Seminar Professional Learning Communities 2014

This trophy meant a lot; sadly there's only one and my partner expresses his desire to have it. Thus, I shall keep the photo and memory here.   I remembered how nervous I was prior to the presentation, 380 audience! Am I grateful (and still in disbelief) that our paper was selected out of the 68 papers that were submitted and won second best presenter award. Presented  my our collaborated paper 'English Remedial Instruction to Enhance Low-Achievers' Vocabulary Competence' at the State Level Seminar Professional Learning Communities (PLC)2014.  You see, the whole idea of PLC is eliminating the ME and substitute with US.  It is really a golden opportunity for me to be part of this seminar as I get to see and meet many SISC+, principals, professors etc. The way they presented themselves and the knowledge they shared made me realize how little I know and how much more WE should do to really help improve our Malaysian Education.

 

 

FANTASTIC presentation Mdm Catharina Stephen! "Fun-Tasks-Tick Group Work Activities in the Language Classroom". — feeling excited at University College of Technology Sarawak.

Finally, Mr. Vincent Liong Shou Chuan (Pegawai SIPartner+, PPD Sarikei). He believes in process over programmes. "The right person for the right job, at the right place and right time melalui agihan tugas yang cekap." — feeling inspired with Vincent Liong.

 

Another applause to PPD Sarikei! "Pelaksanaan PLC Satu Amalan Terbaik ke Arah Transformasi Bilik Darjah" presented by Guru Besar En. Wong Hing, SJK Kwang Chien

Take away: The PPD appreciates the schools; the school appreciates the teachers and students through words and acts of encouragement — at University College of Technology Sarawak.

" If you love your job, you do not have to go to work." Foooh, love her philosophy!

Third speaker Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hajah Zaidi Mustafa, Dean, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, UNITAR International University Kuala Lumpur, presenting

Plenary 2: 'Personalizing Learning Via Coaching: Touching the Heart, Touching the Mind'.

Plenary 1: "Professional Learning Communities (PLC) dan Pembudayaan Kemahiran Berfikir Aras Tinggi (KBAT)" by Dr. Balasandran A. Ramiah, Pensyarah Kanan, Institut Aminuddin Baki.

"For a person to become a teacher, you need three qualities. 1) You must love your students. 2) You must love teaching. 3) You must love knowledge. "

check? check? check? — at University College of Technology Sarawak.

"We want to learn from our weakness; we want to be challenged. We want to improve ourselves to be better." -Tuan Haji Abdul Rahman bin Bolhassan, Timbalan Pengarah Pendidikan Negeri Sarawak.

Check out "schoology", free VLE!

"Why must our students be confined to a fixed curriculum if they are ready?"
"We have to help our kids to overcome English phobia. "

Personal favourite, speaker Dr. Ng Kee Chuan, Pensyarah Kanan, IPG Kampus Gaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, presenting "Classroom in the Cloud". — with Dr Ng Kee Chuan.

 

Hallelujah! Glory be to God^^

"Welcome to our PLC Sharing Session
In tandem with English Remedial Instruction
For which is a spur to quality education
Aiming to produce proactive generation."@ Semry Semtin

Thank you JPNS, PPD Kapit and SMK Kapit for giving us this opportunity to share the little we know. My blessings to meet these awesome teachers Mdm Nona Stephen, Mdm Catharina Stephen & humble Mr Hailmi^

This virtual trophy is dedicated to my mentor, Mr JikKam Yong. Thank you!!  

 

 

 Woke up at 4:30am this morning feeling rather disoriented as I've to go back to Kapit shortly. Met an experienced and successful teacher last week during the seminar, she expressed her desire to go back to serve at her hometown in the village as the principal for she wants to see change for her people.  I think she'll be an awesome candidate; we Malaysians need true leaders that will bring positive change to the nation, state, division, school. 

18 more days till the year end holidays start.  I bet school will be rather quiet as SPM started yesterday and many teachers left for invigilation.  So, it's English paper today. I wish my girls will excel and ideas, ideas, please flow into their minds.  God bless you all!

Memories documented.

Dear Bloggie,

My Final Observation for the year 2014, this time by Principal Mr Manggie Nyegang himself! He gave me a 'near cemerlang'.Out of the 3 classes I have that day, he chose this, 3K. Well, it must be my lucky day for all of them are very cooperative and the Remedial Instruction cum i-Think lesson was carried out successfully! Kids love them, I was smiling and my principal was smiling away looking at their active participation....Love you guys!

         I've 15 minutes to blog. There's so much on my mind that I need to share it out in words, as memories. So, PT3 started this morning. I was appointed as the Invigilator as I've 4 classes of Form 3 students. Just this afternoon, another students messaged me to ask about tips for tomorrow's exam. Personally, I find PT3 gave teacher extra workload, like stapling the questions, marking them and keying in the results. It can be seen as just any usual examinations in school, but this is considered a public exam and we teachers have the responsibility to increase the English standard of our school. Imagine, you having the questions on your hands, but at the same time, you are obliged not to reveal anything to the students.

       My greatest weakness is I can't keep secrets, especially from close ones. Or was is consciousness. Recently, I made kind of a big mistake at work. I dare not admit, thinking no one will realize if I brush it aside. What an irresponsible act. Nonetheless, it haunts me. So yeah, I finally have to talk to someone. Conclusion: do what is right. For the sake of good night sleep.

       Side tracked. Anyway, back to this morning. This is the first time I invigilate a public exam, meaning we can't be playing with phones, reading or marking. We can walk around to stay awake, but of course our main task is make sure the candidates do not cheat during the exam. I am very grateful to my team leader for she knew I am more suitable to invigilate the good classes. Reason: I haven't mastered the fierce look that students will shudder when they saw me stare into their eyes. Well, today I did try my best to be stern while reading out the instructions. As for the second session, I wished them well with a smile and I guess that class felt lest tensed.

      Anyway, I finished my tuition at 10pm tonight. The form 2 kids will be sitting for their final year examination tomorrow. I had such a wonderful time with these two boys. It's really more enjoyable to teach a small group. I felt bad for sometimes I allow other students to replace their missed lessons at this slot, thus neglecting them.  Both of them (Fung and Qiang, I hope I'll remember their names and faces when I'm 45 or 65) are from a well-to-do family, both doing business. One expressed his desire to  follow his father to be a chef, an outstanding one, not merely Chinese cuisine but western and tepanyaki. I have not really sat down to listen to their stories for a long time. Tonight, we managed to revise all 4 poems: The River, Mr. Nobody, I  Wonder and Heir Conditioning.  They aren't proficient in the language nor are they the good boys in school.  Nonetheless, they are the reason I wanted to blog tonight. It's just their innocence, listening to their perspectives of life.  When I asked them what is their purpose of life, one tell me honestly, I don't even know what's the purpose of studying.  The other replied, to spend time and because mom asked me to do so.

      Yap, at that age, most of us will follow blindly what our parents ask us to do. Well, parents know best, aint? At this age of XX, I still always turn to mom when I've problem.  Since dad is retired this year, I called home more often to chat with him.  I love my parents a lot and I know, no matter how old I am, I will still always be their youngest princess. haha. okay, minus the fact they've now Xin Yu and Yu Hui. Ahhh...I miss my two nieces and two nephews so much!! DEAR GOD, PLEASE APPROVE MY TRANSFER AND SEND ME HOMEEEEEEeeeee....

      Last but not least, I wonder if it's time to announce the love of my life. haha. I bet he'll read this sooner or later. Yeap, I'm in love! Hallelujah! Love is a magical thing huh. It just gives you the force, the meaning of life. Despite the heavy workload and occasional PMS mood swing, life is really more colourful and meaningful having a significant other. Should you read this one day, or  I read it myself in the months or years to come, I hope our relationship will be fruitful. Fruitful as in building a family of our own. I love how you understand me, tolerate me, talk to me, listen to my stories, sincerely care for me and the list goes on. Oh, priority: you love God! Stay that way darling, I love to listen to you play the guitar during praise and worship. I love to listen to your sharing bout God's words and how every time during our 'serious' topic, you'll bring in God.  Thank you for coming to join my church activities as well as inviting me to yours. Looking forward to spend more quality time together so we can get to know each other at a deeper level.  *2030*

     ops, exceeded 15 mins. Haha, time to....virtual date :P

Faith, peace, love.


p/s to all my dearest form 3 students, all the best for your examination tomorrow ya. praying for you!!

My First Mission Trip Abroad

12.9.2014 8.55am
Ve not updatedmy lifein herefor three months.  currently in the bus headingto lwv for a one week mission trip with twelve bros and sis..

woke up this mlrning qoth worsen sorethroat...last week wwnt to sembaneng waterfall with friends in kapit. fearered im infected by leptospirosis...jeng jeng..

is it the syndrome of growinh old...thoughts of  dying appear in muy mind occasionally.  im 27 and i intend tomlive till 87. god's willing. ive so much sreams to achieve yet. lasr week, a bat flew into my bedroom and was trapped inside for a night. being the timid me, i dare not shoo it out thus wonder if i'll turn into a batwoman the next day. bluek.  last few months, a spid
er, big one was spotred outside mynbedroom door, i dare not enter and thankfully colleague came to rescue.

what will god speak to me this trip? i just feel there is more to life than this. bus stopped, driver went down to grab rice..such coincidence J P bus besides us. we're going to our cg retreat coming 4-6 oct! and praise the lprd i can attend old buddy huey wedding on 19th sept! coming back w joanne earlier by one daybwith an "escurt" from lwv!!

typing this via asus transformer tablet for the first time. pardon the typo.

time to rest my tired body. it was quite a journey from kapit last night. i pray that our loving father will  help me with mybtransfer back to kuching soon. i understamd there are more senior teachers with family commotments whomwant to get outof kapit too...dont get me wrong, kapit is indeed a lovely ntown but ive been there three years and i really missed  home a lot...solid reason?

hello Ipoh =D

10:53pm, runny nose yet dare not take my favourite Piriton as I've tons of unread journals and assignments to be ...started. So yeh, the school holidays started last week, but we're here at UPSI.  The good thing about 'how time flies' is that...can you believe this is our final semester?! Geez, can't wait for this to be over.


For this third semester, we have:
1) BIP 6034 ESL Course and Syllabus by Dr Intan Safinas Mohd Ariff Albakri (am I super glad to have her back!!)
2) BIP 6024 Assessing Language Competence by Dr. Che Ton Mahmud (retiring in 4 years yet her bubbly and dramatic nature didn't fail to make the class entertained!)
3) BIL 6034 New Englishes by Dr Ainon Omar (so we're going to study the English language policies from different countries....hm....it might be interesting to know and compare our Malaysian education policy with others)

Studies aside. So yesterday, Yvonne and I had the golden opportunity to visit Ipoh.  Thanks to Ah Lun, Ah Jia and Vanessa~ 

haha, look at Marilyn Monroe's face, effects of eating too much! The moment we reached Ipoh, we literally eat non-stop.

 

bought a skirt in there and a pair of earrings. recently, have the special feelings of dressing more girly. haha..

   

Thanks Vanessa, for bringing us around your lovely hometown! You are one friendly and awesome tour guide. We were very much entertained :D

   

This 3D master piece by Ernest does worth a thumbs-up, right?

  

Ernest Zacharevic's work in progress...an old man sipping coffee~~ too bad he's not around,they say this ang moh is pretty handsome.

  

by Eric Lai. A local I supposed. Many paintings along this street...there, you see tourists snapping away their cameras. haven't been to the orang utan's wall painting in Kuching, have you?

  

Due to traffic jam, we managed to reached Ipoh after a 2:15mins ride from Tanjung Malim. First thing off, fill our tummy with this famous bean-sprouts chicken. yummm~  the coffee shop is really packed!

 

yeap. this is it. the famous Ipoh Old Town Coffee's DAD's shop! and you must order the kueh tiao from the opposite shop. this coffee shop is very crowded, and you can see tourists like us queuing and taking photos with takeaway  coffee under the sun! haha!

  

Who would have thought? friends that have met each other years, can actually feel so relaxed with each other? it's really a blessing to have friends :)

   

Last but not least, wishing all Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai~!! Satu Malaysia spirit eh :D

  

I've so much to blog~ About my friends' visit to Kapit on my birthday, about the Remedial Instruction Workshop...about my baby niece and baby nephew...about my rejected transfer...about....a VIP in my life =)

Life is goooooood.  Okay, as any other human beings, I've my down moments too; just every challenge really pull me closer to God and nowadays when non-VIP gives me cold shoulders etc, I no longer give a dam_. You want my respect, respect me first. haha....likewise, if I want your love, I will love you too. haha....above all, love one another. The greatest commandment, no? =)

May 2014 was Merry~~!! and June 2014 will be Joyful~!!

God bless each and everyone of you~! \(^_^)/

JB - USS, Singapore - Kch - Kapit

 

Taking 15 mins off my research to store my precious memories here.
Rewind back to March's holiday......
Hui Yi and Colin came to pick Yvonne and I at Senai Airport in their new VIOS. Woots~ We were invited to stay at their house back in Batu Pahat. Get to carry little baby Arissa Tan :) She doesn't cry much and HY, you are doing a good job as a mummy! =)

  

Congratulations ED~!! Finally, our bestie got  married! To our junior in IPTI. How's it going so far? Haha. Glad to reunite with our Cohort 4 TESLIANS. One thing obvious, most of our Malay coursemates came to Tangkak, with babies~! Haha. Oh man, Yvonne, when will our turn be? Haha.

  

Well, we single ladies enjoy our singledom too. Straight after the wedding reception, we boarded the bus to Bugis, Singapore~ It was a spontaneous decision. We booked this lovely backpackers the night before at HY's via Agoda. Good dea, RM 66 per head for a female dorm~ 5FootWayInn It's located at.. (should have blogged when my memory is still good) Bugis.  Breakfast is included.  Wi-Fi too. I enjoyed my stay here =) Get to chat with a French who speaks fluent Mandarin, over breakfast.

  

Marina Bay~ Wee Chuan says there's an Light Event going on that week. So we headed over after USS, Keppel Bay, Labrado Park and by the time we took the new line, it was near 11pm... Took this view from Helix Bridge. Saw a couple hugging each other so tightly for ... 25 minutes? same position, face-to-face, not much talking. Guess it's pretty cozy with the night breeze caressing their bodies. haha.

  

Tada~ My second visit to Universal Studio Singapore~ Yvonne's 3rd. Lol..so this time round, Human and Alien were under maintainance.  Am I glad to experienced Transformer and the Jurassic Park's Water ride this time round~  Our new friends, Philip Ho & Min Wei :)  Not exactly new, just this spontaneous getaway was so random.  Recalling back.....3 years ago. MW came back fr Aussie after his masters, Yvonne intro me to guide them for Santubong Mountain climb. That's it,followed by a few rounds badminton, go-kart race, karaoke, dinners and CNY visiting....we hardly keep in touch after that 2011 year end holidays...then they suddenly drop by for a CNY visit this year. And voila, our USS trip came true~ haha. Thanks guys, it was really a wonderful trip :)

 
One of my favourite shot~! 

 

Before heading to Changi, Philip and I took the cab to this so-called famouse bak kut teh shop. They had more spices in it. And it's served with Mee Sua. We took the train back to our hotel. It's just a short distance on the map, but I think it took us nearly an hour to get back. Running to catch the train and waiting for a bus. Nonetheless, I am now looking back with a smile on my face (^_^)

  

What's next? Once I touched down Kuching, I rang up my childhood buddy. She's back from London!! And look who she brought home along. Mr Cornel! He's never seen a real crocodile so this Jong's crocodile farm sorta impressed him. haha.This lovely birds are back in Romania now. Wish I spent more time with her, our holidays is only but a week.



  

15 hours before heading back to Kapit, Philip invited us for Laser Tag. Met his brother Jabez and invited Yun and Wong along. The more the merrier. Oh man, do you remember this game at Pending? Played it for a few times after SPM. Running in the dark, shooting your enemies. So they've this new Laser Tag at City One.  RM 30 for two games. As predicted, I lost. If you want to be an easy target, wear White and smile while hiding (if you uses Darlie). Red team won.

   

Time to head back to Kapit. Hate to admit, but life here is really comfortable. A quiet Sunday afternoon, back from Sunday service and marketing, listening to the birds chirping, surrounded by greenery. Don't you think it's more of a relaxation holiday here rather than my activities-filled holiday? That's why...pls, send me home~ Approve my transfer back to Kuching....Yeap, I just submit my application. Kindly keep me in your prayers k? It's my 3rd year serving here. I love my kids here, my work, church, life..but I really miss my family. I don't want to keep my future husband waiting too long. haha. (might privatize this entry again)


 


  

Look how loving my colleagues are~ Capturing and documenting these wonderful moments here.  (Pic 1 leisure walk up the hill, pic 2 Nong's signature green beans soup, Pic 3 Chan's homemade soy drink Pic 4 home-shaved banana icecream.) haha


4 more days to Good Friday's holiday~ Have a spiritual and meaningful Palm Sunday guys~ The Holy Week starts =)

A day to remember.

Today, 27th February 2014 (Thursday) ... sends shiver down my spine. My fingers are shaking, exaggeration, my eyes are swollen, from crying.  When was the last time you cried?


The first news Tiing told me early in the morning, while we punched our cards, Wen Mei passed away. I ... I double confirmed three times. It's a shame I don't remember her Chinese  name.  She's been unwell for years; it's a good thing she no longer has to face the pain for she's now free and loved in our heavenly Father's embrace.  I don't know her well.  What I remember are her smiles, her devotion to Christ, her positivity.  I remembered she told us to do our best for choir, for she wanted to, but her breathing difficulties prevented her from pursuing that interest.  Nevertheless, she served outstandingly as a bass player, guitarist...I remember she held me by my arms and took this selfie, it's our first and last...

Alice, thank you....

I thought that's enough to bear for the day.  But guess God gave me another assignment.

I received another news.  3 of my Form 3 girls were caught by the police at the hotel last night, no, this 2am... My heart torn into pieces.  While attending prayer meeting tonight, God keeps telling me...instantly, it struck me:  have I failed as a teacher?

I talked to few friends about this.  I felt bad. Yes, I'm deeply affected.  Why have I not taught them to cherish their bodies.  I never really sit down and really talk to them.  They are considered the good girls in my class.  By good, I meant paying attention to class, doing their homework and trying their best to answer my questions, in English. 

They're still ALIVE. They're SO YOUNG!  They're....oh Lord.  Why.... Are their parents aware of this?  Some say, yes, their parents allowed them to do so.... for money.  Geez, money is THE ROOT to all evil!

From the other perspective, what if they really NEED the money? 

I'm not their parents nor am I their principal, form teacher, counselor, moral teacher.....but still, God planted me here. Why have I not ... how many more are there?  It's my 3rd year working here, I've heard many cases but this, these are the girls I've taught since my first year... what will be become of them?  how many more will they drown... how many unscrupulous heartless men are out there preying for an underage girl... 

I am glad, really grateful they were caught red handed... Please girls, learn and don't.... *breathing...*

who says teaching is an easy task.

Back to Alice.. Just last Saturday, we received the news of the passing of Mr Jimmy, a MUET teacher at St Jo... and the following day, the demise of our ex-colleague's husband. And today, Alice...and Amanda's beloved Sookie (dog).  I can't imagine how their families go through this... What is it like to loss somebody you loved so much.  When my hamsters died, I locked myself in my bedroom and cried under my blanket... It tore me to see my students dying, metaphorically. 

THERE'S HOPE, IN GOD.  God is faithful.  Yes, everything happened for a reason. Once again, I'm reminded of my purpose here on Earth - here, now.

My Form 3B! So pleased to see them putting in effort. 

  

Prayer & Words of Encouragement

Hallelujah!!!! 

Finally, our 5 weeks course is over!  Geez, how time flies and it's unbelievable I managed to survive. 

Dear God, 
I wanna thank you from the bottom of my heart, especially for today.  Yesterday, I was so anxious and nearly burst to tears before the quiz, the presentations to come..and I've no idea being a two-year-old teacher, I still suffer from stage fright.  How I admire my coursemates  who  appeared so confident and eloquent on stage.  

Thank you dear Evelyn for burning the midnight oil with me last night to prepare the powerpoint slides...and praying together with me this morning before presentation. Yvonne just complimented me that I did a good job this morning, saying she was amazed 'Wow, is this Lucy?' hahahahhaha....okay, I can't remember what I presented this morning, nor did I remember I stood out away from the rostrum and my hands actually .... flew up and down?

It gotta be the God who helped me pouring out the words. lol... p/s thanks darling for your constructive feedback. As always, you did a wonderful job too, so natural in explaining all the Ivan Pavlov's Behaviourism theory, Thorndike's etc...how do you remember all that....? you're awesome!

Behaviourism:  Rewards & Punishment (Operant Conditioning)
                           Stimulus-Response (Classical Conditioning)

Introducing our Issues in Literature's group members:  Dinesh and Shiva :)

 These two men appear to take things easy, but no, when they present, they've so much talk about...the floor is literary theirs!  A reminder from them "Relax~" hahaha.....

Not forgetting to thank the man who love me most in the world: DADDY! Guess no matter how old we are, we'll always find comfort in our parents' loving encouragement.  Thanks to my mentor too, "Fake it until you make it." hahaha.

Went home last weekend to witness Cynthia's wedding. So happy for them!  and our dear Hui Yi is pregnant! Can't wait to see baby next March! 

Being posted so far away from home, and having this part time masters really make me doubt my decision at times. I really missed out A LOT, especially the quality time with my niece.  and nephew.  Parents are getting older, I really hope I'll get my transfer soon.  May your will be done, Lord. But one thing for sure, no matter where I am, there's always this lovely place called - HOME.

p/s Time to do our portfolio - teaching plans & material designs. Come back to you again, bloggie :)