April Week Four

April Week Four Report

Emcees for today were Hew and Choong; While our speakers were Lee Shin Ru (G6), Norasyikin (G2), Mohan (G5) and Mr Radzi.

A picture taken before the session start. He offered himself to help college gardener and refuse to hand over the rake to other people.

The session began as soon as the committees were told to start

Lee Shin Ru of G6

She disagreed with the April topic - Do Teachers Know Everything?

She said that brains have limit. Humans brains store a lot of information such as language, knowledge and etce tera. If teachers do know everything, there will be no problems, like politics, in this world. Teachers know about the learning process as well as teaching too, counselling skills, and a lot more. Teachers know many things, but not everything.

Norasyikin of G2

She, too disagreed with the topic. She shared an example with everyone;

There was once a teacher who was questioned by her student on the components of engineering but she does not know. As humans, we learn many things as we grow in this world. She concluded her speech by saying that teachers know the things they should know and students do not know, but not everything in this world.

Next, Mohan of G5

Mohan shared tips on how to be a good teacher with everyone.

First, be relaxed. It is okay to let students know that we are not perfect; as in, admitting that we do not know something and we can learn from our students. There is nothing to be afraid of.

Second, write out objectives. This is to ensure that we, teachers, have clear expectation.

Then, smile and do so frequently. Smiling can show that we are caring towards our students. maybe they quarreled with their family members or friends or maybe they are hungry. Perhaps a smile carved on a teacher's face will brighten their day. If smiling can make students happy, then teachers should smile frequently.

Fourthly, respect students. As teachers, we should not bias any of our students. Instead of weaknesses, we should find their qualities. If we respect them, they will surely respect us too.

Lastly, do not discriminate ourselves in school.

Final speaker of the day, Mr Radzi

Mr Radzi agreed with the topic.

He claimed that teachers should know everything although it is impossible, but nothing should stop us from knowing things that we do not know. In addition to his points, he said that if teachers are not knowledgeable, we will be looked down by our students. As teachers, we should be knowledgeable in general knowledge.

But how?

Mr Radzi adviced us to do a lot of reading in order to gain new knowledge. Next, attend courses to increase experience. Then, often discuss with colleges to get new ideas. Also, be ready for new changes by having positive thinking. Lastly, do a lot of research. We must also make a point to get more knowledge.

This week, Speaker's Corner managed to get a lot of people to drop by and attend/support.

Even Miss Che Siah came too

As a concluding speech, one of the Speaker's Corner committees went up to sum up.

And emcee 2 to end the session

We'd love to see more and more people attending Speaker's Corner every week <3

April Week Three

APRIL WEEK THREE

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Report

Today's session went well.

We have this girl as our emcee today.

First speaker is a trainee from Chinese unit.

He shared his knowledge about ways to practice healthy diet. He said that everyone can consume nutritious and balanced diet food everyday in order to maintain body weight. Next, he told us that salad and potatoes are good foods to consume because they contain low energy and low calories. Thus, slight increase will not be too drastic. However, consumer should not put too much mayonaise because large proportion of it will affect health.

Then, the session proceed with second speaker.

She told us that health is wealth. She said that we should eat by following the balanced diet in the 7 classes of food. She also shared information about obesity. She defined it and told us about the causes that lead to obesity. Other than that, she gave an example on kwashiorkor, claiming the causes, which is due to lack of protein and vitamin, and place with such case, that is South Africa. Before she ended her speech, she advised us to consume adequate amount of food.

Our last speaker was Madam Kana.

She disagreed with the second speaker. She said that what we look also based on our mentality. What one's ideas are, reflects oneself on that particular day. If one thinks positively, then (s)he is free from obstacles, and vice versa. Same thing goes to one's ideology. If one faces conflict with others, (s)he will isolate her/himself from them. In addition to her point, one's background also reflects on one's personality.

Report

Wednesday

21st April 2010

Student Council Room

8.00pm

A total of 24 trainees, including some of the seniors, attended the meeting, with Mr Earnest as the chairperson.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss problems that Speaker's Corner is encountering, and suggestions on how to overcome them.

Below are some of the problems identified:

- Poor attendance / not keen to come / LAZY

• it is not compulsory
• excuse given was waking up late due to assignments
• routine: wake up after 7am

- There is gap between TESL and other optionists

• others see Speaker's Corner for TESL only

- Trainees do not see the benefits of Speaker's Corner

- English and Tamil units are not active compared to Chinese unit

- Committees are not committed

• people's thought: it is unfair if non-committee comes for Speaker's Corner session when the committees sleep in their respective rooms

- Topic is not interesting

• same topic for the whole month

- Committees have no teamwork and they are not responsible

- Speakers are not serious

These are some of the suggestions voiced out by everyone:

- Stress on disciplinary

• reward trainees who have consistent attendance or best speaker e.g hand-made bookmark

- Make it as a compulsory thing to do for all TESL-ians, which is, to attend Speaker's Corner every week

• absentees will be punished e.g be the speaker for the following week

- Set up Speaker's Corner session during recess time in order to attract crowd

- Insert additional purpose e.g include phrasal verbs, word of the day, MUET tips, etc.

- Promote and make speakers be recognized e.g take their photos and print them on banners/flyers/posters/brochures with names written their photos.

- Introduce speakers when making announcements (Announcements to be made on Monday night for Tuesday session; and Wednesday night for Thursday session).

- Allow various ways to deliver speech; meaning that, speakers may sing or perform skits

- Encourage favourite lecturer to come

- Ask trainees to put their opinions and thoughts in a box, in terms of:

• Suggestion(s) for next topic
• How to improve Speaker's Corner

- "Force" people to come, and see the result

How Speaker's Corner got its name

Once, there was a group of Mathematics/Chinese unit who wants to improve their English. So they went to Mr Earnest. They used to meet up every morning before lecture starts. Until a day, one girl claimed that she wants more. They came across this idea of having Speaker's Corner.

The wish was granted. The director approved the idea despite knowing that Speaker's Corner will help to improve every one's English.

Back then, there were 70-80 trainees. Mr Earnest planned to improve Speaker's Corner by building a canopy.

However, the Speaker's Corner now has approximately 20-30 trainees only. No one knows why trainees are not keen to come anymore. Let's bring Speaker's Corner to live again.

Notice

There will be a meeting with Mr Earnest and Cohort 2 seniors on Wednesday 21st April 2010, at 8.00pm at Student Council room. All committee members are required to come. Those who are unable to make it are to provide a strong reason.

Cheers.