Think about

Some interesting observations/thoughts I picked up when in Sibu recently:

• We try to save (money) when we have nothing but spend all when we have a lot (better scenario: when have nothing spend wisely, when have lot, save)
• Spend your salary, save your abundance (money from other sources, not your main income/earnings/salary)

If a picture paints a thousand words, then this picture is a good depiction of my life at present. School till 4 (filled with all sorts of responsibilities, challenges and lessons to teach), endless markings of essays, responsibilities at home, tuition, counselling etc etc etc before I literally fall asleep wherever I am, dreading the hour I have to wake up and start again. I got to leave now; have to go see a couple to provide them with pre-marriage advice. See ya!

Lessons From Mistakes

It has been a very emotionally draining experience - a student was extremely offended by my words, jokes and style of teaching. I made the effort to explain my intentions and what I actually meant but I believe that when words hurt, reason makes no sense and is only seen as an excuse. I acknowledged my wrong and publicly apologized. It was the right thing to do but I am saddened and emotionally drained. I pray no more such episodes will take place. What did I learn from this?

1. What's funny for one, is offensive to the other. Be careful when joking and jesting in class and try never to laugh at or make a joke of a student or else disaster awaits.
2. In a multi racial class, the potential to step on sensitive 'toes' abound - learn to walk far away from such feet and be highly sensitive to certain students' reactions
3. Realize your words carry shades of meanings and its the receiver's/listener's interpretation that counts - not what you said but what she believed you said.
4. Hurting people hurt people - students come from various backgrounds and situations. Some are hurting and what you say and do can increase pain that already exist.
5. Trust God, do what is right, be humble and seek the best for all in these situations.

May God be gracious, just and true on all of us. Amen.

Beautiful river

This is the scene of a river we 'discovered' recently - really is beautiful, soothing and calming.

Generation Y

Got this from an email forwarded by my brother - makes sense with all the Y's I've seen (mostly gross) as well as belly buttons (Generation O?):

The Silent Generation are people born before 1946.
The Baby Boomers are people born between 1946 and 1959.
Generation X are people born between 1960 and 1989.
Generation Y are people born between 1990 and now.

Why do we call the last one generation Y? I did not know, but a cartoonist explains it eloquently below...Learned something new today.

Teacher or student?

Another article has been published in my column, which by the way has a new look (I think this one's much better, thanks to friend Adrian's help) and it touches on the question: Whose responsibility is it to make learning English a desirable act? Here's an excerpt:

When it comes to learning English does the onus stand on the teacher to wave his magical wand of creativity and enthusiasm that will enable his students to learn English (proven by good grades and obvious language mastery) or does it depend on the student to come to class hungering to master English coupled with an untiring willingness to pay attention and participate actively in all the exercises and activities poured out by her English teacher?

Want to read more and add your comments, click here for the full article.

You tweet?

Signed up for Twitter and now twiddling with it . . . yet to impress me. Looks more like a program that allows me to eavesdrop on the world and see what teens are feeling and doing (usually not so great . . .). Anyway, I'm a Twitter. Tweet,tweet,tweet . . .