Hey!

The March hols are almost upon us again! One more week to it right? Don't really know if the secondary and JC schedules are in sync but if they are, then... ONE MORE WEEK!!!!

I'm sure you ladies had a hard term, adjusting and gearing yourself for the big event end next year. Hope y'all are in-tune already and going strong :)

The A-Level results were out last Friday  :)  ( I couldn't really sleep due to the rush of anticipation and anxiety! Thank goodness they did ok! )
Conclusion? Hard and smart work pays off so please do keep that in mind ya? Always make sure u understand everything that's taught!

Oh, I presume the old class of 1E9 have all gone to various classes. Any updates? :P

Have a great week ahead!

Hey you-who-for-some-reason-is-still-reading-this,

It's approaching the end of the year and I'm sure we all can't wait to hear the jingle bells and Santa's 'Ho-ho-ho'. A year past just like that and we're all one year older already! The horror!!!

Here's wishing you all a very enjoyable holiday ahead! I'm sure you all worked hard and now you can have your well-deserved break. Please don't just whack all the snacks, fried chicken and what not. I'm certain you want to stay healthy and spend your Christmas bouncing about rather than shivering under your blankets!

Oh, so you all going on to 3E9 next year? Anyone doing geography? Haha.. any geography nightmares so far? :)

Well.. I'm now to my neck in preparing my peeps for the coming 'A' Levels. First Geog paper this Monday! So Exciting!

Right that's it. Time for breakfast! Have a good weekend y'all!

Hey y'all,

I'm not sure if you folks are still doing Geography and if you are doing natural hazards (specifically, hazards as a result of crustal plate movements). Still, I would like to take this opportunity to post a link here on earthquakes, especially since the Chinese earthquake last Monday. It was really a disaster, especially since the places hit were rather densely populated and a lot of buildings collapsed, killing many people. Sigh.

So here's the link on earthquakes! Just for your info!

And here's the link to news on the recent earthquake disaster at Chengdu, China. There're quite a few photos there that will show you the extent of the damage. Aren't you thankful that you're staying on the sunny island of Singapore, a reasonable distance away from any known plate boundary?

Ok back to my work! Wish you all well! Mid years over already? Hope you guys did well ya?

Hi all,

I shall leave a post here just for kicks! I'm not even sure anyone visits this site anymore and I seriously doubt anyone would have done so, considering the last post was like Oct 2007! *GASP* Time flies!!!!

Anyhow, I've been up to my neck in work! I seriously wonder how you ladies are coping right now! Hope everyone's doing well and are still very much engaged and involved in your education- a journey which should be exciting and fun-filled!

I seriously hope our paths will cross again in the not-too-distant future! Do gimme a shoutout when you bump into me on the streets ya?

Here's wishing you well as you venture into your second term! :)

Cheers!!

Wow, the last time I had time to post was during the one week September break. Gosh!

Sorry for neglecting this space. It has really been a hectic semester for me. What with the exams marking and project work, I was totally stretched!!! Well... at least now I've some semblance of time to rest and relax for a moment. But soon another segment of the JC project work will commence and I'll be busy again. Arghh!!!

So did anyone of you watch the Rugby finals? Haha...  I'm not sure if any of you do since Rugby isn't exactly the stereotypical 'girl' kind of sport. But anyhow, just for your information, the Springboks aka South Africa won the 2007 Rugby World Cup! Woohooo!!!

Hey y'all!

Finally the one-week September hols is upon us! Hope you're all having fun and yet studying hard for your finals as well. So just dropping in to say HI and wishing all of you the very best.

Despite the fact that we're all busy bees right now, we still need some music to provide a semblance of a balance in our lives. So, here's a song that I'm currently obsessed with right now. Heh. Enjoy!

Hi y'all!

Oh my goshhhh! It has been such a loonnng time! I seriously wonder if any of you still do visit this site!

Thanks to those who have left comments in previous entries. Really appreciate the nice and kind words and thoughts. I hope everyone of you are doing fine and dandy for this soon-coming-to-an-end semester! As for me, work is NEVERENDING! Preparing for lectures, tutorials, meetings, etc etc etc etc etc! Thank goodness for this short break thanks to Singapore's Independence! Yes!!!

So now that I've a five-sec or so breather, I'm wishing you all the very best for the remainder of the semester!

Yawn.. oh nooo... the beautiful weekend's going to end! Nnnoooooo...

Haha... have a great week ahead! Cheers!

Hi all!!!

Sorry it has been Ssssooooooo long since I updated at this space! From the beginning of the hols till now! Gosh...

Well... truth be told, I have been super bogged down by work, preparing for school. Now the J1s just had their mid years and I'm currently occupied by scripts piled sky-high! Definitely have to go shop for red pen refills :P

Thanks to those who commented in the last entry. I certainly missed the times we had at TKGS! So how's the state of your classroom now? Nicely painted? Someone please post your class pic in the comments (yes it can be done).

Right unfortunately this has got to be a short one. Tired!

Zzzzzzz

Updates please!

Hey y'all!

Heard from some that it's now the holidays! Happy right???? I'm not that fortunate though, still have to return to NIE to complete some stuff. Enjoy your hols whilst it lasts! Time to rejuvenate, re-energise, re-align your goals, and just RELAX!!!!

Congratulations to your achievements for inter-class badminton!! Keep building and fanning the fire that is your class spirit and I'm certain there will be many more accomplishments and achievements to come! Stay together in mind and spirit ya! OOOssshhhhhh!!!

Oops, I'm late for NIE!!! Time to go!! But before that, here's a little clip that I watched, about, 200 times cos it was simply HILARIOUS!!! Hope you girls enjoy it as much as I did! I do hope you understand why it's so entertaining! Celebrate the little things in life!



Right gotta go! Hope to update soon! Happy first day of Holidays!!!!

After a seemingly long hiatus, I'm finally able to sit down and type some thoughts and feelings into this blog. The past week has been rather hectic, running about, travelling to the forsaken part of the island that is Boon Lay, trying to get miscellaneous stuff settled. Haven't really had the time or energy to properly sit down and type. Perhaps my life will be as busy and more in the future. Do forgive me if I appear to have migrated to some island with no internet connection!

That said, HOW YOU GIRLS DOING???? I hope everyone's well, healthy, and still fervently learning from your teachers! Remember to drink more water and sleep well. Think quite a number of you fell/are falling ill. Better take care! No point scoring As when your throat hurts and limbs weak ya? We strive to be effective students with well maintained brains and body :):)

So I hear from the grapevines that your class ran into some trouble with painting the classroom. Sigh hope that gets settled soon. Being a Geographer (don't cringe!) I strongly believe that the state of the environment is extremely important to our well-being. A good, conducive, comfortable and pretty environment is tentamount to producing good, effective (and pretty?) students. So I sincerely hope that you get to settle the paint job soon.

Oh, and ALL THE BEST FOR THE INTERCLASS BADMINTON!!! For those participating, relax, think happy thoughts, and do your very best to do your class proud. One tip that worked for me when I was rowing competitively for NUS: Try to gauge your stress level on a scale of 1-10. Remember the time when you performed best? What stress level is that? I work best at stress level 7. So I know that if it's higher than that (which is normal since we get excessively nervous sometimes!) I would take deep breaths and imagine myself standing next to a clear, pristine lake, with birds chirping melodiously and fish of many colours swimming in neat schools. Whatever works for you.

Of course, if my stress level is below 7, I would pysch myself up by either going through the race plan again in my mind, imagining myself facing the opponent, or plug in my headphones and listening to Linkin Park (which, by the way, is da bomb in pysching yourself up).

Here's a good recommendation. Linkin Park- Numb. It's kinda angsty plus some may actually feel for the lyrics. I know I did before.
Feel the tingling sensation going up and down your spine? That should actually bring your stress level up :)
Here's the vid for those clueless to the rock group that is Linkin Park:


I feel this applies to exams and other things as well. Remember your most effective stress level and stay at that level. You'll perform much better that way :)

Right! I should be ending this entry soon! Been going on and on already :p
Since this is a blog of English Language learning origin, I shall try to value add by including some words that I feel you may not have come across. Bear with me if you're already familiar with the words!
So.. word of the day (from Dictionary.com):
Hiatus /haɪˈeɪtəs/
–noun, plural -tus·es, -tus.
1. a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.
2. a missing part; gap or lacuna: Scholars attempted to account for the hiatus in the medieval manuscript
3. any gap or opening

Hope you girls have a great week ahead! Do let me know if there are any updates (of any nature)!!!

Cheers!!

Hope you girls are enjoying your time in school now. Hope you had a fine start to the week!

Am now at home, sitting at my desk, watching Grey's Anatomy. Love the show! Anyone aspires to be a doctor? I don't. Can't bring myself to hold a surgical knife and cutting people up. Whilst watching the show there will be moments where I'd pause, take deep breaths, and then continue watching (and cringing). Grosssss...

Shall be heading out to NIE for some lessons soon. If you're wondering where NIE is, it's located in NTU, which is situated at the extreme west of Singapore. It's so darn far la for someone staying at the far eastern part of Singapore! Adds a new meaning to Journey to the West aye?

Am feeling rather hungry now. Miss the nasi goreng at the Malay store. Sighhhh....

Anyways... have a great week ahead all!

To end off, this one's absolutely hilarious!!!

Cheers!

Hi all!

Thank you so much for the many kind words and the wonderful cards! Was seriously very touched! I will definitely miss the class truckloads! Your class certainly made leaving the school difficult :(
I really hope our paths will cross again. Be it in schools, or even at shopping centres (eg Parkway Parade! Woot!). Don't forget to say 'Hi'!

I do hope to continue posting here and keeping in contact with your class. This will certainly give me something to do in the event that I'm bored or I'm stuck in the middle of the desert with a laptop, and by some divine miracle, internet connection. Broadband at that... :p

So... introducing Rascal Flatts!!!

Emmy and Emmanuelle had the fine fortune of being the first ones to be 'hipper'. Now the rest of you shall officially be enlightened by the maestro that is Rascal Flatts!



For best results, please wait load the video fully before watching :)

Enjoy! Have a GRRREATTTT weekend ahead!

So the time has come to say goodbye. But before I disappear, I would like very much for some feedback on the 'times' we had together (10-weeks).

As such, in your pairs, do try your best to answer these queries:
1) What are the English lessons that you enjoyed and are memorable? What did you learn from that lesson(s) (be it English language related or other life's lessons)

2) What do you think should be changed or incorporated to make your EL learning more meaningful, relevant and exciting?

3) Any dislikes about the EL lessons during my 'reign' as your EL teacher?

4) Has your views towards EL (learning or use) changed in any way?

5) Any other comments (last words, cheers, jeers, try to avoid insults please)?

Yup that should be about it. I'm sure you would have loads to type about. In your pairs,
- click on 'leave a comment'
- in the title leave your names (or you'd rather choose to comment anonymously I'm fine. But I would very much like to know who the feedback is from. Don't worry I won't harbour any ill or negative feelings!)
- Person A of each pair will answer 1-5 first. Followed by person B (this is to keep the comments section neater and tidier)
- Click on 'Post comment' once you're done.

Cheers.

Here are the 30 pre-selected words from your vocab list. Please learn the meanings well and hope you do well for the spelling CA this coming Monday (7 May 2007)!

All the best! Have a great weekend ahead!

Here are some announcements!

1) For those who are interested and keen on working on their project, I will be at Com Lab 2 (this Friday 4 May 2007) from recess onwards. This will allow you to work on your IT project for two straight periods (10.25am-12.05pm). I'll see the rest of the class straight at Com Lab 2. Bring along your vocab list and materials for IT project.

2) Please sign off or leave your name after leaving comments on this blog. I'll feel better knowing who I am replying to!

3) Specifically to Felicia and Rachael: How come your script is incomplete!?!?! Did you email me the wrong file?? Please complete your script and send me the completed version.

4) For those who are interested in emailing your drafts you can still do so to alvintan81@yahoo.com.sg
The '81' does not mean anything so don't read too much into it :p

5) For the IT project, I'll allow some leeway in terms of duration of video clip. As such, your video clip can be up to 3mins in duration. This is so as to not limit your creativity and to allow use of any additional video clips to enhance your presentation. So, let your creative juices flow and may you have fun attracting foreign students to TKGS!

That's all (for now)!

Finally returned you girls the compo CA. It had been a long and arduous task marking and grading your scripts. Hopefully y'all learn from your mistakes and (try) not to commit similar errors in your future writing endeavours. A brief summary on the common mistakes I've observed from your writing:

1) Tenses. Hopfully the errors are mainly due to carelessness or extreme sleep deprivation the night before. By now you should not be committing such errors! Committing tense errors in writing is tantamount to a murder crime! Do please please please be careful with your tenses.
2) Sentence structure and expressions. I guess the best remedy I can possibly offer at this point is for you to go read as widely as possible! Also, if you're not entirely certain how to use certain vocabulary or or expressions (such as similes), do not use them (unless it's a normal class assignment and you just wish to experiment or be adventurous). Often simple, good and apt use of vocabulary is miles better than trying to use bombastic words inappropriately.
3) Sentence length. Remember our exercise on using discourse markers and sentence variation? Where did all the practice go to?? Please retrieve the handouts from beneath your two-month-old pile of laundry and go through it again. Always remember that we want to be effective and interesting writers. Stories that contain excessively long sentences and lack discourse markers just puts us (meaning your markers) to hibernation mode.

4) Punctuation and Dialogue. There is no clearer way to express yourself than creative use of punctuation and dialogue. Use '!' and '?!'. As long as it gets your point across it's good. Also words describing manner or speech is terribly important. If someone is saying something firmly don't write 'ask' or 'whisper'. You know what I mean right?!?! (punctuation to express my exasperation).

5) Common sense. I have learnt much. One of which, is that common sense is not that common afterall. Your story HAS TO MAKE SENSE! At least to me, Mrs Seet, your relatives, friends, dog, cat and pet monkey. The stories that make the least sense are those of Qn 2:
"There are four masked and armed men at the back of the building!" screamed Alice as she ran wearily towards two young men at the empty sidewalk. Suddenly...
How do you interpret the above opening? Personally, I would imagine Alice running away, tired (having possibly escaped or narrowly avoided being captured by the men) and seeking help from the two young men. Alice, together with the two men, will then try to do something about the situation (call the police? aid in their investigation? gun fight between the men and the police? eventual capture of the men? injured police officers or passers-by?)
There can be many possibly scenarios arising from the above opening that make absolute sense. In future if you do attempt such a question (which will get you real good marks if you are sensibly creative and commit minimum language mistakes) please PLAN an interesting and believable story before attempting to write.

I think I may have left out a few common errors but I believe my comments (both on your paper and on this entry) should suffice. Those who did not do as well as you had expected, DON'T GIVE UP!!! Keep reading and writing! Develop your own writing styles and I'm certain you will achieve much better in subsequent compositions.
As for those who did well (or better than you had expected *erhem*), keep up the good work! Don't be complacent! You did well mainly because you committed minimum mistakes, or you had planned well for your essay, or your storyline makes good sense and is interesting, or you have a good and clear writing style which sustained my interest.  Try  changing all my 'ORs' to 'ANDs' and you're on your way to becoming an effective writer.

That's all for now! Hope this benefits you!

Hi all,

I've set up this little site so as to be able to:
1) communicate with you
2) post useful materials
3) allow you to post stuff to entertain me

For a start, here are the definitions for the vocab list (C, D and E). Check your answers and make sure you have the definitions right! Remember that the spelling test will be on Monday, 7 May 2007. 

Click on the link below to access the definitions:


That said, here's the comic of the day:

Oh, and one more thing. Please note that the IT project will be due latest 8 May 2007. So during English lab sessions please stop wasting time and instead be super duper productive. Will be looking forward to your video clips!