The Ending... The Finale... The Time to Say GOODBYE

This will be the last post for my blogs. Even though it been almost a semester, it feels too short. I wonder whether the time flies so fast or it’s only my feeling. It’s as if I had just received the lesson plan for EDU 3217 yesterday and now it’s already the final examination. Learning is tiring, but doing the task given even more tiring (though some are enjoyable). A year has passed by and after another year, IPTI’s will be in views. Aah. Forget about IPTI for now. Let’s talk about what I had learned throughout the year.

Dr. Edwin is the only lecturer that told his students (including me) to go online and enter e-forum and blogging. For me, between these two, I prefer doing blogs rather than e-forum. The reasons is blogging do not have a limit on how much I want to write or the time limit. (Stop giving anything unuseful. Straight to the point) (okay, okay. Stop complaining. I’m thinking, okay).

EDU 3217 had really opened my eyes on how the life is views; especially through the eyes of the characters in plays. Every character really does their job in expressing their feeling. I’m able to write a 15 minutes play, thanks to the lecturer in charge, Dr. Edwin and also my friends Faisal and Maahi (my partners in writing the script), without them, I will not be of who I am today.

Simulated teaching for this course had taught me the difficulties to come up with a good plan for teaching as every aspect involved needs to be plan carefully so that the lesson of the day went smoothly without problems.

Meeting Kee Thuan Chye had opened my mind to the possibility that could occur in a play. He had to rewrite his play, ‘The Swordfish then the Concubine’ according to the issue in the country. The one that we read is also current issue, but it is at the time in the past.

Learning is tiring, but not learning is even more tiring. Learning with Dr. Edwin had made me think of what would the future be without him. (Not him personally, but the methods used to teach students like me). His jokes make people laugh, his lectures never bored me. ALL HAIL DR EDWIN. See you again in the future.

teacher in training

Doing pre-reading and while reading in a go is really challenging as it was separated from the set induction. By doing this, the flow of what I want to teach might be interrupted as the gap between the sessions is wide thus student tend to forget what the teacher has said during set induction session.

My experience doing the activities for pre-reading and while reading are not that great as I am the last person to do so. People always said that if you perform the last, you need to be the best. For me, I don’t know. After all, that day was the longest lecture I ever have (only 4 and half hour, no big deal). For me, I used to that already, but to do simulated teaching (meaning to stay in the class for that period)in that time if the most ‘memorable’ moment.

During that time (simulated teaching), the clock was almost 12.20 p.m. everyone have finish their turn except for me. So I quickly go in front and present whatever that I have for them (my students). I present so quick that my course mate need to ask for the worksheet given. Luckily there are extras, so I gave it to them. During the simulated teaching, I straight away give my worksheet and ask my students to complete them. Looking at my course mate, the only thing in my mind is to finish it fast so that we can be dismissed. I just don’t care about the marks given to me as long as it is done. (I do mind)

If I was given another opportunity to do simulated teaching on the same subject again, I’m sure that I will be more prepared compared to this as the time given to present would be sufficient. I’m sure also that if the activity is done thoroughly without interruption (meaning simulated teaching is done in one go), the flow of what to be taught will be easily accepted by the students.

Kee Thuan Chye up close and personal

Meeting with Kee Thuan Chye in person is a new experience to me as I had never sees a writer up close, especially a well-known writer like him. When he first arrive at the hall, the first question that I want to ask him is how in the world that he can come up with the great play like THE SWORDFISH, THEN THE CONCUBINE. He looks like ordinary people but his mind is unthinkable.

Looking at the time, it’s almost 12 o’clock and the person we are waiting for is not here yet. I was getting curious and finally the most awaited person came through the back door (well, the back door is the main door). Looking at his figure, (especially his hair) he must be thinking a lot in order to perfect his work of the play. He also carries a few books that he wrote to sell to anybody that is interested with his work.

During the forum (or is it meeting), he mentioned that he had changed the play that we were reading, especially after the performance in Singapore. He has added a few situations in the play and delete a few as the play talks about the phenomena that happened in real life.

When Marklin asked the significance of Ris Kaw and Logod, he explained that they are spell backwards as the real name for them is Wak Sir and Dogol. Hearing his answer make me laugh as I also tends to speaks like that (Dogol become Logod) and I cannot figure out the significance of the name until he explained. The explanation given by him made we wonder, can become a good writer like him (in your dream).

Meeting Kee Thuan Chye has opened my mind to think outside of the box (though usually always like that). A good writer need to creative in order to catch readers’ attention especially during crucial time when the message is conveys. Not everyone can do that. Only those that have experience in writing can be a good writer (there are some that is good).

Elizabeth, the women in power

Elizabeth: The Golden Age. A few might know the story but most are not. Watching the movie has made me anxious. After all, this is the first movie that was recommended and watch by me and my friends during lectures (or should I say during our free time that we had been working to get). Even though there’s interruption while watching the movie (need to be postponed) but that is good. After all, it will not be fun to watch movie related to history in one go.

About the movie, well, it’s about a ruler named Elizabeth that ruled over the holy land, England. Though there are many incidents that try to defy her authority, she stands until the end. The conspiracy to take her throne was denied by his loyal advisor. Without his help, Elizabeth is nobody.

What I can say about the movie was the costume wore by every actor in the movie. The costume was magnificently done that the viewers (like me) can feel the aura of that era, especially since most of the viewers are not from that era. The costume for the women in the story is beautifully done while for the men, no comment (meaning speechless of the ugliness, maybe).

For me, this movie had opened my eyes as it has shown me the beauty of the works created to represent the Elizabethan era as I do not live in the era. The journey that the viewers has to undergo in order to finish watching the movie has make me realize that the works that was written previously is great if the director and the people working with him researched thoroughly the era involved.

Somebody and Nobody

Oedipus Rex, a play by Sophocles. It is a story of a man that kills his father and married the mother without knowing about his past. Who would have thought about this story could happen. As most of us know, it is not heard that a man marry his mother. When this incident happens, it will sure cause uproar. Well, it sure causes uproar as it disturbs the life of Oedipus, and causes his wife (mother) to commit suicide.

The incidents that occur towards Oedipus had made me wonder whether my future will be different if I didn’t do what I have been doing all these tears. You know like what Robert Frost said in his poem ‘The Road Not Taken’. The road that we choose is what we are now and another is the one that we might be, whether it is the same with the present or not. We cannot predict the future. Sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet. If we are lucky, we face more sweet than bitter. Unlucky, well think for yourselves.

Think of the future and not the past. Remembering the past is essential in our lives. The action we did yesterday affect today and the action for today affect tomorrow. Live your life happily and choose wisely. Who knows what will happen in the future.

A play worth writing

Writing a one act play is tough. Not because of the content, but for the stage direction and other thing. I have already come up with an idea about school’s life. Ah. Being nostalgic is nice, isn’t it? With the student running around during recess, talking, eating etc. the sound of bell telling that the time is over. Let’s forget about nostalgia for now.

After reading a few plays, I have the gist on how to write a play. First, we need to create a storyline on the flow of the play. Next, we need to think of the name of the character and their characteristics. Don’t forget about the message that the play convey because without it, the play is meaningless. From here, we can now create the dialogue for each character. After finished doing that, we need to add the stage direction. The importance of this is so that the actor will be able to be the character easily.

With the completion of the stage direction, now the time has come to check any mistake regarding the play. They might be mistake here and there. After that, time for submission. Yeah. The play is finish hurray. (Who said it is finish, huh? That’s only the draft). What, there still more? Argh, no more idea.

Teiresias, blind yet wise

Teiresias, one of the characters in the play ‘Oedipus Rex’. What is so great about him that he become the topic for my blog? Well, he is said to be a prophet in the play. A prophet must be perfect, yet he is blind. What happen to him? Why was he called prophet if he is blind? What causes his blind? Read further to find out.

I heard that there are two versions that cause his blindness. The first one said that he had seen Athena bathing and later he was curse to be blind. Another one is he was change to a woman by Hera after his stick hit a copulating snakes. After a few years, the same incidents happen and he was changed back to a man. Poor Teiresias. He has to undergo two different lives even though all that happen was an accident. Later he was asked by Hera and her husband about who has more pleasure in sex. Teiresias answered truthfully and because of that he made Hera angry and he was blinded.

Which one of the version is true? I wonder. Can anyone help me to find the truth? I don’t want to be a person without knowledge about Teiresias. I’m begging you. Help me find the truth.

Dancing, easy or difficult?

Dancing has become one of the most important criteria to be well-known. There are many types of dances nowadays, from the classical until the modern one. But did everyone bother the origins of these dances? I also wonder who is responsible for the particular dance. I wanted to ask the party why did the principle of the dance is somewhat difficult to follow. Don’t they know they are making it difficult to learn them? If possible, I want to learn about at least a dance, but the steps are too difficult for me (excuse).
Actually, to learn a dance, we need to master the basic step first. Without knowing the basic steps, it is difficult to follow other steps that require a person to do different posture for a single step. For instance, zapin basic dance only focus on the movement of feet. After mastering the technique, the movement of hands will follow and others such as the movement of head.
Oh, I wish I could learn even one dance, whether it is traditional or modern. I envy them who can dance well. Should I enter ‘So You think You Can Dance’ or watch the movie ‘Sayang, You Can Dance’? which one is better? I’m begging you. Help me.

the new SEM continues

This sem continues as the third week approach. This week almost all the class has confirmed their time and place but there are still a few which is not confirm yet. But never mind about them. As long as I know the time start and end, the room use for lecture and the lecturer, everything else is okay with me.

The third week of this sem seems restless as most of the class gap between them is quite long. One hour gap is fine, but getting too many is not good.

All the lecturers have given their lesson plan and their assignment task. From here we can manage our time on how to sort out the given time whether to study, to find material for the assignments or to enjoy the leisure time.

A week before the Chinese New Year is approaching. I wonder what would happen before everyone is off for their holiday. I hope everything goes well.

a new SEM begin

Semester 2 2008/2009 has started. The difference between this sem and the previous one is that all classes start at 8 o’clock in the morning and finish around 7 o’clock in the evening. Isn’t that ‘GREAT’? Luckily on Friday there is no class to attend to. What a relief. Only four day of studying and three days of holiday. Hurray!!!!!

Let’s forget about the time matter for now. Let’s talk about what I learn in the second week. The class started on Monday late in the afternoon. However the real lecture for that class starts the following week as the time for that particular subject clash with other lecture. The next day and the two days that follows were tiring as the class start at 8.00am. I always wake up early so it doesn’t bother me much but for those who aren’t, it will be difficult to wake up early as the sem before, the class start at 9.00am. and they tend to woke up late.

Now let’s talks about the lecturers. Most of the lecturers that teach me in this sem are different from last sem, thought there is familiar face. He is Dr. Edwin. Hearing that name, first thing that came to my mind is whether the person who takes the responsibility to teach us during tutorial of his class behaves the same as the previous sem or not. I really hope that it is different from HIM.

Our first meeting with the new tutorial lecturer was a relief. He is totally different from the previous one and that made we wonder what type of tasks that he will give to us this sem. The first task given by him was to read the script for the drama entitled ‘The Ring Doesn’t fit’. Unfortunately there was not enough time and they only managed to read scene 1 only and will continue reading the next tutorial class.

With the new sem starting, I hope that this year my pointer will rise higher than before as the previous sem my pointer dropped.