So, as I have mentioned in my previous post, here's the website created by a group of new teachers. Hope you'll give the site a visit and register yourself. It's a place where you can share your teaching experience, discuss issues related to education, share resources and etc. Owh, and you can also find the group in facebook!
Well...it has been a while...a long while actually since my last post. I've been waiting for news on my posting since December and I've just got the result last week. And I'll be posted to KEDAH!!
I didn't post anything in my blog because I became so emotional about my posting. It wasn't really because I was eager to start work, but because how I was treated by a few people who were working in the Ministry. Unfortunately, there were more people who were unhelpful and rude rather than people who were helpful. Me and my friends were told that the posting result will be out in December. My friends who are going to teach primary school sure did get their posting in December but the secondary teachers seemed to face a problem. I went to Putrajaya (Bahagian Sekolah Harian KPM) to talk to the people who were supposed to handle the posting process and they told me that the posting forms were missing! They even told me to wait till October 2011. Oh boy, was I panicking back then. It wasn't only me who felt that way. My other friends who were still waiting for their posting also started feeling disappointed with the whole posting issue. But, I realised that if ministry says we have to wait, we just have to wait. That's what made me feel so uneasy.
I wished I was able to do something but there wasn't except to prepare for school in 2010 in any way I can. Well, at least I'm doing something good and not just waiting for my posting result. So, I just did some light reading on the new lit component and also brainstorm ideas on how to teach English to learners of different proficiency levels. Owh, I also came across a group of new teachers who have started a website (after a while i realised they were my juniors back in college =) Good job people!!). I'll promote their group in the next entry. Hehe...
Hello, Kedah!! Here I come!!!! Hijau Kuning all the way!!
P/S: Yep...I'm very thankful to get Kedah even though I asked for another state. I'll do my best in my new place. I expect its gonna be difficult, but hope my love for the profession won't diminish!
Well...its been several days since I read the news from Kak Fadzleen's blog. And yes, novels will still be around for the new lit component but its gonna be a bit different. Well, its presentation will be very different since it'll be graphic novels.
So far, the graphic novels that are set for Form 1 will be Black Beauty, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Boscombe Valley Mystery. Seems like the graphic novels are a re-make from the classic novels which I believe were great novels I read for leisure while I was at school. And I should add that there will also be novels set for the other forms as well (they just haven't got to the announcement part yet I suppose).
Hence, I have been frantically (yes, I am very 'kalut' and would easily go to my frantic mode) looking for information on graphic novels. Funny thing is, everytime i google 'graphic novels' the results will show more on comics. So, I've been wondering, what is the difference of graphic novels and comics??Hurm...so I read this.
After reading the article, I can't say I gained as much info as I wanted but, for starters, I guess it was enough. If I understand right, comics is a reading material which doesn't have heavy themes like graphic novels and the storyline in a graphic novel is more complex than in comics. In my personal opinion, as a person who read comics, I don't really see that much difference in both. So, I guess I have to wait to get into an actual school and getting my hands on the book itself (sure I can get the reference books from bookstores but I'm more interested to see how the text looks like...I've already heard it has low quality...).
Owh, and I believe I should also mention that so far, I'd say most of the articles I have read on graphic novels states that they are suitable to be used for children who are unmotivated towards reading or have difficulty in reading. Sure that's the case in schools nowadays. But do we really need to introduce such light reading for the English text?I read English comics and I dare say, its not much reading but more of enjoying the storyline. I personally would opt for teenage novels Diana Wynne Jones and also Roald Dahl. They're language in their books are easy to understand and also enjoyable (not as heavy as The Pearl, which I, as a person who doesn't really take reading as an all time hobby).
But, that's just me. I'm still hoping that the change in the lit component would be for the best.
P/s: Still looking for information on how graphic novels can be used to teach English in the classroom. I'll post more entries on it if I do find more info.
Well, this case is actually nothing new...but seems like peoples' responses to the news made me want to include this in my blog. Truth is, I'm quite saddened by the issue.
For those who might not have read about it, you can read the main news here:
Utusan (20/11/09): Izzati gembira disalut kesedihan
and some reader responses here:
Debate : Nur Izzati: Antara hutang RM57 dan SBP
Here is the response my the Malaysian Ministry of Education:
Utusan Malaysia bertarikh 27 November 2009 – NUR IZATTI: ANTARA HUTANG RM57 DAN SBP
Basically, the problem with Izzati is that she came from a poor family and they have difficulty paying the school fees. This has caused the school to keep Izzati's examination result slip until the fees have been payed.
I think any school who may have such problems could have a fund where anyone can contribute to, not just teachers. If you make an exception for one child, the others will ask for it too. And I dare say, our Izzati here is not the only unfortunate child in Malaysia. And she is not the only child in Malaysia who received 5A's in the UPSR exam nor is she the only child who did not get a chance to go to SBP. There are other children who do need our help so, rather than making such general statements about how horrible everything is, we could help make things better. To start off, at least join the school's PIBG meeting and get to know what's happening in schools. I've been to over 3 schools ever since I started my teaching degree and not one school had most parents attending the PIBG meeting.
So, are we really doing enough for our children?
I've only found one book for the lower secondary literature component which is:
Here are two books i found for the upper secondary:
Chuah, C. H. (2010). Poems, short stories and drama (Form 4 and Form 5). Shah Alam: Marshal Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
