The Jungle Book : Synopsis.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Hi everyone, good morning. In the last entry, *well, a few back actually, I did write a little bit about The Jungle Book, the Contemporary English Literature For Primary School Year 4. CLICK HERE. As for this entry, I will write more on the same book but more to the Synopsis.

There are 5 chapters in the book.

Chapter One    :  Mowgli's Brothers

Chapter Two    :  Kaa's Hunting

Chapter Three :  The Red Flower

Chapter Four   :  Tiger, Tiger

Chapter Five   :   Red Dog

Now, we will go by chapter.

As for Chapter One : Mowgli's Brother, the author told about the characters and the author showed that how Mowgli's ended up with Akeela (Wolf). The author also showed how Mowgli was saved from Shere Khan (Tiger), who also has killed Mowgli's parents. Here the author already showed the reader about the conflict, even though it is the beginning of the story but as we all know,*after reading the book, the first conflict started when Shere Khan killed the human's cow. So, it showed that Shere Khan was no satistified with cows, he started killing human and they were Mowgli's parents.

For Chapter Two : Kaa's Hunting. Mowgli has become a teenage boy who have been equipped with many skills. He was taught by Bagheera, Baloo and also Akela. They also taught Mowgli about the laws of the jungle. In the second chapter, Mowgli was snatched by a group of bad monkeys. Then, Bagheera (Panther) and Baloo (Big Bear) asked a rock snake called Kaa. The monkeys were terrified with Kaa, maybe because the monkeys were Kaa's meals for breakfast, lunch and also dinner.

For Chapter Three : The Red Flower. As for the chapter three, it started with a sad beginning when the Father Wolf died and Akela is getting old. Mowgli is now hunting for Akela's meals. Shere Khan is still wants to kill Mowgli. He has influenced the younger wolves to follow him and also questioned the existence of Mowgli in the pack. Shere said that Mowgli is a human and not wolf. Bagheera urged Mowgli to save his life and go away from the forest, but Mowgli declined. He wanted to stay, then, Bagheera told him about the Red Flower (fire). He said that it can be used to scare off Shere Khan. Mowgli went to the border of the village and saw a young girl carrying the 'red flower'. He took the 'red flower' and scared Shere Khan off with that, then he asked the pack about Akela should lead the pack. Unfortunately, the younger wolves were too influenced by Shere Khan's ideology. Mowgli existence was declined and he with broken-hearted went a new village.

As for Chapter Four : Tiger, Tiger. a woman named Messua recognised Mowgli and he was her lost son. She thought that he was killed by the tiger a long with his husband. She cleaned him up and put on clean clothes. Mowgli tried to fit in with his new life but he had trouble trying to find the rhythm. One day, he was given a job which was to bring the buffalo out to graze the grass. Then, the met with his old family, the wolves. Little did they know that Shere Khan was already at the village and he wanted to kill Mowgli. But then, Mowgli and the wolves has planned to trapped Shere Khan and he was killed but the trampled of the buffaloes. Then Mowgli skinned Shere and he brought the hides to show the villagers about the news and he thought that they would be very happy to see him, little did he know that they did not want Mowgli to live with them. Then Messua asked Mowgli to run away, if not he will be killed by the villagers. He went back to the forest. 

The last chapter was the climax of the book. Chapter Five : Red Dog. Mowgli was not living with the wolves pack but then he was living alone. Sometimes, he hunted with his wolf-brothers, Bagheera, and Baloo. After a few years, Mowgli has grown into a strong young man. Then, the jungle was threatened by a pack of red dogs. Won-tola, a wounded wolf, was attacked by dholes, the red dogs. They were known as the bad dogs. They worse compared to Shere Khan. Kaa helped Mowgli with a great idea but it involved the Little People (Wasps). The Little People can easily kill anybody who came to threat them. After a few days, Mowgli lured the dholes to the little people's place. The place of death. He taunted the dholes and in one incident, he cut the leader's tail as a warning to not to come to their jungle. As planned, Mowglie brought the dholes to a place where the wolves, Bagheera, Baloo, and Akela have been waiting, then, they stroked. They fought all night long and then all of the dholes were killed. Akela, the old wolf was terribly hurt. After a few words said to Mowgli, he died. They were mourning by howling to the sky. Before the chapter ends, Mowgli had a little though about what Akela has said to him, "You will leave the jungle, You will drive yourself out". Mowgli might have thought such thought, but today was not the day. He will stay as long as his pack needs him.

So, that is all for the synopsis. It might be too long but since, the story was beautifully animated, the pictures really helped the readers to think creatively.

Happy reading guy.

I will write more, okay?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: This was quite simple compared the animate Mowgli we saw on film.

I Will Keep On Writing.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Hi everyone, first of all, I would love to say thank you for your comment and for one particular comment, it said that my post has a lot of grammar mistakes. Well, thank you again for the comment.

Secondly, English is my second language. Yes, some said that even though it's just second language, it does not mean that I have to commit such mistakes. I am here not trying to stand for my mistakes, no. I really want to let people know that, mistakes can be corrected but guide me please.

I am not a perfect human being, but it does not mean that I need stop writing after such comment. NO. I will continue my writing and hopefully everything is going to be a lot better. 

Thirdly, I have several posts that I need to write due to some demands. Yes, they asked me to write about several themes, and whatnot. So! Yasss...

I have tried to make it as formal as I can but it seems that formality is not just my thing, I guessed.

Lastly, yes, I will keep writing and thank you for that comment, I will keep reading and practising my grammar.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Love.

MUET My Way. Thanks Madam Audrey.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Good afternoon everyone,

Today, since this morning the SPM candidates were facing the English papers. *see, I used FACING, why? Because its a war. Hahaha.. but the real war is after you got your SPM result. Where you want to go and what path you choose to walk. Whatever it is, you have to walk your path, you cannot walk others because they too have to walk theirs

Now, you might read this blog or the other might read this blog too, know this, all the knowledge that I have written here, you may use it to your own good. I really do not mind.

Now, I have been reading this one blog, which to me is very helpful indeed.

MUET MY WAY

This blog really has done a lot good deed to its reader, Including ME!

Madam Audrey Wiles is the author and she is a MUET teacher is Sabah. I do not need to know her because I know she is on amazing person. By looking at her blog and her relationships she had/has with her students, well, her students are very luck to have her as their MUET teacher, I could say that. Amazingness.

Keep it up Madam Audrey, you have done a lot and I know, your students are actually all around Malaysia and the world. Keep on writing teacher.

That is all from me and to SPM candidates, good luck for your remaining subjects and go nuts over the answers. Haha, go nut to me means, you have to write smart, just do not waste your time thinking too much about the answers, ok?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Best of luck dears.

SPM Literature Component : Short Story : Tanjung Rhu by MinFong Ho.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

In the previous post, I did write about another short story written by Minfong Ho. Now, I will write more on the other elements that you as students need to analyse and also write during the exam.

Setting

As for setting, we divided it into three parts, Physical Setting, Social Setting and Time. For the physical setting, as you read this short story, the physical setting was in Tanjung Rhu, Singapore. Mr.Li had big house and he had big office because he was the owner of a shipyard company. When he was younger, he was living in a hut at Tanjung Rhu with his parents.

Social Setting.

As for the social setting, after read this piece, we can easily say that Mr. Li was living in a rich neighbourhood. The reason why I said that is because Mrs. Li was shown as a woman who happened to have lots of activities including tea parties. Another character mentioned in the story was Mr.Li's son who were studying in Cambrige and his daughter, Ying, who are going to New York soon. And yet, his mum's altar , the big house and their lifestyle reflects their wealth and position in the society.

Time

The time set in the recent past and could be applied to the present times too.

Characters :

As for the characters, they were four people in this story and one was mentioned by the characters but did not appear in this short story. Let us see one by one.

1. Mr. Li

63 years old man who is very rich and owned a shipyard and he just lost his mother. Loves to count the ships at the shipyard. A caring man because he bought  binoculars to his lat mother just because he wanted her mother to see as far as she can. He loved his mother very dearly and she even scolded her daughter Ying for being rough with her. He was torn between traditions and modern ways. Even tough he was a successful man, he still believed in the parents' blessings in finding comfort and strength.

2. Li's mother

A very gentle lady, who has lived so many years and had gone through so many things in her life and now is old and frail. She loved her son very dearly and she did not need anything but loves and cares. She too loved her granddaughter, who is very proud that she can do lots of things. Li's mother was a very well-mannered woman and she hold to the traditions very strong. She strongly believed that custom and traditions need to be hold carefully and respectfully.

3. Helen

Mr.Li's wife and she really enjoys tea parties with her friends which it was very displeasure to Mr. Li.

4. Ying

The daughter of Mr.Li and Helen. A young and modern girl but very kind and understanding. She was very sensitive and she too was trying to build a bridge between her father and mother. 

Themes

1.Traditions and rituals count in life.

2. Love is a wonderful element in live.

3. Material things do not really count.

Moral Values

1.Respect

2. Traditions should be maintained

3. Kindness and consideration matter

Point of View

This story was written in the third person point of view. The whole story was from Mr.Li's eyes.

That is all for now, I will be back with Tone and Mood, Language and Style.

Thank you for reading my writings.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Keep on reading.

SPM Literature Component : Leaving by M.G. Vassanji. Read more.

Assalamualaikum WBT and hello everyone.

I noticed that my writings were read by many people who came from various backgrounds. Thank you very much. 

Now, as promised, I will write on Moral Values, Point of View, Tone and Mood, Language and Style and last but not least, Literary Devices.

As you all know that Leaving by M.G. Vassanji is from the book Changing their Skies. Stories from Africa. We are going to jump straight at the topic.

Moral Values : 

1. Thinking rationally.

Rational thinking is important because in this story, Aloo's mother needs to stop being emotional because she needs to put her emotions aside, just to let her mind do all the thinking. Remember when Aloo said that he wanted to go abroad because he wanted to study differently from what his mum has planned for him? Medicine instead of agriculture. But then, after have a deep thought of it, his mother decided to talk to the school officer, Mr. Velji before making the decision. She is shown as a very humble, balanced and yet emotional mother. Well, who does not want the best for their children, right?

2. Paying attention to important things is what bring success to Aloo.

As told in the story, Aloo is a very hard-working and smart student. He passed all the exams with flying colours. Why? It is because he is talented, gifted and yet very hard-working student. He listened to his teachers. He too read all the brochures about the university that he wanted to go, in America. The land where dream comes true.

3. Be a responsible person

The moral values of responsibility can be found anywhere in the short story IF you read it carefully understood the story and you can relate it to your lives. Trust me, it would make a lot better. Let say, you take the example of Aloo's mother of being responsible to her children or Aloo being responsible of being a student at school. You can elaborate simple based on that. Connect the dots, okay?

Point of View :

Leaving was told by Aloo's sister, remember that right? It was in first person point of view. It is the family relationships through her eyes.

Tone and Mood :

Heartwarming is the tone for this story and it generally reflects the love and care the family members have for each other. The mood is positive and optimistic. The main character also hopes to have better future and one day he will comeback to his hometown and take care of his mother. Now, usually in the SPM question, it needs you to put some examples and do not hesitate to put some example from you point of view, okay?

Language and Style :

After you read Leaving by M.G. Vassanji, you will find that the author was using basically simple and direct language. Easy to understand.

Literary Devices :

The famous Literary Devices used by authors are Imagery, Simile and also Symbolism, but you can choose any from many Literary Devices that you know but you have to put the example. Find it for yourself but here I will write a few for your reference.

1. Imagery

Descriptive words create interesting and vivid images in the reader's mind.

E.G.

"Wild land, with tall trees and at night it felt lonely, frightening place." (Page 32)

"An exciting new world was waiting or him." (Page 33)

Simile

A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind.

E.G.

"He had a large head, which looked like an egg". (Page 36)

"He walked in like a soldier...". (Page 36)

IronyThe expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect or in other words, sarcasm.

E.G.

Aloo's mother refers to Aloo's uncles in America who will pay for the university fees. (Page 32,34)

Now, Aloo's mother was being sarcastic and Aloo did not have uncles or relatives in the USA and the reason why she said that because, she was trying to cover her sadness because she does not have money to pay for the college.

Tips for SPM in answering the questions.

1. You need to read and understand the story and also the gist of the story. Do not neglect that.

2. You need to understand the pages, well, at least a few of it.

3. You CANNOT LEAVE blank answer sheet. PLEASE, write anything that related to the questions. Anything.

4. Be prepared.

5. Read.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Good luck for your SPM dear readers.

p/s: Keep reading and understand the concept then you will be able to answer the questions.

Dreams are made to be embraced.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

I, once heard people said,

"Dreams are made to be crushed".

"Dreams are made to followed"

and

"Dreams are made to be wasted".

Hahaha, from three sources. I am like, hahaha, I laughed. 

Now, what does it mean with these three? The first one, I think, it was uttered by a person who have their own dreams but they want others to not follow their dreams and obviously, their dreams are crush peoples' dreams.

The second one, these people believe in their dreams and they ought to follow their dreams. They will work hard for their dreams and they will consider what might come in their ways are challenges to challenged themselves in the road of pursuing their dreams. Got that?

And the last but not least, "Dreams are made to be wasted". I think, this uttered by a person who happened to have a dream/dreams but determination is not in their heart. They might have half-hearted in pursuing their dreams.

But, you have to remember, dreaming is as important as working. If you choose not to make it work, then, you will end up like the third quote, so, I have my own quote,

"Dreams are made to embraced; embrace your dreams and help others".

Assalamualaikum WBT,

p/s: Keep sleeping. hehe...

SPM Literature Component : Short Story : Leaving by M.G. Vassanji

Assalamualaikum WBT,

As promised,  I am going to write more about the Short Story, Leaving for the SPM English Literature Component.

Now, since I believed that you all readers, SPM candidates have read the Short Story, you are now know what its all about, right? Yes, its about a young boy named Aloo who wants to pursue his dream in becoming a doctor.

First of all, I am going to write about the characters in this short story. First of all is Aloo.

Aloo was the youngest in the family. Gifted student with great, brilliant mind and he got straight A's in his result. He was inspired by his teacher to go outside of his country and study abroad. He was a loving son and he cried when his mother expressed her fear that she might lose him. Happy when his mother approved his leaving. He was happy to see London and he wrote to his mother. All and all, he just want to change his and his family's lives. He wanted to be someone and he really thinks that medicine would change him as a person.

The Mother

Lost her husband at 33, had to look after 5 children. Refuses to re-marry as she did not want the children to be sent to children's home. *Foster home. She was a very hard-working woman, she raised 5 children and gets 2 daughter married off, elder son worked at supermarket. She was concentrating  on improving the lives of the younger two (Aloo and the Narrator). Moved to a little bit rural area so that the two can focus on their studies. Loved her children to death. She was very sensitive as it was shown in the scene where she was very concerned on Aloo leaving her behind. A very good mother, so relents finally to Aloo going abroad. She was a very proud mother, independent woman and she is a woman of substance.

Mehroon
Lives with her husband in town.

Razia
A rich housewife, lives in Tanga on the coast north Dar es Salaam.

Firoz
The older brother, drops out of school. Worked in the office of a big shop.

Mr. Datoo
Aloo's ex-teacher, returned from America to pay a visit. A favourite of the boys, has inspired Aloo to apply to an American university.

Mr. Velji
A school officer and he was very impressed with Aloo's ability in education and advised him to take up the offer to study in America. Warned the mother that she might lose him.

The Narrator
The youngest daughter in the family. It is from her point of view. Smart, studying at the university. She was very caring and saw her mother's pain and understood what she had through. She was very supportive and loving too. She was observant and sensitive and she knew that her brother really wanted to go to overseas and he was not keen to study locally.

Themes

1. Grab the opportunity
2. Making sacrifices for the fmaily
3. Not losing one's values and beliefs
4. Family, heritage and traditions matter in every home
5. Conflicts arise but can be overcome with rational thinking and consideration

Setting
Physical Setting
Upanga, Tanzania. Closed to wild land. It is a lonely, frightening place, as the narrator said.

Social setting
Aloo's family was interested in education and self-improvement. The mother was a very hard-working mother and she wanted nothing but the best for her children. People were generally poor and the mother believed that they can achieved great things through education.

Time

It is set in the present times.

Now, I will tell more about Moral Values, Point of View, Tone and Mood, Language and style and also Literary Devices on the next entry.

That is all for now. Keep reading various sources guys.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Keep reading and please understand the concept.

Stop Spreading Fault News, Morons.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

What are doing people? Have you heard about the incident happened in Makkah? It was a very sad event. My dad is there to perform his Hajj and we were worried about his safety. On the night the incident happened, we did not call him yet, but early the next day, we rang him and just to know that he picked up the phone and said that he is safe from the incident, we were so very happy. So happy, more to relief, I guess.

Now, as we all know, there were several Malaysian pilgrims involved in the incident and if I am not mistaken, five of them were dead. Innalillahi wa innailahiroji'un, may Allah graces your existences in Earth and keep you all by His side till forever. Amen. 

As I read through several blogs on the internet, I cam across this blog telling that the family of Cikgu Nuroshlizan were disappointed with the news circling in the social media. There were people editing and telling people that the late Cikgu was found in sujud position. And the family has confirmed with the Tabung Haji and also the responsible people, it was not. They denied the news. To me, it was a faulty. A faulty mistake made by fools.

Stop spreading news that is not even a news. Do not hurt the family. What happened if the children of Cikgu Nuroshlizan see those stupid news? What would they feel? Happy? Excited? To those people who happened to have shared this news, please. Stop it. Ok?

That is all from me, May Allah protect that pilgrims and grace them with provision and support and help them complete the Hajj and 'umrah that You have made incumbent upon them. Amin.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Need to gather my strength to write about SPM English paper.

SPM English Literature : Poem : The Living Photograph

Assalamualaikum WBT,

This is the first poem that I want to share with you all.

Poem 1 : The Living Photograph

The Living Photograph

My small grandmother is tall there, 

Straight back, white, broderie anglaise shirt,

pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,

a kind, old smile round her eyes.

Her big hand holds mine,

white hand in the black hand.

Her sharp blue eyes look her own death in the eye.

It was true, after all, that look.

My tall grandmother became small.

Her back round and hunched.

Her soup forgot to boil.

She went to the awful place grandmothers go.

Somewhere unknown, unthinkable

But there she is still,

In the photo with me at three,

The crinkled smile is still living, breathing.

Jackie Kay

Now, interpreting other's poem, we need to study the poet background first, then we can relate with what he or she was trying to convey. 

Poet

As you can see there, the poet's name is Jackie Kay which was born  November 9 1961 in Edinburgh, Scotland to a Scottish mother and a Nigerian father. Her parents gave her away for adoption to white Scottish parents (John and Helen Kay) who brought her up in Glasgow with great affection. The grandmother in the poem above was her adoptive grandmother who also loved her as much as her biological parents. Thus, from an early age, Jackie Kay was often baffled by her ethnic identity as she looked "coloured" compared to her adoptive "white" grandmother and adoptive parents. This poem, like many other by Jackie Kay, reflects her generally happy, childhood, as well as her concerns about her true 'biracial' ethnic identity.

About the poem

The persona captured two images of her adoptive grandmother -one seen in the photograph when the persona was three years old and another image of her grandmother as the lady became older and finally passed away. The persona resonates with the memories of many young people who have lost their beloved grandparents. 

Theme

1. Appreciation and affection for a grandparent

2. Search for the persona's identity

3. The mystery of ageing and death

4. Filial piety ( Virtue respect for one's ancestor )

Moral Value

1. Filial piety

2. Inter-racial harmony

Tone/Mood of Poem

The poet used childlike voice but with confident and optimistic despite her reference to the grandmother's death.

Persona or Speaker

The persona in the poem is a child who grows from the age of three in the photograph to a more mature age.

Point of View

It was narrated by the persona in the first person

Language and Style

Persona and Child Talk

Contrasting Imagery

Descriptive Details.

Now, that is all for now, I will include more information from time to time and this is not the last entry you see from me. Yes. I have the Charge of the Light Brigade that I need to tell you more on.

Yes,

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Hope you could find something here, love.

SPM : English Literature Components.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you my avid/loyal readers. *is there's any? hahaha

Now, firstly, I would love to apologise for not being such a good blogger cause, I have been neglecting this blog with no English Grammar Entries. I am so sorry, please, forgive me for being such a jerk, okay?

Therefore, for today, because of I have been teaching my students, form 4 students a few things on Literature Components. I want to share with you one of two poems that I taught them.

But before that, I want to let you know what poetry is.

Poetry is a creative literary piece made up of specially-arranged words in metre or free verse. It is often written with rhyme and rhythm in a group of lines called stanza or verse.

What are the key elements of poetry?

Theme, Moral Value, Persona or Speaker, Setting, Tone and Mood, Point of View, Language and Style

Now, I will explain briefly on each of these.

Theme : The theme is the idea, point of view or perception expanded upon in the poem. It expresses a message, issue or feeling that the poet wishes to highlight. In simple words, theme is about how the author wants to convey. The idea that the author or poet want us to know.

Moral Value : These are lessons that can be learnt from the poem. Meaning, the goods and the bads that you can identify from the literature piece that you studied and you relate that with the moral value that you know. This is more like you understanding towards the piece itself.

Persona or Speaker :  The persona is the speaker or 'voice' in the poem. This is a person created by the poet to convey his message. Well, sometimes, the poet used "I, or We" as the pronoun, but there are poets chose to use names other than theirs just to tell the story.

Setting : The place where the poem takes place and the time when it is written.  It is also denotes the social environment of the poem.

Tone and mood : The tone is the poet's/speaker's attitude towards the subject, audience, or towards himself/herself. Mood refers to the general feeling created in the poem. It is connected with inner feelings and state of mind.

Points of view : This relates to theme a bit, but it more to the person who speaking in the poem. It may mean the persona or someone else. It can be conveyed in the first person point of view where the words 'I' or 'We' are used. This means that the persona and poet are the same person. It can also be written in the third person point of view where the words 'she', 'he', 'it' or 'they' are used. This persona is someone else other than the poet.

Language and Styles : Styles refers to the way a poet uses language to express his ideas. These are the commonly used styles in literature.

Imagery
Metaphor
Simile
Personafication
Sound Device
Alliteration
Assonance
Onomatopoeia
Symbolism
Repetition

These are the literature devices that usually used by the poets.

So, that is all for now, in the next entry, I will tell a bit on a poem entitled The Living Photograph.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: It is actually fun learning literature. Yes.


source : Modul Menguasai SPM Form 4 ( Kamala Ganehsan and Louis Rozario Doss ) from SASBADI. ISBN 978-983-59-7349-9

Little Laugh.

Assalamualaikum WBT

I have this cute joke that I want you to know, hahaha..

What is the answer?

Well, you got the punch line right? GUMMY BEAR. Gummy... hahaha...

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Little laugh wont hurt.

Be You.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Be you. Be yourself.

Sometimes, being ourselves is not what people want to see and they prefer we being someone else. How weird, they said to be yourself but then when we showed our true colours, they defied it.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: What is your colour?

Be Creative!!

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Our education is not creative, so! we have to be creative in order for us to fit into the education.

Be creative.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: your needs, your creativity, broaden your mind and accept the possibilities and apply it.

Treasure.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Do not ever give up when doing something because we do not know the hidden treasure.

Dont ever!

Assalamualaikum wbt

p/s: sometimes you just need to push a little bit more.

Be A Good Person..

Assalamualaikum WBT,


Do what you do best. Why? Because you will feel most likely to be very happy with everything.

Be it.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: okay.

Believe In Others too...

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Sometimes, you just need to believe in others, but you must believe in yourself first!

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: believe.

English Grammar Table. (Easy).

Assalamualaikum WBT,

I want to post this wonderful English Grammar Table which has helped me a lot in learning basic English grammar. Once you mastered this schedule, you will be able to identify your mistakes and will not be doing the same mistake ever again.

Now, easy for you to understand it right? Lovely,

Later on, I will be using this same table on my next entry with explanation.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: lovely.

Learning English Language : Punctuation

Assalamualaikum WBT,

How do you do my absolute readers? I know, I hadn't update any entry here for these past days, I am so sorry. Too busy with life and making money, overness indeed.

What is punctuation?

Punctuation is the simple but yet the most important rule in constructing sentences. *Is that the real meaning. Well, honestly, I do not know, haha... I created that definition just now just to make sure that I understand the meaning of punctuation.

Capital letter ( Abu)
Full stop ( . )
Question mark ( ? )
Exclamation mark ( ! )
Comma ( , )
Quotation marks ('   ')
Apostrophe ('s)

To be honest, we are very much familiar with these punctuation right? We already know the punctuation. We even used it in our daily writing.

Now, I will write more on examples that you need to know, just to make it clearer for you.

1. Capital Letters

a. The first letter in a sentence.

He laughed out loud.
She is not here. Maybe she'll come later.

b. The first letter of proper nouns (e.g. names of people, countries, towns, etc.)

Ali lives in Kuala Lumpur.
Laila love to eat Black Forest cake.

c. The first letter used after quotation marks.

Amy said, 'Don't be scared'.
Siew Ling said, 'Please wait for me'.

2. Full Stops

Full stops are used :

a. At the end of a statement.

I need drinks.
I want to eat.

b. At the end of a abbreviations (short forms).

etc. = et cetera
eg. = example
i.e. = that is

c. A few works in Modern English do not have a full stop.

PWTC
KLCC
KL
PUNB

3. Question Marks

Question marks are used at the end of a question.

Where is my food?
What are you doing here?

4. Exclamation Marks

The exclamation mark is used in exclamations which express surprise, shock, anger, fear, disappointment, joy,excitement, disbelief, etc.

I don't believe it!
What?!
Congratulations!
Oh, no!

5. Commas

The comma is used for three main reasons.

a. To separate a series of words in a list.

We need sugar, salt, tea and flour.

b. To show a pause in reading.

After closing his shop, Ah Seng went home.

c. To separate direct speech from the rest of the sentence.

'I want to go home,' Rohina said.

6. Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are put before the first word and after the last word in direct speech.

'Seng Fatt, bring in the clothes,' mother shouted.

7. Apostrophes

Apostrophes are used :

a. In contractions (short forms) to replace the missing words.

I am = I'm
We will = we will
should not = shouldn't

b. With possessive nouns to show ownership. The apostrophes is placed before the 's' ('s) for singular nouns and after the 's' (s') for plural nouns.

This is Mila's hat.
The girls' parents gave them their permission to go to Taman Negara.

So, that is all for now, hope the information will help you in writing because sometimes, we missed out the put such small things. As I said before, small but most important. We cannot end our sentence without a full stop, right?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: Hope you read my writings and learn something.

A little bit on MUET.

Assalamualaikum WBT, 

Hi everyone... hi dear reader and hi dear English language practitioners.. *do they have that? hahaha.... never mind.

Now, in a few entries back, I did write something on Malaysian University English Test or also known as MUET. Before we go any further, it is better for us to know more on this test. MUET was started in year 1999 by Malaysian Examinations Council which in Malay language is Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia (MPM). 

Alright then, what are the components that MUET has?

In MUET, we have FOUR components that the candidates need to fulfill in order to pass with great marks. There are,

Listening (800/1)

Speaking (800/2)

Reading (800/3)

Writing (800/4)

Each of these components has it own marks, both Listening and Speaking is 45 marks, Reading comprehension is 120 marks and Writing is 90 marks. The scores are graded in 6 Bands, with Band 6 the highest and Band 1 the lowest. 

The fee for MUET is RM101 and candidates register via MPM website. From year 2012 onwards, there will be three sessions, March, July and November, per year.

For your information, MUET is required when you want to enroll to university. Usually, when you want to take your Degree. It is actually depend on the courses that you want to take, for example, if you want to take English courses, you need to obtain the Band at least, Band 4. Different university has different  MUET Band requirement. So, the best Band that would secure your position for enrolling would Band 3, but then again, it depends on the university. 

Okay, some of us might have trouble in learning English, but you need to actually learn it. Start small, then improve then. It is the same with MUET, know when you want to take the test and work from there. Focus on what you bad at and improve that. Just focus on that. 

Let say, you have the best marks in Reading Comprehension, and Listening. Not that you need to forget about those two components, no, but you have to give more attention to Writings and Speaking and  so forth. You are the one who know yourself better than any other human in the world. 

All you need is to focus and practise as much as you can. Exercises really help in this kind of situation. And be calm, do not nervous. I took MUET 2 times in 2007 and once in my university years. I did okay, not as fluent-ish like now, but I did okay. Alhamdulillah.

Now, that would be in the different entry when I will tell you on who I learned English language and what did I do to improve myself, okay?

I think that is all for now.

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s; Keep learning and good luck!

 

 

Learning English Grammar : Active and Passive Voice.

Assalamualaikum WBT,

Do you know what bothers me a lot when I learn English language?

Active and Passive Voice, even in Malay language, I really had trouble constructing these kind of sentences. I just do not know why. Really, yes. 

Now, as for to actually understand the Active and Passive Voice, I will try my best and also learn together about this monster. hahaha...

Look at these two sentences,

Somebody stole the jewels.

The jewels were stolen.

Which is active voice? Yes, the first is active voice that describes a sentence where the subject performs the action stated by the verb.  In passive voice sentences, the subject is acted upon by the verb.

In Active and Passive Voice, there rules that we need to obey, otherwise it will not in the active and passive voice. Before we go any further, bear in mind that, Active and Passive Voice is not as hard at it looks, in fact, it is easy to learn, okay? Now, we can actually separate the sentences.

 As for Active Voice, we usually had no problem recognising them because it is a straight forward sentence with not many things to be remembered. 

As for the Passive Voice, there are certain formulas that you really need to remember, I will list them here along with some examples.

1. Verb 'to be' + the Past Participle

Examples :
The book was written by Noam Chomsky.
The kid was made by my brother.

2. Simple Present Tense : is or are + the Past Participle

Examples :
Those pots are made out of clay.
Pearls are found in oysters.
The hall is swept every morning

3. Simple Past Tense : was or were + the Past Participle

Examples :
That house was built ten years ago.
Two children were killed in the accident.

4. Perfect Present Tense : has been or have been + the Past Participle

Examples :
Do not touch the door. It has just been painted.
You can have your books back. They have been marked already.

Now, all you need is to remember how the word form of Past Participle. There are different forms what you need to remember. You can find them through reading. Once you know the form then you can apply it in any sentence but remember, once you choose to write in Passive voice, everything in your writing must be passive voice. Usually, people would go with either one. It is all through reading you just can find these. Yes.

Now, you can search Active and Passive voice and do some exercises there. Pick good websites okay? It is okay for you open more then one website, it is for you own good. Do not afraid to make mistakes, hello, no on is perfect, okay?

Assalamualaikum WBT

p/s: keep reading. Read what ever you want, but make sure you read all the way, okay?