A VERY VERY VERY VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!~~~
From: ES2007S Group 9!!
From: ES2007S Group 9!!
1 week ago
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
What a time in Japan! An intercultural conflict you will never want to have!
Excitement overwhelms me as I alight from the car with a womanly figure waiting for us at the beautiful house’s doorstep. This is the first time I see my aunt Emma as she has been staying in Japan after marrying her Japanese husband, Ken. However, no one would have expected this trip to be my family’s first intercultural conflict, with a kinship at stake!
Being superstitious, my mother loves to read the horoscope book and realizes that my aunt‘s bed must be positioned such that her head will face the north to attract prosperity. Without asking for permission, my mother shifts the bed out of kind intentions. After that, my family goes out to visit some tourist attraction areas till late night.
As we return joyously from the shopping and sightseeing, my mother and I notice my aunt alone in the living room crying. My mother approaches my aunt and asks her what has happened, but my aunt just keeps on weeping bitterly. Without a word, my mother furiously storms into my aunt’s room and confronts Ken. She demands that he apologizes to my aunt, without seeking for the cause of the misunderstanding beforehand. My mother’s bad temper and lousy emotional management have gotten the better of her. Soon, a heated argument emerges and things turn ugly for both families as profanities are exchanged. Weirdly, the argument sounds rather entertaining as Ken scolds in Japanese while my mother shouts in her dialect. Nonetheless, the trip ends prematurely in dismay and my aunt never contact us ever since.
It takes my mother months before she realizes what has triggered Ken’s madness. One day, my mother receives a letter from her sister Emma out of the blue. When she starts reading it, her face immediately turns red as tomato in embarrassment. My mother has learnt that the Japanese, in their customary acts, will lay dead bodies with the heads facing the north! Therefore, what my mother has done is a taboo and no wonder Ken is offended by my mother’s actions. It seems as though my mother is hoping early deaths for both my aunt Emma and her husband Ken.
Better late than never, my mother has admitted that this matter is her fault and decides to eradicate this bad blood between the two families. It takes years to resolve this bad conflict completely before we go back to my aunt’s place again. This time round, we have learnt about Japan’s dos and don’ts, while my mother has taken up anger management courses.
Being superstitious, my mother loves to read the horoscope book and realizes that my aunt‘s bed must be positioned such that her head will face the north to attract prosperity. Without asking for permission, my mother shifts the bed out of kind intentions. After that, my family goes out to visit some tourist attraction areas till late night.
As we return joyously from the shopping and sightseeing, my mother and I notice my aunt alone in the living room crying. My mother approaches my aunt and asks her what has happened, but my aunt just keeps on weeping bitterly. Without a word, my mother furiously storms into my aunt’s room and confronts Ken. She demands that he apologizes to my aunt, without seeking for the cause of the misunderstanding beforehand. My mother’s bad temper and lousy emotional management have gotten the better of her. Soon, a heated argument emerges and things turn ugly for both families as profanities are exchanged. Weirdly, the argument sounds rather entertaining as Ken scolds in Japanese while my mother shouts in her dialect. Nonetheless, the trip ends prematurely in dismay and my aunt never contact us ever since.
It takes my mother months before she realizes what has triggered Ken’s madness. One day, my mother receives a letter from her sister Emma out of the blue. When she starts reading it, her face immediately turns red as tomato in embarrassment. My mother has learnt that the Japanese, in their customary acts, will lay dead bodies with the heads facing the north! Therefore, what my mother has done is a taboo and no wonder Ken is offended by my mother’s actions. It seems as though my mother is hoping early deaths for both my aunt Emma and her husband Ken.
Better late than never, my mother has admitted that this matter is her fault and decides to eradicate this bad blood between the two families. It takes years to resolve this bad conflict completely before we go back to my aunt’s place again. This time round, we have learnt about Japan’s dos and don’ts, while my mother has taken up anger management courses.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A Personal Statement from a personal experience (Modified)
Third draft
It was a high counsel whom I had heard given to a young person once, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American philosopher
This quote reflects my strong belief in possessing determination and perseverance in everything I pursue. It helps me to be fearless against any difficulties.
When I decided to pursue a major in Life Science, many people were puzzled as I used to under-achieve for biology, my most feared subject in secondary school. There was even once when my mother got me to kneel in front of the altar for half a day just for failing miserably for biology. My bruised knees ended up with painful sores but she unsympathetically shouted at me: “What the bloody hell is this shit result? You better buck up before I hang you upside down then you know!”. That was the last time when I saw her blood-shot eyes as her reaction scared the daylight out of me. She looked as though she was going to suffer a heart-attack and that scene really broke my heart.
With fears for my mum’s health and the biology subject, I only studied chemistry and physics for my ‘A’ levels. I could have taken biology in ‘A’ levels too as I still managed to scrape a pass in it for ‘O’ levels. However, I told myself that I would never want to see her agitated over my studies ever again.
Despite all the setbacks and disadvantages, I was still determined to choose biology in my undergraduate studies after excelling for all the subjects I took for 'A' levels. Talks and seminars about Life Science inspired me and gave me lots of ideas on what I could possibly achieve from this course. Some admired my bravery, while others mocked my stupidity for not choosing other courses I am good in. However, I persevered and have excelled in it as evident from my resume.
With this experience, I have gained the ability to cope with difficulties and overcome my fears in any endeavors. Perseverance has allowed me to pursue knowledge out of my comfort zone. It has also helped me to serve as a good role model to the others. I hope to be able to demonstrate to students that through this sort of effort, they can reap by being willing to strive. Therefore, students will never be afraid to maintain continual learning as a lifelong habit and have the courage to face any adversity in future.
In every teaching process, learning also takes place. Who says that the teacher never learns, or the student can never teach? We are all together in the same boat on the journey of education.
Second draft
It was a high counsel whom I had heard given to a young person once, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American philosopher
This quote reflects my strong belief in possessing determination and perseverance in everything I pursue. It develops me to be fearless against any difficulties.
When I decided to pursue a major in Life Science, many people were puzzled as I used to under-achieve for Biology, my most feared subject in secondary school. Moreover, I only studied Chemistry and Physics for my ‘A’ levels. Some admired my bravery, while others mocked at my stupidity for not choosing other courses I am good in. Despite all the setbacks and disadvantages, I still chose Biology in my undergraduate studies and have excelled in it as evident from my resume.
With this experience, I have gained the ability to cope with difficulties and overcome my fears in future endeavors. It has allowed me to pursue knowledge out of my comfort zone. Hence, this experience recognizes me as a good role model for students to emulate. My experience also contributes to the Ministry of Education’s desired outcomes of education as it will allow students to see what they can reap by being willing to strive. In addition, this provides them the courage and conviction in facing any adversity in future. Lastly, it cultivates students to maintain continual learning as a lifelong habit.
In every teaching process, learning also takes place. Who says that the teacher never learns, or the student can never teach? We are all together in the same boat on the journey of education.
It was a high counsel whom I had heard given to a young person once, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American philosopher
This quote reflects my strong belief in possessing determination and perseverance in everything I pursue. It helps me to be fearless against any difficulties.
When I decided to pursue a major in Life Science, many people were puzzled as I used to under-achieve for biology, my most feared subject in secondary school. There was even once when my mother got me to kneel in front of the altar for half a day just for failing miserably for biology. My bruised knees ended up with painful sores but she unsympathetically shouted at me: “What the bloody hell is this shit result? You better buck up before I hang you upside down then you know!”. That was the last time when I saw her blood-shot eyes as her reaction scared the daylight out of me. She looked as though she was going to suffer a heart-attack and that scene really broke my heart.
With fears for my mum’s health and the biology subject, I only studied chemistry and physics for my ‘A’ levels. I could have taken biology in ‘A’ levels too as I still managed to scrape a pass in it for ‘O’ levels. However, I told myself that I would never want to see her agitated over my studies ever again.
Despite all the setbacks and disadvantages, I was still determined to choose biology in my undergraduate studies after excelling for all the subjects I took for 'A' levels. Talks and seminars about Life Science inspired me and gave me lots of ideas on what I could possibly achieve from this course. Some admired my bravery, while others mocked my stupidity for not choosing other courses I am good in. However, I persevered and have excelled in it as evident from my resume.
With this experience, I have gained the ability to cope with difficulties and overcome my fears in any endeavors. Perseverance has allowed me to pursue knowledge out of my comfort zone. It has also helped me to serve as a good role model to the others. I hope to be able to demonstrate to students that through this sort of effort, they can reap by being willing to strive. Therefore, students will never be afraid to maintain continual learning as a lifelong habit and have the courage to face any adversity in future.
In every teaching process, learning also takes place. Who says that the teacher never learns, or the student can never teach? We are all together in the same boat on the journey of education.
Second draft
It was a high counsel whom I had heard given to a young person once, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American philosopher
This quote reflects my strong belief in possessing determination and perseverance in everything I pursue. It develops me to be fearless against any difficulties.
When I decided to pursue a major in Life Science, many people were puzzled as I used to under-achieve for Biology, my most feared subject in secondary school. Moreover, I only studied Chemistry and Physics for my ‘A’ levels. Some admired my bravery, while others mocked at my stupidity for not choosing other courses I am good in. Despite all the setbacks and disadvantages, I still chose Biology in my undergraduate studies and have excelled in it as evident from my resume.
With this experience, I have gained the ability to cope with difficulties and overcome my fears in future endeavors. It has allowed me to pursue knowledge out of my comfort zone. Hence, this experience recognizes me as a good role model for students to emulate. My experience also contributes to the Ministry of Education’s desired outcomes of education as it will allow students to see what they can reap by being willing to strive. In addition, this provides them the courage and conviction in facing any adversity in future. Lastly, it cultivates students to maintain continual learning as a lifelong habit.
In every teaching process, learning also takes place. Who says that the teacher never learns, or the student can never teach? We are all together in the same boat on the journey of education.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Application for an Education Officer Position
Job applied:
Education Officer in Ministry of Education, Singapore
Requirements for job:
The Ministry seeks for individuals to be good role models with passion for education, the knowledge to engage students in the learning process, and an inspiration to the students. In addition, as the heart and soul of the class, the teacher must be the pulse that maintains a lively and engaging class. Moreover, the teacher must also prepare the students for challenges in life by nurturing their spirit of innovation and grooming them into all round individuals. In return, teachers will develop and grow both as a person and a professional while they plough and flourish students into future pillars of the nation.
(Reference: http://www.moe.edu.sg/careers/teach/)
Application letter:
Ms. Phua Puay Li
Deputy Director of Human Resource Development
Ministry of Education, Singapore
1 North Buona Vista Drive
Singapore 138675
Dear Ms. Phua,
Re: Application for an Education Officer Position
I am writing in response to your advertisement on the Ministry of Education website. I believe that I can contribute to the ministry as the position requirements and my skills are a perfect match.
I will graduate in July 2010 with a Bachelor of Science with Honours degree in Life Science (Specialisation in Molecular Cell Biology). Since secondary school days, I have yearned to enter the education sector to contribute back to the society for its support in my education. This is because of the inspiration that my teachers have brought onto me and my aspiration to influence the future leaders of the country. As I embark on my teaching stint, I become more fascinated with the satisfaction of teaching. Not only does it give me confidence in interpersonal relationships, I am also impressed by the influence that teachers have on their students. All the attachments to the local schools and private education sector have helped me gain some experience in teaching and management of a class. Moreover, the experience also confirms my passion to teach as a lifelong career.
You asked for a good role model and the heart and soul of a class, and I am one. Despite my hectic schedule as an NUS student, I continue to work as a tutor and also take up relief teaching in schools during the university term breaks. This allows me to continuously be able to engage the students in their learning. Without losing touch with this skill, I am able to keep lessons lively and interactive. From time to time, counseling of the students is inevitable. Therefore, my experience in an EQ workshop provides me the appropriate skills in helping students with family or school problems. Moreover, to groom the students into all-round individuals, I believe that teachers must have all-rounded skills and knowledge to impart to the students. Hence, I trust that my IT skills and professional training will equip me to put in my best when it comes to providing the students with an innovative and fun-learning learning environment.
From the enclosed resume, a DISC personality profile evaluation clearly states that I am an easy-going, lively and patient person. Generally, I am able to get along harmoniously with people. Thus, I believe that I can relate to students in particular and fit well in the education organization.
I would welcome an opportunity to discuss with you on how I could be of service to the ministry. I can be reached at the number and email address indicated in the enclosed resume. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you very much for your kind attention and time taken.
Sincerely,
Education Officer in Ministry of Education, Singapore
Requirements for job:
The Ministry seeks for individuals to be good role models with passion for education, the knowledge to engage students in the learning process, and an inspiration to the students. In addition, as the heart and soul of the class, the teacher must be the pulse that maintains a lively and engaging class. Moreover, the teacher must also prepare the students for challenges in life by nurturing their spirit of innovation and grooming them into all round individuals. In return, teachers will develop and grow both as a person and a professional while they plough and flourish students into future pillars of the nation.
(Reference: http://www.moe.edu.sg/careers/teach/)
Application letter:
Block 344
Choa Chu Kang Loop
#11-51
Singapore 680344
September 4, 2009
Ms. Phua Puay Li
Deputy Director of Human Resource Development
Ministry of Education, Singapore
1 North Buona Vista Drive
Singapore 138675
Dear Ms. Phua,
Re: Application for an Education Officer Position
I am writing in response to your advertisement on the Ministry of Education website. I believe that I can contribute to the ministry as the position requirements and my skills are a perfect match.
I will graduate in July 2010 with a Bachelor of Science with Honours degree in Life Science (Specialisation in Molecular Cell Biology). Since secondary school days, I have yearned to enter the education sector to contribute back to the society for its support in my education. This is because of the inspiration that my teachers have brought onto me and my aspiration to influence the future leaders of the country. As I embark on my teaching stint, I become more fascinated with the satisfaction of teaching. Not only does it give me confidence in interpersonal relationships, I am also impressed by the influence that teachers have on their students. All the attachments to the local schools and private education sector have helped me gain some experience in teaching and management of a class. Moreover, the experience also confirms my passion to teach as a lifelong career.
You asked for a good role model and the heart and soul of a class, and I am one. Despite my hectic schedule as an NUS student, I continue to work as a tutor and also take up relief teaching in schools during the university term breaks. This allows me to continuously be able to engage the students in their learning. Without losing touch with this skill, I am able to keep lessons lively and interactive. From time to time, counseling of the students is inevitable. Therefore, my experience in an EQ workshop provides me the appropriate skills in helping students with family or school problems. Moreover, to groom the students into all-round individuals, I believe that teachers must have all-rounded skills and knowledge to impart to the students. Hence, I trust that my IT skills and professional training will equip me to put in my best when it comes to providing the students with an innovative and fun-learning learning environment.
From the enclosed resume, a DISC personality profile evaluation clearly states that I am an easy-going, lively and patient person. Generally, I am able to get along harmoniously with people. Thus, I believe that I can relate to students in particular and fit well in the education organization.
I would welcome an opportunity to discuss with you on how I could be of service to the ministry. I can be reached at the number and email address indicated in the enclosed resume. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you very much for your kind attention and time taken.
Sincerely,
Yow Ying Ming, Ivan
Enclosure: Resume
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