Sunday, December 30, 2012

#Poem #Inspiration #Einstein #Whispers in my ears

Whispers in my ears

There were times when I thought
Brilliant was my middle name
Genius was my last name
Einstein was my beloved uncle

At that I thought
if I declare it so
I'd be ostracized.
others would see me as big headed
pompous smarty snooty
overbearing pretentious uppity wise gal,
smug conceited vain
miss know it all
on ego trip

But, hey....
that ain't real me!
I'm just the opposite!
meek humble servile me!

Oh? Are you?

Yes! All I want to be...
to become the servant of God,
the lovers of God,
just like the way
my great-great -great grandfather
Ibrahim was.

What? I can't believe what I hear!
Are you so holy?
with holier than thou attitude?

No. That is what I truly want to be...
and you know that I speak from the heart
deep from the bottom of my heart
and that is the truth!

Vamush!
Poof!
Begone!

Yes! I'll be gone!
But, you are truly Brilliant!
For such a young girl!
That's your true name!
even if you might not want to listen to me now!
or perhaps, Almas...
would be a better choice
for your middle name!

Begone!
Poof!

Indeed, Let Almas
or Brilliant
or whatever name I'd be called
shines forever
and keep the form!
Aameen.

Written by: Ummabdrahmaan
Kuala Terengganu
Terengganu Darul Iman
Malaysia.
7:17 pm
Hayya 'Alaa Solah! Al aan!
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, December 24, 2012

UniSZA Flood 2012

The water had no where to go!

It doesn't really flooding around the campus but somehow, only the campus ground is flooded.

The surface water would have the tendency to go to lower ground.

The surface water from the housing area are passing through the campus since the fencing on that side has waterways build into the fence with gaping space on the ground every few feet.

The surface water would head towards the lake.

When the lake is full, the water would overflow into the stream on the other side of the street.

But, now there are 2 layers brick fencing and the elevated street separating the stream and the lake.

A few years ago, the brick fence fell down in that corner where the water used to rush to the stream.

The brick fence was rebuilt and UMT also built brick fence marking its territory.

Now the water has no where to go and backflow onto the campus ground.

Poor students who stayed around for the study week and lives on the lower ground are advised to move to the first floor of the hostel.

Final Examinations will begin next week. Hopefully the water will be fully receded by then.

PSW is the worst hit office. They had a boat to transfer precious belonging for safety this afternoon.

Funny but true, there was a boat at the side entrance at PSW this afternoon.

Words to my beloved students: Stay safe, stay dry! Unless you have dozens of clothes to keep you warm at the hostel and know exactly where the big drains are, please stay out of the water. We had a student who were inching into the water to the thigh level fell into the big drain while posing for a camera!!!

Again, stay safe, stay dry.

This weather is expected to last till tomorrow and heavy rain is expected till January 1st next year.
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Final Speech Evaluation for BES3043 Public Speaking

One last speech.. no more after this... that's what you think...

This is just beginning...

Why do do you think we offer public speaking subject to semester one students?

The truth to be told, you'll have to present in each and every class you take after this semester till you completed your study.

Therefore, it's important to expose you to public speaking and instill confidence early and not to wait till you are in your last semester to sit in a public speaking class.

At least, many of you can differentiate and know the difference when you speak to inform, share opinion or to persuade.

It's been really enjoyable to sit and watch you deliver all your speeches.


I think Faizol has improved tremendously and deserved the big applause he got from all of you last night! :)

I still remember how nervous he was and had a false start many times for his first speech.

However, during his last speech last night, his voice carry confidence!

He was undeniably confidence but he was still very nervous as we all could see the his AV aids were shaking as he was holding and distributing it.

What was the first lesson derived from the first class activity? - It's normal to be nervous!

As all of you have learned after your first speech, nervousness subsided after you've said those first few sentences and confidence slowly built in.

As I promised you at the beginning of the semester that all of you will have that confidence speaking in front of the public at the end of the semester, all of you have proved it last night as you delivered your final evaluation speech at the Hostel Foyer where there were a lot people coming and going, passing by, using ATM machine, waiting for the bus, came to HEPA fair etc.

You were there to deliver your speech!

If not for the marathon of speeches I had to evaluate since 2 pm, I probably could go on till passed midnight. My apology to the last 4 out of 60 students who had to deliver their speeches in my office privately as 11:30 pm was too late!

I couldn't open my eyes anymore!

I had to stop for coffee at Omar Khayyam before continue my half hour driving home last night! :)

To Faizol, I have a present for you for showing tremendous improvement in my public speaking class this semester!

I'm off for a much needed holiday starting next week as you are having your study break.

Safe journey to those who are heading home and keep safe!

ps: 10 of you still need to fill in the biodata form and submit photos for personal files. I'll inform who's who later :) Chiao!
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, December 17, 2012

Please, can we have a permanent tent built here?

We normally requested for tents, chairs, table, fan, lights etc everytime we organise any function here.

Both FUHA and FBK are making use of this area so much that between us, the JPP never managed to dismantle the tent because, before they could do it, a new request was put up on line.

The result is as such that the grass under the tent areas are thinning away and died out. The area would be underwater every time it rained thus rendered it unusable. That's why we we had to serve food and drinks in the activity room last Thursday for the worship on Lesson Plan.

The request had been sent. So far, no response.

If this area is developed properly, stage could be built for performances or speakers corner, a book building area or book corner could be planned, and a small cafe with table and chairs for student lounge.

Just in my dream!!! and I can keep on dreaming! Please don't wake me up from this wonderful dream of mine :)
Posted by at No comments:

As We Go By

As we go by
in our lives,

Many things we see
people we meet
questions we ask
places we visit
lessons learned.

Few gems picked up
wise words of old
common senses developed
wisdom some untold.

As much as life is about learning,
it's also about giving
sharing
teaching
coaching
mentoring.

There're must know things
there're silly things.

What joy to experience
what a gladness to glee
what a reward to receive.

How fulfilling life has been.
How else can we
count our blessings

Alhamdulillah,
Thank you Lord,
Thou art indeed
The Lord of Universes


Clicking away...
expressing thoughts and feelings
From the heart and mind;
Ummabdrahmaan
Tuesday (2:11 am)
Dec 18, 2012
I Kuala Terengganu I Terengganu I Malaysia I
ps: The rain has stopped . At least for now.
Posted by at No comments:

the lucky draw winner

4th time is a charm.

Prof Karim asked us to write our names on pieces of paper for a lucky draw.

The lucky person will get the book he co-authored titled The Quest for teaching Excellence.

When we left for a snack break, Prof Karim stayed behind in FUHA computer lab and picked the piece of paper that fell to the ground as he transferred the pieces of paper to the side table as a luck draw winner.

That person, however was no longer with us in the lab as she had to attend to her class.

Then, Prof Karim picked another one. That person was also no longer present in the lab.

The third draw was the last person bid farewell right before the lucky draw started.

The fourth draw is the winner. That was me! The 4th time is a charm! Yet, some people believe that number 4 brings bad luck! hahhaaa... it's the opposite for me!

To those who are interested, the book is also available for free in form of ebook to be downloaded from CDAE USM. I think, pdf form is also available.

Dang! I should have a photo taken with Prof Karim while he signing his autograph in the book! ;)
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Teaching is an art.

Thus, how do you evaluate teaching?

Would you do it the same way you evaluate arts?

What is some other person claimed that teaching is a science?

The thing about science is that it can very what it claim by some sort of measurement.

How do we really evaluate someone's teaching?

When they look for the winner of the AAN -Anugerah Akademik Negara (National Academic Award) to the best teacher from higher education institutions, what they look into is really a carefully crafted and presented statement of personal belief and philosophy on teaching, practiced pedagogy and supported by evidences of is being claimed in form of artifacts of teaching.

What? Teaching artifacts? and you thought that you'd only find the term in introduction to sociology class... hahhaaaa...

yes! Teaching Artifacts!

What are teaching artifacts?

Your course syllabus, tests and quizzes you gave the students to measure their learning, drafts of writing turned in complete with your scribbled notes on the margins as well as any card or notes of appreciations you get from your students.

So, in today's 21st century learning environment, your teaching artifacts can in in the form of wikispaces that your students created as as a part of the class evaluation, the glogster that your students published for the class activity, or the voicethread project that you are doing with your students, the flickr accounts you created to have your students uploaded the photos they shoot and edited using the photoshop, the YouTube account you created to have them uploaded their educational video project using freely available windows movie maker or any video editing software within their disposal and even Facebook comments on your wall appreciating what you have done for them or private messages they send you through emails can be your teaching artifacts. Don't forget the best lecturer award you get during TESL dinner in 2010 and link the picture of you on the stage receiving the present from the deputy dean :) While I am at it, I have plenty of photos uploaded to my personal Flickr on activities done but unfortunately, I normally don't have my own photos in those event. Bummer!

Needless to say, in the 21st Century Teaching and Learning environment, if the server isn't plugged off (my Muxlim blog was shut down), your teaching artifacts are going to be within reach at the touch of the tab or pad.

So, to my friends who are planning to apply for the AAN in the future, please start collecting your evidences so that you can be said that you walk the talk - you did what you said you did by showing your teaching artifacts.

Start cut and paste your links to web2.0 tools you are using in your teaching and learning into your online CV now.

I have started my LinkedIn account in May 2011 but it was just last month that I managed to update 90% of the required information. The same goes for my Academia account.

and how I boast about what I do best?

Oh yes! My students always tell me that they enjoy my classes because of my enthusiasm. However, most written feedback on my teaching and learning evaluation form are comment on how beautiful I look :) save one. He commented on my tendency to speak English too fast that they can't follow. For weak classes, I'd have to slow down my rate of speech but for good classes, I speak at my normal rate and they seem to understand fine. I try very hard to reduce the use of slang words and increase the use of international academic vocabulary when that choice of word comes to mind.

Hasta Mañana!

~to be continued~
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Building e-Portfolio

...is attending a talk and workshop on e-portfolio with Professor Dr. Karim Alias the recipient of Anugerah Akademik Negara (AAN) 2008 from USM.

This talk and workshop is organised by Centre of Academic for Staff (CADS) University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.

The talk was held yesterday at the Gymnasium and the first part of workshop was at Panggung Panca Delima, Pusat Seni dan Warisan UniSZA. The hands-on learning creating e-portfolio using wikispaces as a platform is conducted at the computer lab, Level 2, the faculty of Law and International Relation. (December 15 - 16, 2012).

The e-portfolio has the in thing or the buzz word since a few years ago.
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Photo Theraphy

I'm uploading a sunny beautiful sunset photo onto Flickr but the reality outside is the opposite.

It is raining.

And I have done loads of laundry last night and plan to hang em to dry outside under the sun!

What a disappointment!

Browsing at photos in iPad2, I came across some photos from a few weeks ago when the merry weather first came back after weeks of monsoon rain.

It wasn't officially monsoon season at that time but it was raining cats and dog for weeks.

Monsoon officially starts in November.

November appear and there was no rain in sight.

And to everyone's surprise, the sun reign supreme.

I has been sunny and warm for the past 3 weeks in November.

Uploading sunny cheerful photo of my son isn't going to make it sunny and warm outside.

It projects my wish.

It also give me a warm feeling inside.

I also know that weather is unpredictable.

It may rain now in the morning but it's also not impossible that the weather will be warm and sunny in the afternoon :)

Keep positive!

:)

Have a good day!
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, November 4, 2012

hoping for a miracle

tadi ada meeting psal konvo... esok ada site visit nak tentukan tempt... TTI is out ... dah ada orang book utk tarikh 1 dan 2 Dec tu... lagi pun tempat tu kecil ... x muat utk sessi hari Ahad... 600 graduan utk hari ahad tu... WISMA negeri is out too coz byk side job yg tak siap... DABS pun langsung tiada dalam list yg di bincangkan (tiap2 hari pita dok monitor progress renovation n construction banquet hall tu dari balcony umar) ... esok site visit ke? Stadium Tertutup? Stadium yg sebelah stadium runtuh tu? so, kita tunggu n lihat apa keputusan petang esok selepas depa balik dari site visit tu... huk5.... *Mode> still wishing, hoping for miracle that convocation will be held at DABS....
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Nasi Semangat

Happy Eid 2u2 :)
Eidul Adha is about sacrifices. Sacrificing cows, lambs, goats and camels for us who is not performing hajj. That translate to abundant meat supply for this 4 days celebration. (Eidul Fitr is only 1 day)
Eidul Adha for those performing hajj is performing the hajj rituals.
The above is not associated with hajj or eidul fitr/adha at all.
This is a part of the Malay culture.
When our sons and daughters completed reciting the holy qur'an for the first time, we'd have a small celebration (kenduri), 'khatam Qu'ran" where we invite neighbours and friends to the house to recite some parts of the Qur'an together and listen to the recitation of the qur'an from our sons and daughters who have completed their Qur'anic lessons. Then, we eat together merrily :)
Then, we'd send a party bearing gifts to the house of the qur'an teacher who have taught our sons and daughters. The standard gifts would include this "nasi semangat" - made out of yellow ( from turmeric root) sticky rice molded on round 12" bowl and decorated with "bunga telur" - flowers made from coloured papers, plastics, ribbons, organzas, cloths and decorated with colourful pearls, beads etc which are assembled on a bamboo stick and hard boiled egg is attached to it.
Other gifts would include thaub (the long dress for man), pants, keffiyeh and head scarfs to wrap around the head together with some money. All is nicely wrapped.
It is also customary to send along a complete meal along with it i.e. rice, a beef or chicken dishes, vegetables and fruits and desserts in a tepen.
My father is a Qur'an teacher teaching kids and adults to read qur'an as far as i can remember. When I was a kid, I was always looking forward to these gifts. Eventhough, it's not meant for me but I do get to taste whatever food, fruits or desserts sent to our house :)
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Here Momma! For you...

We were up on top of the taman panorama. We walked into the building and went out to tha balcony facing the Radio station. When we walked back inside, I spotted one of this flower in the corner by the glass wall. Jr saw it too and he picked it up and gave it to me.

"Here Momma! For you. Someone left it here just for you!"

I refused and told him to put it back from where he got it from.

But Jr insisted that I wear the flower to decorate my head... Asking me to bend down so that he can tuck the flower on the side of my headscarf... How sweet of him!
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Semua yang hidup pasti akan mati.

I thought that I would certainly feel relieved as soon as I key in all the marks into the system.

Not!

Early morning, there was a call from Azu asking me if I'd read her sms message. No.

Her Great-Grandmother passed away during the night.

Her Grandfather is my father's cousin.

So, I asked my father if he wanted to do ziarah.

He said yes.

Jr refused to go to school.

He wanted to go to the cemetery.

By 8:30 am, the solatul Jenazah was offered.

By 9 am, we were at the cemetery.

Tok Teh, my grand uncle was buried here too.

We went to the house and was really surprised to see many long lost relatives that we haven't met for years and years.

MakSu Ani, AyohNGah n CheNgah, MakTeh Jah & Asmida, AyahCik... but kak na wasn't there!

After dropping off Bat, Ibu n Jr at home, I went to the office.

It was after 12pm.

After coffee, I had a briefing from kak pah on 2:30pm meeting which I have to chair.

Sir Rosdi was there.

When asked about the 3rd intake n if the quota has been met, a heart wrenching story came up.

With limited facilities, we can only afford to take a number of students every year.

To put it short, the demand is higher than what we can supply.

But there are still cases where when the students don't come to register and we called them to know if they are still interested to continue their study at our institution but we get sad stories as the reason why they are still not here and register.

If they tell us that they are not interested for various reason, then we understand.

But when they tell us that they want to come but they don't have the money to pay the RM300+ registration fees let alone having the money to make a journey from their town to our campus.

We have two such cases.

Sir Rosdi was livid.

I was holding my tears.

Words from Sir Rosdi - Where are the JKKK? Do they really do their work? How come they don't know their kampung folks situation?

Both students are from Kedah.

USA with "No pupils left out" - we still have the stories from the 60s being replayed in the 21st century.

Ya Rabb! Asser! La Tu'Asser!


Sunday> July 1, 2012
ps: going home now! :)
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, June 1, 2012

Book Building

Pak Jamil suggested that we start 'Book Building Project'.

Until today, I am still wondering what he meant by it.

When asked further, Pak Jamil mentioned that his professor started a book building project long time ago.

I was still in the dark as what he meant by it.

My initial construct about book building came from my friend Sue Halaweh when she was talking about book building project his son was having in school.

She explained it as a handmade book project from special parchment with writing, drawing and sketches just like the old Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn books.

Off course, she was an interlibrary loan personnel at Ellis Library at University of Missouri - Columbia back then.

The image that we both had in our mind about the word at first was more like the tower of books or hundreds of books being arranged to look like buildings.

A thick book does resemble a red brick albeit bigger in size!

Later on, I learned a different meaning for the word 'book building.

I was in Finance 101 class.

That was when I started to link the words 'book building' with investments, IPO, funds and whats not!

Perhaps, for a layman the term 'book building' simply refers to a building with full of books inside it - The Library! El Biblioteca!

Could it be that what Pak Jamil meant was that we ought to start collecting books, seeking book donations, or conduct a book drive and make all these books available at every nook and corners of the buildings at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin campus be it the hostels, cafeteria, hallways, classroom buildings and faculties?

I like the idea! :)

Lets start a book drive!

Get our students to read more and more!

Off course, the books written in English language were what we have in mind!

Now, do we need to write a proposal and submit it to the faculty for approval?

Y.E.S.

wait till I come back from Sabah. :)

Happy Holidays!

Don't forget! Please prepare early for final examinations!

:)
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, May 25, 2012

Syllibafication - Bananasplit...

Can syllabification improve pronunciation by analogy of English?

Posted by at No comments:

Estuary English (EE) vs RP / C - Never underestimate the power of passion. Eve Sawyer

Singaporeans' reactions to Estuary English

Posted by at No comments:

Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love. Erich Fromm

An Exercise in ear training: Listening to margaret thatcher > received pronunciation.

Margaret Thatcher's pronunciation: An exercise in ear-training

Posted by at No comments:

Received Pronunciation - Black Bitter Coffee - after Iftar sips

The nature and significance of English as a global language

Posted by at No comments:

Gutenberg n bbc English learning today...

Learner autonomy: a guiding principle in designing a CD-ROM for intonation practice





GUNTHER KALTENBÖCK (2001).

ReCALL, Volume 13,
Issue 02, November 2001 pp 179-190

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=89635

Posted by at No comments:

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. - Benjamin Franklin

A review of technology choice for teaching language skills and areas in the CALL literature

Posted by at No comments:

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that catch the heart". - Ancient Indian Proverb

Martha C. Pennington, Phonology in English Language Teaching. London and New York: Longman, 1996. Pp. xvii + 282. Pb. £15.99. ISBN 0-582-22571-X.

Posted by at No comments:

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. - Nelson Mandela

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING AND RESEARCHING PRONUNCIATION

Posted by at No comments:

Puzzle

The teaching of English pronunciation: The model accents

Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Breakfast Coversation - Rishwah

yes! Bribe! bribery!

Rasuah.

I was reading harian metro while having my morning tea and saw an article on N9 JPJ director found not guilty of bribery charge in court.

He was accused of taking favour from a driving school in form of plane ticket worth 298$ and a hotel room accommodation 380$.

What I have in mind, the amount in bribery cases would involved hundreds of thousand ringgit.

Daaahhh...!!!!

So if you call a book supplier who is having a booth at the book festival to book and pay for your a hotel room since you're not selected by your boss to go buy books this year, would it be accepting favour ....

Suddenly, the defining line between what is considered bribe, goodwill and gift becomes very thin indeed!

For example, you are on the board of directors of a company and your know your company is going to start a construction project. You mention about it to your nephew who is in construction business who later put in a bid for it. Then, during lunch time you mention to the officer who is responsible for the bid that your nephew, Mr. X is tending is his bid for the project and remind the officer to look after your nephew, Mr. X ... woah! Are you then misusing your position to gain favour for your nephew?

Sadly, it's how business is done nowadays. It is who you know or to whom you are related, how big is your cable etc.

Refusing to use any 'cable' eventhough being offered the biggest and strongest cable, I refused to use it and my job confirmation with KUSZA never did came through.

I guess, I was just wanted to see how far would 'they' go about it.

Their own son, family members, relatives or someone they know with cable get confirmed on the post swiftly - 3 months, 7 months, 9 months or even a year after started working. - but that was old news - in the past - nothing can be done anymore!

Bribe, accepting favours, and cronyism are just the tip of the iceberg!
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Voki Animation

Here is the outcome of today's classwork!





Animation is one part of multimedia elements!

Another web2.0 learning tool to be integrated into the classroom.

Not just the use technology in the classroom, when e-Learning is concerned, web2.o learning tools are almost a must! :)

Enjoy!
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Citing Online Photographs and images used in our multimedia projects

found this voicethread posted by one of my student in our secret facebook group for the class... I think you might find it useful in writing references for images used in the multimedia project! :)



hope this embed works... other wise, you may use this link :
https://voicethread.com/share/100536/

You have to register an account with voicethread first though. This shouldn't be a problem since all of the students in my class must register to create a voicethread project for the classwork! :)

Happy Exploring!

:) Ummabdrahmaan :)
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, April 23, 2012

It's decided...

I'll fill in the transfer form.

Jr will go to another school.
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, April 20, 2012

Dream, dream, dream...

What is it about dream? Sometimes, it goes for months or even years without a dream. At times, we have two to three dreams in the same night. Yet, at another time, we dream every night about the same dream or the dream continue where it left off the night before.

Sometime, the dream is so vivid that it is hard to shake it off our mind. One such a dream that keeps resurfacing to my concious mind finally appear as a drawing in a dream. I've had a nudge to draw it on paper for sometime. Finally, I did it last night.

However, finer details of the drawing are missing. For examples, the shimmers and glows of yellow light that appear with the rising of morning sun, the intricate details of tree trunks with evening sunlight backlit and ... the fish in the river a plenty ;)

I wonder when I am going to dream again ;)
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Signs that 13th GE is approaching...

The same thing happened during last election. UMNO flags were there first. Then came PAS flags side by side. A Day later, a long banner covering all the previous flag was installed. The UMNO people let it go at it after no action was taken with a reminder. Then, a guy whom the PAS supporters 'suspected' to be imported voters from outside was punched and prevented from casting his vote. This time, the banner last only for 2 days. I'm not surprise if the long banner will be put up again during the election. The display of flags from both PAS & UMNO are everywhere already, a sure sign that the 13th general election is around the corner. If it is held during first week of June, surely I won't be able to participate in this GE as the whole family will be away for a wedding in Sabah for the whole week.....
Posted by at No comments:

HSNZ English Friendly Program continue with BEN students SEM4

One term I learned in Biology class was symbiosis. The word can apltly explain the type of relationship our faculty have with Pediatric Department of HSNZ. What started as a part of community service as well as a training ground for TESL students is now continued with Bachelor of English students while TESL students are away for their long semester break. more on this later.
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Mengenal Nombor

Jr can't read n write well yet. His EQ and verbal are far more developed. He recognizes numbers, letters and can pronounce open and close syllables in BM. Language interference could be one of the cause too. His vocabulary is mostly in English. Now, I start a home training to reinforce his BM reading and writing. This was our activity during last semester break using Mathematics for content.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)