throwing tantrums

Dear blog,

I've been quite moody lately. Getting irritated and bothered by silly little issues that I can't change or have no business being mad about. 

It's stupid really. I always have to keep reminding myself that, yes, I CAN'T change it and it's NOT my business. oh, me..

I am not looking forward for tomorrow. I have to wake up the usual early time at 6:45am for class. oh my gosh, it's going to be one long tiring day..

My sweet cherry break!

Dear blog,

After spending quite sometimes in school, its time for me to spend my day with some friends and eat some good food. I feel I've got a real nice grasp of the Japanese food, after constantly going to same sushi restaurant. Hanging out with great friends and eating healthy Japanese foods was also the cherry on top!

Life's been crazy here in Ipoh. I guess I didn't realize how fast paced the lifestyle was here. Especially being a trainee teacher, the school does get to me. Coming to Ipoh to study and working and living here and two totally different things! It really can get stressful, which gave me some health problems... but not dwelling on that, I still am loving my life here so much! I'm always still exploring and seeing new things and making new friends! Also, I recently found love, so I've been on cloud nine these past weeks. hehe.. 

Take care and I hope all is well with everyone!!

Week II of practicum

Dear blog,

The second week ended very fast. Now, after two weeks, I was quite comfortable with the school environment. I could feel that I could work smoothly and my relationship with the pupils was starting to establish. However, my confidence in teaching still not satisfied me. I could feel that I lost in developing my lesson. I do not know why I feel like I never learn anything in the college.

My big concern was to my year 2 pupils. I am sorry for them for not being a good teacher and I was not creative as my other two partners. I saw them bringing their big teaching aids every day for their pupils. I guess, I need to learn from them. Furthermore, this week I gained a new experience. That is how to manage 440 pupils during the ‘Sambutan Ambang Hari Raya’ event. I was selected to become the Emcee for the program. So I was honored to do so. Even though I had the experience becoming the emcee before in college, I felt so much different when handling the event.

This week also was my first observation by my supervising lecturer. He really helped in improving my teaching because he pointed out my strengths and weaknesses. I have to be open-minded and receive his comment positively. I hope, I can learn more while I am in this school. On top of that, I also hope I can get a better idea on how to improve my teaching and I hope I can be strong enough to face the upcoming weeks in the practicum period.

During this week also I encountered some problems especially in my teaching lesson. I have figured out some of the solutions to the problems and I hope I can address the problems as soon as possible. This is important as it will help me to get a smooth and effective teaching and learning process.

My first week of practicum II

Dear blog,

This first week was quite okay as the teaching and learning went on as usual. After a week in this school I never thought it will be as this tough and tiring. It is like 180 degree of turning from my college life. The very first time in this school, I was so pleased that the headmaster and other staffs are being very good towards us.

Besides, my first day at the school started with assembly. We were being introduced to the school community by the PK HEM. The theme for that week is ‘Discipline week’. Moreover, the way they lined-up during the assembly was also a new experience for me. My first experience walking into class is when I have to replace my mentor’s class.

I was quite blurr on the first day because I really did not know what I should do. However, I applied my experiences during the first practicum to control the classroom. Firstly, I did the ice breaking activity with year 2 Bestari. I introduced myself and get to know each other. It took me 15 minutes to do the ice breaking session with the pupils. After that I carried on the lesson where the teacher had stop. Through ice breaking session, I realized that the pupils’ language proficiency is fairly good although there are some of them are weak. Hence, I started to plan in my mind what kind of activity that I can use to cater with their level of language proficiency.

I realized that this would be a challenge for me to teach because I need to use many teaching aids to aid them to understand my lesson. The next day, I introduced a few class rules to them. One of my rule is they need to listen to teachers in the class. As soon as I imposed the rules and regulations in the class, I find that they are hard to follow the rules because some of the rules were not being practice since the beginning of the school.

On top of that, the very first week, my friends and I were given schedule during our time here. I was quite excited and happy to get the time table. Besides that, I got the chance to be in the meeting with other senior teachers and feel like I am being part of the school. I hope that the upcoming weeks will be good one to me.

Practicum II

Dear blog,

I haven't posted anything since I left this blog and it made my hands numb from the lack of use.

Seriously, I have been neglecting this blog for quite a long time. I feel sorry about it. There were so many things going on in my life but I couldn't write every single thing here. Am so lazy to transfer all the pictures and write anything about them. Anyways, today I just want to share my thoughts about my practicum II for this semester.

Practicum is one of the components in the professional practice for the Program Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan (PISMP)’s trainee teachers. This practicum should be the medium for the trainee teachers to gain more understanding and prepare themselves in become a real teacher.

I have always known that I wanted to work in education line. The idea of having a job that would develop over the years, allowing for progression and expansion really excites me. I am always willing to listen to new ideas and welcome a challenge. Having my own class, getting to know each student as an individual and witnessing them advance through their primary education, I believe, teaching would undoubtedly be a worthwhile career.

Furthermore, pursuing my study at IPG Ipoh helped me to have better understand of the true colours of teaching profession. I learnt lots of theories in education, I also learnt teaching and learning styles, preparing lesson plan, did microteachings.

We were given a briefing on the documents that we need during practicum and what is our focus during the practicum. After listened to the briefing, there were several questions linger in my mind. How about the school, the teachers and the pupils in the school? What should I teach, how to teach English to the pupils if their language proficiency were very weak? How I want to let them understand my instruction in English. However, I keep remind myself to be positive and do not put any expectation on that school.

I have to go there with an open heart and mind to learn and gain as much experience that I could. Nevertheless, I feel quite ready to face the second practicum because I am able to picture the true situation during the practicum based on my previous practicum.

My partners and I have visited the school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Hitam, Chemor, Ipoh. The school is stated not very far from our campus. It only takes 15 minutes to reach there. Thus we decided to stay at the hostel for the two month. For this second practicum session, we are going to be observed on our major subject including listening and speaking, reading and writing skill as well as language art. As this will be our second practicum, so there will be so many things to prepare including lesson planning as well. It is going to be a busy practicum ever. A complete preparation should be done early.

However, all the knowledge and experiences I gained in IPG are only in theoretical aspect. Even I did microteachings; it is totally different with the real scenario that I need to face in future as an English teacher in primary school. I really hope that this two month of practicum will equipped me with every necessary skills needed by someone to be called certified trained teacher in the future. 

I hope that this practicum will be a platform for me to gain more knowledge and experience. I believe that this is a learning process for me to become a good teacher. Hopefully, this practicum will be the most meaningful one.

Talk again sooner.

Borneo Hornbil Festival 2014

Dear blog,

Recently I've participated in a dance competition together with other Langkau Budaya group members.
It was an unforgettable experience where I had the chance to dance other culture's dance and get to meet some new friends from Borneo especially. 

This just make me so happy that we can do such great things with, and for each other still. Such a great reminder that our country celebrates with positive action in their own cultural uniqueness. 

I also had the privilege of knowing the wonderful culture of Iban and other ethnics in Borneo. I just love the mood and feeling it encompasses, so I thought it would be interesting to learn the dances and a little more about the mind behind its beauty. 

Mouse under the petals

eyes looking through the keyhole

the mouse is dancing in the pitch-black room

the smell of Baby's breath filled the air

the mouse sleep under the petals

die with silent

Sweet bird of North Ipoh

Dear blog,

I have just finished my practicum last two weeks. Though I have been in the school only for four weeks, I feel like I have attached myself to the school and I miss being in the class with my year 2 Budiman. During my first week of practicum, I found that my class is mixed ability. So from that week onward I need to prepare different worksheets and plan variety of teaching activities for the pupils. 

As this is my first practicum, there are many areas that I need to improve on. As what my supervisor commented on my lesson, I need to be very creative and use different teaching strategies in teaching and learning. I could have use group work, gallery tour, mix and match, and all sort. 

I have soft spot for kids actually. During the first week of practicum, I could not bear to scold the young kids. One day when I was so stress out with the pupils, they didn't listen to me when I was giving instruction, so that's just that, I raise my voice a lil bit harder and scolded them. I felt very weird after doing that  and felt sorry for them.

.................................... that's there is, talk again soon... \


^^

Working time!

Dear blog,
Its been awhile...
I don't know whether I still got the writing skill in me or not.. feeling kinda rusty...
Recently I've been joining an election of our JPP's post as Vice President of Culture and Art department...chehwah...haha...


so to be the truth, I won! hoorey.... (krik krik...)
anyway I'm gonna be busy this year and many programs to hold... I hope I can manage my time well for the work and studies..
Its been two months away from home. I kinda miss home so much right now. Unfortunately I couldn't go home early as I volunteered myself as a facilitator for the "Kem Remaja" this coming sat and sun.
Its time for me to get used with the work and building a good relationship with surrounding people.
Kan nak jadi cikgu so pepandai la nak berinteraksi dengan masyarakat....
Erm just to let you know, I will be joining the "Borneo Hornbill Festival" this JUNE as the peserta tarian under our Langkau Budaya club. I'm so excited actually, coz last year I couldn't join it due to certain problems.

Meanwhile, last week my friends and I staged a play entitled "MOMOTARO". The staging is part of our assignment. We decided to adapt Momotaro's story based on JApanese folktale. 
I had watched this momotaro cartoon on tv before but never though that we would stage it.
We received the comments already from our lect, she said that our play was the best among other 4 tesl classes....thank God, I feel very happy and proud of my group. The experience in staging dramas in school then help me a lot...^^

My dear friend...

Salam...

Last week during the CNY holidays, a friend gave me call. It was her. Shekinah. She's here for two months of her sem break. She's back from Queensland Australia. She asked for a gathering on Monday. I never thought of seeing her again after several years. I was glad. 

We had our lunch together. Like always, it was just the two of us. NObody would join us as some of our friends were not around.Four years on, just the two of us, we worked our magic talk again. Reminiscing the school days and talk about our silly fights in the class and how we together compete with each other. Haha..
 I was happy seeing those spectacles again. She showed me some of her interesting journey, the people she met, the places she has been, the animals that she loved and the places that she has been working on..and was even happy to share her experience as trainee vet there. 
she even remembered to bring me some souvenirs... 
Hope to see her again next time...^^

Inspiration

Salam....
Its really been a long time since the last entry....
Its February 2014 where my life as a trainee teacher continues.
Its going to be hectic as usual. This time I'm gonna face a lot of tough things along the way.

In a blink of an eye, its been 4 years I'm here.
Alhamdulillah, I survived last exam without any distractions and free from any sickness. I'm so grateful to Allah. I never thought I could make this far. I tried to be positive last semester and the result coming out splendidly. 
so now lets us hear thoughts from my former English teacher whose now become the Teaching Specialist coach in PPD. I adore and hoping to be like her one day.

"Thought it appropriate to share this as I will start my job as a coach tomorrow...i wrote this in 2011 and I will keep this as a reminder...
Teaching is a tough job. It demands the best of me everyday. There are days when you just want to curl up and die out of frustration. Teaching English can be so overwhelming and you seem to be knocking on empty doors. Then, there are days when a tiny spark, an 'A-ha' moment with a student, when a child's eyes light up because of you..and you are reminded again of why you are a teacher..

I teach because I love to see the change that happens. I am aware that I don't just teach English, I teach kids, kids that are imperfect, insecure, messed-up and lost but are wonderful in their own way. I remember that each of them has a dream, an aspiration and a hope of a better life. They are no longer children, yet they are not yet adults..They are trying to close the gap and they will make mistakes, learn and unlearn when given the chance. I teach because I want to be a part of that journey...i am privileged to be a part of their lives for a while. I teach because I want to bring them hope..and most of all, I teach because I care...."

                                                                                Mdm Jenny Ho

Till then...