Online Task 4

Question: 

1. Think of at least 3 benefits of using speeches by famous figures, in the classroom. The benefits of using speeches by famous figures, in the classroom are:- 

• Speeches by famous figures are normally well prepared, free of grammatical errors and proofread many times before they are finalized. So these speech texts are suitable to be used in the classroom. 
• Speeches by famous figures are normally persuasive speech. Therefore, if students read more of this type of speech, they can learn the techniques of persuasive speech and apply this particular skill in their real life.
• Speeches by famous figures normally reflect higher level of critical thinking skills. Therefore, if such speeches are used in the classroom, it might sharpen the critical thinking skills of the students. 

2. Go to www.youtube.com and find the audio-visual on the speech. In not less than 50 words, state would the audio-visual be of any use in helping understand the speech better? State your reasons. 

Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech is a very good piece for students to listen to. Rather than just listening to the audio, watching the video would make their understanding better. By just listening to the audio, students or anyone might not have the slightest idea on how to relate to King's speech. In the video, they can see the atmosphere around the venue where the speech had taken place. It would definitely benefit students if they listen/watch the audio-visual of the speech.

3. Who is Martin Luther King? 

Online Task 3

Bio-poem about Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela,

Strong, brave, helpful and persistent 

Father of South Africa

A leader who loves peace and justice

A fighter against violence and inequality

He who is willing to do anything for his land

He who is ready to sacrifice for his people

That's Nelson Mandela, a pacifier, a pacifist, a peacekeeper. 

Online Task 2

Do we have a canon for Malaysian literary works? Let's say we do, who do you think are in it? Consider the fact that their works are well-known and most importantly included as part of the school syllabus- (both in BM and English) 

Malay Literature: 

• Dato’ Shahnon Ahmad - Gelungnya Terpokah (short story) 
• Prof. Dr. Muhammad Haji Salleh - Anak Global (poem) 

English Literature 

• Datuk A. Samad Said - The Dead Crow (poem) 
• Prof. Dr. Muhammad Haji Salleh - Si Tenggang’s Homecoming (poem) 

The poems by Erica Jong raises some feminist issues. What are they?

“Isn't that the problem? That women have been swindled for centuries into substituting adornment for love, fashion (as it were) for passion?” ~Erica Jong 

Online Task 1

Folktale 

The Son of the Turtle Spirit is a Chinese folktale. 

List some of the well-known folktales from Malaysia . 

• The Sang Kancil and Sang Buaya
• Si Tanggang 
• Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah 
• Badang 
• Mat Jenin 
• The Catfish in The River 
• The Woodpecker’s Crown 
• The Cockerel That Crows 
• The Haunted Cave 
• Raja Bersiung

List some of the possible issues found in “The Son of the Turtle Spirit” 

I Say Essay

Orwell’s essay, “Shooting an Elephant” is about him working as a police officer in lower Burma. Orwell doesn’t’ really like his job especially how the Burma people treat him. They seem to insult, sneer, and laugh at him when he walks by and walking away. It is one day when Orwell gets a call from the sub inspector from the police station. The sub inspector informs Orwell that there is a ravaging elephant in the bazaar and if he would take care of it. The choice Orwell makes will leave him with a guilty conscience, a follower, and a person who hides behind a mask.

A Fighter He Is

'Cause it makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder 

It makes me that much wiser 

So thanks for making me a fighter 

Made me learn a little bit faster 

Made my skin a little bit thicker 

Makes me that much smarter 

So thanks for making me a fighter

*  *  *

I don't know why reading on Nelson Mandela reminds me of this song. FIGHTER. Well, after all that he's been through, I think he deserves to be called one. Serving more than two decades behind bars, and after he was released, citizens still believe in him and made him the President.

[Video|Link] Martin Luther's "I Have A Dream"

FOR FULL SPEECH TEXT CLICK HERE

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech can be considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. Over 200,000 white and black Americans gathered in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963 to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver this groundbreaking speech.

King argues that all men are equal and should be treated equal. Many times in his speech, King states how black citizens have been mistreated over the years. In the beginning of his speech King states "One hundred year later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination."  King also states numerous times his dream for equality in the country. He says "I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

In Memory - Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was born in Joplin, Missouri. He was the second child of school teacher Carrie (Caroline) Mercer Langston and James Nathaniel Hughes (1871–1934). Langston Hughes grew up in a series of Midwestern small towns. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form of jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance but his poems also include about common human experiences. His works are influenced greatly the poetry of Walt Whitman and Carl Sandburg.

Letters and Diaries from the Yesteryear

Reading the letters of John Keats and Andy Warhol's diary entries, I can't help but to realize how technology have evolved from handwriting on papers to typing on the keyboard of the computer or mobile devices. Writing a letter would be similar to sending an e-mail while diaries are akin to blogs, Facebook or even Twitter.

The world we live in is getting more advanced, and we want faster replies. Sending a mail would take a longer time than an e-mail with just a click away. Talking about daily activities now can be done in front of the computer or on the smartphone easily and people can even comment on our entries on the spot. Change is good, but future generations would miss out a lot too.

A tale of greed and dissatisfaction

This tale tells a story about dissatisfaction and greed. Hans Dudeldee who is an honest and hardworking fisherman, was granted wishes by a fish. Instead of being thankful of what they they have received, his wife became greedier and kept wanting more. In the end their life was back to what it was before.

*after reading this tale, this text was used for my student's story telling competition.
_________________________________

Hanns Dudeldee

Germany, Albert Ludewig Grimm

A long time ago, many hundreds of years ago, there lived a fisherman with his wife. His name was Dudeldee. They were so poor that they did not have a real house, but lived in a hut made of boards without any windows. They looked out through the knot holes. In spite all this, Dudeldee was satisfied, but not his wife. She wished for this or that and constantly tormented her husband because he could not give it to her.

Dudeldee usually said nothing, thinking only to himself, "If only I were rich," or "If only I could have everything I wished for."

Fables, Tales, Myths and Legends

Fable is a fictitious narrative or statement as

• a legendary story of supernatural happenings
• a narration intended to enforce a useful truth; especially : one in which animals speak and act like human beings

Tale is a literary composition

• that has the form of such a narrative.
• that relates the details of some real or imaginary event, incident, or case; story

Mary is giggling :))

Roadl Dahl's "Lamb to the Slaughter" 

Lamb to the Slaughter tells a story about Mary, a devoted and loyal wife of Patrick Maloney, who in the end killed her husband after the latter confessed that he is leaving her. Mary, at that time, was 6-month pregnant with their child.

Betrayal

[Video] The Landlady - Roadl Dahl

While searching for the full text of "The Landlady" by Roadl Dahl, I came across this video.

I have not watched this, so I'm putting this up in a blog entry so that I can watch it when I have the time. I hope by watching the video I can understand the story better.

And to my fellow friends, if you're reading this entry.., I hope this might help you too.

:)

First Tutorial

Today me and Chua attended our first tutorial with Prof. Moniza. It's great to see a familiar face again for our tutorials. Prof. Moniza from UiTM Machang has been our regular tutor since semester 3 if I'm not mistaken.
As always, she gave us quite a lot of input and ideas despite the lack of information we gave her regarding the assignments et cetera (since both of us did not attend the first face to face).
Anyway, she did give us some pointers as to how to tackle the assignments. And we decided to discuss more on the assignment after we read all the assigned short stories.