Growing Up

After leaving Johor to study in Taylor's for nearly 7 months, here's some stuff I would like to share. For those of you who are leaving home to further your studies soon, I hope this might be of some help.

Firstly, if you are like what I was, who didn't have to wash your own clothes and cook your own food at home, then learn. However, I would gladly suggest you bring your mother or your maid along. Save time, save money. Don't understand why I wrote save money? Yup. Because I think it's more expensive if you burn down the whole kitchen or worst still, the whole house just because you are learning how to cook! Oh, wait. I think that only applies to me. =(

If you are going outstation to study alone, you'll need time management and (yes, Jennie) self discipline. Both of which I'm obviously still lacking. It's not totally my fault when my laptop has a mind of its own and decides to on by itself whenever I'm studying, right? Anyway, get the picture? Without time management and self discipline, I think I'll most likely be skipping classes and hanging around places I'm not supposed to go. The best part is, my parents would'nt know it.

Besides, you'll need an extra pair of eyes. I think I've yet to really learn to heighten my senses. You must be extra cautious as you are not on land you are familiar with. Furthermore, whatever happens, you must be able to contact people who can come to you immediately (save their numbers in speed dials). When you are overseas, discrimination may also occur. Therefore, learn to be street smart from now.

Here's what my friends and I experience in the first few weeks when we came to Subang. It was quite fun for the first few days. To me, it was like going on a vacation. In fact, more like a gathering as we meet up each night for dinner. After a week, the feeling that we left home to study sunk in. Then, we had our moments. Some cried. Some were just moody. i did not cry. Not that it's something to be proud of or anything. But somehow, I just knew that if I let myself go, I'll most likely be crying whenever there are setbacks. I guess I hid that feeling well as most people thought I was going strong.

Yes. I call home every night. I knew my parents would definitely be worried if I broke down, I even willed myself into believing that since my parents already paid a huge sum for my education fees, it would be foolish to pay and come here to cry. However, this became difficult when I fell sick and am alone in a sharing room (when my room mate went back to Johor for her holidays). But with determination, it can be done. I believe my father was pretty much suprised that I took 'leaving home to study' so well. I guess it is also because I went with quite a few of my friends from Johor. They made life here bearable (in the beginning) and fun (later on as we had outings whenever we felt like it). Because of my experience in Subang, I believe I'll be able to survive if I go alone to Australia to further my studies.

For now.
__________
Cheers.
the student.

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“Keep your mind on your objective, and persist until you succeed. Study, think and plan.”

-W. Clement Stone

English? Not?

I've been wanting to write this post since a month ago. Based on the link Siew Lee gave me, it seems that the Ministry of Education in Malaysia decided to change Mathematics and Sciences subjects back to Bahasa Malaysia in year 2012. Plus, they'll be hiring teachers from overseas to teach English subject to our people. http://tst.nst.com.my:8080/Current_News/NST/articles/20090709112220/Article

After only about 7 years of Mathematics and Sciences in English, are they giving up already? The government thinks that we, the people in the city are being bias as the people living in rural areas are suffering because of the teaching of Maths and Science in BM. Hereby, I shall admit that to a certain extent, we are indeed being bias. However, what about the other reasons we offer?

Personally, I think that teaching Maths and Science in English is a step towards globalization. For example, in the world of health sciences. Doctors and pharmascists from Malaysia will be able to attend and understand meetings held throughout the world without language as a barrier. The scientific terms used will be as what was taught to them before. With better equip language, doctors and pharmascists will be able to update themselves more frequently as most meetings are held in English. They'll also be more willing to attend these meetings if they do not have to spend a few more minutes thinking about the translation of certain terms. This brings benefit to health of Malaysians. Even in the Business World. Would businessman in the future be hiring translators, wasting a few minutes for the tranlators to translate some terms or whatever both parties have said for an international deal? In a Business world, time is money. Literally. That couple of minutes wasted on translation each day might have brought about an increase in Malaysia's economy status!

Ok. You might be thinking that doctors can learn the translations in University. But wouldn't that be tortoring future doctors? And would they have to study a couple more weeks or months learning the terms in English? And maybe even years, getting used to the terms? If this happens, will extra classes be given just for them to adjust these terms to English? How much more time and money must these people pay for their education? For students who intend to study overseas, they might even need to sit for a special entrance exam to universities, to test their skills for terms in English.

As I've written above, maths and science have only been taught in English for about 7 years. Has it occur to the government that the first batch of students taught in English hasn't even graduated? Of course there'll be lack of teachers who are able to teach these subjects in English. Why can't we wait for a few more years, after a few batches of students have graduated? Or else, when the first few batches of students graduate, it'll be just like the current situation. Only that, there'll be a lack of teachers who are able to teach in BM.

I believe that it'll be wiser, to spend more money and time on students in rural areas by sending teachers (can be from overseas) to teach English there. Instead of reverting the whole education system of maths and science back to BM.

If the excuse given is, "BM perlu dimartabatkan", in my opinion, we are not doing anything as serious as to cause BM to "tidak dimartabatkan". History, Geography, Kemahiran Hidup, Accounting Subjects, ERT and many other subjects are still being taught in BM. Plus, out of all language subjects, BM is still the subject which is of the longest duration in SPM examinations.

Therefore, if the Ministry of Education still insists on reverting Math and Sciences to Malay, I believe many of our citizens might choose the option of sending their child to neighbouring coutries, such as Singapore for education. Should Malaysia take this risk, where their citizens with good potential of being fine leaders in the future, might end up working for neighbouring countries due to unsatisfactory education system here?

This subject was brought forth when my mum and I were having lunch when I was back in Johor a few weeks ago. My mum said: "Should the Malaysian policy, be it the education policy or any other policy, be unsatisfactory when you are working in the future, migrate if you can. That's your only option or, be the prime minister."
__________
Yours truly,
A Malaysian

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He who cannot change the very fabric of his thought will never be able to change reality.

~Anwar Sadat~

Dead Blog.

Blog's dead. Totally dead? Not. Just barely alive. Exactly like me. My life. Can imagine what i went through last night to prepare for friday? Ok. Imagine having to rush out a 20 marks Moral project in a group of 4 (You might think it's better than doing it alone. Yes, if you aren't rushing for time), discuss and evaluate strength, weaknesses for Bio Practical, study for Physics Common Test and study for Chemistry Practical. All in just half a day.

Well, that's the 'reality' for SAM students. Anybody, can I buy insurance for dying a few years earlier just because of this programme? At least I'll have some money to spend in heaven? Or hell.

Schedule for next week: Maths Directed Investigation (Monday - Wednesday), ESL Text Production (Wednesday - Friday). That's only for exams. What about my pile of chemistry homework? Oh. And my Bio Presentation on Monday and Physics Investigation Design Skills Assignment.

Hence, I'm predicting that the next time I update my blog would be.... 1 week later?

I know. Other people have 24 hours a day. I too have 24 hours a day. But why isn't 24 hours a day enough for me? Why???

Ok. Probably I should start studying now. And not doing stuff sooooo last minute. Oh wait. Doesn't this sound familiar? Isn't this my new year resolution every year ever since.... I was born? Bad habits die hard. I'll try. And see what goes. =)

Should go do my homework now.
___________
Chiaoz.
My life is over.

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To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. ~ Emily Dickinson