Sunday, March 20, 2011

Learn English Through Choral Speaking

ONE of the keys to a child’s education lies in language proficiency.
In line with this, the Hakuho Foundation of Japan, with the approval of the Japanese Ministry of Education, supports children’s education particularly in the areas of language and culture. The foundation, established in 1970 by leading global advertising agency Hakuhodo, which has a 115-year history, provides opportunities for Japanese children to become more well-rounded international individuals with strong understanding of the language and culture of their own country through the Hakuho Scheme for a Global Children’s Japanese Language Network.
The foundation also sponsors the Overseas Experience Programme for Japanese Children, one of four projects under the network, an initiative now in its third year.
Some 12 students from Toko Gakuen and Ojiya Junior High School were in Malaysia for a week-long visit under the programme. The purpose of the trip was to interact with Malaysian students and experience the various communities and their cultures.
During the students’ visit to Malaysia, various activities were organised by the foundation to expose them to ethnic cultures. Malaysian children who are learning the Japanese language, in turn, had a peek at Japanese culture. One of the many activities under the programme was a visit to SMJK Katholik in Petaling Jaya.


The Japanese students were given a chance to interact with, learn from and exchange experiences with the local children.
The visitors were also given a themed discussion to brainstorm. The topic was Tomorrow’s Connections Between Human Beings And Other Living Things. The theme helped students to become aware of the fact that the world has a diversity of animals and plants, as well as issues that will occur in the future. As the students will one day become the main force in society, they will have social influence on and responsibility for such things. The Japanese students also paid a visit to the Education Ministry where they learned more about the education system in Malaysia.
The students’ cultural experience included visits to world heritage sites in Malacca and Kota Kinabalu. — By SHARMILA VELLA

Read more: Taking a peek at Malaysian life http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/TakingapeekatMalaysianlife/Article/#ixzz1HCHeJZoY

Collection of: http://jms-englishonline.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

High-Performance Schools (SBT) 2011

STAR, IPOH
Congratulations to all 23 schools who have fulfilled the criteria to be recognised as High-Performance Schools (SBT). The list was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday.
The list of 23 school categorised under High Performance School (SBT) 2011 is as follows :
  1. Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz, Terengganu
  2. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Empat, Selangor
  3. Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Perak
  4. Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Gombak, Selangor
  5. Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Kubang Pasu, Kedah
  6. Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Pekan, Pahang
  7. Sekolah Menengah Sains Alam Shah, Kuala Lumpur
  8. Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, Kelantan
  9. Sekolah Menengah Sains Miri, Sarawak
  10. Sekolah Menengah Sains Seri Puteri, Kuala Lumpur
  11. Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor, Kuala Lumpur
  12. Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Abdullah, Pahang
  13. Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar, Johor
  14. Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Ulu Lubai, Sarawak
  15. SK Convent Muar, Johor
  16. SK Seri Biram, Pahang
  17. SK Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin, Kedah
  18. SK Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur
  19. SK (Perempuan) Methodist Kuantan, Pahang
  20. SK Sultan Ismail, Terengganu
  21. SK Jalan Tiga, Selangor
  22. SJK(C) Perempuan China, Pulau Pinang
  23. SJK(C) Lick Hung, Selangor
Last year, 20 schools had been announced as High-Performance Schools. This was under the framework to achieve 100 such schools by the year 2013, said Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister.

Monday, March 14, 2011

journey - song lyrics - by AKON

JOURNEY.
{Verse 1}
This is the ultimate journey of your life
Where the weak die and the strong survive
Prepare to suffer 40 days and 40 nights
Strap on your boots cause you got a long hike

{Chorus}
Just another journey, another journey into time
C'mon now
Just another journey, who ever thought I'd cross this line
Ohohohohoh
{Verse 2}

Walking through the dirty streets of Jersey (Jersey)
A DOLLAR TO MY NAME searchin for that key
I'm tryin not to reincorinate my past
I'm tired from the game, took another path
Destination 95 Dirty South
Where the devil tried to realter my route
Creator took me by the hand and led the way-ay
to make the story short thats why I'm here today
{Chorus}

What about that day you said I would not ----
And about that day you kicked me out onto the bricks
What about that time you said I wouldnt make a dime
And about that time you said I couldn't make you mine
Destination to the bank overseas
Where Akons treated like royalty
Cause there's so much in this world i have to see-e
The WAGON'S rolling so jump in a follow me-e
{Breakdown}
Born and raised in Africa trying to make a scene
(trying to make a scene)
The best way to get to you is by this music thing
And you might believe

Akon (Akon)
C'mon (c'mon)
( let's take it to the streets ) i traveled thro the ghetto's of America
( let's take it to the streets ) i traveled thro the ghetto's of Africa
( let's take it to the streets ) i traveled thro the ghetto's of Asia
( let's take it to the streets ) i traveled thro the ghetto's all over !!
{ Chorus } 

collection of: http://jms-englishonline.blogspot.com/

One day in your life lyrics - Michael jackson

One Day In Your Life lyrics
Songwriters: Armand, Renee; Brown, Sam Iii;

One day in your life
You'll remember a place
Someone touching your face
You'll come back and you'll look around, you'll

One day in your life
You'll remember the love you found here

You'll remember me, somehow
Though you don't need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You'll remember one day

One day in your life
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/michael-jackson-lyrics/one-day-in-your-life-lyrics.html ]
When you find that you're always waiting
For a love we used to share
Just call my name, and I'll be there

You'll remember me, somehow
Though you don't need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You'll remember one day

One day in your life
When you find that you're always lonely
For a love we used to share
Just call my name, and I'll be there


collection of: http://jms-englishonline.blogspot.com/



How to Master The English Language

    
   Some basic recommendations, which I would give to those who were interested in learning the language, are: firstly, buy a good English dictionary, for this is the most important thing that you will need when learning English. Successful English learners use their dictionaries all the time. 
       Secondly, if you want to improve your speaking/writing ability, read the newspaper, and while doing that highlight the words you do not know, and then go and check them on your new dictionary. 
       Thirdly, instead of watching TV, listen to the radio.
 
       Fourthly, talk, talk and talk to anyone at anytime and anywhere. 
       And finally, learn to go with the flow while enjoying the many benefits of learning a new language; and even though, at times it may be frustrating and embarrassing to make mistakes, you will eventually learn to accept them, and only when you will focus more on understanding your mistakes rather than judging yourself, then you will start to become fluent.


collection of: http://jms-englishonline.blogspot.com/
from: http://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-master-english-language.html

study smart or smart study..

Good grades and goals can be achieved if one puts in enough time and effort.
My students have been asking me how they can prepare themselves better for the coming public examinations. This being exam season, it is not surprising that tensions are running high and examination anxiety is at its peak.
Having studied and observed successful students at school, I can say this much. Free will can change anyone’s destiny. Discipline and hard work pay richdividends. Desire and ambition can shape lives. Attention and focus shifts the axis. So, in order to do well, there are some simple things that a student can, and ought to, practise.
While I can offer you some guidelines, ultimately, it is the individual who decides which direction his life will take. With dedication and focus, even the impossible can be attained and dreams can be realised.
Pay attention
Here’s what a successful student does: He pays attention. Knowing when to pay heed is a crucial characteristic of the successful.
pay good attention in class
In class, when a teacher is teaching, the most basic thing a child must do is to listen. George Clooney, the famous actor is quoted to have said: “You never really learn much from hearing yourself talk.”
So, stop the chatting and stop the distracting self-absorption. Pay attention and make note of what is being said and taught by the teacher.
By lending his eyes and ears to the task at hand, a child can absorb a lot in class. In other words, do not defer learning. You would do better, if you learn as much as you can during the time a lesson is taught in class. Pick up the useful tips offered and remember them immediately.
Be disciplined and focused on what is important. So, set aside a daily time to review work and stick to it. This includes doing your homework and reading up.
Parents of successful children have usually ingrained this habit in their young ones from a very early age.
“No TV before school work” is a good adage to follow.
The child must learn to prioritise and understand his responsibility as a student. If there are academic tasks given, these must be accomplished first, before he accords himself any other privilege.
He optimises the use of his time. There are pockets of free time in every school day. A successful student does not fritter away this precious time.
He does as much as he can in whatever time he can find. In this way, he has more time to call his own. Weekends, in particular, are put to good use.
He thinks about what he is doing, plans his work and accomplishes daily goals. This is a form of self-motivation that weak students do not exhibit.
The successful student is always mindful of what needs to be done in a certain time frame and is conscious of the effort, resources and materials he will need in order to achieve set targets.
Make a list
A good thing to do is to write out a “To Do” list for every day, including the weekends.
Even our very own famous Chef Wan has said this before — “In order to be big, you have to think big. If you think small, you’re going to be small.”
A good student is not satisfied in doing just what the teacher has asked him to do. He goes beyond that, seeking a multitude of other exercises to sharpen his mind. He procures information not just from his textbook but also from other books, other teachers, TV, magazines, friends and newspapers. By varying his sources of knowledge, he learns more.
He practices the art of balance. His time is, therefore, divided into periods of work and relaxation. After an hour or two of concentrated work, this student will usually do something else to relax his mind.
He is aware that the mind needs rest, and he accomplishes this by engaging in some physical activity or a game.
Some students just sleep or listen to music. Or, take a ride on a bike. Essentially, their bodies and mind are not wound tight. They learn to handle stress.
A good student usually seeks out mentors and guides. Somehow, successful people realise that learning is best done when it is skillfully guided by those who are more knowledgeable or wise. Thus, they spend some time each day in the company of such people.
Unafraid to seek help, they make the most of the mental wealth and the wise ways of others who are superior to them.
In the Beijing Olympics, Mongolia got the chance to celebrate its first-everOlympic gold medal — a win proffered by traditional wrestler Tuvshinbayar Naidan. He won the gold by beating Kazakhstan’s Askhat Zhitkeyev in the men’s 100-kg class.
When interviewed after his victory, Naidan said:“The first thing I thought of was my parents and my coach.”
See what I mean?
You need mentors to be successful. They are the ones who train, guide, nurture and mould you.
Remembering all this will help make you a successful student. Good luck and happy studying.

from: Teacher Talk By NITHYA SIDHHU. thestar.com.my

diploma or form six?

Roziatulakmal Hasan (standing) teaches a class which comprises the only two upper six Science students at SMK Taee, Serian, Sarawak — Christin Natal William (left) and Kinolly Kilip
Roziatulakmal Hasan (standing) teaches a class which comprises the only two upper six Science students at SMK Taee, Serian, Sarawak 
Although many consider it as Plan B, students stand to gain from sitting Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia, write SUZIEANA UDA NAGU and SHARIFAH ARFAHTHERE are only two students in the upper six Science class at SMK Taee, Serian, Sarawak.
Kinolly Kilip and Christin Natal William — both 19 years old — are the school’s remaining two Science stream candidates for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination this year.
“The class originally had eight students,” says Phyllina Diana Morison, who teaches the Malaysian University English Test at the school.
The rest had either “left for colleges and universities, secured jobs or dropped out after discovering that they could not cope with the subjects”.
Judging by the national STPM statistics, SMK Taee’s experience is not far removed from that of other schools which offer Form Six as an option.
The number of STPM candidates has consistently been on a downward path — it was at its lowest in 1997 with only 46, 798 students.
Last year, some 50, 576 candidates took the exam.
Although there were 81,142 candidates in 2005, the figure had steadily dropped to 73,691 in 2006; 66,048 in 2007; 58, 048 in 2008 and 52,348 in 2009.
This is in marked contrast to the early 1980s when STPM was the top pre-university programme of choice, as evidenced by the 70,000 students who sat for the examination annually.
Students vied with each other for seats in Form Six and parents encouraged their children to attend the 18-month programme.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that most school-leavers do not even consider Form Six as a choice now. It seems that parents and teachers also dissuade young people from choosing Form Six.

What has changed? Malaysian Examinations Council chairman Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, who announced the 2010 STPM results recently, says “this could be due to the trend towards opting for diploma courses among Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia holders”.


Fresh school-leaver Amir Farid Aminuddin’s decision to apply for a diploma course confirms Dzulkifli’s presumption.

Amir Farid, 18, believes that a diploma course will improve his competitive edge.
“It is mainly the diploma or degree holders who secure jobs at interviews,” says the former Malay College Kuala Kangsar student.
He had weighed up several pre-university programmes including matriculation and Form Six before making his decision.
“A diploma programme is best for me as I do not intend to waste time going through the phases. I want to get a job as soon as possible,” adds Amir Farid, who is also last year’s RHB New Straits Times’ National Spell-It-Right Challenge Perak (secondary) second runner-up.

Read more: PRE-UNIVERSITY: Tough yet the best choice http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/PRE-UNIVERSITY_Toughyetthebestchoice/Article#ixzz1GZOrFWOl
collection of: http://jms-englishonline.blogspot.com/
so what's your choice? sit for the stpm or take the diploma courses?

s.w.o.t.

       More than 40 per cent of Malaysian secondary school children do not know what to do with their life. Follow these tips to gain insights into your personality and future career:
- Take online personality tests such as the one at www.xplorasi.edu.my to discover your strengths and weaknesses.
- Ask a trusted friend or relative to give their honest opinion of your traits to verify whether the results of personality tests are true.
- Talk to your parents or relatives about their jobs and the skills or qualifications needed.
- Discuss your chosen career option with a school counsellor to determine the grades you need to qualify for the job.
- Enrol on career counselling workshops to find out about as many careers as possible.
- Talk to your older siblings, relatives or school seniors who are pursuing the study route you plan to follow to see if it is suitable for you. This will also lay to rest any myths surrounding the option.

Read more: Discover your strengths http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Discoveryourstrengths/Article#ixzz1GZJMaRyD

collection of: http://jms-englishonline.blogspot.com/

motivational stories 4


The Rock


An old farmer had plowed around a large rock in one of his fields for years. He had broken several plowshares and a cultivator on it and had grown rather morbid about the rock.
After breaking another plowshare one day, and remembering all the trouble the rock had caused him through the years, he finally decided to do something about it.
When he put the crowbar under the rock, he was surprised to discover that it was only about six inches thick and that he could break it up easily with a sledgehammer. As he was carting the pieces away he had to smile, remembering all the trouble that the rock had caused him over the years and how easy it would have been to ged rid of it sooner.

motivational stories 2


Mount Everest

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953 he scaled the highest mountain then known to man-29,000 feet straight up. He was knighted for his efforts.
He even made American Express card commercials because of it! However, until we read his book, High Adventure, we don't understand that Hillary had to grow into this success.
You see, in 1952 he attempted to climb Mount Everest, but failed. A few weeks later a group in England asked him to address its members.
Hillary walked on stage to a thunderous applause. The audience was recognizing an attempt at greatness, but Edmund Hillary saw himself as a failure. He moved away from the microphone and walked to the edge of the platform.
He made a fist and pointed at a picture of the mountain. He said in a loud voice, "Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I'll beat you the next time because you've grown all you are going to grow... but I'm still growing!"
- Brian Cavanaugh
"The Sower's Seeds"


motivational stories

Untitled
This is from an old story, back in the '30s, in the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less. A 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
"How much is an ice cream sundae?" the little boy asked.
"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins he had. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.
By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing very impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.
coinsThe waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry. As she wiped down the table, there placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough money to leave her a tip.


what about you? are you going to finish the ice-cream?

Thursday, March 10, 2011

lyrics - My Heart Will Go On


Songwriters: Horner, James; Jennings, Will;

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're gone

[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/celine-dion-lyrics/my-heart-will-go-on-lyrics.html ]
Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

You're here, there's nothing I fear
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

© ENSIGN MUSIC CORP; FAMOUS MUSIC CORP; BLUE SKY RIDER SONGS;