Journals

English Holiday Assignment -- Conversation Day 10

2009-07-11T13:00:00.002+08:00

I agree to a large extend. In a city full of competitions, i thinkpeople will tend to worry and think more.

I usually worry about my studies, especially when tests and examinations are round the corner. I'm worried i'll disappoint my parents.

I think to forget worries, one can try listening to songs, go for a jog or go for a game of basketball or soccer. One can also try talking to someone he trusted, his parent or an adult about his problems and to deal with it. He may feel better after saying out his problems.

English Holiday Assignment -- Conversation Day 8

2009-07-11T12:54:00.001+08:00

The difficulties they face could be to balance work and family. At times, it maybe hard to cope stress from home and also from work. Therefore, stress management is very important.

I think employers can try to understand the amount of work and stress these women are dealing with. When they apply for urgent leave, employers should be understanding enough and approve it.

The advantages of working from home is that it is very easy to manage your time on work and perhaps doing housework or looking after kids. It is very flexible. However, working from home can be distracting at times and you may even not be able to complete your work within the time given.

English Holiday Assignment -- Conversation Day 6

2009-07-11T12:11:00.002+08:00

I think that it is not very possible for everyone to be good at sport. There people who are more interested in other activities such as reading, singing and net surfing. Such activities are very different from doing sport. They may not be interested in sports. Thus, when one is not interested in something, it will be quite difficult for him to do well in it.

I think that it is unfair to say that men are better than women in sport. As we can all see, both men and women are involved in many sports events like the Olympics and women can perform well in this area.

English Holiday Assignment -- Conversation Day 4

2009-07-11T11:20:00.002+08:00

I think it is everybdy's responsibility to protect and prevent extinction of endangered species.

I think we are destroying natureto a very large extend. Human activities like slash and burn are harming the natural environment. Not nly natural habitats are being destroyed, it may lead to water and air pollution. It has harmful effects on both human and animals.

English Holiday Assignment -- Conversation Day 2

2009-07-11T11:01:00.002+08:00

I quite like bob. I think that it is a very unique hairstyle and it is pretty common to see people with this hairstyle nowadays. It is quite easy to maintain.

I enjoy going to the hairdresser. I look forward to see my new hairstyle after each visit. However, there was a time when I did not manage to deliver my message to the hair stylist clearer and she cut a hairstyle that I'm not very satisfy with. Well, at that point of time, i told myself that I can do nothing but only to wait for my hair to grow longer before I can tie them up again.

English Holiday Assignment -- Picture Discussion Day 10

2009-07-11T10:55:00.000+08:00

This is a picture of a Community Involvement Program (CIP) at the old folks’ home. I can tell that because the young man and lady standing among the old folks do not seem to be one of the helpers working in the old folks’ home. Instead, they seemed to be volunteers that come to help the old folks exercise their hands and this is probably part of the activity they have organized for them.

This picture was taken at an old folks’ home. There are many old folks sitting together, doing the activity together. There are many tables and chairs in the area. This is probably the activity area for the old folks to attend different kinds of activities.

The people in the picture are mostly old folks. From the wrinkles on their face, they are probably quite old and therefore, exercising will do them good. As when they become older, their limbs will become more and more fragile and will be more vulnerable to injuries. Therefore, the young man and the lady, who are probably the volunteers, are there to conduct this activity to for them to exercise. There are two women standing near a pillar in the background, they are probably working in the old folks’ home.

In the middle of the picture, there is a young man with his hands raised high up in the air and one of his legs rose up. He is probably conducting the activity to teach the old folks some exercises. Despite him working so hard to make this activity an interesting one, there are still some old folks who are not very interested in the activity. However, he does not seem like he is going to give up. He continues to be serious and teach the old folks.

Before this picture was taken, the old folks were probably having their tea break. This is because there are cutlery and mugs placed on the tables. They may be chatting with each other using dialects while waiting for the volunteers to arrive.

I feel the old folks in the picture do not deserve to be there and that their children are very heartless. They are also very irresponsible and they did not want to take up the responsibility to take care of their parents. I feel that this problem should be surfaced to the public so that more people can realize their mistakes and I hope that they can reflect on what they had done to their own biological parents.

English Holiday Assignment -- Picture Discussion Day 8

2009-07-11T08:44:00.000+08:00

This is a picture of a group of children playing together with two adults. They seem to be playing the game “Eagle catching the chick” as translated from mandarin. I can tell that because the kids are standing behind the lady. The lady standing first in the line has her arms stretched out wide. She seems to “protecting” the kids behind, like the hen protecting her little chicks. Right in front of her, there is another small boy. He looks like he is going to “catch” the kids lined up behind the lady.

This picture was taken a little garden in front of a childcare centre. The little garden is probably the playing area for the kids. In the background of the picture, there is a fence around the garden; there is also a small merry-go-round for the kids to play. There also trees and bushes. This is perhaps their playing time and therefore, they are playing the game in the garden.

The kids in the picture are probably the students of the childcare centre. They seem to be very happy playing together. The two ladies, who are probably teachers of the kids, are also playing with them. There are probably two classes playing in the garden as they are separated into two different groups.

In the foreground of the picture, there is a lady, wearing a long sleeve blouse and a pair of flats, playing with the kids. She is perhaps one of the teachers in the childcare centre. From the wide grin on her face, she seems to be enjoying herself in the game. She is dressed in a very formal way. This shows that she takes her job very seriously and she wants to leave a good impression on the parents when they send their child to the childcare centre.

Before this picture was taken, the kids were probably in the classroom having some lessons or doing some activity. Perhaps their teacher wants them to take a break. This, they bring them to the garden to play a game so that they can rest their mind.

I think that it is very nice of the teachers to be able to join the kids in the game. By doing this, they can not only be able to take care of the kids even better and at the same time, their relationship with the kids can hence become closer.

English Holiday Assignment -- Picture Discussion Day 6

2009-07-10T21:12:00.002+08:00

This is a picture of a school’s sports meet. I can tell that it’s a sports meet as the venue is at a stadium and the girls in the picture are wearing the same school uniform. Also, in the background, there are more people in school uniform sitting on the spectator’s seat. The girls are cheering, probably for the athlete they support, or their friend.

The picture was taken in the stadium. In the background, there is a shelter with lights on it, probably to light up the stadium at night when there are football matches. The high steps under the shelter serve as seats for the spectators. In front of the spectator’s seat, there is a track, where running events take place there and also for people staying near the stadium to jog there or do some exercise there. Just beside the track, there is a field. The field is probably for sports events like football, javelin and short put.

The people in the picture are probably students of the same school. They seem to be friends and are from the same class. The girls in the foreground of the picture seem to be supporters. With the wide grin on their faces, they are cheering happily with enthusiasm. There are also people in sports attire, probably participants taking part in various events sitting behind the girls. They seem interested in what’s happening at the field.

In the foreground s the picture, there are four girls cheering. The second girl from the left seems very excited. Perhaps the event taking place at the field has reached an exciting moment and she is so excited that she jumps. She looks like she is shouting very loudly, cheering for the athlete or her friend taking part in the event. I think she really hope that the athlete or her friend will be able to clinch a medal. She is probably thinking to herself, “Go all out and get the best result you can!”

Before this picture was taken, the students were probably in school so that they can take the bus catered for them to go to the stadium. From the seats in the stadium, I can tell that perhaps many students have not reached the stadium. They are probably on anther bus and are on their way to the stadium.

I think is pretty heart warming to know that you have your friends supporting you when you are taking part in a competition, alone or as a team. I feel that such events like the sports meet will enhance bonding between students and also to allow them to develop a sense of belonging to the school.

English Holiday Assignment -- Picture Discussion Day 4

2009-07-10T20:54:00.001+08:00

This is a picture of some people helping a wheel-bounded man up a ramp onto a bus. In front of the wheel-bounded man, there is another man, wearing a shirt with floral design, stretching out his hand. Perhaps, he is the bus captain. He seems to be hoping that the wheel-bounded man would grab hold of his hand and so that he can help him up on the bus.

In the background, there are trees and there is also a road with white lines drawn on it. The road seems quite narrow. These are clues that indicate to me that this place is a roadside. The bus the wheel-bounded man is trying to board is probably a newly designed bus for the benefit of wheelchair bounds so that it will be easier for them to board and to alight from the bus. The wheel-bounded man is holding a boarding pass in his hands, which probably mean that he is boarding the bus to go to his destination.

The people wearing the t-shirt with the same logo printed and tags on their necks are probably student helpers from a certain college who are also boarding the same bus to go for their activity. A kind young man is helping the wheel-bounded man to board the bus. The Malay woman standing right beside the wheel-bounded man is probably the teacher-in-charge bringing the students to go for their activity.

The bus captain who is wearing a shirt with floral designs stretches out his hand towards the wheel-bounded man in the foreground of the picture. From the serious expression on his face, he looks like he is hoping very much that the wheelchair bound would allow him to help him onto the bus. He is probably thinking to himself, “I really hope I would be able too help.” He is wearing a watch on his hand, probably to make sure that he is punctual. He is also wearing long pants and sport shoes and this shows that he is well-prepared for the brand new day.

Before this picture was taken, the wheel-bounded man probably was going to the bus stop to wait for the bus to arrive. He had probably waited for quite a long period of time as he doesn’t look very pleased in the picture. The students probably walk to the bus stop together.

I think that it is a good sign to see that people are willing help those who are in need. The ramp equipped on the bus makes it more convenient for wheelchair-bounds to board the bus. I think that it is very helpful for them as not only that they can board and alight from the bus easier, they will also not feel outcast by the society and they will hence develop a sense of belonging to the society.

English Holiday Assignment -- Picture Discussion Day 2

2009-07-10T20:36:00.004+08:00

This is a picture of a few women taking part in a hair stylist course. I can tell that this is a hair stylist course as many hair clips and Combs are placed on the table in the foreground. The women are holding a pair of scissors in each of their hands, creating different hairstyles using their creativity. Furthermore, there are a few more other people, probably the students of the course, standing by the table, styling different kinds of hair styles.

Behind the women wearing a white sleeveless shirt and a necklace with long and waxy hair, there is a door with a sign indicating "Room 1". There is also a window beside the door. Thus this picture is probably taken at a community centre where people take different kinds of courses. Perhaps the room is for these students to have their theory lessons and they are now probably having their practical lesson outside the room so so that it will be easier to clean up the place after the lesson.

The people in the picture are probably the students that signed up for the course. I can see that the women in the picture are not very skillful in it and thus, they are probably students. They are probably housewives and they join the course to spend their time in a more meaningful manner and to learn a new skill.

The woman wearing a white tank top with her hair tied up is holding a pair f scissors in her right hand and cutting the fringe if the model in front of her. From the smile on her face, she seems to be enjoying it. She is, perhaps, a friend of the other ladies who are focusing in their work. She seems to be very confident and is probably thinking to herself, "I'm going to cut a stylish and original hairstyle for this model!"

Before the picture was taken, the ladies were prbably carrying the necessary materials or equipments to the working table they are wrking at as seen in the picture. As the length of the hair of the models in the picture are still quite long, they probably just started working on them.

I think that it's a good idea for the ladies to pick up a new skill. As now the economic is still recovering from secission, many people are nface with a lot of financial problems. By picking up a new skill, it will mean higher chance of getting a job and you may even be able to earn a living by using the new skill!

T1W10 Staying strong

2009-03-23T19:50:00.002+08:00

Her lugubrious wan and pale face made my heart ached. She had been reviled by her master again for breaking his favourite crystal watch. She was wrongly indicted. However, she did not dare to retaliate as she was only a maid in the house. It was really pesky for me to see her like this, being treated unfairly and too afraid to mention about it. Deep in my heart, I really hope that she would be able to overcome such vicissitudes in life.

T1W9 Her profligate husband

2009-03-13T11:52:00.003+08:00

Domestic strife was mounting. She was frustrated. Her profligate husband was spending a legion amount of money on antiques and did not show any concern to the family. He even agreed to underwrite the cost of his brother's honeymoon to Hawaii. She could not tolerate him any longer. Finally, she decided to ask for a divorce and leave the sumptuous mansion.

T1W8 Talkative supervisor

2009-03-13T11:41:00.004+08:00

She was deemed to be the most talkative supervisor we had ever met. She seemed to have an inherent ability to digress during meetings. She would talk about irrelevant topics like her sudden craving for french cuisine and her romping nephew.

T1W7 What a joke

2009-03-12T19:09:00.002+08:00

The gullible guy was the reason for exult. They put him in a labyrinth of maze. He was told that a hundred bucks would be given when he could answer the 20 questions asked along the maze and walked out of it. He was he was resourceful and would definitely be ableto complete everything in time. However, he was fooled by the many fallacious clues and was lost in the maze.

T1W6 Fate

2009-03-12T18:57:00.002+08:00

They first met each other at the cafe, during the cabanet party. She was a reticent and frugal person who doesn't like to talk much to people while he was a spendthrift who is gregarious and likes to make new friends. They were the antithesis of each other. Nobody thought that they would be together, but they were somehow fated. Everything started when he unintentionally found her cache. She was crying then. He accompanied her for the whole night, and he tried to keep the conversation between them going by telling her amorous dramas he had watched. They were getting along pretty well. Although he didn't know what had happened to her, he secretly promised himself that he would find it out, and take care of her, love her for life.

T1W5 Regret

2009-03-12T18:48:00.002+08:00

He was dumb enough to help James in the liquidation of the woman. He tried to fetter James from raping her. However, he effort was in vain. James killed her after that and told him to bury her at the backyard. The woman's death left him with an overwhelming sense of guilt. He went to the police and was charged with murder, together with James. Extrinsic evidence proved that he was only an accomplice of the crime. James had to face the death penalty, while he was faced with a 7-years imprisonment. Although James declaimed against the decision, he had no choice but to succumb to fate, and to bear the consequences.

T1W4 What had really happened

2009-02-02T20:06:00.002+08:00

The real reason that cause Aminah to have her cooking lesson curtailed was that Mr Pek's father had passed away due to a lethal fall few days ago. Aminah had to take care of Mrs Pek's daughters so she would have to stopped her class.

At the wake, a quarrel was precipated among the Peks after Mr Pek and his brothers had heard the terms of the will. They were bickering with each other in stentorian tones, saying that their father was biased when dividing his properties. Mr Pek's grandfather gave a lion's share to Mr Pek, who was offered a sinecure a few months ago.

Finally, Mr and Mrs Pek decided to take a Philadelphia lawyer to help them fight for their rights to get what they deserved.

T1W3 Aminah's interest

2009-02-02T19:24:00.005+08:00

Mrs Pek notices that Aminah had a great interest in cooking. She kept the pot boiling by enrolling Aminah into a cooking course organised by the community centre.

Before attending the first lesson, Amimah told herself that she would achieve the ultimate goal of becoming the most outstanding student in the class. Mrs Pek thought that it was an incontrovertible fact she had gotten herself an extremely hardworking domestic helper that will do her proud.

After 3 lessons, the instructor was very happy with Aminah's preformance in class. Aminah was very keen to learn and participates actively in class too. However, she quitted after attending 5 lessons. It was cryptic why Aminah and Mrs Pek made this decision. Nobody could surmise the real reason for the sudden decision.

What exactly happened?

Topic: Can one improve on his or her English?

2009-01-29T19:10:00.002+08:00

English is a widely-used language in many places around the world. A person can easily improve his or her English by using it more often. Another way to improve is to read more. Novels, newspapers, model essays are the various kinds of reading materials that can help you. Personally, I feel that English is essential to everyone of us. It will definitely be useful to us when we step into the society in less than ten years time.

:D

T1W2 Aminah's new clothes.

2009-01-17T18:34:00.005+08:00

Chinese New Year is round the corner, Mrs Pek thought that it was integral to get her 2 daughters, as well as Aminah some new clothes.

When they reached the boutique, Mrs Pek told Aminah to look for flamboyant clothes that suits the occasion because dull colours were anathema to the elders of the Peks.

There were placards all over the boutique, with words like "30% to 50% off" and "YEAR END SALE" printed on it. After deciding on the clothes to buy, Mrs Pek paid for the clothes. Initially, Aminah wanted to pay for her clothes from her own monthly salary, but Mrs Pek told her that the clothes were the remuneration for her hard work for the past one and a half months!

T1W1 Who's Aminah?

2009-01-17T18:12:00.002+08:00

This is a little space to tell you about Aminah, a domestic helper (also called maid) of the Peks.

Aminah is an indonesian. She arrived Mr and Mrs Pek's domicile just last month. Mrs Pek had a hard time instructing her to do housework because Aminah had the instructions garbled. However, Aminah remained sanguine and did not give up. She learnt to finish the task assigned to her merticulously so as not to disappoint Mrs Pek.

After 2 weeks, Aminah's performance became better and in order to reward her, Mrs Pek invited her to watch her favourite poignant drama series with the family every night!

For journals

2009-01-06T19:56:00.001+08:00