Discussion Topic 3

Author: Aslina ANJANGABRAHMAN
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 9:52:45 PM EST
Subject: The Language Diversity in Malaysia

Malaysia is a multi ethnic country consist of multi races such as Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Melanau and so on. Every ethnic has their own languages and dialects. The national language of Malaysia is Bahasa Melayu. In school, everybody has to learn Bahasa Melayu and it is free to learn any language either from their own ethnic or not in school.
The multilingualism in Malaysia is a very unique and interesting. Malaysian are adept at learning language. At very young age, students are being exposed to several languages.
How language diversity can make a country stronger? It can makes the country stronger when people outside wanted to see the 'peacefulness' of a country with multi ethnic and multilingual. This can be achieve through tourism business. Any more opinions out there?

Discussion Topic 2

Author: Aslina ANJANGABRAHMAN
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 11:35:25 AM EST
Subject: Keeping Bahasa Melayu alive

Bahasa Melayu is a national language of Malaysia. Before independence it is the language for economy and social. After British came to Malaya, they introduce English into education system. English Language are now into the curriculum with the same level of important as Bahasa Melayu. Keeping a language alive means a lot of things in different aspect and perspective. In my opinion, both language should be learn in school, but to keep the language alive one has to always using the language in everyday life. How to balance with the two languages and at the same time to keep the mother tongue alive? Please provide more opinion regarding this issue.

Discussion Topic 1

Author: Aslina ANJANGABRAHMAN
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 11:42:25 AM EST
Subject: English is needed when...

In Malaysia, there are several things that you need to use and understand English proficiently. I would like to name a few:
1. writing resume or CV to find a professional job
2. during job interview
3. in university where all the reference and books are in English

Discussion Board

First of all I would like to apologize to the teachers because posting 3 topics in discussion board quite last minute (you can see it from the date). Due to that, nobody reply to my topic.

Secondly, all my dearest friends.. I know you all do understand me for not commenting in your discussion topic. I've made several attempt at RMIT library but unfortunately unsuccessful. Try several times at ILC before...but always congested with people. To overcome that problems, I've just subscribed the internet at home. The only problem whenever at home I have to become a full time mom with two kids, so I really need to steal time to surf the internet (that's what I'm doing now..as the baby sleep). So do apologize me friends...

More Reflections...

I suddenly discovered that answering listening question can be quite tough. I'm worried especially when the listening video are in another slang of English Language. What can I do now is to listen to the website suggested by Kate and maybe from you tube as well. Also at the same time need to practice the note taking. Sometimes I can't even read and understand the 'note' that I have taken during the listening practice!

Another thing is about reading. While doing the exercise, I'm a bit confuse how to answer the question perfectly. Sometimes I feel the answer just isn't there in the article. This means I need to be more focus and concentrate when reading the article. I think this happen to me due to 'panic attack'.

Regarding the writing, even though I pass the test, it does not mean I will pass the final writing exam too (but I do really hope so to pass everything due to money and time constraint). I need to use highlighter pen as suggested by Kate to show the arguments of the two articles. I'm worried if I couldn't find the common argument in the two articles. What can I do now, still need more of own exercise to structure a critical essay.

For oral presentation, I have read 3 journals published by Malaysian author regarding the education issue in Malaysia. I need to understand the important points that could relate to my presentation. I do hope could have something tomorrow.

Last but not least, Happy National Day to all Australians.....

The Reflections

Yes, it's been the busiest '2 weeks in class'-listening, studying, homework, critical writing..... in my entire life....am I exaggerating things? :)

I'm trying to be 'positive' to complete my E7 class successfully. I'm really worried thinking about the exam on Week 5. Hopefully things will be fine as I just can't wait to start my PhD. Sometimes I feel studying bachelor and masters are much more easier and less worried than studying language. To be honest, I have difficulty whenever studying language even in my own language which is Bahasa Malaysia. I have studied Mandarin and French before, but I can't remember a thing about it.

Well, these are the reflections for the 4 skills I need to gain:

Writing
Really learn a lot from both Kate and Mario. In my goals I've written to write an essay responding to any news that I read from newspaper. However due to short of time (after class, I'm a full time mother for 2 kids), whenever reading, I just map all the points in my head instead of writing it. Apart from that I only try my best during the class and doing homework during my journey to class (on tram-it's an hour journey!).

Listening
I've been listening to television at home and radio in car. I have no other language option, like in my hometown, I can choose to listen to Malay, English, Chinese or Indian radio. So I feel like I'm getting to understand quite well the way how Australian speak. But sometimes, when they are talking too fast, I'm lost... especially when trying to understand their conversation on trams..they were too fast...

Speaking
I'm trying to speak English at home with my husband and kids, but I couldn't make it. I can't expresses my true feeling especially when to show my angriest to my 6 years old daughter. She can write and understand simple English, but it's really just hard to do it... However, I'm still trying my best to improve my vocabulary during speaking or oral presentation. Having a vocab book is really good as whenever I find a new vocabulary I can write it down. I'm going to proceed with that vocab book until the end of my PhD study..hopefully.

Reading
This is the best. Yes I do love reading very much, but reading a serious material for serious issue such as globalization, economy, law makes me sometimes have to read it over and over again. Whenever in class doing reading material I feel like I'm able to answer the comprehension question. Unfortunately not all are correct, maybe my mind just distracted while reading especially a long article. However, I can say myself is quite able to adapt with such reading material due to a lot of practice from Kate, Mario and Danielle. I will never stop reading and trying to understand the whole story about what I read.

Basically, that's my reflection until 3rd week. Maybe I will add some more If I have discovered anything new.

The Skills, The Goals and The Strategies

I think writing everything down is a very useful way for me to remind myself about everything especially about academic. So, here I am writing down the goals and strategies to achieve in my E7 course:

There are 4 skills that I need to concentrate in E7 which are reading, writing, listening and speaking.

For WRITING...
My goals are to
-improve critical analysis essay writing
-write in a good structured sentence
-making less grammar mistakes in essay
The strategies are
-Never escape class unless emergency reason :)
-Always do my homework
-Understand thoroughly the tips given by Kate and Mario in class
-Practice to write one paragraph a day by responding to any issue in the newspaper or magazine

For SPEAKING...
My goals are to
-able to express my opinion in English with more vocabulary used
-improve speaking skill
The strategies are
-always speak in English language everyday, anytime and anywhere :)
-learn a new word everyday (vocabulary book)

For READING....
My goals are to
-able to concentrate on long articles (this is really my weakness, as whenever i read the next sentence in long article it will erase the sentence before-memory problem?)
-improve understanding to the articles being read
-improve the ability to skimming a text
The strategies are
-maybe drinks coffee before coming to the class :)
-3 words a day in vocabulary book
-read all kinds of English magazines and newspaper during free time-although hard to find one

For listening...
My goals are to
-able to understand the word when people talking too fast
-able to grasp the point being addressed in a listening video/audio
The strategies are
-www.ted.com (as suggested by Kate)
-listen to the news and radio
-practice note taking strategies
-attending a public speech or seminar in English