-NiE ,
INTERMEDIATE Time management
15 March 2017
9
Carpe diem
HAVE you watched the 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? It is a story about a man who relies on daydreaming to escape his monotonous life. But one day, he embarks on a real-life adventure that far exceeds his imagination. The film offers a few lessons such as the importance of taking life by the reins and living a full life. Another film that conveys similar lessons is the 1989 Dead Poets Society. In one of the scenes, English teacher John Keating urges his students to seize the day and make their lives extraordinary. Have you lived each day of your life to the fullest? What are some of the things you secretly wish to accomplish but have never set out to do? It’s never too late to take the first step towards fulfilling your dream or goal.
NiE Activity Read the following passage, which is adapted from an article published in Star2 on May 2, 2015.
Wake up and live By Shereen Teng
I was a couch potato-cum-workaholic who was glued to the TV during my free time. After work, I rushed home to watch my favourite Korean actor Lee Min Ho in action. During peak periods, I spent hours in the office working like there was no tomorrow. But in 2011, my life took a 360-degree turn and I transformed from a typical “girlish” lady into an outdoor person. Let me reminisce what inspired me to transform my lifestyle. Firstly, I learnt shocking news about a lady at a new company I had just joined. She passed away three months after being diagnosed with cancer, leaving behind her two little children. Secondly, during the first week on my new job, I worked until the wee hours even though I had very high fever. To keep my temperature down, the doctor jabbed me with painkillers. I was eventually hospitalised for one night due to an extreme allergic reaction (my whole body was swollen). These two events woke me up. I didn’t
want to die as a person with a meaningless life. And so I decided it was time to make a difference in my life. I signed up for a hike to Gunung Datuk, Negri Sembilan. It was a very bright sunny day, perfect weather for hiking. The initial part of the hike past a river was reasonably easy. Then, we had to ascend a very steep trail. My heart sank. I worried if my legs could handle it because I hardly exercised. But step by step, I pulled myself uphill, stopping many times to catch my breath. After hiking for about three hours, I reached the top. The view was breathtakingly beautiful and I immediately fell in love with the place! When it was time to descend, my leg muscles started to cramp. I used all my strength and slowly pulled myself together. After hiking for an hour, I almost wanted to give up, but I had no choice – no one was going to carry me down. Slowly, I kept on going, even though my legs felt like lead. After an hour more of sheer torture, I finally reached the bottom. For a week after the hike, I could hardly walk. Yet it was the most memorable hiking experience ever. And it led me to many more adventures. Hiking has strengthened me physically and mentally. I can hardly believe it … but I have made a difference in my life. I am overjoyed that I have succeeded in climbing many mountains, including Rinjani in Indonesia and Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. My journey in hiking will never cease. I am glad to say that I am no longer a couch potato! If I can do it, I am sure everyone can, too. Carpe Diem! Seize the day!
Activity A Critical thinking l Identify
l Reason
Activity B Creative thinking l Imagine
l Connect
Problem solving l Question
l Research
Critical thinking
Communicating l Oral l Written
l Aural
l Identify
l Reason
Communicating
Answer the following questions based on the passage. Then, discuss the answers in class. 1. Describe Teng’s lifestyle before she became a hiker. __________________________________________________________________________ 2. What caused Teng to change her lifestyle? __________________________________________________________________________ 3. During her first hike, Teng encountered a few challenges. What were they and how did she overcome them? __________________________________________________________________________ 4. How does Teng feel about her transformation? __________________________________________________________________________ 5. Would you take Teng’s advice to “seize the day”? Why? __________________________________________________________________________
l Oral l Written
l Aural
Creative thinking l Imagine l Brainstorm
l Connect l Invent
Problem solving l Recreate
l Present
Collaborating l Listen l Compromise l Contribute l Attain goal respectfully
Imagine that Shereen Teng’s story has been made into a movie and you have been invited to design the movie poster. On the poster, you need to show: l the movie title l the lead actress playing Teng’s character l the tagline “wake up and live” In groups of four, do this activity on a sheet of A3 paper, using words and pictures taken from The Star. Then, present your poster in class. At the end of the activity, the class will vote for the best poster for the movie.