I was watching RenovAid on TV the other day. It's a home improvement show about redecorating homes of people in need. Anyway this post is not about the show. In this particular episode, the family in need is a malay one, and so they interviewed one of the occupants, who is a malay girl in her 20s if I'm not mistaken. First of all, don't get me wrong, I am truly sorry at her plight, but when she started talking, I'm not sure weather to cringe or laugh. Her confidence in talking, does not overshadow what comes out from her mouth, which was atrocious. Hence the topic of my post this time is about English, or rather the usage or the command of the English language.
I'm not being pompous, but whenever I hear or read, badly spoken or written English, I get very annoyed. It's equivalent to hearing fingernails scratching against the blackboard. I admit I have no idea what is - past participle, connective adverb, conjunction, adjective... heck I don't even know what is a noun. But I do recognise a poorly constructed sentence.
I've obtained an A2 in English for my 'O' Levels, and I don't attribute it to reading a lot of books, in fact I hate reading. Contrary to popular belief, reading is not the only way to improve on your English. So where do I learn and build up my vocabulary if not from reading, you may ask. During my secondary school days, I listened to lots of heavy metal songs... in particular Iron Maiden and Metallica.
"Even though it's reached new heights, I rather like the restless nights. It makes me wonder, makes me think, there's more to this I'm on the brink. It's not the fear of what's beyond. It's just that I might not respond. I have an interest almost craving... Would I like to get too far in?"
(Song: Infinite Dreams, Iron Maiden)
"Run over stiles across fields, turn to look at who's on your heels. Way ahead of the field, the line is getting nearer but do you want the glory that goes. You reach the final stretch, ideals are just a trace. You feel like throwing the race, it's all so futile"
(Song: Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Iron Maiden)
Most people will associate heavy metal with satanic songs, which is further from the truth. Iron Maiden songs are full of lyrical literatures. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". "Flight of Icarus", "Children of the Damned", "Phantom of the Opera" just to name a few. I love analyzing the lyrics, as much as listening to the distortion guitar riffs and double-bass beats of the drums.
Metallica have even powerful lyrics :
"Circle of destruction, hammer comes crushing, Powerhouse of energy. Whipping up a fury, dominating flurry, We create the battery. Smashing through the boundaries, Lunacy has found me. Cannot stop the battery"
(Song : Battery, Metallica)
"Dealing out the agony within, Charging hard and no one’s gonna give in. Living on your knees, conformity, Or dying on your feet for honesty. Inbred our bodies work as one, Bloody, but never cry submission. Following our instinct not a trend. Go against the grain until the end"
(Song: Damage Inc, Metallica)
As you can see, the words of the songs are not the typical feel good words of those pop songs which are often aired on radio. These sentences are properly thought-out and arranged to make a song, and give an impact to the listener. Most popular radio friendly songs these days are played with 2 or 3 chords with lovey dovey words repeatedly, and lo and behold it becomes a hit.
Any-hoo, this post is not about promoting heavy metal, as I mentioned its about using proper English. Speak in a manner that is eloquent, and you will create a powerful impression. Knowing English is not good enough, proper English implies that there is some well defined English. Whereas knowing English only properly implies we don't make a complete mess of how we put it all together.
So make an effort to learn to construct proper English sentences... jangan pakai rembat aje... so till next time... "Taking care, and Keep in Touching"
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Juliana standards...
Juliana (second from right) amongst the 8 with 5As.
About a year and half ago, we decided to live across the causeway, something that we wanted to do for a long time, but put-off, mainly because of our children's schooling and 'standards'. We were prepared to move but we cannot decide how we will schooled them.
Prior to moving, I had a conversation with the President from my former workplace, he's a Briton man from England. Our conversation came up to my intention to live in malaysia, and I voiced my concerned about my children's schooling and 'standards'.
And this I remembered what he said "Rizal, let me put it this way, a degree is a degree... doesn't matter where you obtained it. We have a senior lecturer from Bowling State University, Hawaii... I wasn't even sure if a university from Hawaii can be taken seriously, but the lecturer proved her worth, and certainly a valuable asset in this college. There's also a director who doesn't have a degree, let alone a master, he's a diploma holder, and he worked all the way up from being a lecturer, to now a director.... you see it doesn't matter where you are schooled... a qualification is a qualification... an institution is an institution... I have some lecturers complaining that even though they are local, they still cannot enter any of the local universities... hahaha... so don't worry about standards... it all depends on your child... not the school.".
So the next day, with his words still ringing in my ears, I just took a dive and enrolled them in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Indah... much to the protest of some friends and colleagues. I remember sitting in the school's office, and feeling slightly sad and thinking "what am I doing to my children's future? am I doing the right thing..." and an hour later... they're registered and done.
A month later, and even after a phone call from an MOE officer, telling us about 'standards' again (which by now I'm getting pissed off with the word).... they finally started school. We stayed back after sending them in the school. I parked beside the school, and the school assembly started. The principal went up the stage... and she said "Assalamualaikum...."...and the students jawab "Wa'alaikumsalam..." immediately when she beri salam, at that very moment I knew that I did not make a mistake, this is how I want my children to be schooled. And mind you, this is a normal primary school, not a madrasah nor an islamic school... Eventually, I was impressed that the cikgus and students practise sembahyang hajat together when exams are approaching, they go to surau every Jumaat and they even recite doa before class starts everyday.... at this point, this has become my standards and this is what I want for my children.
As time goes by, another thing I noticed is that they are conversing in malay more, and much more fluently, for which I am very glad. Previously living in the red dot, they were speaking English all the time, up to the point where speaking malay becomes a very tedious and miserable experience for them. Numerous times, I had to remind them to "CAKAP MELAYU!!! KITA ORANG MELAYU!!!"... so many time that at times I even had to use physical force on them. It hurts my ears and heart to hear them speaking english all the time. Now they speak more in malay, and it's music to my ears.
As for these 'so-called high rocket scientist' standards, its just the manure of an uncastrated adult male of a domestic cattle . If subjects are taught in riddles are the 'standards', I might as well buy books of riddles and study them. Confusing questions and 'out of the box' thinking for students are just there to make a simple subject look unnecessarily complex. I consider myself an intelligent individual, but if I cannot do my child's homework, I think there's something wrong with the whole system and its not funny anymore.
We are extremely proud of Juliana's achievement, she studied hard and she takes full credit for her success. Neither has it been easy for her, nor did she get it handed on a silver platter. With Juliana, we do not even need to raise our voice or push her to study... She studied the moment she wakes up, right up to before she sleep. We never had to remind her at all, it seems that she has the learning passion in her. By our 'standards', she has done the family proud, and we are proud of her.... and frankly also by my standard, I be most proud when she Khatam Al'Quran.
last note:
My wife called me with the good news "Ayang Juliana dapat 5A !!!!" her voice full of excitement. I replied "Uh... senang sangat ke?"... I realised later on, that my remarks was hurtful to her and my daughter, almost denying my daughter's toil and hardwork... why am I still the typical arrogant singaporean that I hate?
Prior to moving, I had a conversation with the President from my former workplace, he's a Briton man from England. Our conversation came up to my intention to live in malaysia, and I voiced my concerned about my children's schooling and 'standards'.
And this I remembered what he said "Rizal, let me put it this way, a degree is a degree... doesn't matter where you obtained it. We have a senior lecturer from Bowling State University, Hawaii... I wasn't even sure if a university from Hawaii can be taken seriously, but the lecturer proved her worth, and certainly a valuable asset in this college. There's also a director who doesn't have a degree, let alone a master, he's a diploma holder, and he worked all the way up from being a lecturer, to now a director.... you see it doesn't matter where you are schooled... a qualification is a qualification... an institution is an institution... I have some lecturers complaining that even though they are local, they still cannot enter any of the local universities... hahaha... so don't worry about standards... it all depends on your child... not the school.".
So the next day, with his words still ringing in my ears, I just took a dive and enrolled them in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Indah... much to the protest of some friends and colleagues. I remember sitting in the school's office, and feeling slightly sad and thinking "what am I doing to my children's future? am I doing the right thing..." and an hour later... they're registered and done.
A month later, and even after a phone call from an MOE officer, telling us about 'standards' again (which by now I'm getting pissed off with the word).... they finally started school. We stayed back after sending them in the school. I parked beside the school, and the school assembly started. The principal went up the stage... and she said "Assalamualaikum...."...and the students jawab "Wa'alaikumsalam..." immediately when she beri salam, at that very moment I knew that I did not make a mistake, this is how I want my children to be schooled. And mind you, this is a normal primary school, not a madrasah nor an islamic school... Eventually, I was impressed that the cikgus and students practise sembahyang hajat together when exams are approaching, they go to surau every Jumaat and they even recite doa before class starts everyday.... at this point, this has become my standards and this is what I want for my children.
As time goes by, another thing I noticed is that they are conversing in malay more, and much more fluently, for which I am very glad. Previously living in the red dot, they were speaking English all the time, up to the point where speaking malay becomes a very tedious and miserable experience for them. Numerous times, I had to remind them to "CAKAP MELAYU!!! KITA ORANG MELAYU!!!"... so many time that at times I even had to use physical force on them. It hurts my ears and heart to hear them speaking english all the time. Now they speak more in malay, and it's music to my ears.
As for these 'so-called high rocket scientist' standards, its just the manure of an uncastrated adult male of a domestic cattle . If subjects are taught in riddles are the 'standards', I might as well buy books of riddles and study them. Confusing questions and 'out of the box' thinking for students are just there to make a simple subject look unnecessarily complex. I consider myself an intelligent individual, but if I cannot do my child's homework, I think there's something wrong with the whole system and its not funny anymore.
We are extremely proud of Juliana's achievement, she studied hard and she takes full credit for her success. Neither has it been easy for her, nor did she get it handed on a silver platter. With Juliana, we do not even need to raise our voice or push her to study... She studied the moment she wakes up, right up to before she sleep. We never had to remind her at all, it seems that she has the learning passion in her. By our 'standards', she has done the family proud, and we are proud of her.... and frankly also by my standard, I be most proud when she Khatam Al'Quran.
last note:
My wife called me with the good news "Ayang Juliana dapat 5A !!!!" her voice full of excitement. I replied "Uh... senang sangat ke?"... I realised later on, that my remarks was hurtful to her and my daughter, almost denying my daughter's toil and hardwork... why am I still the typical arrogant singaporean that I hate?
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