unavoidable as i know what i lack despite i keep telling myself to rather focus on self-claimed strengths. But , the whisper invariably is too hard that is overheard by others though they care not at all. Thus, this so called uninvited feelings will result in a paradox which hardly abates.
If i have to recall for what i have done this year. I did very little considering the amenities that the school offer in helping out students from the abyss of ignorance. If i were to compare with some teachers whose hometown are as far as up to 90 kilometres from school, my service might not be that bad. It is disservice to make a comparison as we know what our students need to know at certain rungs. I as far as i am concerned have paid too much concern on preparing them to sit for the exam that i overlook the core business of my teaching which is to educate and train them to experience a gradual improvement.
Unlike previous years, this year i have the same batch of students since form 1. i know each and everyone of them. Most of them are the same since form 1. If their English is still bad though it harsh to make such a blanket statement, i think the onus is on me as i did not really teach them English. If i have truly taught them, things will go the other way round. And the blame is on me and this feeling is like an urge to keep me going moments i was about to vent anger of students' indifference towards learning.
The day after tomorrow, there will be English paper. I have done my parts though never enough. At least some students have felt nauseated for having to attend classes at almost all times. They sadly could not find ample time for themselves to relax their mind and refresh their energies. I do pray they will be confident enough to give their all. It is perfection that matters, it is when you have put heart into something that really matters.
E is to me the language genius while S follows suit, only the latter is a bit careless to be at par with the former in writing.
Sir
What is so equally hard and interesting as it pumps our adrenaline hard is the nature of exam which forces us to keep guessing. Then at times the uhhs and ahhs will follow thereafter i mean after or while the exam. As a teacher whose knowledge of both pedagogical and subject per se is far from being at par with those the old timers of dons, a pang of guilty is of course unavoidable as i know what i lack despite i keep telling myself to rather focus on self-claimed strengths. But , the whisper invariably is too hard that is overheard by others though they care not at all. Thus, this so called uninvited feelings will result in a paradox which hardly abates.
If i have to recall for what i have done this year. I did very little considering the amenities that the school offer in helping out students from the abyss of ignorance. If i were to compare with some teachers whose hometown are as far as up to 90 kilometres from school, my service might not be that bad. It is disservice to make a comparison as we know what our students need to know at certain rungs. I as far as i am concerned have paid too much concern on preparing them to sit for the exam that i overlook the core business of my teaching which is to educate and train them to experience a gradual improvement.
Unlike previous years, this year i have the same batch of students since form 1. i know each and everyone of them. Most of them are the same since form 1. If their English is still bad though it harsh to make such a blanket statement, i think the onus is on me as i did not really teach them English. If i have truly taught them, things will go the other way round. And the blame is on me and this feeling is like an urge to keep me going moments i was about to vent anger of students' indifference towards learning.
The day after tomorrow, there will be English paper. I have done my parts though never enough. At least some students have felt nauseated for having to attend classes at almost all times. They sadly could not find ample time for themselves to relax their mind and refresh their energies. I do pray they will be confident enough to give their all. It is perfection that matters, it is when you have put heart into something that really matters.
E is to me the language genius while S follows suit, only the latter is a bit careless to be at par with the former in writing.
Sir
Monday, October 1, 2012
10 DAYS TO GO
Dear students,
Those taking PMR within 10 days' time have already started butterflies fluttering for freedom inside their stomach. The same might happen to teachers in-charge.It seems fated. We can't help but to care the outcomes out of our last minute actions. As for yesterday i happened to read article by a renowned writer whom i got to know last a few years back and we were in contact for few months before coming to a halt for no reason. But, to date, i still follow his writing. He said that one of the best way to motivate us to do things or even to be motivated is write. He substantiated his points by saying that writing helps us define our problems clearly. Thus, upon knowing our problems, it would be a great help to tackle them . I am now in the dark on how to prepare my students within critical stages. All of a sudden , it occurred to me that why not put all things popping up in mind into words. Then the poured words would be sieved for further action or even non-action which what really happened at most times before. Another thing, what to write? just write things lingering in mind is not enough as we need to give thoughts to things that really matter.
Azan is being pronounced from some nearby mosques. To answer the call is one thing. But to truly observe the calling by heading for the mosque for congregational prayers is another thing which is if not equal or of paramount importance. Got to stop now! to be continued..
Sir
Saturday, September 15, 2012
IS IT TO ME TEACHING A TRUE CALLING
Dear students,
Still the same way i start addressing whenever i am about to make an entry to this very blog. I mean dear students though they are nowhere to be found. We were so close once that almost after weekly night classes we had with a few of them a cup of nescaffe o at a stall known as kedai Ayu, named after an attractive young woman who happened to be a daughter of the owner of the restaurant. That restaurant is in fact not far from school, provided we make our way there on foot. There, some hot topics popped up ranging from students' problems, cheap gossips among students as well as rumors among teachers about unfavorable students.At times, we kept talking about good old days of PMR batch 2009 while searching for ideas on how to revive the lost fighting spirit . Of course, those with me at that time as volunteers namely Aidil, Bob and Mat Yie were from 2009 batch. We had a great fun teaching them as we did enjoy the process instead of focusing on the result. It proved that the result would take care of itself if we had enjoyed the process. The key here is we in order to get a great result must enjoy things at hand not spending to much time thinking for perfection but doing very little or nothing.
But, do i enjoy doing things i repeatedly do it on daily basis or not? i might answer without a second thought yes! yes in the sense that i have no choice left considering unsettled loans from banks. Or yes because it might be a true calling for me. I have searched some blogs on teaching. I do agree with many who argue that teaching affects generations or its effect is eternal. How if we give them a bad impact for lessons not well executed or for ill-planned teaching exercises which did not augur well in the long run. We indirectly deny them their right to access the best educational experience where knowledge gained and skilled acquired. Aside from that we are also to play a prominent role which is to develop students' characters explicitly or implicitly. The question is if we just let the evil triumph over good things for fear of being labelled as too much meddling on students' affairs or other teachers' portfolios, are we still regarded as a man who makes a difference or the other way around - the one who makes things worse.Edmund Burke nicely strung a line of words for thought, he was quoted as saying all that is necessary of letting loose the devils is good men do nothing.To take corrective method is a crucial step not to let evils reign. It is true, teaching is not one-fit-all method, we need to constantly learning, relearning and unlearning before unleashing our true hidden potential.
A true calling I might be willing to call it is of last Tuesday when i happened to stumble upon my ex student of smaasza at KLIA's departure hall holding my hand for a handshake while asking me whether or not I remember his name .Sadly, my memory worked a bit slow at that crucial moment of time as i could hardly recall his name.But i managed to save to face as i could vividly recall his trademarks like his neat handwriting, only i forgot to talk about his footballing prowess. He was as for yesterday a handsome man, no longer a pocket man with dimples on both cheeks when i taught him in form one, 2007.i after all used to call him and his colleagues of 1a2 a bunch of genius, the brightest students i have had ever taught so far. I gave him a warm send-off seconds before he departed for Jordan to do medicine.
Do i have to wait for such a moment to call it a calling. I might do no justice to countless other students under my in-charge as they are still deserving respect and care , let alone well-thought lessons as much as Hadi and his bright patriots deserved. This alone leads me to look deep down inside to find the answer for my so called true calling. Or i simply call it a calling out of nothing.
Sir
Still the same way i start addressing whenever i am about to make an entry to this very blog. I mean dear students though they are nowhere to be found. We were so close once that almost after weekly night classes we had with a few of them a cup of nescaffe o at a stall known as kedai Ayu, named after an attractive young woman who happened to be a daughter of the owner of the restaurant. That restaurant is in fact not far from school, provided we make our way there on foot. There, some hot topics popped up ranging from students' problems, cheap gossips among students as well as rumors among teachers about unfavorable students.At times, we kept talking about good old days of PMR batch 2009 while searching for ideas on how to revive the lost fighting spirit . Of course, those with me at that time as volunteers namely Aidil, Bob and Mat Yie were from 2009 batch. We had a great fun teaching them as we did enjoy the process instead of focusing on the result. It proved that the result would take care of itself if we had enjoyed the process. The key here is we in order to get a great result must enjoy things at hand not spending to much time thinking for perfection but doing very little or nothing.
But, do i enjoy doing things i repeatedly do it on daily basis or not? i might answer without a second thought yes! yes in the sense that i have no choice left considering unsettled loans from banks. Or yes because it might be a true calling for me. I have searched some blogs on teaching. I do agree with many who argue that teaching affects generations or its effect is eternal. How if we give them a bad impact for lessons not well executed or for ill-planned teaching exercises which did not augur well in the long run. We indirectly deny them their right to access the best educational experience where knowledge gained and skilled acquired. Aside from that we are also to play a prominent role which is to develop students' characters explicitly or implicitly. The question is if we just let the evil triumph over good things for fear of being labelled as too much meddling on students' affairs or other teachers' portfolios, are we still regarded as a man who makes a difference or the other way around - the one who makes things worse.Edmund Burke nicely strung a line of words for thought, he was quoted as saying all that is necessary of letting loose the devils is good men do nothing.To take corrective method is a crucial step not to let evils reign. It is true, teaching is not one-fit-all method, we need to constantly learning, relearning and unlearning before unleashing our true hidden potential.
A true calling I might be willing to call it is of last Tuesday when i happened to stumble upon my ex student of smaasza at KLIA's departure hall holding my hand for a handshake while asking me whether or not I remember his name .Sadly, my memory worked a bit slow at that crucial moment of time as i could hardly recall his name.But i managed to save to face as i could vividly recall his trademarks like his neat handwriting, only i forgot to talk about his footballing prowess. He was as for yesterday a handsome man, no longer a pocket man with dimples on both cheeks when i taught him in form one, 2007.i after all used to call him and his colleagues of 1a2 a bunch of genius, the brightest students i have had ever taught so far. I gave him a warm send-off seconds before he departed for Jordan to do medicine.
Do i have to wait for such a moment to call it a calling. I might do no justice to countless other students under my in-charge as they are still deserving respect and care , let alone well-thought lessons as much as Hadi and his bright patriots deserved. This alone leads me to look deep down inside to find the answer for my so called true calling. Or i simply call it a calling out of nothing.
Sir
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
A GOOD AUTHOR A GOOD BOOK - ROALD DAHL
“We have tears in our eyes
As we wave our goodbyes,
We so loved being with you, we three.
So do please now and then
Come and see us again,
As we wave our goodbyes,
We so loved being with you, we three.
So do please now and then
Come and see us again,
The Giraffe and the Pelly and me.
"All you do is to look
At a page in this book
Because that’s where we always will be.
No book ever ends
When it’s full of your friends
The Giraffe and the Pelly and me.”
― Roald Dahl
"All you do is to look
At a page in this book
Because that’s where we always will be.
No book ever ends
When it’s full of your friends
The Giraffe and the Pelly and me.”
― Roald Dahl
Sunday, May 6, 2012
IN SEARCH OF THE UNKNOWN
Dear readers,
Nothing remains the same but the change itself.Change at times is hard, harder still if we resist to change. They say if we are poised to accept change the chance is we are destined to change for better.The hardest part is when we are already become entangled with a plethora of old thoughts that resist to embrace novelty.We sometimes are victims of our own success. Success that sheds us light of proven track to achieving it invariably mitigates our further progress as we are over reliant on past methods. Thus, we tend to brush off the fact that our subjects are of different breeds that demand different approach.At last, it failed us miserably.
To stay motivated for a period of time when others gave in is actually an art. The art of tenacity.We apparently tend to be influenced more by our surroundings or external factors that derail us further and further from our track. Unless and until we are truly motivated or inspired enough to take on any challenges we have set to achieve or are bound to achieve due to outside pressure from the so called stake holders.
If what Sigmund Freud claimed that everyone wants to be important is always true, almost all things would be like a piece of cake.Why? of course, give them what they have craving for for a ransom . The reality is not everyone is after fame but almost everyone is in search of happiness. This what forces us to ponder.Some gain happiness while in process, in struggling or on their way to the destination,whilst others claim to reach happiness once the reach their destination. Furthermore the level of happiness is ever fluctuating that renders us mortals restless to find the one that gives us a lasting happiness.So, does happiness truly exist or we are shrouded by the mist of happiness which is so fragile that may eclipse in the blink of an eye.
Sir
Nothing remains the same but the change itself.Change at times is hard, harder still if we resist to change. They say if we are poised to accept change the chance is we are destined to change for better.The hardest part is when we are already become entangled with a plethora of old thoughts that resist to embrace novelty.We sometimes are victims of our own success. Success that sheds us light of proven track to achieving it invariably mitigates our further progress as we are over reliant on past methods. Thus, we tend to brush off the fact that our subjects are of different breeds that demand different approach.At last, it failed us miserably.
To stay motivated for a period of time when others gave in is actually an art. The art of tenacity.We apparently tend to be influenced more by our surroundings or external factors that derail us further and further from our track. Unless and until we are truly motivated or inspired enough to take on any challenges we have set to achieve or are bound to achieve due to outside pressure from the so called stake holders.
If what Sigmund Freud claimed that everyone wants to be important is always true, almost all things would be like a piece of cake.Why? of course, give them what they have craving for for a ransom . The reality is not everyone is after fame but almost everyone is in search of happiness. This what forces us to ponder.Some gain happiness while in process, in struggling or on their way to the destination,whilst others claim to reach happiness once the reach their destination. Furthermore the level of happiness is ever fluctuating that renders us mortals restless to find the one that gives us a lasting happiness.So, does happiness truly exist or we are shrouded by the mist of happiness which is so fragile that may eclipse in the blink of an eye.
Sir
Sunday, January 8, 2012
I ALWAYS HAVE MYSELF TO BLAME
Dear students,
This years marks my fifth year teaching here and fifth formers now as as old as i am dwelling at and in this very school.So many bitter sweet memories went unrecorded.Yet,some of them remain intact as they at times encourage me to go on and on. I happened to audio-record a few events that mark our once achievement being here at this very school.I should take it as nothing but a mere coincidence.The maxim that two heads is always better holds true considering the dismay result of PMR candidates of 2011. Her departure was too costly that none aced for English.
Should i take her departure as a timing bomb and swiftly figure out means to overcome it,this year result would not be so cataclysmic like what we have now.I thought i realized it, but it was too late the leakage was possibly beyond repair given the low motivation the teachers as well as their in-charges had had at that time of moment. Thus,Only we are strongly advised to remain positive with whatever befalls us, aside from abiding by the principle that God did not create something for nothing. There must be reasons which we mortals should dig out to take lessons for further improvement of ourselves. I admit i myself ever remind student to memorize some inspiring lines 'it is so easy to cry and die, but to fight when hope is out of sight'..It is now high time for me look deep down inside to keep on track so that not to have derailed me from the right paths.
Though countless reasons bundled to me ranging from students' weak grasps of the language and school activities which are too overloaded, the fact remains and forever remains is no of them aced last year. And i have to be frank that i have always myself to blame.And i should say sorry for that,for jobs unwell-done.
Sir
This years marks my fifth year teaching here and fifth formers now as as old as i am dwelling at and in this very school.So many bitter sweet memories went unrecorded.Yet,some of them remain intact as they at times encourage me to go on and on. I happened to audio-record a few events that mark our once achievement being here at this very school.I should take it as nothing but a mere coincidence.The maxim that two heads is always better holds true considering the dismay result of PMR candidates of 2011. Her departure was too costly that none aced for English.
Should i take her departure as a timing bomb and swiftly figure out means to overcome it,this year result would not be so cataclysmic like what we have now.I thought i realized it, but it was too late the leakage was possibly beyond repair given the low motivation the teachers as well as their in-charges had had at that time of moment. Thus,Only we are strongly advised to remain positive with whatever befalls us, aside from abiding by the principle that God did not create something for nothing. There must be reasons which we mortals should dig out to take lessons for further improvement of ourselves. I admit i myself ever remind student to memorize some inspiring lines 'it is so easy to cry and die, but to fight when hope is out of sight'..It is now high time for me look deep down inside to keep on track so that not to have derailed me from the right paths.
Though countless reasons bundled to me ranging from students' weak grasps of the language and school activities which are too overloaded, the fact remains and forever remains is no of them aced last year. And i have to be frank that i have always myself to blame.And i should say sorry for that,for jobs unwell-done.
Sir
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