Toastmasters Workshop

I attended a Toastmasters Workshop at Goldcourse Klang from 20 - 22 April 2011 with 42 other teachers from all 43 High Performance Schools. We are expected to set up a Toastmasters Club & Gavel Club in our schools by year end. It is indeed a very good workshop as it's something that I've been looking for as I would like to encourage good communication skill especially in English among MOZAC students. It is hoped that I would be able to make this a reality in my school.

PIES 5: 18 - 22 April 2011

FUNNY STREET ART ON THE WALL
Visitors to inner George Town can look forward to eight more witty caricature sculptures to mark the city’s Unesco World Heritage Site. The eye-catching pieces will be put up by Sculpture At Work, the Kuala Lumpur-based company which won the ‘Marking George Town — An Idea Competition for a Unesco World Heritage Site’ in April last year.
The ‘Labourer to Trader’ sculpture at Chowrasta Market will feature two traders skillfully carrying their wares on their heads. Early convict labourers were reputed to have built most of the government buildings in the state. Some became petty traders and were the core group that started Chowrasta Market.
At Acheen Street, the ‘Escape’ sculpture along an old godown will see an escape rope dangling from the window as the building was originally a jailhouse. A trader on a small sampan professing his love to a young maiden staring down from her bedroom window is the design for the ‘Waterway’ sculpture at the Prangin Road Ghaut.
Back in the old days, the Prangin River was a bustling waterway for goods that were shipped to Penang from all over the world. The ‘Limousine’ sculpture at Carnarvon Street will show an artisan making a paper car. Carnarvon Street was and is still “the” place to go for coffins and paper effigies!

WORD LIST
1 pieces
2 heritage
3 sculpture
4 feature
5 wares
6 petty
7 core
8 godown
9 dangling
10 originally
11 professing
12 shipped
13 limousine
14 artisan
15 effigies

Instruction: Listen and write down the definitions of the words given.

ENRICHMENT LIST
1 Caricature
2 Convict
3 Reputed
4 Maiden
5 Bustling

Melaka State Teachers' Debates

I was one of the judges for the teachers' debate (Melaka state) on 4th April 2011. The motion of the debate - This house believes that teachers play the main role in transforming the nation. Being involved in debates for many years, training the students for debates at state level as well as for HKSBP, I believe that many teachers ought to be exposed to this kind of competition. It is important for teachers to know as they are the ones who are going to train the students. It is high time for many other schools in the state to take up the challenge to be involved in debates.I'm sure gven the chance and the right exposure, we will find many hidden talents among our students. I also believe that the young teachers should be involved in this kind of debate as for many years, we have been working with the same set of teachers. No doubt that they are good but as I said before it's time for some new and fresh faces to take over.

RHB Mighty Mind Challenge 2011

MOZAC sent 2 teams this year, one for each category. The representatives are:

1.Uman Hakeem Zulkarnain 3 Alpha
2.Muhammad Shamir Roslan 3 Alpha
3.Fatin 3 Alpha
4.Muhammad Sirajuddin Roszali 5 Alpha
5.Muhammad Rafie Shaharudin 5 Alpha
6.Imran Khairulezuan 5 Alpha

Nevertheless,we did not win this year.Hopefully we will do better next year.

PIES: 4- 7 April 2011

THIRD EXPLOSION ROCKS NUCLEAR PLANT
SOMA (Japan): Radiation spewed from a crippled nuclear power plant in tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan after a third explosion early Tuesday, in a dramatic escalation of the four-day-old catastrophe, forcing the government to tell people nearby to stay indoors to avoid exposure.
In a nationally televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation has spread from four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima province that was one of the hardest-hit in Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.
He said a reactor whose containment building caught fire Monday has not contributed greatly to the increased radiation. The radiation level around one of the reactors stood at 400,000 microsiverts per hour, four times higher than the safe level.
Officials said 50 workers were still there trying to put water into the reactors to cool them. They say 800 other nonessential staff were evacuated. The death toll from last week's earthquake and tsunami jumped Tuesday as police confirmed the number killed had topped 2,400, although that grim news was overshadowed by a deepening nuclear crisis.

WORD LIST
1 tsunami-ravaged
2 escalation
3 exposure
4 televised
5 province
6 magnitude
7 containment
8 contributed
9 increased
10 microsiverts
11 reactors
12 nonessential
13 confirmed
14 topped
15 overshadowed

Instruction: Listen and write down the definitions of the words given.

ENRICHMENT LIST
1 Spewed
2 Catastrophe
3 Ensuing
4 Evacuated
5 Grim

Dublin Literary Award for Young Malaysians 2011

5 students took part in this competition this year. They are:
Junior Category:
1. Norhafizah Muhd Asri
2. Amira Deana Abraham
3. Azyan Anisah Ramli
4. Umar Zulkarnain

Senior Category
1. Jananeiswary Servai

Hopefully more students will be able to take part in this competition in the years to come. More entries could have been sent if the school receives the letter earlier.

Topic: Teenagers Today
Length: 800 - 1200 words
Prizes:
Best Essay Overall - Trip to Dublin Ireland for the winner and their parent
Special School Prize
10 consolation Prizes
Certificates for 20 short listed entries and the winning school.

PIES 4: 21-25 March 2011

MASSIVE QUAKE, TSUNAMI SLAM JAPAN

TOKYO – A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing at least 60 people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control. Tsunami warnings blanketed the entire Pacific, as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast.
The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami and was followed by more than 20 aftershocks for hours, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Police said at least 60 people were killed and 56 were missing. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster.
Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions because of the tsunami that crashed ashore, swallowing everything in its path as it surged several miles (kilometers) inland before retreating.
Large fishing boats and other sea vessels rode high waves into the cities, slamming against overpasses or scraping under them, snapping power lines along the way. Upturned and partially submerged vehicles were seen bobbing in the water. Ships anchored in ports crashed against each other.
Instructions: Listen and say these words out loud.

WORD LIST
1. ferocious
2. recorded
3. widespread
4. entire
5. magnitude
6. aftershocks
7. toll
8. horrific
9. crashed
10. swallowing
11. retreating
12. overpasses
13. partially
14. submerged
15. anchored

Instruction: Listen and write down the definitions of the words given.

ENRICHMENT LIST
1 spawned
2 blanketed
3 unleashed
4 proportions
5 bobbing

Essay Writing Competition

The English Department is organizing an essay writing competition at school level. The details of the competition:

THEME: "MY STORY OF INSPIRATION"
Many people experience inner change that motivates them to create a better world.
Please share your story of inspiration that has affected your life and changed you to make a change in the world.

GUIDELINES:
1.The competition is open to all MOZAC students in one of the following age categories:
a) Lower secondary (Form 1 - 3)
b) Upper secondary (Form 4 - 5)

2.Essays must be 800 words or less in English and typed.

3.Essays must be original and unpublished.

6.Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.

7. Entries may be submitted to Puan Norizah Baba

7.Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the organizers.

DEADLINE:Entries must be received by April 30, 2011.

AWARD: The following awards will be given in both categories respectively:
1st Prize:Certificate and RM 80.00
2nd Prize:Certificate and RM 50.00
3rd Prize:Certificate and RM 30.00
Honorable Mention: Certificate and RM 15 ( 6 entrants)

Winning entries will be eligible to participate in the International Essay Contest organized by UNESCO and The Goi Peace Foundation.

PIES 3: 28 Feb - 4 March 2011

CHONG WEI CLINCHES SIXTH MALAYSIA OPEN

After lifting his sixth Malaysia Open Super Series title Sunday, World No. 1 men's singles shutter Datuk Lee Chong Wei aims to capture the prestigious All England title next. In the men's singles final Sunday, Chong Wei, who was the topseed, beat unseeded Thai Ponsana Boonsak in straight sets 21-13, 21-7 within 37 minutes in front of 5,000 spectators at the Putra Stadium, National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil here.

Commenting on the straight sets victory over Boonsak, who is ranked 12th in the world, Chong Wei said he had beaten the Thai in the quarter final of Korea Open in straight sets.

"But Boonsak was different this time. In the first set, he was an attacker. After the 11th point, I changed my playing tactic from defense to attacking mode which earned me seven points in a row. In the second set, I also applied the same tactic and it helped me clinch the title," he said.

On his plans after the Malaysia Open, Chong Wei said he would focus on his preparations for All England and Swiss Open in March.

"I will try to win the All England and defend the Swiss Open title. My arch rival Lin Dan of China will pose the biggest challenge. But first, I will take a good rest and before resuming training," he said.

Instructions: Listen and say these words out loud.

WORD LIST
1 lifting
2 shutter
3 capture
4 unseeded
5 straight
6 spectators
7 victory
8 quarter
9 attacker
10 tactic
11 defence
12 plans
13 preparations
14 rival
15 pose

Instruction: Listen and write down the definitions of the words given.

ENRICHMENT LIST
1 clinches
2 prestigious
3 arch
4 earned
5 resuming

To Sir With Love and In Return

2 essays; To Sir With Love and In return ,written by Adlina Rahim and Jananeiswary Servai are selected to represent Melaka at the National level this week. Congratulations to both of them and we hope that this year, they will win. This is the second time they represent Melaka after their first trial in 2009. Hopefully more students will be able to join this essay writing competition next year.

PIES 2: 21- 25 Feb 2011

PROBE INTO WHALE AND SHARK KILLINGS
The state has ordered the Fisheries Department to investigate claims that whales and sharks are being killed and processed at Mabul Island – which is next to the world-renowned diving paradise Sipadan island.
Therefore, the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjum wants the state Fisheries Department and the Semporna district office to check out the alleged activities which he said would tarnish the state’s tourism industry. Pulau Mabul , which also housed a number of resorts catering to tourists heading to Pulau Sipadan, was not within the jurisdiction of the Sabah Parks, an agency under his ministry.
“Nature lovers and global conservation community are fast becoming very influential lobbyists whose actions could hurt the state’s tourism industry in the long run if they decide a boycott Sabah to protest against activities perceived to be cruel to whales and sharks.” He said: “Any small mistake or perceived inaction could have a major repercussion on the tourist industry.”
Masidi also called for more coordination among various law enforcement agencies to curb illegal activities in Sabah waters such as fish bombing.
Theme: Environment ( Adapted from Enduchenne.org)

WORD LIST
1. investigate
2.world-renowned
3. paradise
4. alleged
5. housed
6. catering
7. influential
8. lobbyists
9. cruel
10. inaction
11. coordination
12. various
13. enforcement
14. curb
15. illegal

Instruction: Listen and write down the definitions of the words given.

ENRICHMENT LIST
1 probe
2 tarnish
3 jurisdiction
4 perceived
5 repercussion

State Essay Writing Competition

MOZAC sent 3 students to this competition despite the very short notice given by JPN.The letter was received in the afternoon, a day before the actual competition in which students need to bring their first drafts. MOZAC could have sent more students if the letter reached us earlier because many students were interested to join the competition had they knew about it earlier...half a day is such a short notice amongst their busy schedule with other SBT programmes going on in school.

The State Essay writing competition in conjunction with the Teacher's Day celebration 2011 was held at SMK Teknik Jasin on 22 February 2011. The theme is Thank you Teacher. Students had to write an essay of 500 words for lower secondary and 1000 words for upper secondary. MOZAC was represented by:

1. Umar Hakeem - The Unsung Hero (lower secondary)


2. Adlina Rahim - ( Upper secondary)
3. Jananeswary Servai - (Upper secondary)

PIES 1 : 14 Feb - 18 Feb 2011

POTENTIAL SEEN FOR KOTA TINGGI TO LURE MORE VISITORS

Kota Tinggi, an area gifted with natural resources and scenic settings, is set to become a major tourist attraction in Johor.
Located just over 40km from Johor Baru, the district exudes a fresh, calm and relaxing ambience. The stunning beaches of Desaru make it a popular international destination.
The attractions include the Kota Tinggi waterfall, Johor Lama Fort, theme museums, seafood villages and historical sites.
Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman said that Kota Tinggi had everything for a perfect holiday. “We see Kota Tinggi is a potential southern getaway as it is near Johor Baru, the southern gateway to Peninsular Malaysia.Tourists arriving at Senai international Airport will have easier access into Desaru when the Senai-Desaru Expressway is opened this year,” he said.
Hoo said the state had re-structured travel packages and tourism attractions in Johor. He said the attractions had been divided into nine categories – eco-tourism, culture and heritage, islands and beaches, shopping, food and entertainment, health and education, sports and recreation, homestay and agro-tourism, golfing and accommodation, meetings, conventions and exhibitions.
“We must make changes and repackage our products from time to time to attract tourists,” he said.

Theme : People (Adapted From STAR Online)
Instructions: Listen and say these words out loud.

WORD LIST 1. gifted
2. resources
3. calm
4. destination
5. sites
6. potential
7. gateway
8. packages
9. attractions
10. heritage,
11. recreation
12. homestay
13. accommodation,
14. conventions
15. repackage

Instruction: Listen and write down the definitions of the words given.

ENRICHMENT LIST
1 lure
2 scenic
3 excudes
4 ambiance
5 stunning

English Through Literature Workshop

On Jan 25 2011,Puan Haidah Azudin and I attended a half day workshop at Dewan Bestari, Melaka. The guest speaker Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cynthia Yolanda Doss, Academy of Language Studies UITM, Shah Alam shared with us her views and experiences in teaching Literature. She talked about Literature: Creating Awareness and Engaging Students in Class. We did a reflection on what is our perception of Literature as it is very important for teachers to have the passion for literature and teaching before we could attract the students to love Literature. The world of literature develops critical thinking in students and this is one of the most important skills for students to have nowadays. Literature helps hone thought processes and introduces concepts and experiences. It allows students to see other points of view and teaches students about culture ther than their own. Most importantly, literature encourages reading. Puan Haidah and I participated actively in the group work and even shared our views/opinions on certain issues for which we were well rewarded..thanks to Oxford Fajar.

For all the Teachers Out There

2011 promises more hard work and greater challenges for teachers. In the 3 weeks of school, the teachers have worked hard to make sure that the lessons are taught, the classrooms are organised and what not. Here's something that a friend shared with me and I would like to share them with all of you because it has given me the motivation and drive to charge ahead and most importantly, it has made me smile... enjoy:
In honour of teachers!
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO (proud of being a professional), decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?' He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'

To stress his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher, Mary. Be honest. What do you make?'Mary, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)
'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Medal of Honour. I make kids sit through 30 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.) ''I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in Maths. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator. I make my students learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand, to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the National Flag, and sing the National Anthem, because we live in this great country.Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'

Mary paused one last time and then continued, then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.....
You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
What do you make Mr. CEO?'His jaw dropped, he went silent.