English Holiday Assignment 3

Which aspects of your education do you think will be most useful to you in adult life?

The process of education during out teenage years is very important as it prepares us to meet the future challenges that we may face in life. Therefore, we must take our education seriously from the very beginning. There are various aspects of education that we all go through: academic, co-curriculum activities that develop our talents and character through leadership roles in the school. In my opinion, character building is the most important, followed by academic and lastly developing talent.

Firstly, education enables us to develop our character. When we have developed perseverance, we can face problems objectively and overcome failures. It also teaches us how to manage our time properly and to be optimistic about life in general. Without perseverance, we tend to give up when there are problems, therefore we would be unable to accomplish our goals for the future. We also cannot socialize well due to the lack of self-confidence and discipline; hence our career and social life will be affected. An example of this is my uncle who is an introvert, who does not have good social skills. He has little confidence in himself and takes life as it comes, without fighting his goals. Therefore, he is always pessimistic, and gives up easily when he faces challenges.

Secondly, education provides us with academic qualifications to be gainfully employed. Academic qualifications include university degrees and doctorates. With these qualifications, remuneration could be substantial. They will be able to lead a comfortable life. When they have earned a fortune, they will have the time to relax and enjoy the finer things in life, like attending musicals, appreciating the arts and collecting paintings. They will also able to travel around the world. An ex-classmate of mine, whose father is a Chief Executive Officer in a shipping company, spends his leisure playing golf and going to various cities to attend rock concerts.

Thirdly, education helps us to discover our talents through co-curriculum activities. One can discover, develop and pursue his passion to the point that it becomes his job. Such people are fortunate as their interest is their means of making a living. They will then be fulfilled people as they are doing what they enjoy. An artist who loves to paint is able to earn enough for him, and also feel satisfied. The talents that you acquire as we pursue our education can be a form of relaxation and enjoyment. When one feels tensed, he can use his flair to unwind.

All aspects of education are important. The bonds that we have with our teachers and classmates are valuable experiences in our life's journeys. When we grow older, these aspects of education will become contributions to our fulfilling and sustainable livelihood.

Oral Techniques 2

PICTURE DISCRIPTION VS PICTURE DISCUSSION
- one-way communication - Two-way communication

1. During the preparation time given, take note:

- location

- actions

- feelings/facial expression

- anything unusual

- engage in PEP (place, event, people) as starting point

- 5W 1H (why, who, what, where, when, how)

2. use PRESENT TENSE

3. use NON-DEFINITE words >> not absolutly certain that what you're describing is true?

4. use METHOD approach of describing (anticlockwise -> clockwise) as starting point

5. try to SAY as much as possible before examiner prompts

Oral Techniques

Organise thoughts and information
- What does the picture shows?
- When and where was the picture taken?
- What details can I include to enrich my description?
- What else can I infer from the picture?

Explain and interpret picture
- Make sense of picture as best as possible
- What is happening in the picture?
- Why are people and things appearing like that in the picture?
- What is the occasion?
- What is the linkage between people and things?
- Do not give one word answer after examiner prompts
- Refer to specific details in the picture to explain why

Interpret picture
- Do not talk just about what you see in the picture
- Make intelligent guesses (or infer) about what caused this situation, what people involved are thinking about, what might happen next...
- Go beyond what you see in the picture (general knowledge of the situation - only a little)
- Support inference with specific facts from the picture

Vary sentence length
- Use variety of sentence lengths
- Simple sentences "Two children are watching the robot" are good starting for picture discussion
- Use complex sentence as proceed in discussion "Boy seems fascinated by the robot as its head is tilted to one side"

Tense and verbs
- Use present tense
- Use modal verbs to express how certain you are to something (must, ought to, shall, will, might, may, could, would)

Connectors
- Organise thoguhts and ideas using connectors

~ To introduce comments >> certainly, naturally, obviously, really, surely
~ To add a point >> futhermore, besides, moreover, I mean
~ Acknowledge different points >> anyway, despite, nevertheless, in spite of
~ Show consequences >> as a result, so, thus, therefore, hence
~ To contradict >> actually, on the contrary, in fact
~ To show contrast >> but, instead, rather, on one hand
~ To hypothesise >> as if, as thoguh, suppose
~ To enumerate (to mention separately as if in counting) >> firstly, secondly, lastly, then
~ To infer >> in other words, so, then, in that case

English Holiday Assignment 2

Write about some of the things that make you happy and relaxed at the end of a school day.

Queenstown Secondary School has definitely enriched my life for the past four years. I made many admirable friends and have learnt numerous values that has helped in my journey through secondary school life. School has enabled me to experience bountiful pleasures and tribulations. School life has been tough for me, especially during examinations and holding responsibilities, nevertheless, there are some things that make me feel on cloud nine and reposed at the end of a school day.

After a taxing day of school, my friends and I would sit at the nearby cafe outside the school and gossip about matters that happened to each of us recently. Although we know that gossiping is not good, we are able to release our emotions, therefore allowing us to feel much better as we pour out our feelings. At times, my friends will give practical and useful advices which made me feel tranquilized. We will also go to the "Singapore Children's Society" cabin to watch some movies and enjoy ourselves. The helpers in the cabin are very companionable as they chat with us and make us feel more at home.

My co-curriculum activity is choir. I have a great passion for singing, and this is also another way in which I am able to express my thoughts and feelings for school. During choir warm-ups and sectionals, we will get very serious about the session, and sometimes it is hard for us to handle. However, during break times, all of us would crowd around the pianist and sing carefree songs to unwind. Everyone often looked forward to break time.

Often every Friday after school, my clique will hang out together and head to various shopping mall for window shopping. It is absolutely a retail therapy for us looking for sales items. When we get a good bargain, it is happiness. After our shopping spree, we will adjourn to a bistro for a cup of tea and cakes. Occasionally, we would do some weekend homework and share notes with one another. Being with my amiable friends helps enlighten my mood as the week comes to an end.

As I will be sitting for a major examination at the end of this year, I have lesser time to spend with my friends. Therefore, to distress myself, I will turn on my radio player and listen to classical and instrumental music to calm my mind. I will also take a stroll at the neighboring park, enjoying the breeze and blooms that captivate my eyes. Comedies are undoubtedly stress-busters, and I frequently watch them. As they say, humor and laughter are great remedies for stress!

Watching babies laugh and feeling jubilant enables me to feel light-hearted. I have an affectionate neighbor who has a little chubby kid name Dave. He is very active. Whenever I return back from school, I will see him running around clumsily and doing hilarious stunts around the void deck. This sight lightens my spirit from the heavy and exhausted feeling of school work.

These are the factors which help me to be satisfied with my life no matter how many difficulties befall on me. It is because of friends, people around me, nature, music and interest that make me feel contented with my life, even at the end of a weary day of school.

English Holiday Assignment 1

'It is more important to enjoy your job than earn a lot of money.' Does this statement hold true for you?

When we decide on an occupation, we got to be dedicated to it for a long period of time. The reason for working are as the person, but we all work because we obtain something we need in work. The something we obtain from work impacts our morale and motivation and the quality of our lives. Every individual has their own mindset and goals to fulfil, some people work due to enjoyment, and others work for personal fulfillment, like monetary.

It is very essential to enjoy our career as one will be more devoted and zealous to their vocation. As work starts early daily, if we enjoy your work, we will anticipate to go, instead of dreading over it. An occupation is an important part of our lives, and it is long term. Without interest in work, we will not be able to be committed to work, therefore work productivity will be low. People who put their heart and soul into their desired occupation will lead a more fulfilling life than those who do not delight in their job.

For example, Mother Teresa, who dedicated her entire life to care for the sick people in Calcutta, never did it for money. She did it with all her love instead. Some others love do volunteer services in hospital, childcare centres and charity organisations as they are willing to help out.

As the society demand increases, and standard of living rises, people desire a high paying job to sustain their family and themselves. Some may be the sole breadwinner of the family, thus in order to provide a better life for their family, they seek for money than for enjoyment in jobs. Some people have the mentality that if they work a high paying job, they are able to retire and enjoy life early as they have earned enough money to manage for the rest of their lives. Majority of the people work to pay off utility bills, and other charges. With out money one can not succeed in life, in relation ships and socially. In order to obtain all basic necessities of life a person tries to find a job or starts a business to become richer in order to get food, water, electricity, shelter etc and be respected in society and be accepted by all.

Working for money also causes one to have little time for his family. For instance, my uncle is a delivery man and has to work long hours to earn enough money to support his family. He does not enjoy delivering goods, but he does not have a choice. Due to the fact that he has to work long hours, he lost a lot of time together with his family. His children do not have a close relationship with him.

In the process of earning money, one should enjoy doing what they have interest in. To earn sufficient amount of money and enjoy good quality of life is more important than a stressful working life earning a lot of money. In my opinion, it is more significant to enjoy my job than earn a lot of money. Money is not everything to me because money cannot buy happiness, satisfaction and love. As long as i take pleasure in my job, I have achieved my goals.

A very special day...

HAPPY FATHERS' DAY!

YAY! Daddy, it's fathers' day once again..
This year i didn't get you chocolate already [: HAHA!
Every year get chocolate not good, and to be fair, i also made you something WOODY!
Like mummy's mothers' day present! (:

TADAAAAAAA!

Butterfly Fly Away - Miley Cyrus & Billy Ray Cyrus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkuIEisTFa4

This song describes the effort you put in for the family ;D

Now, here's a poem for you!

A Little Girl Needs Daddy
A little girl needs Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding her high off the ground
Where the sunlight sings!
Like being the deep music
That tells her all is right
When she awakens frantic with
The terrors of the night.
Like being the great mountain
That rises in her heart
And shows her how she might get home
When all else falls apart.
Like giving her the love
That is her sea and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
She'll always find him there.
-Anonymous-

DADDY!

WE LOVE YOU!