Assalamualaikum... Good day everybody! Muslims all over the world celebrated our New Year (according to the Islamic calendar) yesterday (Sunday), therefore, today, a Monday, is a public holiday. Yippie!!! What's in store? A recipe? Nope! Check out the title...'Ikan Kembung' (in Bahasa Melayu) & in English it's 'Indian Mackerel' and the scientific name for that fish is Rastrelliger Kanagrata (I hope I got the spelling correct).  I've been very busy juggling my time from home to office, from office to taking care of my mom but I'm grateful that I still have a very strong will to continue blogging for my own leisure (and of course some familiar followers). This entry is just to share with you a story that my ustaz (religious teacher), Ustaz Dato' Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, used to tell me (and the rest in the class) back in college - Universiti Teknologi Mara or formerly known Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM), Jengka, Pahang branch. I was very young back then -- very naughty -- all I cared about was to pursue a diploma as a stepping stone to get enrolled in a university to pursue my first Degree. ITM Jengka was very boring (maybe still is), it's located in a very remote area and the only entertainment available was the 'pasar malam' (the night market). I went through 2 boring years with only reading (ITM library was wonderful), practicing on my typing and shorthand speed, tennis, and I used to go home fortnightly. Sometimes we were allowed to go home only once a month, therefore, I had to make do with what ever available there to keep me going and keep my spirit alive... One thing, though, I'd say, ustaz Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man classes were one of the best things that ever happened during my diploma years. I will always remember his 'Ikan Kembung' story. I've passed down the story to my children (my sons) and today, I'd like to share this story with you ... Ustaz Tuan Ibrahim used to say "Don't be like the fried Ikan Kembung" -- Fishes live in the sea among their respective family. The matured ones will protect the young ones from danger. Fishermen are considered dangerous to fish (Alright, save your comment if you think that this story is a little childish!) So, there was this one particular fish (at his teens) that was very determined, highly adventurous. Despite of all the guidance given by his mom (mama fish LOL), he decided to swim far astray from his family and explore the world. Unfotunately, he got caught in one of those fish nets owned by some fisherman. Along with other marine lives, that young Ikan Kembung was brought to the wet market. Came one woman, and just like any other woman in the market, bought him for lunch. She took that stubborn and 'adventurous' Ikan Kembung home...Cut its belly open, ripped off each and every internal organs, washed it, and then slashed its meat to get it ready for the next step - marinate!  Marinate ingredient - salt and turmeric. Salt and turmeric rubbed on to the wound! Lastly, the fish is fried. While the Ikan Kembung was being fried , the fish thought to himself -- "If only I listened to my mom, I would never have got into this trouble, being caught, cut opened, ripped and slashed, marinated / wound rubbed with salt and lastly fried in this deep hot boiling oil and served"... Imagine that...imagine being the fish...IMAGINE THE PAIN! The point is, Ustaz Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man managed to leave an impact in my heart. After listening to his Ikan Kembung story, I left the class thinking about myself and the rest of the Muslims in the world (at least, my world)... I believe that the 'Ikan Kembung' character was used to symbolize stubborn youngsters -- school dropout or some teenagers who get into trouble, commit sins, and end up in H.E.L.L. = hell! The place where regrets carry zero value! Anyway, different people will perceive this story differently...As for me, I'll always remember my ustaz's message / the moral of the story -- "DON'T BE LIKE THE FRIED IKAN KEMBUNG"...Insya Allah *Years later, Walt Disney came up with the animated movie NEMO :p |
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Ikan Kembung Story
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
LATEST PROJECT
GOOD DAY EVERYBODY!!! 
Here's my latest project... I'm going to start giving TUITION (ENGLISH ONLY). I've not distributed the flyer yet, thought of asking for your opinion if I should add any more information on the flyer... It's not going to be the typical local English tuition class...It's designed especially for my sons and children in my neighborhood. I'll implement FUN LEARNING and we'll start off with vocabulary enrichment. The children won't even realize that they are actually learning because, all they do is play and work on their 'Language Projects'...The complete course is going to take 9 months, beginning in mid November 2011 (Insya Allah). Why 9 months??? BECAUSE Malaysia is an 'exam-oriented' country and most of the major exams are held in September. Therefore, if I start by mid-November, the children will have 9 months of rapid English Learning activities before September 2012 and sitting for the exam will be just as easy as one-two-three. Most of the children are having problem especially in 'speaking' and 'writing' in English. This is the result of 'lack vocabulary' - and I'd like to help them...
Other than that, English is very important all across the world. I'm qualified to teach the language, many neighbors called me and asked if I can teach their children since the past 4 years or so. Since then, I took quite a while to do some research and work to design a program to suit those children (including mine). Alhamdulillah, I finally have the courage and confidence to start the class. To begin with, I'll have to tune myself down and adopt 'language teaching for children' because I'm so used to teaching 'young adults' at the college. On the monetary note, it's not that lucrative but I'm sure this program will help the children a lot and that is enough to give me self satisfaction :)PENDAFTARAN RM10 SAHAJA |
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- Belajar sambil bermain / Fun Learning
- Kombinasi Skill Bertutur, Menulis, Membaca dan Mendengar
- Memperkayakan jumlah perkataan / Vocabulary Enrichment
- Keutamaan kepada Kemahiran Bertutur / Speaking Skill
- Keutamaan kepada Kemahiran Menulis / Writing Skill
- Mempertingkatkan keyakinan untuk ‘Pengucapan Awam’ / Public Speaking SKill
- Pembelajaran berdasarkan projek / Project-base Learning
- Kandungan pelajaran turut disesuaikan juga dengan kandungan pelajaran di sekolah tempatan.
- Panduan menyelesaikan ‘kerja sekolah’ Bahasa Inggeris.
- HANYA 10 ORANG PELAJAR SAHAJA AKAN DITERIMA BAGI SETIAP KUMPULAN UMUR SUPAYA TUMPUAN SEPENUHNYA DAPAT DIBERIKAN.
- BAKAL CALON P.M.R. DAN S.P.M. JUGA DITERIMA
- KELAS Malaysian Universiti English Test (MUET) juga ada.
PROGRAM 9 BULAN YANG UNIK BAGI ANAK-ANAK ANDA
PENGENDALIAN KELAS:
KEKERAPAN : 3 KALI SEMINGGU
TEMPOH : 1 JAM SETIAP SESSI
WAKTU : 9 MALAM
HARI : (AKAN DIBERITAHU KEMUDIAN)
TARIKH MULA : 15hb NOVEMBER 2011
TEMPAT : TADIKA AMAN SURIA
UNTUK PENDAFTARAN & KETERANGAN LANJUT, SILA HUBUNGI:
ROSZALINA ABDUL RAHIM (lebih dikenali sebagai Nai)
di talian 019-4802400
In the meantime, I just pray that this program will be successful ... Amin...
Communication requires a sophisticated degree of empathy. In order to communicate effectively you need to be able to understand the other person's affective and cognitive states - H. Douglas Brown
Thursday, October 27, 2011
WRITING
`Abdur Razzaq told us after Mu’amir after Ayyub after Abu Qulabah as saying: Luqman was once asked: Who is the best one in terms of patience? He said: It is the one who practices no harm after observing patience. Those who asked him said: Who is the best one in terms of knowledge? He said: It is he who adds to his own knowledge through the knowledge of others. They asked: Who is the best from among the whole people? He said: It is the wealthy. They said: Is it the one who has properties and riches? He said: No! But, it is the one if whose good was sought, he would not hold it back or prevent it. And, it is the one who does not need anything from others
~ Luqman on patience, knowledge, and goodness
I fell asleep quite early, slightly after 9 p.m. while surfing the internet. Woke up again at around 12, performed some prayers, my body is still aching, so I applied some more deep-heat-rub-cream. The pain is killing me, failed to sleep, therefore, I woke up, made myself a cuppa hot chocolate and start writing this entry. Why did I choose 'writing'? Don't go away yet, this is very important...please continue reading...I'm going to share with you some tiny-winy knowledge on 'Writing' as one form of WRITTEN COMMUNICATION. This entry will share some info on the advantages of 'Written Communication' such as records, references and legal defenses in the context of language teaching.
Firstly, writing enables us to keep RECORDS of what we do (probably on daily / weekly basis). Writing on blogs and Facebook are among the few popular ways of records. Some treat blogging and facebook-ing (there isn't such word - just a jargon) as a way of keeping a diary. I know! I know! 'Diary' is SO yesterday! But keeping a diary can do wonders! I had breakfast with some very important colleagues this morning (or yesterday morning...Gosh! I'm so confused with the time) ...As usual, language teachers are normally enthusiastic -- so many things to do in SO LITTLE TIME! We talked a little on teaching plans and I went "Yeah! You got so many ideas there but you can't even write a proposal" and their respond is common -- "We have so many things in mind but we have no time to write, but it's recorded in a voice recorder"...and I thought to myself, that's quite good but THAT has to be transcribed (from voice to written work)...Written communication has to take place so that everything can be recorded on paper...otherwise, things will just be gone with the wind.
Secondly, what ever that is written can work as 'REFERENCES'. Don't belittle your own effort of delivering knowledge. There's always something for people to learn from no matter how small your effort is. Just get it written on papers properly. Just write! And some day, some where, there'll be people coming to you for references and voila! A good deed is done! Remember, Allah sees everything... Good references will change other people's life...How? Through many ways...expansion of ideas, contribution of ideas for a research or something, teaching ideas, or even setting up a good example to others...Inspire other people to replicate your research...etc. You have to start small first. You'll be surprised at how big your small notes will help you produce mega researches... (at least, that's what my lecturers used to tell me and it's proven).
Thirdly - DEFENSES. This does not only apply to language teachers. It applies to everybody in every field. Written communication provides defenses in so many ways like the 'purchase receipt', 'invoice', 'bookkeeping', 'attendance record', 'medical certificate', etc. As for us, language teachers - our teaching record or the least we can do is our 'self reflection journal' can help us defend the method of teaching we choose to adopt.
To conclude, I'm not trying to be smart here...I'm not seriously writing either...This is just a reminder for myself...I don't know if this entry makes any sense to you or not but the point is - Educators must write! It's a 'record', a form of 'reference' and can be used as a 'defense' when need be. How do you think people gets professorship? BECAUSE they profess! AND they write! Look at Rasulullah p.b.u.h. He professed the Islamic religion values through two main ways ~ the hadiths and all his sunnah which were recorded by his wife, his friends and other imams after him. Think about that! We have to start somewhere...and TO GO UP, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIRST GO DOWN...Start small, read a lot, make small notes, and end up with major research...Write them down, because...
TALK IS CHEAP, JUST GET UP, TAKE ACTION, WRITE & RECORD EVERYTHING!
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