I got the power!

I have a loud and clear voice. I am able to interact with the students. I can make jokes. Why am I writing all this? Well these are my strengths in my simulated teaching. I have a good voice projection. I know that since I was schooling. I am naturally a loud person no matter where I am, maybe not in library. Good voice projection is very important for a teacher because students will be more interested to listen to you rather then you mumbling to yourself. This is one of the things I do not have to worry about.
Moving on to my second strength, I can actually engage students in listening to my teachings by involving each and everyone and not just focusing on one person. Students’ love it when they are given attention equally with other students even though their capability to answer may differ. Throughout other courses that I have taken, I realise that problems that students' create is because teachers do not listen to them. So I have decided to listen to what students’ has to say in certain situation and not limit them by just choosing few students'. In this way, they will feel appreciated and tend to come to class with enthusiasm.
Not many can be funny or make jokes in classroom that students’ can follow. Well I can. It is a gift to make a joke and students’ actually laugh at it. The joke that I am talking about is not the common jokes or stupid jokes that we make with friends but something that is related to the lesson that we are teaching. The kind of humour I like is the thing that makes me laugh for five seconds and think for ten minutes. That is what I want my students' to do. I am also sure that students’ tend to remember better the facts that you have thought them with an insertion of a joke. So with these strengths I hope to continue my quest in being a dedicated teacher towards my profession.
Good luck to me and my friends!

Where is the effort and creativity ?

Not interesting. Not interesting. Not interesting. This is how much I have to say about my exercises being not interesting enough. First my set induction, same old picture was shown. Why? I had no time to find for an interesting video. I can give excuse that I do not have enough time to find for all that but me, as a student should not give such excuses. Furthermore, I am a teacher to be. This is one of my main weaknesses in teaching. A little more effort is needed to improve my teaching. Interesting videos is another thing but being creative is another factor. Why did I follow the same ways as my course mates and not think of different approach to stimulate students’ interest during set induction? Again, effort plays an important role.
Then comes the pre and while reading. Same old exercises again. I wonder what happened to the word creative. If only I was creative enough to make my lesson more interesting, I would not be writing my weaknesses. The main reason is I am lazy to think because of the workload. Again, the same old excuses. I should be able to get an idea from creative students like Huey Fen, Jackson and Khairul to make the activity more interesting.
Anyway, since I am in the learning process I am sure I can overcome it! I hope to do much better in my future simulated teachings to come. I wish myself the very best in the future!

Let's blog!

I enjoy blogging then online forum which I did for the Teaching the Language of Short Stories last semester. First, it is because I own the webpage and I can write anything that I want. Blogging contributes a lot to my learning in lecturers and tutorials. It is because blogging is some kind of revision for me whereby I write back whatever that I have learned in tutorials and lectures. I also do research on something’s that I do not know about and blog on it. For an example, I made a lot of discovery on Teiresias, which I would not have found about if Dr. Edwin had not asked us to write about him. It also relaxes my mind and it is not a burden for me to do it.
I can surely say that writing blogs helped me a lot in this course because it makes me think on what, why, who, where, and how certain things happen in a play. If there is no blog to write, I am sure once most of us get out from the lecture hall we tend to do other stuffs and forget everything that we learned. Reading my course mate’s blogs too gives me idea on what to write on certain things. Even though this is my first time blogging, I am not bored of it.
If I had another chance to write blogs for any course, I would surely do it open heartedly! Come! Let us blog together my friends!

Still need changes..

I did once the simulated teaching last semester and that was also Dr. Edwin’s class and another time three days ago. What can I say? I have improved from the first but still I would like to give a better presentation. The first thing I would like to change is by getting interesting videos or pictures to present during the set induction stage. Why I say so, it is because during that particular stage students will give respond to me whether they are interested to follow my lessons or not. I realise the way to attract them is by showing them what they want to see and not showing them boring pictures like a King or a castle. They want to see something like a demon (The Ring), garden with fences (Selfish Mr. Pederson) and cool video clips that has suspense in it. I can give excuse that I do not have enough time to find for all that but me, as a student should not give such excuses.
The second thing I would like to change is have good class control. The students are not paying attention! They are busy with their own work! Even though they are my course mates but it is quite difficult to control them. So the next time I have my simulated teaching, I will ask them to fill in the seats at the front because at the back they open their laptops and in their own world. Even after I pass the worksheets, some push it at a side and continue doing their ‘stuff’. When I raise my voice and ask them to pay attention, they start showing faces. This makes me think on how it will be when I am teaching my ‘real’ future students. This situation makes me to be prepared on whatever that may come.
Miss Kasthoori told her experience to class where a student refused to learn and slept when Dr. Edwin just at the back of the class evaluating her teaching. That sounds scary but different students have different characters and I as a teacher need to go through it. In a way, I should be thankful to my course mates for not paying attention and that keeps me aware of my future student’s attitude.
Good luck teachers!

My teachers'..

During my school days, I never ever had a teacher who started with set induction and goes to pre reading, while reading but post reading yes. Being just a student I did not know that they are required to do all these things or it would be better if they do it so that the students will be alert on what the teacher is going to teach for the day. My teacher used to teach by stating what we are going to learn today without showing us any picture, video, story telling and everything else my course mates been doing for the past last semester. Therefore, I was a bit surprised when we were required to do all these three stages. It was not a bad experience but then I wonder why the teachers never followed this method. Even though it is true that teachers need to finish up syllabus but it would be better if they can attract the students by being more creative.
I feel that the way we are teaching for fifteen minutes now is much more interesting then what my teachers’ did during my school days. The experience that I had in school neither bad or good because I did not know that they had a way or rule to present their teaching so now I feel my teachers should have done a better job but then I am who I am because of them so I am not blaming them for anything. Thank you my dear teachers! Me as future teacher, I have gained many ideas on how to teach my future students with interesting activities so that they will anticipate for the class and I as the teacher will be more interested to teach the students. Writing all this makes me more prepared to become a teacher but I still got lots more to learn because I have just finished half of what I am supposed to finish.
One thing that I have learnt from this course is that, it teaches me new ideas and to be creative to face the challenge to come in future as a teacher. I am wondering what else I will be learning in the semesters to come. Even though it may burden me at times but I know it is all for good.

Teacher for 15 minutes..

Three days ago, I did my simulated teaching on The Importance of Being Earnest. Initially I prepared to do Oedipus the King but when I saw most of my friends did on that and the activities are quite similar, I decided to do King Lear. King Lear gave me headache because the language was quite difficult and I was afraid I would not be able to teach the students. So finally, I decided to do on The Importance of Being Earnest and stick to it! Then, I had another trouble. That is, I had difficulty to get an appropriate extract. I changed about three to five extracts when I finally got one to teach on how different social class people interact with each other. It took me about six hours to prepare the activities because I did not want to do the same activity as my friends. I had Huey Fen by my side to check my activities. My post reading was different, she said.
After finishing the activities from pre reading till post reading, I emailed it to Miss Kasthoori to check whether my activities are appropriate or not. She replied me after two days saying ‘it’s fine’. I was glad and was confident to proceed my simulated teaching the next day. Thursday came, I was dressed up to present. I was the fourth and last to present. After the presentation, as usual Miss Kasthoori commented on our teaching. Being just a human being, I was not so interested in listening to the first three presenters’ comments but mine. She said I did not give much information on the social class. If only I have given enough information, my teaching would have been all right. She also states that my post-reading question was interesting and different from others. At least I am happy to know that.
I wish the time given to teach extended so that we, the teachers will not have to rush the lesson wondering whether the time is up. I also realise that I am more confident to stay in front of the class and teach compare to last semester. Simulated teaching or micro teaching is a good way to gain confidence. All the teachers to be ought to go through it for their own good!

Precious two hours spent with Mr. Kee Thuan Chye

My course mates together with different batch mates had an evening with Kee Thuan Chye for an hour and forty-five minutes. Dr. Edwin briefed about him for about five minutes. The first thing I can say about him is that he is a funny person. He is 55 years old but not seen through his face though. He started by talking about his family background where they are not highly literate people and he is from Penang. He started to write when he was in primary school and used to show his writings to his uncle when the uncle will be busy playing poker or mahjong. The uncle does give him some words of appreciation towards his writings. He shows him because he is a literate and a secretary to a judge. It is a pity that he died of a young age.
"I've been in journalism since 1977, beginning with The National Echo," he says. Kee Thuan Chye is more than a journalist. He is a playwright and several of his plays, such as 1984 Here and Now, We could **** You, Mr Birch and The Big Purge, are political commentaries on the country. Not surprisingly, a few been considered has too risky to stage in Malaysia. I did not know he writes poems as well. He mentioned about a poem, ‘A figure of forgotten hours’. Well that is what I heard but when I google it, it was actually ‘A figure of forgotten in hours not of need’. He enjoys watching James Bond’s movies starting from the first one, Dr. No when he was just 10 years old in 1964. That is when I knew how old he was. He also mentioned that what he understands best is the sex part.

He is also interested in William Shakespeare. He watched ‘As You Like It’ and fell in love with the actress Rosalind when he was eleven and she was seventeen. Then, he watched Hamlet and that is when he realises in William Shakespeare’s plays there are full of tragedy and revenge. Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter thought him the theatre of absurd. Theatre is a passion for him. At first, he wanted to be a lawyer but his family could not afford it. His first job was at MAS at Subang airport where he worked as a traffic clerk but after two days, he got bored and quit the job. He then worked as a temporary teacher in his old school, Francis Light and after finishing studies, he applied for USM, which was the nearest University for him. He majored in journalism. He even broadcast in RTM where he got RM75. That was a big money last time. ‘It was enough for me to buy beer, cigarette and buy petrol for my Honda cup.’ That is how he used up the RM75.

In 1976, he graduated from USM. He did his Masters in Essex, UK. When he was in UK, there was ‘Operation Lalang’ in Malaysia in 1987. Hundred over people arrested under ISA and the book, ‘The Big Purge’ dedicated to them. The book is about how the Prime Minister manipulates event leading to a racial riot and he comes to the rescue. He mentions about Datuk Anwar Ibrahim and concludes that truth is always an illusion thing. He spoke for thirty-five minutes and for another one hour, it became as seminar where students asked him questions. He wanted students to ask questions concerning The Swordfish, Then the Concubine. It seems he has revised the play once again. He is been doing it for the past ten years. After many question and answer session, I became aware that the play is about modern Malaysia. Dr. Edwin asked a question which I wanted to ask Mr. Kee Thuan Chye, which is, why not make the play, The Swordfish, Then The Concubine a final play and then when new issues rises, why don’t make another new play? For that, Mr. Kee answered that he wants it to be the best product.
There is a movie called ‘Sell Out’ releasing in May is acted by him where he will be singing and that’s when he came to know that he sucks in singing. Not forgetting my favourite sitcom, Mind Your Language alike titled ‘Nee How Ma’ airing April 15. I will make sure to watch it! This is all the notes I took down about Mr. Kee Thuan Chye. I liked he ended his talk by giving us ‘possible exam questions’.
1) Identify the satiric, ironic, enimic…blah…blah…in The Swordfish, Then the Concubine.
2) Is The Swordfish, Then the Concubine is pack of lies or should it be recommended?
3) We could **** the author of The Swordfish, Then the Concubine. Explain.
There you go! What a funny person he is and I am glad I had the chance to meet him in person. I wish him the best in his writing, acting and sharing his thought with all of us!

Practice makes perfect!

I should say that I MUST be able to adopt and adapt the skills that I have learned for my future lessons so that I will not have any trouble teaching my students. I am in the learning process and I am learning lots of things or methods from Dr. Edwin. From the previous semester I have learned quite a number of things from the Teaching the Language of Short Story.
The first skill that I have learned this semester is that a play ought to read more then once especially Oedipus the King and King Lear to get better understanding. As I read the play, I stop to read the footnotes given in Oedipus the King and meanings given for certain words on the left side of each page for the book King Lear. During my second reading, I try to read without looking at the footnotes and the meanings. I do this so that I will be able to know whether I understand the play or not. I also realise that I understand better if I read the play aloud.
As I read the plays, I pay close attention to some of the aspects of the play, such as dramatic irony, elements of fate (moira), consequences of certain behaviours, the tragic flaw of the characters, the various themes, the nature of tragedy, the relationships between the main characters and the conflicts that emerge. By doing this, the play sticks in my head and I do not have the difficulty to find for the evidence from the book if given any questions to answer.
All that I have learned and learning I will make use of it during my days of teaching the students within two years. How would I adapt all the skills that I have learned? Writing down this question, a saying comes to my mind, ‘practice makes perfect.’ Yes! I need to practice and the best time I could do this is during simulated teaching in any of the subjects. I have the confidence that I will be able to provide interesting activities for my students with all the activities done in the classroom by my fellow course mates with the guidance of Dr. Edwin and Miss Kasthoori.
I am on the way of being a teacher. I feel excited but also nervous and scared. I hope I will get through it! I wish a very good luck to all of my course mates and myself!

I have got the best lecturer and tutor!

Why would I interpret the content differently when I have the best lecturer and tutor around? As I stated in my earlier blogs, my lecturer Dr. Edwin is a very knowledgeable person who knows how to address to us the importance of his teachings. Personally, I am very thankful to have him as my lecturer for this subject because the way he teaches makes me think and analyse more about the play. I like his style of asking us to underline or highlight phrases or words that are important. Whenever I am supposed to do that, I will put more importance on that particular phrase as a preparation for my examination.
Miss Kasthoori, my tutor for this course teaches me many styles of teaching a play to students. The class is very interesting because the way she conduct the class makes it very lively. Whatever input I am getting is very clear and understandable to me. The information’s that are given is not ambiguous. In fact the lectures and tutorials gives me more idea on what activity or what teaching style to use in my class for future lessons. Another valuable thing I get in class is that, Dr. Edwin goes through the plays in detail. For an example, the play, ‘The Swordfish, Then the Concubine’ by Kee Thuan Chye was understood by me only after I went through with Dr. in the class. At first, I thought the play just does not make sense to me because I was not able to interpret it. Later on, I realise that I was the one who was not able to get the idea of the play but I manage to understand it at last!
Learning play is difficult for me so there is no chance I would interpret the content differently without the lectures and tutors guidance. I might have interpreted differently if I had a lecturer or tutor who does not know what they are teaching. I am getting everything that I am supposed to get as a student for Teaching the Language of Drama. What can I ask more?

First time experience

I never thought I will be watching a play live. Dr. Edwin mentioned to us that we are required to watch a play for this Drama subject so that we can get an idea of how it feels to watch a play live rather than just reading about it. My main reason to go and watch a play is because I will be getting 10 marks for it but then it’s been two weeks and Dr. Edwin never asked for the tickets as a prove. Anyway I went just for a requirement for this subject but after watching it, I feel like going again whenever I have the time. It is worth the time and money.
The play that I watched with my friends is The Secret Love Life of Ophelia. The play started at 2pm sharp and ended at 3.15pm. The studio that we went to was very small because there were only two characters with just sofa’s and a table as props. The actor (Alfred Loh) and actress (Sharon Lam) acted very well. The play’s director (Christopher Ling) was present too. He sat at the other corner of the studio. I am not sure whether I should call the place studio or something else but it was very small. I sat so near to the actors. This play is suitable for 18 and above because it has much sexual conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia. I was shocked and amused when Hamlet put his hand under his pants and rubbed his private part. Some of the audiences closed their eyes. It was funny for me. The Hamlet character’s voice projection was very classic and loud. His every utterance was clear to me and I am sure to other audiences too. My point of view of the play, it was quite bored. It became bored because just two of them with lengthy dialogues. I was expecting more action, more people and shorter dialogues between the characters. I am thankful to this play though because it has given me an interest to watch other plays because I am impressed with the actors’ capability in knowing the words that they should speak at the right moment.
Now I totally agree with my first blog, which I stated that acting in the theatre requires years of practicing one’s memory and improving one’s abilities. I have seen it with my own eyes. There is nobody to say cut and repeat the whole scene once again. The actors just depend on what they have memorized. I am giving thumbs up to the actor and actress!