Precious

“Glitter-Less And Glorious”
I was very touched with the movie “Precious” shown in the class today. This movie is about Mo’Nique as a single mother who hates and blames her daughter for the lack of love in her life. The daughter, nick-named Precious, is played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in one of the year’s strongest performances as an overweight pregnant teen trying to have an education despite every social obstacle she faces. This is a special film filled with a winning spirit.
In my opinion, this story actually tells us the need for being care for every students especially if they behave abnormally and score badly in class as they might have some big problems and might need helps. Supports to these kind of students is very important in order to make them relieve and be positive in their life.

The Position Paper

Today we were quite shocked as suddenly Dr. Jaya wanted to hear our titles on our position paper. He wanted to hear our ideas! For those who already have the ideas, they are save… but for those who don’t?
I looked at CT and Iema. They said they don’t have any idea yet. So am i. thus CT took out the texts needed to do the position paper. After a brief summary of ‘Merry Maid” and “The Great Injustice” texts by CT, out of nowhere, we got our ideas! When Dr. Jaya asked us about our ideas, we can answer it well and Dr. Jaya seems to agree with the ideas… Oh….. I am so relieved…. ^_^

CHALK

“Life in the trenches of that most honorable and frustrating profession...teaching. It's the start of a memorable new year at Harrison High. The self-conscious Mr. Stroope is convinced that his time has come - this year he will be furnished with the golden title of "Teacher of the Year," if only his smarter students would stop using words that he can't understand. Peek into Mr. Lowrey's History class and you'll see that he's struggling to even call himself a teacher. Woefully inept due to a complete lack of experience and social skills, he earnestly stutters his way through class. The only interaction his students offer him is when they steal his chalk. Men aren't much interested in the spunky and officious Coach Webb, but "not all P.E. teachers are gay" and she pines for some romantic company. Her once best friend, the newly appointed assistant principal, Mrs. Reddell, doesn't seem to have time for her either, as her new power post is all-consuming; battling egos, enduring teacher conferences and her lighthouse-obsessed boss. Coach Webb wonders if her former confidante has forgotten just how hard teaching really is.”
That was the summary for the next movie I watched in my EDU 3231 class. The movie shows us the need of being care and sincere in teaching, professionalism, a good value in teacher to be a role model to students, knowledge and etc

Mr. Vahid teaching us

Today I came early to class. And I was shocked as I saw Mr. Vahid enters the class with Alicia and Emily. It has been a very long time that I haven’t seen Mr. Vahid in class. And today, he came and taught us how to produce an effective argumentative writing. He said that this topic was his research topic. Thus, he wanted to share his findings to us. He makes a very big help to me in drafting my idea for my position paper.

And more surprisingly, that day Dr. Jaya treated us with KFC! I was so happy. A lot of thanks to Dr. Jaya and Mr. Vahid ^_^

Finding Forrester

In Finding Forrester, Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown), a young African American high school student at the Bronx, is invited to join an exclusive private high school because of his high tests scores. Jamal goes and asks William if William could help improve his writing skills. William made a deal that if he helped Jamal with his writing, Jamal would keep William's identity a secret, never to take the writing that he does out of his house, and never ask anything about William's family.

Throughout this movie, Jamal and William get to know each other better and they become friends.

Overall, Finding Forrester is a great movie that interlace with the theme of friendship. The time Jamal spent with William made them trust each other to keep promises, such as Williams'.

From this movie I learned that we should never hesitate or think too much in writing. One only just writes without thinking too much on what they want to write. At a teacher, one also shouldn’t feel intimidated if the students are better that you. We can learn with each other right?

Lean On Me

Lean on Me is based on the true story of Joe Clark, a man singularly responsible for turning a rough high school into a nice, clean place of learning. But his methods aren't exactly orthodox...
Morgan Freeman stars as Clark and he spends most of the movie yelling at people. Most scenes feature Freeman either berating students or teachers, usually with a bull horn in hand. I particularly enjoyed one sequence that has Clark screaming at a kid to jump off the roof of the high school, because if he keeps on doing drugs, he'll be dead soon anyway and at least this way is quick and painless. If that's not motivation, I don't know what is.
Joe Clark shows up and begins cleaning up the school. This kind of principle that we might want to have, even not entirely, but at least the same enthusiasm in doing his job, they believe to the students, and also always know what to do in certain circumstances.

Akeelah and the Bee

Today I’ve decided to watch “Akeelah and the bee movie.” I watched on the YouTube to recall what I have learned from the story. The story is about an eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life which is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. Despite of being a smart girl, her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor named Dr. Larabee for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of making it all the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of -- but only if she can overcome her insecurities and her distracting home life. She also must get past Dr. Larabee's demons, and a field of more experienced and privileged fellow spellers. There are many things she has to face to be a successful girl.
This movie actually teaches me how to teach. From the movie, I learned that there are a lot of efforts needed to help people to make a real life. The most important things that I have to gain are determination, encouragement, braveness, and knowledge. From the character of Akeelah, I know that I have to be determined in doing my job and completing my tasks. I can’t surrender easily despite the challenges that I will face later. Besides, I will always give encouragement to my students and help them as much as I can, just like what Dr. Larabee did to Akeelah. I also have to be brave, as I will need it to live in this challenging profession. And of course, knowledge is a must in everything. Thus, I’ll need to learn more to gain all these.

The Ron Clark Story

The second movie that has been shown to us for this course is “The Ron Clark Story”. This story is about a true story about a young teacher who leaves his small North Carolina hometown to teach in a New York City public school. At the new school, this remarkable teacher had able to make big changes using his special rules, innovative teaching methods, and his devotion in helping his students to be better people. He always believes in his students’ ability to be success, and will try his best to work with them even he is not in a good health condition.

This movie shows me how patience a teacher should be, despite the challenges that he/she have to face. Sometimes a teacher has to be a part of the students, in order to win their heart, and yet still be in control. A teacher must know what he/she is doing, and be precise, so all things will work as planned. And being a teacher also means being a brilliant; have plans, inspiring, and patient, have a sense of humor, etc. for examples, as Ron Clark could create a rap song for the students in order to help them to remember the 42 presidents of USA. Sometimes these make me think, am I able to be a teacher like this?

MC’J9

5th august 2010

Today is the day that we enjoyed creating our own folktale! After doing some brainstorming with my group members, Dida, CT and Heriana, we decided to make some revolution on a folktale entitled “Mat Jenin”. I think people are familiar with this story. However, what about MC’J9? That’s our title for our renovated Mat Jenin’s story.
MC’J9 is a story of a boy called MC’J9 who is sitting for the exam that would have a big impact on his future. However, while in the exam hall. He day dreams a lot until the time to answer the question has ended. By that time, MC’J9 hasn’t answer any of the questions, so he failed.
We drew our comic strip on a mahjong paper. That day shows that we are not a good artist, but our drawings still seen well ^_^. It is just I am quite disappointed that I don’t take a picture of our drawings because of lack of time =.=

Arranged Marriage…?????

I opened my files box and I found the articles about arrange marriage that Dr. Jaya once ask me and my classmates to find. Then suddenly I remember our discussion about this topic. Some of my friends did not agree on arranged marriage. They give some reasons, but most of them said that people have the rights to have their own ‘love’ experience. I also remember that Dr. Jaya did asked my opinion about arrange marriage, and I said that I agree with it. I said that marriage is not about the union of two people, but two families. Thanks God that Dr. Jaya get what I meant. Maybe there are people will said that I am to traditional thinking about this matter, but in my opinion, it is better to have a secured marriage, not by the couple themselves, but also being protected by the whole families, even before the marriage itself. Huh… now I am wondering, will my marriage be arranged or will I marry the man of my choice? ^_^”

Traditional Literature

27th July 2010 (Tuesday)


Today we talked about Traditional literature. Today I know more about traditional literature. I learned that traditional literature is a genre which includes poems, songs, riddles, etc, that have been passed down orally from one generation to another generation. It is hard to know the source of the traditional literature, especially who the authors are. The forms of traditional literature can be categorized into three, i.e. religious/cultural literature, folklore and folktales. However some do overlap.
There are many traditional literary works that we might familiar with, or sometimes we don’t even know. These arts should not been forgotten, have to be treasured, as it is actually important to us. These traditional literary works reflect the history of literature that we are having today.

Mona Lisa’s Smile

22nd July 2010 (Thursday)

Mona Lisa’s Smile was the first movie that we watched for the EDU 3234 course. This movie really attracts me as the main character was Julia Roberts, and I know that she do well in every characters she took.
Today, we watched the first movie of EDU3234. In Dr Jayakaran’s class, it is sort of a custom to watch inspiring movies about teaching. Each movie lie hidden messages about what makes a great teacher, who does not only educate but also inspires. The movie we had watched was “Mona Lisa’s Smile”, starring Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Julia Stiles.
Set in the year of 1953, Mona Lisa Smile tells the story of Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts), a new young art history professor at Wellesley College, an all-female campus with a prestigious reputation for academic excellence. Unfortunately for free-minded Berkeley grad Watson, her East Coast teaching stint comes during a less-progressive time that finds most of her students -- among them Betty Warren (Kirsten_Dunst), Joan Brandwyn (Julia_Stiles), and Giselle Levy (Maggie_Gyllenhaal) -- more interested in nabbing a good husband than achieving scholastic and intellectual growth. Watson challenges her students and the Wellesley faculty to think outside of the current mores of the community and redefine what it means to be a success; meanwhile, she tries to come to terms with her own heart's desires.

How the movie does affect me?
From the movie I learned that teachers has to be ready for any circumstances that they might face, even the students might be ready more from the teacher in the classroom. Besides, teachers shouldn’t be afraid and also shouldn’t let the students know this fear in teacher. Teachers have to stand firm and be respected by the students always. Teachers also have to be good in showing the students what lies behind their door of life, means that some students may think conservatively about certain things, and the teachers should guide them to think out of the box, and show them how to be more open minded. Good teacher can inspire the students to pursue their dreams.

Pameran Rekacipta, Penyelidikan dan Inovesi (PRPI)

Pameran Rekacipta, Penyelidikan dan Inovesi (PRPI)
20th July 2010 (Tuesday)
Today we had to go for an educational visit to an exhibition, “Pameran Rekacipta, Penyelidikan dan Inovasi” (PRPI).
Throughout the visit, we were exposed to different products of researches from science creation to agriculture. There are a lot of new things we could learn there and the best thing is, we could ask questions to the experts! My friends and I took this opportunity to ask on how the experts do their research and about some skills that they are expert in. I think this could hehp for our EDU 3234: READINGS & PROJECT WORK FOR TEACHING LITERATURE IN ESL CONTEXT.

Saieen Zahoor ‘s “Toomba” and Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro”

The class of EDU 3234 was started with unexpected thing… Dr. Jaya let us to listen to two songs, entitled “Toomba” by Saieen Zahoor and “Alejandro” by Lady Gaga. Dr. Jaya said, listening to songs can be one way to understand literature. People can project their ideas in songs through the lyrics, melody, or even the portrayal of the people in certain video clip.
For example in the song “Toomba”, even we don’t understand the language that has being used; we can feel something from listening to the song. The nice melody could make us feel cal, undisturbed. However, despite I am used to listen to the “Alejandro” song and understand the lyric literary that was the first time I watched the video clip. At first I was uneasy to watch the clip, but through the clip and with the help of Dr. Jaya, I understand what the underlying meaning of the song.

I Am Going To Start Now...

Yes! I am just going to start my journal… even it has been quite too late, I think it is better to start now than never… he he… This is another blog for my academic purpose which my lecturer ask us to write for the EDU 3234 course. Thus, for the few post after this will be the post where I am going to review what we have missed since the course had started… Have a nice time reading… ^_^