WEEK 15

Now, it comes to the real role-play. After practiced 3 to 4 day with full time, we now have to show our performance in reality in front of unexpected audiences. Luckily, my team and I did well in our show. Besides, we’re not expecting that the audiences will give a big clap to us. Then, I know everyone is entertained by our performance. My feeling on that time is like can’t be described by words. But, I can’t deny how happy that me when all of our effort requited with marvelous reaction from the audiences. I’M STILL NOT FORGET TO MY LOVELY LECTURER, MISS SYIDA. Thank you for your support, your advice and thanks because you are satisfy with our performance and you are so pleasure to watch it. Lastly, thanks to everyone who give me a sweet memory that I’ll never forget in my whole life. Thanks a lot !!!

WEEK 14

Miss Syida had given us assessment task 5 as the last assignment for this subject. It is a 30-40 minute role-play based on one of the selected short stories that we have learned. We decided to choose a story which is “Tragedy of My Third Eye” written by Suchen Christine Lim. There are 10 members in my group and everybody has their own roles such as director, script writer, prop manager, treasurer, stage manager, make-up artist and technician. I, myself become a script writer together with my friend, Liyana. Both of us have to keep use our brain to make changes from time to time till everyone satisfy with our work. Writing script for me is the essential part in any role-play because anyone who is in-charge under this task has to start their part first. When everyone accepts it, the rehearsal can begin anytime. Conversely, the rehearsal can’t begin without a complete dialogue. Alongside, it will affect the whole of role-play whether it strong enough or not to attract many audience to watch our role-play.

WEEK 13

Raya for this year is very early not as the last raya. The length of raya’s holiday is only one week. So short. Instead of a very short time, a lot of homework and assignment had burdened me. This becomes a factor that reduced my desire to celebrate “Hari Raya Aidilfitri” with full heart. The routine that I do from dawn to dusk in first day of raya is closely similar to the past and the past such as perform ‘Solat Sunat Raya’, having ‘kuih raya’, get forgiveness from my parent, family, visit relative, old friend and that’s it. I’m sure all of us as a Muslim will do the same thing as what I’ve done.

Though my heart not in calmness, but it compulsory for me to include cookies, cake, ketupat nasi, rending, tapai to fulfill the content of kuih raya that I wish while the fasting month had started. Before doing anything, fresh orange juice or a glass of fresh milk should be with me. So, I will not regret if I cannot reach any glass of drinking water for the whole raya’s day. That the consequent of when that day become the busiest day than any day in a year.

The essential thing in raya’s day is what children like most. The ‘duit raya’. I didn’t really hope that I’ll get so much ‘duit raya’ for every raya since I was studied at secondary school. But, since the givers are sincerely to give their little or big amount of money as a contribution to me, then it’s ok. If don’t, I’m also not ok with that and it just to show how generous are the givers. Anyway, raya festive open 100% chances to me to eat any delicious food, savouri, desert and the colorful of the assorted cookies, to ask forgiveness, to see long-lost relative and also friend as well as to throw away the sadness by looking at the new ‘baju raya’.

WEEK 12

The film of the “ Color Purple ” seems to share a same theme with the short story “Mala”. The theme of the two stories is refers to sexual abuse towards women. At the beginning of the film, Cellie gave birth to her second child, a boy, as a result of her father that raped her. Further, Cellie’s young sister, Nettie also had been raped by Albert that is Cellie’s husband without her will. Both Cellie and Nettie are the victims of this sexual abuse.
Besides, men have a tendency to treat women like a slave. It can be proved by how Albert had made his wife to do the house chores. After their marriage, Albert gives a hardwork to her. For example, she has to clean their house surrounding, inside till outside, cooking and also taking care all of his children. It seems that Albert can’t live without Cellie. He even can’t find his socks and pick a suitable neck tie. He doesn’t know anything. She is asked to do the all the housework for all time and she is not allowed to get a rest although a few second only. Similar to Mala, she has to work for her husband at home as a housewife and at office as a secretary. She has to treat her husband’s client and that make her uncomfortable. She hates to wear make-up but she knows she is in her husband’s hand. She can’t do nothing about that. From the characterization that had been portrayed in two stories, I’m really respecting them because they are multi-tusking women.

WEEK 11

“Mala” written by K.S. Maniam is a story of woman’s role in society. In Indian society, woman is looked as a slave and has the lowest position in their hierarchy. Mala herself is the main character and her character give an overview to the reader that woman is not able to make their decision in something.
In addition, men are always underestimate women’s ability and they never care about women’s feeling. I’m sure men believe women either robot or some static object. As example, Mala’s husband, Sanker is very wicked. He does not allow his wife to pregnant. It is proved when Sanker had taken Mala to a doctor and permitted the doctor to put some metal inside her to avoid her from pregnant. She can’t voice out her dream to have her own children by comparing with other Indian women. Although Sanker act badly, she didn’t rebel and still believe that her husband is everything. Actually, she married Sanker to get freedom but she had taken the unlucky step. She exited the tiger’s mouth but then she enters the lion’s mouth again. Means she’s in cage again.
At the end, her life remains the same because she doesn’t have any choice. If she run away from her husband, she cannot run back home too. She always lives as a prisoner although it’s in home. The way she was treated is troubled her for the rest of her life.

WEEK 10

The ‘Tragedy of My Third Eye’ written by Suchen Christine Lim is the most difficult and hardest story regarding to my reading. To sum up the story is Ping, the six years old girl had suffered so much although she still young, immature and inexperienced to face any hardship. Her fate is not as lucky as the other children at the same age of her. At first, she lived with her grandmother happily but things turn out differently after she live with her mother. Besides, her mother tortured her like she is not her daughter and its more to the outsider. Her mother cannot stand to know that she live happily and comfortably with her grandmother till she took Ping to her home.

Further, Ping's mother is very cruel towards her. She treated Ping harshly by always scolding her without cares of Ping's feeling. Ping have to study at school and her teacher always call her 'stupido' because she is not able to be an excellent student in their school. Ping gain trouble not only at home but at school, she have to face a very bias teacher and an arrogant student that is Linda. Inspite of she had been bullied by Linda and humiliated by Linda's father when he spit towards her, the other problem come one by one. Then, the action that had taken by Linda's father is totally unacceptable because as a grown-up man,he supposedly act like an adult that think first before take action. Also same thing with her mother that never behave as a mother and doing her responsibility to her daughter.

In fact of she is a daughter of prostitute, she get a bad luck for the rest of her life. In my point of view, it is unfair after all the predicament, she had accepted a lot of problem at a very young age and still happen again and again. Hence, third eye is a mirror that reflect another prospective of our life. What we saw with our own eyes, cannot be described using words. Sometimes, words don't have power to tell the pain inside the chest. Everyone has the third eyes to keep the secret or memories that we had gone through from the past.

WEEK 9

During the class session, all of us had made a presentation in each elements of the story. We are focusing on the differences between the short story, The Interview and the film of " Empire of the Sun". Each group turn to present one or two element of the story according to that short story and film. My group had chosen theme and setting.

What I found really interest in the elements of the story are only two. They are for symbolism and resolution. Starting with "The Interview", some of it's symbolisms are Japanese bow that represent the culture, shake hands show friendship, prison for suffering and watch to give view of time.

Additionally, in " Empire of the Sun" the sun can be seen clearly and regularly that portrayed Japan's flag. Any other symbolism are empire defined as power, car for wealth, sun glases is spirit and the last is the journey for the boy's life.

Furthermore, Empire of the Sun have closed ending in resolution part. For example, "He finally met his parent after the war end". In contrast, The Interview gave me as a reader the open ending. For instance, we did not expect that Hiro was the one that have been executed.

WEEK 8

The Interview is the third short story. It is all about a friendship between people who different culture that can become a friend although in the war situation. It begin when Mason become a defense and Hiro become the interrogator. Although Hiro is Japanese, he can speak English and thus it make their relationship become more tight. Mason and Hiro surely come from different background and both of them had to perform duties towards their own country. But, they really appreciate their friendship after willing to sacrifice their life more than anything. Everyone has their own selfishness but he kills that kind of feeling. For me, it is a big sacrifice for Hiro to his beloved friend to betrayed Japanese army by letting Mason free from the execution. After that, Hiro was punished as the same punishment that is going to get. The sacrifice that he did, only put him to end of his life. By keeping Mason's secret, he was executed at the end. Anyway, their friendship is everything. Hiro already knew about the effect. However, he doesn't afraid of it. This story will teach the reader commonly and myself aspecially of the true meaning of friendship beyond barrier.

WEEK 7

Semester Break. I went home at Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. I just bring along my laptop and my novel, A Walk To Remember. I had deciced to choose and use this novel for assessment task 4 that required me to review a book. I admit that I never read this novel although I really like it. My interest increase dramatically right after I watched its movie starred by Teen Idol, Mandy Moore and pop star, Shane West. I already started to read it two days before the holiday begin. Instead of start to read it, I realized that I have to make a preparation for further assessment to avoid any clash between any other subject. While I was at home, I used all of my holiday's time to finish it up. After read it all, I found a lot of differences between the novel and the movie. This movie is just based on the novel not adaptation from its original story. From my opinion, the words "based on" and "adaptation" are trully different. What I think is based on is the director going to use certain part of the true story which interesting and beautiful and he or she going to edit several part of it. For adaptation, the person who in charge with script of the story will use all the content of the real ones. Hopefully, it is accepted by everybody. Back to the novel, the writer is Nicholas Sparks. He writes the novel based on his own experience. he dedicated his work to his sister that died because of the chronic illness similar to what had been storied in the novel. And his work is really awesome!

WEEK 6

This week, my classmates and I had gone through the whole week with discussion in our class together with Miss Syida. Our discussion is all about second short story that is "Mariah". "Mariah" is written by Che Husna Azhari. This story is very close to the polygamy tradition as it was portrayed very well in it. In this short story, the Imam married his second wife, Mariah, who is a widow. The marriage can help to protect Mariah that live alone. If Mariah meet with any kind of trouble, she has someone to accompany her rather than she face it alone.

Besides, the Imam is the only choice that suit Mariah's heart and desirability. However, I really dislike this story by the way of the Imam plan for another marriage. I'm sure that the word "marriage" only cross his mind without any strong purpose. Its doesn't make sense when the Imam decide to get Mariah to be his property after accidently saw Mariah's faces that similar to his ex-girlfriend. In addition, the Imam simply ask his first wife, Cik Yam, a permission in a romantic ways in order to make her blind of his persuasion.

Although Cik Yam seems to be willing to sacrifice for her husband to allow him marry again, but I know from the bottom of her heart, she cry silently. Then, her heart was broken slowly and she suffer a lot. Nevertheless, the Imam never think of Cik Yam's feeling whether she sincerely to be first wife or just do that to make him happy. The Imam can be considered as very selfish to fulfill his own wishes.

WEEK 5

This is week 5. Overall, all of us were exposed to the elements of the stories in Learning Class. Elements of the stories contain plot, character, characterization, setting, theme, POV, symbolism and irony. Some of the elements already known by me. Actually, I don't remember how to locate some idea to put it under symbolism and irony too. What I can define each element start with plot, is a sequence of actions or events which involves the characters in conflict. The basic components of plot are exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. Climax or conflict, I think it is the most important part of every story since it was in the highest level on the plot hierarchy. This part going to tell the reader how attractive, how interesting, how fascinating or how bored that every story. Second, character can be the human, animals, or fantasized beings that are created by the author to act within a story for the author’s purpose. Character has been divided into two. Such as protagonist and antagonist. Characters have round, dynamic, flat and static character and also can be two of it. It is both round and dynamic, round and static or flat and static. Afterwards, characterization can be clarified as the methods used by the author to create or reveal the characters in a story. Ordinary methods are by what character says or thinks, does, and what other characters say about the character. After that, setting is the place where and when the story takes place. Then, theme is the central idea or central message of the story. It indicates the fundamental ideas around which the author was writing. Moreover, POV is the prospective from which the story told. It consists of three third person. Likewise, symbolism is a symbol represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than itself. Lastly, irony is a device that develops meaning by putting together seemingly contrasting concepts or ideas. It is when we expect one thing but the opposite occurs. Irony occurs when there is a different between what is stated or believed, and what actually the truth is.

WEEK 4

Miss Syida gives brief explanation about History of Malaysian. Literature in Malaysia has several types such as legends, folktales, short stories, novels and poems. Legends are very close to historical which folktales tell about the nature, animals and moral values. Short stories and folktales are quite similar with each other, in order to give the reader some valuable moral value. Novels can be categorized in love, anthology, historical, or fiction. In addition, poem is piece of writing but it can be very compact, meaningful, and touching. There is 3 generation of literature writers in this country. Firstly, those who are above sixty. Secondly, for those who age between forty-five and sixty and lastly, those between thirty and forty-five. First generation is vividly remembered the era of the Second World War. They can be classifying as the golden group that rich with experienced. Then, second generation, the group of people that experienced the situation and condition through reading and listening to their parent stories. Third generation who are still too young. They’re not care much about the Colonial Era. The way of their writing is more to free writing and focusing on their surrounding. Other than reading short stories, we had been asked by our lecturer to watch a movie. The title is “Empire of the Sun”. This film conveys the situation in war. It takes place in Shanghai, China and the main character is a boy name Jamie. Jamie was there with his family, as his father work at this city. Japan conquered China and at the same time their family had to runaway from this war situation. At that time, Jamie was separated from his family and his new challenging life was begun. He must watch many kind of people that come from different background and personality. He had been through a long journey and experience many king of things. For instant, he had been sent to one terrible place with no enough food, drink, medicine and spaces to sleep. Everyday, he watched people die in terrible ways in front of his eyes. Meanwhile, he gets a new friend that is the son of the Japanese army. That’s help him a lot from being so lonely. He such a clever boy because he has the ability to communicate, understands and make friend with Japanese in order to survive. At last, Japan has lost in their war and Jamie found back his family in a dramatic scene.

WEEK 3

It's quite hard to start again any activity or action that we left for a few days. I've to finish 'Bugis' until the end to get to know the idea of what the writer really want to tell. In addition, I've to do the reading to reach my target and cover the whole short stories. So, I help myself with listening to my favourite song which is Mandarin Song while continue the reading until the sixth short stories, Victoria and Her Kimono by M.Shanmughalingam. Along the path of the reading, I found that I'm the one who can't get the point in first reading. I'm always keep telling myself to have a second time of reading. Hence, I stop the reading at the middle to go back to the past. Besides re-read them, I've asked my friend about what she understand to avoid misunderstanding of the real idea of every stories.

WEEK 2

Before I open the Reading Book, I'm very sure that I can finish to read it at least 3 days, but I was totally wrong. I judged the book by looking at its physical. It was so thin from outside. This time, I open and read the introduction. First time to read, I don't know nothing. What is this? I asked myself. As I know, I'm the one who also interest in "Literature", but really hard to fall in love with any literature sources before I'm able to see how interesting that the writing is. However, I become clearer than a few second before. It's all about the history of Malaysian Literature. After finish the first part of the book, I turned to second part. The second part and the last part is the short stories itself. It contain 12 short stories, begin with " Bugis". Bugis was written by Alfian Sa'at. While I just reach the fifth paragraph, I became sleepy.

WEEK 1

Miss Syida comes to class quite late. She is my General English 2 lecturer. It's nothing actually. She told us that her schedule was so full. It's same thing happen to us. Our schedule was so tight. What happen? I'm really curious about how can our schedule gonna change so much from what we faced last semester. I think it's not our norm. That's what we feel on that day. Miss Syida just keep teaching us something and its not too much as the first day of meeting with her on this subject. Our first day begin as usual without any ice breaking activity. I believe that its not necessary because I already known her and my new friend may just ask me or the others if they want to. I also don't really like ice breaking. It's just part of exchange our name and experience. I'm sure we don't need to do it
formally. Miss Syida continue her talking to give preview about GE 2 and the assessment. Our first task is journal entries that I did now. It will be continue until week 15. Together with that, we need to finish all short stories consist of Malaysian Short Stories in Reading Book. She won't be here for a few week, so that's the homework.

LET READ ME>>>>>>>>>>

Assalamualaikum or hi to everybody.

Let's ' read my column softly.

Hopefully, anyone can give me a comment or much more comment to improve this site.

THANKS