OH MY WORDS!!!

Common Errors in English Usage!!! The definition of errors can be very complicated and controversial, hence I will not elaborate on this technical term. Rather, I am more concerned with some usual deviations from the standard use of English, especially by ESL students. In this part, we’re looking at the errors in word usage.

ADVANCE vs. ADVANCED
When you hear about something in advance, you get notice or information ahead of time. Advance also means to move forward or to make progress. Advance can also function as adjective, as in the case of “an advance payment”, which means payment made ahead of time/before hand.
When you say something is advanced, it means “complex or sophisticated” and should not be confused with the past tense form of “advance”.

Note: We often see advertisements use “Advance Level”, which should be “Advanced Level”.

ALPHABET
A, B and C are called letters of the alphabet, NOT alphabets. Alphabet is a character set that includes letters and is used to write a language.

AWHILE vs. A WHILE
When “awhile” is spelled as a single word, it is an adverb meaning “for a time” (“stay awhile”); but when “while” is the object of a prepositional phrase, like “Lend me your monkey wrench for a while” the “while” must be separated from the “a.” (But if the preposition “for” were lacking in this sentence, “awhile” could be used in this way: “Lend me your monkey wrench awhile.”)

BACKUP vs. BACK UP
To “back up” is an activity; “back up your computer regularly”; “back up the truck to the garden plot and unload the compost.”
A “backup” is a thing: “keep your backup copies in a safe place.” Other examples: a traffic backup, sewage backup, backup plan, backup forces.

COMPLEMENT vs. COMPLIMENT
Most of the time the word people intend is “compliment”: nice things said about someone or praise.
Complement, on the other hands, means supplement each other or making something complete.


e.g. vs. i.e.
“e.g.” is the short form for exempli gratia, and means “for example”. “i.e.” is the short form for id est, and means “that is”. Use “e.g.” when you want to give an example (or several examples) of something just mentioned. Use “i.e.” when you wish to explain briefly or to clarify what you just said, or say the same thing in other words.

Mexico Hat for tea anyone???

FYI, we used to eat this and most of us know it as 'Kuih Penyaram' in Malay. In English, it is known as MEXICO HAT...

JAMBU AIR IN ENGLISH???

Most Malaysians know that JAMBU BATU is Guava in English. But how many of us know JAMBU AIR in English???

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THIS FRUIT IS CALLED THE ROSE APPLE, OR WAS KNOWN IN THE U.S. MARKET AS CHAMPOO, REFERRED TO AS THE MOST INTERESTING EXOTIC FRUITS IN THE WORLD.

In English, this fruit is called the Rose Apple, or was known in the U.S. market as champoo, referred to as the most interesting exotic fruits in the world. According to the tongue of the Caucasians, this fruit has the smell and taste like roses. The fruit is hard to come by in Europe and America because of rapid deterioration. It is also known as wax apple, Water apple, bell fruit, water cherry, watery rose apple.

Have you ever wonder the name of certain Malaysian fruits and food found in English???

You might be wondering the name of this fruit in English???

This is 'buah salak', scientifically known as salacca zalacca, or SNAKESKIN FRUIT in English. It’s a fruit native to Malaysia and Indonesia, closely resembling the size and shape of a fig…but — as its name suggests — with a skin like that of a snake.

Don’t be scared of its reptile-like outer covering. Just break off the top portion of the fruit and the skin will tear apart quite easily, revealing the garlic-like cloves inside.

Are Still Playing Your Flute: Form 5 Poem

Are You Still Playing Flute?

The Original Version of the Poem (Malay Version)

Masihkah Kau Bermain Seruling oleh Zurinah Hassan

Masihkah kau bermain seruling
walau waktu telah terlewat untuk kita bercinta
aku semakin terasa bersalah
melayani godaan irama
lagu yang tersimpan pada lorong halus buluh
dikeluarkan oleh nafas seniman
diukir oleh bibir
diatur oleh jari
dilayangkan oleh alun angin
menolak ke dasar rasa.

Masihkah kau bermain seruling
ketika kampung semakin sunyi
sawah telah uzur
waktu jadi terlalu mahal
untuk memerhatikan hujan turun
merenung jalur senja
mengutip manik embun
menghidu harum bunga.

Masihkah kau bermain seruling
ketika aku terasa mata bersalah
untuk melayani rasa rindu padamu
di kota yang semakin kusut dan tenat
adik-adikku menganggur dan sakit jiwa
bangsaku dipecahkan oleh politik
saudara diserang bom-bom ganas
dunia sudah terlalu tua dan parah.

Di sinilah berakhirnya percintaan kita
kerana zaman sedang menuntut para seniman
hidup di luar dirinya.

BIODATA OF ZURINAH HASSAN

Date / Place of birth : 13 June 1949, Alor Setar Kedah.
Permanent address : No.2, Jalan Pinggir, 8/1L, Seksyen 8, 40000 Shah Alam since 1974.
Academic Qualifications : B.A.Hons (Universiti Sains Malaysia), M.A. (Universiti Putra Malaysia). Doktor Falsafah, Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya.
Awards :
Anugerah Penulisan Asia Tenggara (S.E.A. Write Award) 2004
Book Category Award
i- Pujangga Tidak Bernama, Hadiah Sastera Perdana(1994/1995)

ii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi, Hadiah Buku Perpustakaan Negara 2002/2004)
iii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi , Hadiah Sastera Perdana 2002/2003.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute? by Zurinah Hassan   (English Version)

Are you still playing your flute?
When there is hardly time for our love
I am feeling guilty
To be longing for your song
The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo
Uncovered by the breath of an artist
Composed by his fingers
Blown by the wind
To the depth of my heart.

Are you still playing your flute?
In the village so quiet and deserted
Amidst the sick rice fields
While here it has become a luxury
To spend time watching the rain
Gazing at the evening rays
Collecting dew drops
Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

Are you still playing your flute?
The more it disturbs my conscience
to be thinking of you
in the hazard of you
my younger brothers unemployed and desperate
my people disunited by politics
my friend slaughtered mercilessly
this world is too old and bleeding.

You can view the poet’s opinion regarding her own poem http://zurinahhassan.blogspot.com/2010/05/masihkah-kau-bermain-serulingare-you.html

SYNOPSIS:
This poem his about a persona who reminisces the time he/she spends when in a village. There are many things that are now luxury to her such as listening to the melody of the flute itself, gazing at the evening rays, collecting dew drops, or enjoying the fragrance of flowers. The village is now deserted as many have moved to the city. Now that she has moved on with her life, she wonders whether the flutist is still playing the flute. This is because, there are many challenges in the world today such as the world is dying, the unemployment issue and the people are disunited because of different political views.

THEMES:
Family commitments
Priorities in life
Neglect of one’s duties

MORAL VALUES:
We should be aware of our family commitments and carry them out properly.
Everyone has priorities in, life and we should know what is important and what is not.
Following a hobby is good but there is a time for work and a time for play.

POINT OF VIEW:
The poem is the first point of view.
The person is addressing another person and describing a situation to him.

LANGUAGE AND STYLE:
Rhetorical question
Descriptive and questioning
Simple style and no rhyme

TONE, MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE:
Sombre and regretful
Serious atmosphere

POETIC DEVICES:
Imagery – e.g. ‘blown by the wind’, ‘depth of my heart’
Alliteration – e.g. ‘fragrance of flowers’
Symbol – e.g. ‘flute’, ‘song’
Repetition – e.g. ‘Are you still playing your flute?’
Figurative Language – Metaphor e.g. ‘The melody concealed in the slime hollow of bamboo – Personification e.g. ‘sick rice field’

English In Camp: Post PMR 2013

On Friday, 11th October 2013 our Post-PMR programme started of with English In Camp by the English Panel. The activities were facilitated by the Form 3 English teachers Mdm Nursyazrina, Mdm Grace and me...:). Of course not forgotten our technician Hj Aliusin and another teacher, a young gentleman Mr. Elvis.

The activities were:
1. Action Song
i. The Chicken Dance
ii. You Are Beautiful
2. Singing Together
3. NIE: Searching The Paper

Activity 1: Action Song   
  

   

Activity 2: Singing Together


Activity 2: NIE (Searching The Paper)

Mdm Nursyazrina, Mr. Elvis and I with  the group that won the NIE activity: Searching The Paper

I will miss this moment and teaching life  if I get my SISC+. My students are my soul besides my family. The passion is still burning and keeps on burning because of these angelic being....:)

 

The Chicken Dance Song and Steps

Just Dance: One Direction-You are beautiful

Upon receiving a fax for an interview in Kuching on Friday, I had mixed feeling whether to go for the interview or not to go at all. Family and friends encouraged me to go for it. What worries me was the responsibilities being SISC+. Will I neglect my family once i got the post? Will it affect my relationship with my family? Will I have time for my family during long school holiday? Everything seemed to be flying and spinning in my mind. What the heck, I told myself. Just gave myself the chance to go for the interview. I trust it in the hand of Allah to decide my future. Only Allah knows what is best for me. On 6th October I was sent by my hubby to the airport, Terminal Two. It was such a tiring journey on a big bike 650cc but it was fast. It only took two hours to reach KK. I boarded the airasia to Kuching at 3.30pm.

On 7th October 2013, I went for an interview for SISC+ at PKG Kuching, Astana Road. I was very nervous and I had butterflies in my stomach. I saw familiar faces and was hoping they would not be my interviewers but was disappointed to know that they were the panels. We had the group discussion for 45 minutes on anything shown in the video clip. After the group discussion, it was the writing test. About 20 topics were given n we have to choose only one. All the questions were mind blowing type of questions except one question that was near to my heart...hehehe. I did the topic within 15 minutes for 80-100 words only. Mind you, only for 15 minutes. After done with the test, the last session was the individual interview. I was the last. Seeing all the other interviewees done with their interview, I was left with the fluttering in my stomach. At last it was my turn. Each of us were given about 15 minutes for the interview but mine seemed to be more than 15 minutes. I have done my best during the interview and it is up to Allah to decide. 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE: FORM 3

Daily Lesson Plan Class/Time:   Form 3 [80 minutes]                                 Subject: English Language Date         :                                                                          Day     :
Theme	Environment
Topic	Earth Hour
Learning outcomes	Language for Interpersonal Use 2.2 Process information by: a. making short notes and mapping out ideas 2.3 Present information in different audiences by: b. composing, revising and editing drafts; and checking accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar
Objective(s) of the lesson	At the end of the lesson the students should be able to: 1.          listen for information 2.         indicate the true and false answer on the task sheet 3.         write an informal letter
Activities:		L	D	S	PS
1. Set Induction	1. Tr. asks a few questions based on the picture shown on the slide: Qns: 1.          What can you see on the slides? 2.         What do you called this type of phenomena? 3.         What causes natural disaster to occur? 4.         Can we blame man or human being as one of the factor that causes natural disaster to occur? 5.         Tr. introduce the theme and topic.	1 2	IP IF	S	CX
2. Lesson Development	Activity 1: (Pair Work) 1. Ss. listen to a talk and attempt to answer the worksheet based from the talk. 2. Tr. and Ss. discuss the answer in class. Activity 2: (Whole Class) 1. Tr. shows the exercise on the slide and asks a few questions. 2. Ss. gives their opinions on the issue. Activity 3: (Pair Work) 1. Ss. read the article silently.  2. Ss. attempt the task and discuss the answers orally.	1 1/2	IF	L S R	MI MI CCTS CT
3. Post Activity(ies)	Activity 4:(Individual Task) 1. Tr. explains the purpose of an informal letter. 2. Tr. shows and explains the format of an informal letter.  3. Tr. explains the individual task to the students. 4. Ss. attempt to write an informal letter.	3 3	IF	R S W	MI
Moral values	Appreciate and grateful
Language content	Vocabulary
Resources	Textbook, www. breaking_newsenglish.html.com,  Dictionary & Thesaurus
Reflection (achievement of objectives)

Sample Q & A: The Curse

Question 1:

Based on the novel that you have read, what is the lesson that you have learned from the ending of the novel? Give reasons why you think the lesson is important.

       The novel I have read is The curse by Lee Su Ann. In the novel, it ended with Azreen learning the truth about a lot of things surrounding her sister’s death. It was very sad for Azreen too because she had to cope with the deaths of the Old Lady and her parents. In the epilogue, Azreen went back to London to continue her studies. It is important to not that in the end, Azreen learned to forgive. The theme of forgiveness and the importance of the truth resonate throughout the ending of the novel.

        I learned that forgiveness is the key to finding inner peace and strength. Somehow, it helps a person to move on despite having gone through negative situations. Azreen’s character teaches us to be strong, bold and upright in order to withstand vicious gossips and to fight injustice like how she defended the Old Lady.

         The same goes for Azreen when she returned to London. If she allowed hatred, anger and other negative emotions to take over, those emotions would have consumed her and made her life worse. But because she learned to accept the truth and to forgive, she was able to smile at the end. Although the truth was difficult to handle for Azreen, especially about Madhuri and Mohd Asraf, her father being Madhuri’s murderer, and how Madhuri was not her real sister, Azreen managed to cope with all those unfortunate events.

         From the ending of the novel, I learned that sometimes, although the truth may not be what everybody wants to hear, it is always best to tell the truth because it helps people to find inner peace and to be truly happy.

Question 2:

Based on the novel that you have read, give examples of what hope means to the characters that you have chosen.

            The novel I have read is The curse by Lee Su Ann. Hope is the feeling of wanting something you desire to come true. In the novel, Mohd Asraf and Madhuri are in love and they hope to be together when Mohd Asraf leaves for Kuala Lumpur for a teaching course.  

             However, Madhuri is married to Haji Ghani. She plans to confess everything to her husband and get his permission to release her. Asraf hopes that Madhuri is right that her husband is a reasonable person who wants the best for her and she will ultimately be released from her marriage. Madhuri also plans to reveal everything to her parents about their relationship. Unfortunately, their hope of being together is dashed when Madhuri’s father discovers the truth before she could explain everything tohhim. Saleh Abdullah, catches Madhuri and Mohd Asraf together in the rubber estate and he wanted to go after        

              Mohd Asraf. Sadly, as he wields his parang, it strikes Madhuri and kills her.

Due to Mohd Asraf’s ailing grandmother, he forced himself to visit the Old Lady and ask her to cure his grandmother. When she did come to his house, some of the villagers found out about it and they think that all the bad incidents happening around the village is due to her presence.

              In addition, another character, Puan Fatihah feels like she is slowly losing her husband after Madhuri’s death. She hopes to win his affections again by cooking a breakfast feast for him. But he did not appreciate her deed due to the many happenings in the village; instead, he left without eating what she had cooked for him.

In conclusion, the novel helps us to see how hope drives different characters to do different things and there are positive and negative consequences of their actions.

Question 3:

Using details from the novel you have studied, write about a theme that you can relate to in your daily life. Give examples of the theme that you have chosen. Support your answer with close reference to the text.

            The novel I have read is ‘The Curse’ by Lee Su Ann. A theme from ‘The Curse’ is about the negative effects or rumours and hearsay. Gossip is basically idle talk that goes bad if one is not careful enough but malicious gossip is even more dangerous because it does the most damage.

For example, in the past, the villagers’ constant gossiping had caused the Old Lady to move to the jungle because they thought that she was a crazy woman who killed her husband in cold blood. They failed to understand and consider the reason behind the act and it caused the Old Lady to live alone for the rest of her life in the jungle. The villagers continued to spread wrong information about the Old Lady by saying that she will cast a spell or kill those who trespass on her property.

               Puan Normala warned that a curse will befall the village by claiming that the incessant rain was caused by the Old Lady coming into the village even though she came only to cure Nek, Mohd Asraf’s grandmother. She gathered some of her neighbours and convinced them to drive the Old Lady out of the village. Sadly, not long after the Old Lady had cured Nek, Nek passed away and the neighbours convinced Mohd Asraf that the Old Lady was to be blamed. The confrontation between them and the Old Lady ended tragically with her house being burnt down and her untimely death.

                Throughout the novel, we are constantly reminded of how rumours can turn bad and how they can lead to destruction or a tragic conclusion. As stated by the Old Lady, “Rumours can be damaging even if they are untrue, especially if they are untrue. All a person can do is to ignore them and the rumours will die off as soon as another juicier one comes along.”

                I have learnt from the theme in this novel that I should not believe or be influenced by rumours in our daily lives. More importantly, I should also not create and spread rumours about another person. These, we must apply in our daily lives.