Lu bikin gua susaaaah aje...

I was quite busy with co-academic language activities these past few days.Teaching in kampung school is not a bed of roses especially if you have to deal with English and have to come out with teams to participate in English activities.For example to come out with a team of 35 students to present a choral speaking is no joke and what more to compete with boarding and premier schools.

The script was written months ago by the teacher not students.Then the students were selected,trained in terms of articulation,pronunciation,gestures,expression,body language in fact from A to Z...Unlike in town schools,here, the teachers instruct everything,even whether to sway the body to the left or right, to move the body like a catterpillar or to remain static .However,what I admire about my "budak kampong" students are the spirit they showed through out the training period and the eagerness to perform in the competition. Never once did they complain of having to stay back until 4 pm and to be called during school holidays.

So on 7 th July,we were ready to compete.Before we left the school,teachers including our principal sent us off with words of encouragement hoping that our spirit will remain soaring.For me to receive a certificate of participation is more than enough.I am not putting high hopes on them for I know who they are competing with.This time would just be some sort of an exposure to them,maybe in the next few years we will give a tough fight..god willing..

We got to perform at 6:00 pm after siting down on a hard chair for four hours without any refreshment.Blame the urusetia for the poor running of the event.My "budak kampong"students performed well, flashing smiles throughout but a bit reserve and not as agressive and expressive as the other teams of town students.A sense of satisfaction could be seen in their faces.Although we didnt get any place,to present a team is an achievement already.I am proud of you girls and boys..never once did I see any feeling of inferior in you.You all presented well, at your own pace with your very unique style.

Getting ready.......waiting for instruction to face the audience

Daughter,Ifah, the conductor of the team,giving instructions to the team.The conductor is supposed to stand on a low stool but the urusetia didnt even prepare for it.Lots of post-mortem to do guys.... Meeting another blogger,Teacher Sally,whose blog I always visit but never leave a trace...

This week Malaysians have been awaken by the long-awaited news...that is the issue of ETEMS.I heard about the decision on SINAR FM morning news on my way to school.Upon hearing the news,the respond from my big baby was " Susahlah macam ni...".

I asked him "Kenapa susah?".

He answered " Yalah..kejap BI kejap BM.Kadang-kadang ada perkataan dah belajar

dalam BI tapi Ijat tak tau dalam BM".

So I asked him which language he prefers to learn his Math and Science.He

answered,"English or dwibahasa pun bolehlah.Tapi kalau BM aje ,susahlah..kena

belajar all the terms semula".

By then I reached his school.As he was about to step out I heard him sighing.."Lu bikin gua susah aje.."

So, even a twelve -year- old boy could forsee the tentative problems they may encounter in the next couple of years .Now my kid is in standard six, by 2012 he will be in form three and that will be the year where Math and Science will be switched to BM..and what more,that year he will be taking his PMR .How is he and the other kids borned in 1997 going to cope with this situation?I am too afraid to think about that.Maybe the language of these kids will finally end up like vegetable salad, a mixture of both languages but fluent in none.

Like Dr M,I am expressing my disappointment too...