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what's sorrow compared to...
Saturday, January 31 | 7:03 PM

I first encountered Faith on an episode of Oprah talkshow last year.

May you be inspired by the courageous her story this weekend!

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1 comments



furry friend or fright?
| 8:52 AM


I've gotten my new furry friend last night!    

She's a Jack Russell.  I thought this breed does not shed much hair until I saw this patch on my toilet floor this morning while brushing my teeth.  I guess against any black background, everything else appears stark and larger than life?  

Remember him?  Hiojin used to clamber around my couch after completing his work.  And I have to call him a few times before he comes back to the study table.  

Today, I saw a different side of him.  Upon seeing my furry friend, his face contorted to form the map of the world.  Sheer terror transformed his body language altogether.  Despite assuring him that my dog is very friendly, he shivered like a reed.  After placing my dog in the kitchen behind closed doors, I sat Hyojin down and then he told me his story.
 
The frightened kid show me the scar he'd sustained from his recent encounter with a furry fright belonging to his cousin.  Then I proceeded to explain to him how he should behave around dogs when he next encounters them.  Since it was an English lesson we were having,  I also had him pen down his unpleasant experience in an essay.  Thereafter, I texted his mom who expressed her interest to read his first draft.    

There she was.  Behind the kitchen door, looking absolutely devastated because she had to be indirectly "punished" for the bad behaviour of another furry friend.  No, I learn from Bear-Bear - there are no bad dogs, just irresponsible owners.  I hope I don't end up as one.

By the way, I'm renaming my Jack Russell.  The kind girls who had found her named her Ponoy after an anime character.  I have a little problem with that.  Owing to the nature of my job, I encouner kids on a daily basis.  The cheeky ones may make fun of her name as it is synonymous with unsavoury materials on the internet and the newstand - do I even have to elaborate on this?   Any suggestions?  My some initial ideas are :

Sprite? - she's a ball of energy around the house.  

January Jr.? - My previous dog is called January because like this Jack Russell, I have adopted them both in the first month of the year.

Suggestions from you all?  Please leave them using the comments link below!

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25 comments



sleep
Friday, January 30 | 10:10 AM


I shot this while on my way to the interchange.  

This is Singapore.  To catch a sight like this is rare.  Homelessness is an almost non-existent issue here.  So I gather this chap is catching a snooze either because he was drunk or that he got tired pleading with his lover for another chance.  I'm guessing of course.  

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5 comments



goofing
Thursday, January 29 | 4:22 PM


3S1 latecomers performing a penalty item-cheer to redeem themselves.

Keith of 1D with his new BFF.

That's me goofing around with the kids in school when they misbehave.  Humour is always the best tool to teach a lesson or two.  

I miss teaching - full-time, that is.

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6 comments



Halo (instrumental)
| 9:55 AM

Beyonce

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2 comments



lions for lambs
Tuesday, January 27 | 8:42 AM

I've just watched Lions For Lambs which I've taped on cable last week.  Starring big names like Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and Robert Redford (who is also the director), the film throws up rhetorics surrounding the recent wars which have divided people around the world.  The arguments for and against war are not new.  What I like about the film is that, rather than be didactic, Redford opts to let the audience choose their side of the picket fence.  A caution though - the conversations may start slow but the pace picks up real quickly like the rat-tat of a SAR weapon.  Unless you are watching it on a DVD or in my case, on my HubStation with the choice to rewind in order to listen to the very poignant dialogue repeatedly, one may lose the true essence of the beautifully crafted script.   
 

One scene just spoke to me. This is where the Professor, P, tries to persuade two Harvard students, (one hispanic, A, the other African American, B - of course, playing the politically-correctness card required by Hollywood standards) from enlisting to fight in the US Army.

A : Doc, you're the one who told us not to live over our safety nets.

P : I didn't think that would translate into you guys heading out into a war.  If I did, I would've cut my tongue out.

A : I think you are missing the point.

P : Why?  Because I can't see that the army is a better gig than a graduate school most students would give an arm to get into?

B : No, because you're not seeing that if we did anything else,  we wouldn't be a part of the most important thing going on right now.  Doc, these events are going to define our lives, just the same way Vietnam did for yours.

P: (pause) I didn't enlist.  I was drafted.  (pause.  A and B look at each other) World War One.  Human soldiers for pawns about the bravery of the British Crown admired almost as much as they laughed at the British High Command who wasted the same crowns by the hundreds of thousands.  A German General wrote, "Nowhere else have I seen such lions led by such lambs."  That statement is so dead-on right now.  These star scholars who started this war - no where near the best and the brightest, not even in the same galaxy!  They are the ones, when some of our man blown to bits in the middle of gunbattle, saying shit like, `Oh, the enemy may have bloodied our nose, but we've learnt from our mistakes.'

A : We agree.  What's the problem?

P : So what is the problem?  What are we talking? (A laughs)

B : We already know how the system works.

P : Guys, think.  Think!

A : We thought that far ahead.  

B : Because going into battle makes it even more important, doc.  

P : I don't - (signals) Tell me-what do you mean?

B : We wouldn't have spent 3 weeks in school without Nixon and Watergate.   

A : If we kill bin Laden on 9.12, or if Iraq Shi'ite squeezed us with a tick-for-take parade?  We would never have to think of things like: Who are these people?  Does religion really preach murder?  Do they really need a dictator to stop each other from massacring each other?  

B : The greatest military in history can't catch 3 guys?!  Come on!

A : And how do you preach democracy and still send billions to Saudi kings or the furthest from it??

P : Or just lock yourselves into bridge huh?

A : Or sit on the bench?  The men who lead are the men who do work when there's work to be done.

B : Or you step up when you're needed.  Or sit back and let the other people do the lifting for you?

A : Just simple questions.

P : But potentially really awful answers.  Guys, just trust me.  Please!  Trust me.  If I'd thought this fight was worth the sweat.  I beg ya.  I would.   But what about stepping up here?  Changing policies at home.  

B : Look, we go do this now, then we come back and go to school. 

A : The army style.  

B : Then we can do something.  

A : Black, Mexican combat vets with an education.

B : Damn!  No debt to dictate what we do next?  They'll gotta listen to us then, doc.  We can change things!

P : If.  (pauses a long while) If.

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1 comments



grow old
Monday, January 26 | 10:23 AM

People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope as old as your despair.

~ General Douglas MacArthur

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7 comments



Obam.Icons
| 12:52 AM

Like many bloggers around the world, I've succumbed myself to be Obamicon-ed!


That's the big guy who made American history on 20 January 2009.

That would be me, writing my own memoirs. Actually, there is an American link in my bit of history. That I will leave you to figure out.

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6 comments



canine anxiety
Sunday, January 25 | 7:17 AM


This is my collection of pet writings I've amassed over the past 2-3 years or so.  I have not read any of them save for the one on the extreme right which I've embarked on recently in view of Ponyo's arrival.  Perhaps it was post-January's-death-depression-cum-denial in 2007 that prompted me to shelf them aside.  Deep inside, I know someday, someday I will have another dog.  Someday, I will be a better master of faithful canines (Opps!  Am I thinking of raising an entire farm in my new pad???) and my inner demons.  Yes, I'm totally convinced that pets are therapeutic.  In fact, I'm contemplating bringing them to my work place to tame some hyper-kids -  which I know will never happen - but someday, perhaps?  

I'm spending the weekend catching up with some friends and clearing up the odds and ends around the living room to prepare for the canine invasion.   Maybe I can even finish up one of the above books???

I may even share the coincidences and surprises behind Ponyo's adoption!

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10 comments



我要快樂
| 2:26 AM

張惠妹

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why Wii?
Saturday, January 24 | 4:45 PM

Another reason why I SHOULD get the Wii soon...



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6 comments



chipped
| 10:55 AM



He was one of the finest Rugby captains from St. Andrew's Secondary School.

Khairul chipped the ball towards the conversion poles

and tossed the ball from the scrum to his teamates at lightning speeds. 


In the end, the `B' division team of 2004 (I believe) played the most brilliant match ever and won the Police Cup title!  

pictures by Chris Leow (I believe)

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45 comments



the long wait
Friday, January 23 | 2:11 PM


Nowadays at NTUC, the queues are so long - even in the mornings!

I'm not even shopping to stock up for the coming Chinese New Year holidays.

Well, I got bored waiting so long for my turn...

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4 comments



Don't Believe In Love
| 1:17 PM

Dido

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think
| 10:29 AM

"We become what we think about." 
~ Earl Nightingale

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adopted
Thursday, January 22 | 3:28 PM



I've waited a long time for this.  No. It's not that I had learnt that I was adopted and gotten the chance to meet my real parents. 

Last night, I went to visit the abandoned Jack Russell I had blogged about and which was up for adoption.

I got so excited meeting up the 3 girls who had found it and given it temporary shelter that I forgot to take a picture of Ponyo (which I'll probably rename??).

Here's however, some pictures of Scruffy, a maltese owned by the one who had provided Ponyo with a home.

He is not as assertive as Ponyo, a female.  In fact, he gets bullied by Ponyo quite a fair bit.  Hmmm...  

Upon leaving, one of us left Scruffy to stand by this Ikea chair and...
  
...he actually remained there throughout while we were in the house for about 10-15 minutes or so simply because he did not know how to jump off the stool!  He is quite a sweet chap actually.

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4 comments



all things new
Wednesday, January 21 | 12:21 PM



This came as a surprise.
 
Out of one of the 12 or so cati I'd bought from Cameron Highlands late last year, a sprightly looking shoot appeared a week ago.

I don't have green fingers and therefore, without any prior knowledge of the little ones growing in small pots at my patio, this is a pleasant surprise. Maybe we'll expect an interesting bloom due soon?

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3 comments



we all need a little V
Tuesday, January 20 | 11:33 AM

Oh wow! I just came across this on someone's blog and I am swept away by its great message. I hope it'll make your day like it did mine.

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2 comments



Manic Monday #151
| 10:38 AM

What do you do to make yourself feel better when you are sick?

I'll
1) drink tons of fluids to speed up the recovery.
2) pop in my favourite CDs/DVDs and  
3) lie back on my bed to enjoy the music/movie/tv series. 

What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen?

That must be the superbly cool and sunny days while trekking the Milford Sound a few years back.  The occasional cold wind made the backpack a lot more bearable on my back.
 
Do you listen to music or talk radio in the car?

I turn up my pimped up sound system in my ride on all my drives.  I always make sure I bring along 2 CDs for the journey.  It is a MUST.

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the world, our classroom
Monday, January 19 | 5:25 PM

The great big world out there makes the best classroom for young enquiry minds.  These are some captures from my jog with a lower secondary class during Physical Education lesson last week. 

What happened here?   What caused this accident?

What do you think happened to the motorists/ pedestrians?  Why were the debris left uncleared?  What might happen as a result?  

A poignant moment to evoke conversations around feelings for animals and of course, a reminder not to go near dead birds.

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4 comments



My Home
Sunday, January 18 | 1:07 PM

Your Home Says That You Feel Settled and Calm



You come across as very intellectual. People take your wisdom seriously.

You have amazing hygiene, and it shows. You are sparkling clean!

You are a very domestic person. You enjoy decorating, cooking, and making things homey.

You are a very nurturing person. You find meaning in taking care of others.

You feel settled in your life. You have enough time to focus on little details.

You are a somewhat self sufficient person. You can do fine on your own if you have to.

Your friends see you as insightful, encouraging, and progressive.


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3 comments



hats
Saturday, January 17 | 7:58 AM



I wear different hats during my day job.

At times, I am the Game Master who has to entertain kinesthetic and restless; learners. 

the Disciplinarian watching over kids who have to be reminded of socially acceptable behaviour;

this recent very pleasant development - the Physical Education teacher who gets a free workout;

and as always, the Photographer, who records fun and poignant moments and publishes them here!

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43 comments



Real Gone
| 3:25 AM

Sheryl Crow

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1 comments



Gorceries and American Idol's Kara!
Friday, January 16 | 5:24 PM



I love my mornings off!  Being an early riser, I like the fact that I can lie in bed and watch television programmes.  I can take my time to leave the bed and still have plenty to spare for the rest of the morning (while most of you are still trying to beat the blues).    

I had to do some grocery shopping today.  This mammoth tote-bag was a gift some time back when I caught King Kong the movie for free (I cannot remember how that happened exactly except that I had a nice date for company!)  Now I am using it as my gorcery bag in my effort to cut down on the use of plastic bags in supermarkets. 


Random kindness... 
I was pleasantly surprised when an NTUC female cashier gave me tips on how to maximise the space in my grocery bag - start with the bulkiest item placed in the middle and then move outwards from there, balancing the weight equally with other items on both ends.  I guess that came because I am a guy doing grocery shopping?  :)   

Random thought...
The new judge of American Idol, Kara, is OOOoooOWOAH!  She sings as well as she looks!

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6 comments



Triad encounter at Toa Payoh
| 3:12 PM

I had a rather interesting encounter over lunch.

After paying for my noodles, I placed my food at a table which had no seats. So I approached this elderly man if I could have the seat at his table which was not taken. He raised his eyebrows slightly and said that someone else will be needing it. In the end, I found another empty seat and headed back to chow down my lunch.

Now, it was one of those days when you just want to get through lunch quickly because you want to run your errands and then head back to swim and enjoy the warm sunshine. As fate would have it, I had to sit at a table where this man decides to strike up a conversation with a total stranger.

I did not want to appear rude so I tried to offer my listening ear. He informed me that the elderly gentleman whom I had approached earlier for a seat is a regular at the food joint and thus he had denied me the seat on purpose. At this point, the stranger got my attention. Denied me what? Benson was the stranger's name. He told me not to take offense as the elderly man has done it all the time to newbies who do not realise that the table was the latter's "territory" at the food joint. I was amused but not totally so. Apparently, the regulars would leave the elderly man alone because they did not want offend him.

"Does he think he's some triad boss or something?" was my immediate response to Benson. Whether I had uttered it out of some bruised ego or arrogance, I truly wanted to know the truth while slulping my noodles. Nobody quite knows for sure. The fact remains, I should leave him alone.

Next Benson added how teenagers today might have responded to that elderly gentleman - stage a confrontation and face dire consequences should the latter be part of some local gang. Was he cautioning me? Then he went on to share his encounter with 3 teenage boys who had confronted him in Takashimaya, a big shopping mall in the heart of town and his use of reverse psychology to defuse the tense situation. Okay. I tried to interject to find out if Benson's a retiree. He just went on and on about his encounter.   


I did have my errands to run and my swim to enjoy.  Politely, I used body language to signal my intentions - HELLO?  You are not answering my questions and I am busy and turning BORED so I need and WANT to leave.  Eventually, I did tell him that I had to run my errands.  I left.

Triad encounter at Toa Payoh central?  Cool.   

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ah huay melts in your mouth
Thursday, January 15 | 7:22 AM


Long Way Up
KL Trip #1
5 to 7 Dec 08

There are 2 ways to go about meeting Ah Huay.


You can join the queue of parked cars on the right side of the main road like we did...

or you can park on the left side for takeaways.

On the other hand, you could walk up to the street corner stall to purchase Ah Huay yourself.

By Ah Huay, I'm referring to the healthy desert, soya bean curd. 
Where we were parked, someone will come up to you to take your orders.

Occupy yourself with a quick karaoke song and your order will arrive in a jiffy!

YUMMY smooth tao huay (soya bean curd) that truly melts in your mouth! and consumed in the comfort of your car cabin!

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8 comments



forget the fickle mob, just swim!
Wednesday, January 14 | 6:30 AM




14 Jan 2009
Demonstrators in Brazil protest against the Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip. - AP

My question to these people and to those around the world who are outraged by Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip - where were you when the Hamas had launched their regular attacks against Israel?  What would you do if a thief broke into your house or if you discover a termite outbreak within your property?

14 Jan 2009 
Australia's Queensland state is offering "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a paradise island for six months. - AFP  

I understand that you only get to work some 15 days a year (or is it month?) swimming, diving, hiking and doing some fun tasks.  You get to stay on a villa on the island for free as well.  Well, if I had no commitments here, I would join the thousands who had applied for the job! 

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4 comments



Lifetimes
Tuesday, January 13 | 8:33 PM

Sheryl Crow

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0 comments



O Levels 2008 Results
| 8:02 PM

Tuition Results #12 
O Levels Results 2008
Yesterday, the graduating students from secondary schools had received their O level results.  Apart from 2 who had requested not to have their results put up, these are the improvements made by my students since they came to me for help.  

Paul Ng (5NA)
- D7 (Term 3 2008) --> B3
- improved by 4 grades

Ameer (5NA)
- C6 (Term 1 2008) --> B3
- improved by 3 grades

Aaron Ang (5NA)
- D7 (failed, Term 1 2008) --> B3
- improved by 4 grades


Ng Tai Jun (S4Exp)
- C5 (MYE 2007) --> B3 
- improved by 2 grades

Stanley Tiong (S4 Exp)
- E8 (MYE 2007) --> B4
- improved by 4 grades

Atticus Yeo (S4 Exp)
- C6 (MYE 2007) --> B3
- improved by 3 grades

Isaac Cheong (S4Exp)
- C6 (Term 1 2008) --> A2
- improved by 4 grades

Isaac Choo (S4 Exp)
- C5/6 (2007) --> A1 
- improved by 4/5 grades

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuition Results #11 Term 4 2008
Final Year Exam Results 2008

I am very pleased with my students' results (at least those who have informed me so far)!


English

Calvin Chan (S3Exp)
- B3 - 65.5%
- above top class average (64.9%) and level average (approx 61.3%)


Edwin Chua (S3Exp)
- B4 - 64.5%
- above all other classes' individual average and level average (approx 61.3%)


Kwek Ming Sheng (S3 Exp)
- B4 - 62.2%
- above all other classes' individual average and level average (approx 61.3%)

Although the above 3 boys are scoring B grades for English, we need to look beyond the absolute marks and compare them against the class and level averages to get a more accurate assessment of their performance. The fact that they had scored above their class/level average indicates that they are performing way better than most students in their class/level.


Fong Geng (S3 NA)
U - 42.9% (MYE 2008) --> Grade 4 - 62.7% (FYE 2008)
- Fong Geng has never passed any English test/examination since the beginning of 2008.
- improved by 2 grades or 19.8%.


Jaagmeet Singh (S3 NT)
U - Failed (Term 3 Common Test 2008) --> Grade 3 - 65.8% (FYE 2008)
- improved by 3 grades.


Caleb Ong (S2 Express)
- B3 - 68% (Final Year Exam 2007) --> A2 - 70.0% (FYE 2008)
- improved by 1 grade.


Samuel Tan (S1 NA)
U(ungraded) - 28.7% (Mid Year Exam 2008)
--> Grade 5 - 51.2% (Final Year Exam 2008)
- improved by 22.7%.
- Samuel has never passed English since primary school.



Keith (S1 Express)
- D7 - 49.6% (1st Combined 2008) --> C5 - 59.9% (2nd Combined 2008)
- improved by 2 grades.


Xue Yu (S1 Express)
- C6 - 54.2% (MYE 2008) --> B3 - 66.7% (FYE 2008)
- improved by 3 grades.


Chen Kwang (S1 Express)
- C5 - 59.2% (MYE 2008) --> A2 - 73.8% (FYE 2008)
- improved by 3 grades.



Literature

Conelius Loo (S2 NA)
- 82% (A1)
- highest in level

Thiru (S2 NA)
- A2


Still waiting for the results of other students to come in...

Scroll down to view the results of my tuition students since 2006.

If you need help with English or English Literature, do drop me an email at stanleyah@hotmail.com or call me at 93388547.

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1) The English Conundrum
English, like other languages, is organic in nature. Yes, it is comparable to the growth of a plant or animal which takes a long time to show signs of change. It is unlike Mathematics or Science where memory work and intensive drill and practice can bring improvement in a matter of 2-4 weeks. In other words, one has to be patient to see improvement in English. Unless the student plays his/her part by putting in daily efforts to read widely (comparable to the daily watering of the plant), it usually takes months for improvements to take shape.

Two biggest hurdles exist for many students who wish to improve his/her English proficiency:

(i) Fail --> Pass
For students who wish to cross from the Failure to the Pass realm, mental and emotional barriers exist on top of their very weak foundation. Daily reading and regular review of past papers are absolutely necessary to grow their fragile language foundation.

(ii) B (60-69) ---> A (70>) grade
This is where tenacity comes into play. Besides close supervision, regular readings of advanced materials, knowledge of common themes and regular application of good writing techniques will plant the student firmly in the realm of the A(bsolute). Many students think that one cannot study for English - that is absolutely untrue.


How do teachers judge students' performance?
Because of the unique organic nature of languages leading to possibly slow progression, keep in mind the following 3 factors when assessing a student's performance. This is especially helpful to buffer the low morale of weak students.

How much improvement is considered acceptable?
From a teacher's perspective, any improvement is a good sign. A 2-grade jump from the previous is considered significant, especially for weak pupils.


How about that extremely low grade?
Apart from considering improvements made, we need to keep in mind that a low grade does not mean that all is doom and gloom. Compare the grade with the class and level average, if they are available. As long as the student's mark is above the class/level mark, his/her performance is considered acceptable.

How about maintaining the improvement?
The biggest challenge to any student who has just displayed significant improvement is to maintain that same grade in the next test. No one wants to be compared to a 1-hit wonder singer who is unable to maintain his/her record sales with the next hit/album. For that weak student, if no improvement is made but the grade is maintained, that is a positive sign itself.


2) About Me
I am a trained teacher for both primary and secondary school levels. Having taught in Singapore primary and secondary schools for the past 7 years and tutored for the past 12 years, I now freelance as a private tutor and part-time relief teacher in secondary schools.


Below are the results of my tuition students since 2006. If you need help with English or English Literature, do drop me an email at
stanleyah@hotmail.com or call me at 93388547.


Cheers!


Stanley Ho

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Tuition Results #10 Term 4 2008
English Preliminary Exam Results 2008

I'm truly thankful for my graduating students' Preliminary Examination results.

Isaac Cheong (S4Exp)
- C6 (55% - Common Test, Term 1 2008) --> A1 - 76.6% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 5 grades
-
3rd highest in class of 43

Ng Tai Jun (S4Exp)
C5 (56.2% - MYE 2007) --> B3 - 67.2.0% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 3 grades

Stanley Tiong (S4 Exp)
- E8 (44% - MYE 2007) --> B4 - 63.2% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 4 grades

Daryl Pung (S4 Exp)
- D7 (46% - MYE 2007) --> C5 - 59.5% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 2 grades

Atticus Yeo (S4 Exp)
- C6 (51.5% - MYE 2007) --> C5 - 55.7% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 1 grade

Isaac Choo (S4 Exp)
- C5/6 (2007) --> B3 - 66.6% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 2/3 grades

Sankar (5NA)
- D7 - 47.0% (FYE 2006) --> C5 - 58.1% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 2 grades

Paul Ng (5NA)
- D7 - 40.0% (Common Test, Term 3 2008) --> B4 - 64.9% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 3 grades


Ameer (5NA)
- C6 (52.5 - Common Test, Term 1 2008) --> B3 - 68.5% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 3 grades

- highest in class of 20
- 2nd highest in level

Aaron Ang (5NA)
- D7 (failed - Common Test, Term 1 2008) --> A2 - 72.4% (PRELIM 2008)
- improved by 5 grades
- highest in class of 37
- top in level

Note :
Some students scoring the weaker grades are dyslexic. Without naming them, they have made great improvements, in my opinion, given their struggle with language!


If you need help with English or English Literature, do drop me an email at stanleyah@hotmail.com or call me at 93388547.

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Tuition Results #9 Term 2 2008

Updated 22/5/2008
English Mid Year Exam Results 2008

My students improved leaps in their English!


Isaac Cheong (S4Exp)
- C6 (55% - Common Test, Term 1 ) --> A2 - 73.5% (Mid-Year Exam - MYE 2008)
- improved by 4 grades
- 3rd highest in class of 43

Ng Tai Jun (S4Exp)
C5 (56.2% - MYE 2007) --> A2 - 71.0% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 3 grades
- 5th highest in class of 40

Daryl Pung (S4 Exp)
- D7 (46% - MYE 2007) --> B4 - 61.3% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 3 grades

Atticus Yeo (S4 Exp)
- C6 (51.5% - MYE 2007) --> B3 - 66.2% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 3 grades
- 3rd highest in class of 36

Stanley Tiong (S4 Exp)
- E8 (44% - MYE 2007) --> B4 - 63.4% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 4 grades

Aaron Ang (5NA)
- D7 (failed - Common Test, Term 1) --> B4 - 61.0% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 3 grades

Ameer (5NA)
- C6 (52.5 - Common Test, Term 1) --> C5 - 58.8.0% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 1 grade

- 2nd highest in class

Feng Shi (4NA)
- D7 (failed - Common Test, Term 1) --> B4 - 62.2% (MYE 2008)
- NA student who sat for 4EXP paper 2008
- improved by 3 grades

Kwek Ming Sheng (3Exp)
- B4 (61 - Common Test, Term 1) --> B4 - 61.0% (MYE 2008)
- maintained

Edwin Chua (3Exp)
- C5 (55 - Common Test, Term 1) --> B4 - 64.3% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 1 grade

Lee Chi Han (1D)
- D7 (failed - Common Test, Term 1) --> C5 - 59% (MYE 2008)
- failed English since Primary School
- improved by 2 grades


Caleb (2D)
- B3 (68% - Final Year Exam 2007) --> A1 - 75.0% (MYE 2008)
- improved by 2 grades

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Tuition Results #8
Term 4 2007 Updated 18/12/2007

My English N Level students did well!
1) Sankar - A2
--> this is an incredible feat for him who has bordered between passing and failing all the while!

2) Ameer - A2
--> well done! I expect an A1 for your Os!

3) Keith Leng - B3
--> he could've gotten an A if he had been more regular and focused.

Thanks guys, for the early Christmas gift! :)

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Tuition Results #7
Term 4 2007 Updated 24/11/2007

English
1) Kelly Chan (P4) - 81/100 (Band 2)
Term 1 - 60+% --> Overall - 81%

= improved by almost 20%!

2) Keth Chan (P2) - 45/50, 90% (Band 1)
previous tests 65-75% --> Overall - 90%
= improved by almost 25%!

3) Isaac Choo (S3) - 64% (B4)
Term 3 - 55.5% (C5) --> SA2 - 64% (B4)

*more than half his class failed SA2.
= improved by 8.5%!

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Tuition Results #6
Term 4 2007 Updated 19/10/2007

*new/updated

English
1) Caleb Ong (S1) - 73/110 (B3)

- highest in class! (according to his English Teacher)

2) Pei Rong (S1) - 60.4%
Common Test 1 - 29.5/50 (C5) --> SA2 - 60.4% (B4 - rank top 10 in subject)
= improved by 1 grade!


3) Edwin Chua (S2) - 64%
CA1 - 60.5% (B4) --> Overall 64% (B4)
=
improved by 3.5%!

4) Calvin Chan (S2) - 69.5% (B3)
CA1 - 63.8% (B4) --> Mid Year 66.1% (B3) --> CT2 - 67.1% (B3) --> SA2 - 69.8% (B3)
= improved by 1 grade!

5) Ming Sheng (S2) - 61.4% (B4)
CA1 - 58% (C5) --> SA1 - 60% --> SA2 - 61.4%
= improved by 1 grade!

6) Nicole Li (S2), China student who joined a Singapore school in Term 3
Failed MOE entrance tests (Secondary 1 Express standard) twice
--> CA2 - 50.2 (C6) --> Overall - 51% (C6)
= improved by 2/3 grades and maintained! - an impressive feat for a foreign student!

7) Daryl (S3) - C6
MY2006 - D7, FY2006 - C6 - MY2007 - C6 --> SA2 2007 - C6
=
improved by 1 grade!

8)Tai Jun (S3) - B3
Common test 1 - D7 --> common test 2 - B3 --> SA2 - B3
= improved by 4 grades!

9) Feng Shi (S3) - 59.6% (C5)
Mid Year Exam 2006 (Fail) --> SA2 2006 (Pass!) --> SA2 2007 - 59.6/100 - C5 (met expectations of C grade for a foreign student)
= improved by 2 grades!

SA1 - Mid Year Examination Paper (1 & 2 combined)
SA2 - Final Year Examination Paper (1 & 2 combined)


Literature (SA2)
1) Caleb Ong (S1) - 76% (A1)


2) Pei Rong (S1) - ? (?)

3) Calvin Chan (S2) - 77% (A1)

4) Edwin Chua (S2) - 67% (B3)
CA1 - 56.8% (C5) --> CA2 - 64.2 (B4) --> SA2 - 67% (B3)

= improved by 2 grades!

5) Zachary Foo (S2) - 75% (A1)

CA1 - 60.4% (B4) --> SA1 61.0% (B4) --> CA2 - 70.4 (A2) --> SA2 - 75% (A1)
= improved by 3 grades!

6) Nicole Li (S2) - 74% (A1)
China student who joined a Singapore school in Term 3
CA2 - 53 (C6) --> SA2 74.0% (A2)
= improved by 4 grades!

I am still waiting for some students to give me their marks and some of the above to update me with their specific marks...
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Tuition Results #5
Term 3 2007 Updated 17/9/2007

*new/updated

Fabulous news!

S4 English Preliminary Examination Results
Leslie of 4ST scored A2, beating even those who used to get As in his class! When he came to me for help with English, he was just passing his common tests.
Mid Year 2007 - 54/100 (C6) --> Preliminary Exams 2007 - 70.09! (A2)
= improved by 4 grades!!

Lee Peng of 4SA scored B3, a 3 grade improvement from his Mid year!
Mid Year 2007 - 56.3/100 (C5) --> Preliminary Examination 2007 - B3
= improved by 3 grades!

Jingxi of 4S1 scored B3 - Mid Year 2007 - 57.8/100 (C5) --> Preliminary Exams 2007 - 67.6! (B3)
= improved by 2 grades!!

Well done dudes!

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Tuition Results #4
Term 3 2007 Updated 11/9/2007

*new/updated

1) Kelly (P5) - 40/50 --> A =
maintained A

2) Pei Rong (S1) - 48/50 = 96%
Common Test 1 - 29.5/50 (C5) --> CT2 - 96% (A1- highest in class and level!) =
improved by 4 grades!

3) Caleb Ong (S1) - 35.5/50 --> 71%
(to check extent of improvement)

4) Edwin Chua (S2)* - 65% (CA2)
CA1 - 60.5% (B4) --> CA2 - 65% (B3) =
improved by 1 grade!

5) Calvin Chan (S2) - 67.1%
Mid Year 66.1% --> CT2 - 67.1% = improved!

6) Nicole (S2) - 71%
from failed MOE entrance tests in early 2007 --> MY2007 - 51.4% (C6) --> Term 3 CA - 71% (A2) = improved by 5 grades!

7) Daryl Pung (S3) - 31/50
MY2006 - D7, FY2006 - C6 - MY2007 - C6 --> CA2 2007 - B4) =
improved by 3 grades!

8) Tai Jun (S3) - 34/50
common test 1 - D7 --> common test 2 - B3 = improved by 4 grades!

9) Feng Shi (S3) - 63/100
Mid Year Exam 2006 (Fail) --> SA2 2006 (Pass!) --> Mid Year Exam 2007 - SA2 & CA2 (B4) ------ E8/D7 --> B4 = improved by 3-4 grades!

10) Cleon (S3)* - 27/50 (CT2), 72/100 (CA2)
Term 1 CA1 - 42/100 (E8) --> SA1 - 54/100 (C6) --> Term 3 CT2 - 54/100, CA2 - 74 (A2) = improved by 6 grades!

11) Shaun Lai (S4) - B
Term 1 2007 - 43 (E8) --> Mid Year 2007 - 65.8 (B3) --> Preliminary Exams B3 = improvement by 5 grades maintained!

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Tuition Results #3
Mid Year Examinations 2007
Updates!
6) Kwek Ming Sheng (2Exp)
Term 1 2007 - 58 (C5) --> Mid Year Overall 2007 - 67.5 (B3)
--> improved by 2 grades!!!

An underdog is defined as a person, team etc that is weaker than the others, is always expected to be unsuccessful, and that is often treated badly.

This time round, the underdog students truly prevailed over their challenging circumstances!

1) Feng Shi (3NA)
Mid Year Exam 2006 (Fail) --> SA2 2006 (Pass!) --> Mid Year Exam 2007 - SA2 (63.1/100)!!!!!
- E8/D7 --> B4 = improved by 3-4 grades!

Keep in mind this Chinese student joined the Singapore school system only last year!

2) Nicole Li (2NA)
Like her compatriate, Feng Shi, she came from China and joined her Singapore school in the middle of Term 2. She came to me with only a Primary 3-4 standard of English and had a lot of difficulty understanding Primary school comprehension passages and stringing together proper sentences for her compositions. Having failed numerous entrance tests with the MOE and schools, passing the Secondary School English Paper was therefore an impossiblity.

Nevertheless, her SA2 results - 51.4/100!!!

3) Sankar (4NA)
Final Year 2006 - 47.0/100 (D7) --> Mid Year 2007 SA2 - 63.8/100 (B4)
--> improved by 3 grades!
We expected a C6/5 but Sankar delievered a miracle, beating more than 3/4 of his classmates and emerged top 10 in his class for English.

4) Kelly Chan (Primary 4)
She came to me in Term 1 scoring only 60odd% (C/B grade)
--> Mid Year 2007 - 60/80 = 75% = A grade!!
(note - highest in level = 64/100!)

5) Shaun Lai (4NA)
Term 1 2007 - 43 (E8) --> Mid Year 2007 - 65.8 (B3)
--> improved by 5 grades!!!

The rest of you (my students, that is) - remember to photocopy your result slip and bring them when I next see you!

More exciting updates later!!


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`O' Levels 2006 Tuition Results #2
Thank God again for great results and improvements once again!

(in name-alphabetical order)
Daniel Tay - A2 - up 5 grades since Prelim Exams 2006!!

Elvinder - B3 - improved by 4 grades since Mid Year Exam 2006!

Jeriel Goh - B3 - on target :)

Jonathan Neo - A1 - upped 7 grades since Mid Year Exam 2006!!!; the ONLY A1 grade in 5NA!)

Jun Liang - B3 - improved 5 grades since Mid Year Exam 2006!!

Konrad - PASS!!! - improved by 2 grades from E8 within 3 months (your struggle to pass English for the past few years is now history!! Well done!)

Maduan - B3 - improved by 3 grades in less than 2 months (WOW!!!) since Preliminary Examinations 2006!

Nicholas - B4 - improved by 2 grades since Mid Year Exam 2006!

Ryan - B4 - up 2 grades since Preliminary Examinations 2006!

Thanks guys for working hard and for bearing with my nagging. Your efforts certainly paid off!

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Tuition Results 2006 #1
Latest update:

My 2 PSLE kids just received their results recently.
Well done guys!


Name/Grade attained
Leonard - A
(I knew you could get the A!)
Sheng Ming - B (you've come a long way since making that pass! Scroll down to see how much he has improved!)

Check out my other tuition kids' amazing results (SCROLL DOWN).

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29 Oct 2006

12) Daryl (2Exp)
Mid Year (D7) Fail --> Final Year (C6) : Pass!
--> Improved by 1 grade

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26 Oct 2006

Hey hey hey! I recently compiled the English results of my tuition kids who had updated me with their exam results. Here's just some of the amazing scoup!

1) Jonathan (5NA)
Mid Year (E8 ) --> Term 3 Common Test (D7) --> Prelim (B3)
--> improved by 5 grades

2) Elvinder (4 Exp)
Mid Year Exam (48/100) --> Term 3 Common Test (25/50) --> Prelim (B4)
---> moved up by 3 grades

3) Ryan (4 Exp)
Mid Year Exam (53/100) --> Prelim (B3)
---> improved by 3 grades

4) Junliang (4 Exp)
Mid Year Exam (E8) --> Term 3 Common Test (C5) --> Prelim (B3)
--> jumped 5 grades

5) Poh Heng (1 Exp)
Mid Year Exam (D7/E8) --> Term 3 Common Test (22/40) --> Final Year Exam P1 (Pass) + P2 (30/50)
---> improved 2 - 3 grades

6) Alex (1 Exp)
1st Combined Marks, CA1 +SA1 (51.4%) --> 2nd Combined Marks ( 69.0%)
--> up 3 grades

7) Satya (1 Exp)
1st Combined Marks (67.1%) --> 2nd Combined Marks (71.3%)
--> improved 1 grade

8) Jack (1 Exp)
1st Combined Marks ( 69.3%) --> 2nd Combined Marks ( 70)
--> up 1 grade

9) Feng Shi (2N)
Mid Year Exam (Fail) --> SA2 (Pass!)
--> improved 1 grade
Note : This is a great achievement for a foreign student from China who just joined the Singapore school system at the beginning of this year!

Other Schools
10) Sheng Ming (Pri6)
PSLE Prelim1 P2 - 38.5/95 --> PSLE Prelim2 P2 - 64.5/95
--> a 27.40% improvement

Best Overall Achiever...so far
11) Daniel Tay (4Exp)
1st Preliminary Exams (D7) --> 2nd Prelim (B4) ---> 3rd Prelim (A1)
--> blazed up 6 grades

Well done guys! I'm really proud of you!

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MM #150
| 3:14 PM


If you were to name the most creative outlet that you have, what would it be?

Expressing myself through music or a play.  I used to be part of music groups in church and put up plays in camps.  Those were truly fun days.  

What spot in your body would you say is the center of your emotional being?

Tricky.  I would have to say my eyes.  What I perceive visually usually provokes too much thoughts and feelings in me.  I somtimes wish I have a "shut out" button built in my system.  Haha.

What do you think is the secret to a tranquil soul?

The thought that you are loved and that you have to capacity to demonstrate love sets me at ease.  

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kaypo!
Monday, January 12 | 11:28 AM




It was the change-over period.  I was walking towards the courtyard to locate my class.  At each level, many students stopped in their tracks and peered down over the parapet.

Apparently, the nosy students were waiting for this senior to do his trust fall at the courtyard.  The latter was taking a very long time.

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4 comments



nostalgia
Sunday, January 11 | 11:55 PM


I was packing my stuff from my old home and unpacking them at my new pad when I came came across these items which I'd slipped into my books in the past.

The bookmark, found in Bunyan's classic, goes a lot way back - 1984!

This flyer was probably from my secondary school days.

My friend who works at the YMCA might be interested to archive this 1986 donation draw ticket.  

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11 comments



Have you ever?
Saturday, January 10 | 10:02 PM



This list is making its round on the internet. So I thought I have a go myself.

Have you ever???
Everything is
Blue are things I have done...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris - I'll save that til when I get married.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning- Had suffered from IBS, so consider me a regular in this department in the past.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables- and not to well I might add!
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - who hasn't done this???
back in JC days...that was hilarious!
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping - almost!
27. Run a Marathon - work in progress
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise - and I hate it!
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - just have not had time to followup on this.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - does the one in National Museum count???
41. Sung karaoke- my friends always make me do this to make them feel inferior???
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - funny Korean girl I met in New York who thought I was a fellow countryman and offered me a ticket to Miss Saigon!
44. Visited Africa - probally the best trip of my life - Kenya!
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain - she's history...a very tragic chapter in my life.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Boy Scout Cookies - the equivalent of selling flags when I was in a uniformed group?
62. Gone whale watching - awesome aweseom AWESOME!
63. Got flowers for no reason-
yea, a stalk for Teacher's Day from a kid! I was like...flabbagusted!

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving


66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - freezing cold on PIE and I never want to do ride pillion again!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - I was so close and I gave the trip a miss! ARRGHHH!
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one - hate to be reminded of this

January 1990-2007
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person - not sure who this is...
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day - my University course texts. I had no choice. :P

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lost Jack Russell
Friday, January 9 | 7:32 PM


Just helping to spread the love...

Call this the aftermath of someone's carelessness or impulsive decision to buy a pet during the festive season only to regret it.  A Jack Russell was found by Ms.  Carrie Yeo. She's not even microchipped!!!  For details, do check out her Jan 7th blog entry and contact her if you have information.

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25 comments



original baby!
| 11:01 AM

You were born an original
Don't die a copy. 
John Mason

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Indulgence #2
Thursday, January 8 | 9:45 PM


Call it my first stir fried dish whipped up in my kitchen.




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5 comments



drink
Wednesday, January 7 | 11:51 PM



Some ex-students came by on Mon and we had our last supper together before they report for national service this week.  Fret not when you see one of them opening up a bottle of red wine above, they are old enough to drink legally.  I am strictly against underage drinking or drinking just to get high or drunk which many young people and even adults seem to enjoy.  Besides, I don't even have proper drinking glasses (as you can observe above.  Haha!) and thus I hardly consume alcohol myself.  We chatted over cheese cake and chips (not the best combination to go with that bottle of wine I must say) and then watched an episode of Heroes Season 3. They left at nearly 4am.  That was the night before I was to begin my day work. Coupled with my own tutoring obligations and the fact that I cannot nap during day time, I am still reeling from staying up late.  I guess I am past that age to be able to go without sleep without suffering terribly for it the next day.   


On the same matter of drinking and suffering, well, as always in the beginning of the year, I subject the new Sec 1s to the exciting game of Big Gulp when I happen to be relieving their classes.  

No matter how rowdy the class is, this game always keeps them in rapt attention.

In fact, 2 construction workers stopped in their tracks to watch us in action.  No, that lady who walked past in the picture was not one of them.    

One has to take care to pour any amount of water from the bottle into the little container without spilling any drop.
  
You stay focused even when the photographer (that would be me) calls you to pose for a shot.  

Big Gulp teaches social skills like listening and speaking aloud to a group on top of estimating, scheming and planning to sabotage your friends to spill so that he ends up drinking that whole containter of water.  

This kid (I cannot recall his name) is the younger sibling of one student I had taught many years back.  

He made the first spill and took the forfeit really positively.

During the forfeit, you have to lap up the top portion of the water so as not to spill any drop of the precious water processd by PUB.

Interestingly, the background is a wall mural recording some activities the school has had with PUB to promote the cleaning up of the local rivers - in this case, the Kallang River which runs around the perimeter of the school grounds.  

So, the person meting out the forfeit just drinks...

...and drinks

...until some kind soul volunteer to help him finish up the contents.  This is the part when you look out for those who are willling to step forward to help one in need - another powerful lesson you teach with this simple but exciting game.

*Burp*

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2 comments



Indulgence #1
Tuesday, January 6 | 11:27 PM



I have begun to discover the joys of following a good TV series eversince I'd moved into the privacy of my own pad.  These are some DVDs that were on sale during the holidays.    

Being one who tends not to buy anything that are in season, I'm waiting for prices of the Heroes series to fall like the economy.   I've even checked out the prices in overseas but they are only cheaper by around S$10.  That's okay.  I'm learning to be patient.     

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15 comments



sovereignty & genocide
Monday, January 5 | 11:55 PM


In view of the international pressure on Israel to stop her bombardments on Palestine, I would like to offer my views on the political situation.  

If the terrorist group, Hamas, has been terrorising Israel, it deserves more than a reprimand.  If Palestine is harbouring the terrorist group, it deserves to be taught a lesson for jeopardising the sovereignty of Israel.  

What of the accusations of genocide?  Have not the lessons from the Holocaust taught us to respect all people groups irrespective of ethnicity and religion?  Has one no right to strike back when one's safety and existence are threatened?     

It takes two hands to clap.  Our Prime Minister may deem Israel's assault on the Gaaza strip as "extremely disturbing behaviour", in view of the continual reminders for individuals to play our part to keep terrorism at bay, one should openly criticise rogue countries for continually harbouring terrorist groups.  There is so much one can negotiate and tolerate.  Beyond the thin line of dispair, the consequences, are unfortunately, ugly at times.

I protest on the grounds that Israel's sovereignty is not respected by some.  I sympathise with the loss of lives.  I despise people who protest behind the cloak of selfish agendas without acknowledging the true dignity of human existence infringed.

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4 comments



girls and chickens
Sunday, January 4 | 11:49 PM


Long Way Up
KL Trip #1 
5 to 7 Dec 08

I know the title sounds wrong.  That was the disturbing thought when my KL friend brought my friends and I to this famous stall selling really succulent and delicious salted chicken.


See the towers of boxes stacked from floor to ceiling?  They sell chickens by the hundreds daily.  


Here comes the disturbing side of the story.  In this little town, this famous establishment employs the advertising technique which modern city companies thrives on and exploits - the female image.  What is truly discomforting is that the life-size cut-out advertisements feature only teenage girls!  

There's another at the bottom right corner of the above picture where the cut-out advertisement is a teenage girl in school uniform seen flashing a thumbs up sign.  The 2 men just happened to be leaving the premises with their purchases.   Don't go all Freudian with me but isn't this explicit chicken sales exploiting the innocence of the young?  How about the flashy and symbolic red splashed all around the shop?

On a totally random note, the streets of this town, which I cannot recall (it's either Ipoh or Ibor), are lined with these trees trimmed to shape like rectangles.  Quite a lovely sight I must say.

Nonetheless, the salted chickens are really good.  Go try it when you are there.  

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10 comments



hopefully rummikub!
Saturday, January 3 | 10:58 AM



I hardly play boardgames or equivalent ones because I rarely have time for them. On New Year's Day, I was with some buddies and they introduced me to the game of Rummikub.

This game is rather similar to Uno or Dai Di. You clear your numerical tiles either by matching existing configurations of 3 tiles put up by other players or you simply create your own.

While I was observing my expert friends play, the sight of multiple numerical tiles on individual decks and at the play area totally put me off from joining in the game.

"Where is the love (for numbers)?" you may ask.

Well, I was pretty good in Maths up to secondary school days. The boring Maths tutors and lecturers in Junior College totally put me off numbers.

Therefore, my reply to you would be, "Where is the hope for people like me who shun any task numerical???"

Just to illustrate my point further : if you look carefully at the picture above, I had raked up so many unused number tiles that I have to employ a second deck to display them all. Call me a hopeless case with numbers?

Hmmm, given that I had aced Maths in school before, I would think my predicament is truly the result of my loss of interest instilled by ineffective teachers.

Actually I got better at the game and won the final 2 games; not to mention, I got a little addicted to it. So there is hope afterall!

Let me also share a new discovery from the ladies during my game of Rummikub : there is additional hope for those with oily skin!


I present the metrosexual friend of mine who dared take up the remedy offered by the fairer sex.  See him massaging his face with a piece of fruit?

Yes, we are looking at the skin of a watermelon. Apparently, the succulent side of the skin is able to absorb facial oil. The rest of the guys were won over and all of us applied a cool slab each to our faces. It truly works!

There you have it. Hope for the numerically hopeless and a natural remedy for those with oily skin!

Do read my previous post on 31/12/08 which is very apt for this week's theme.

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child play
Friday, January 2 | 3:22 PM


I'd spent my Christmas with my childhood friends who go a long long way back.

After a sumptuous potluck dinner, we proceeded to the roof top open space for dessert.

Some of the kids getting ready to pop their crackers bearing little gifts within.

I have my own too! No, I didn't steal from any kid.

This is how you pull the cracker apart...

Then it was sparklers time! Oh boy, that sure brought back some fun memories of my own childhood!

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the day the earth stood still...
| 9:21 AM



I just had to borrow the title of the film to make my point. Anyway, if you have not seen the movie, you did not miss any earth shattering event.


After a very long time, I managed to empty my red bean bag with the help of a student and send the shell for a nice tumble in the washer. See how bloody the contents became. My world stood still when I realise that I had a lot of whites and my favourite bermudas within.

And of course, with the same help, I sought to refill my green bean bag when VOOLA! the little styrofoam balls came spilling out by the hundreds from an accidental slip. I did not have a dust pan anywhere so imagine how my world froze at the horrendous task of sweeping tiny bits up using an improvised dust pan and by hand?

That all happened on New Year's Eve when you decide, YES WE CAN! I can do some cleaning up before the new year.

Well...

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