NiE Eng 2017 (Vol 455)

Vol 455

Wednesday 8 February 2017

Elementary Enrich our lives Intermediate Magic manners BRATs Strokes of passion

Tel: 03 7967 1388 Fax: 03 7955 4039 thestar.com.my/education

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Supported by the Ministry of Education

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-NiE ,

8 February 2017

Elementary

The community around me Note to the teacher

century learning skills

Our children are riding the great wave of technology today. They now have facts and procedures at their fingertips.

Teachers have to equip their students with a new set of skills that allow them to thrive in today’s global economy.

The activities in The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education pullout combine literacy skills with content to build this set of skills.

The key below indicates the skills integrated into the activities in this pullout.

All around me WHErE do you live? What do you love about the place you live in? Do you see tall buildings when you walk about or do you see wide, open land and countryside?

Wherever you live, there are certainly lots of exciting things you can do. Let’s take a closer look at the community you live in.

But before we do that, let’s see what types of communities exist in our society.

There are basically three types of communities: urban, sub-urban and rural.

What do they mean? An urban area means a city community that lives in homes that are often built close together. You may see

tall buildings or skyscrapers. The streets are busy with traffic and people hurrying about.

In a sub-urban setting, you would see a community that is located near the city, but it may be more family-oriented. What would you see here?

In a rural community, you will see homes that are surrounded with lush greenery, open land and sometimes farms.

NiE Activity 1 Gather in groups of four. Take turns telling your friends in the group, two things you see in the area you live in. Next, scan your copy of The Star for two pictures of places and people you may come across in the community you live in. Cut them out and paste them in the first column

Critical thinking

l Identify l Reason

Problem solving l Research l Recreate

Communicating l Oral l Aural

l Present

below. Once you have done so, label your community as urban, sub-urban or rural. how did you arrive at that conclusion?

Complete the rest of the columns by looking for appropriate photographs from The Star that show the other two types of communities that are different from yours.

My home is located in: ..................................

Location: .................................

Location: ................................

Critical thinking l Identify l Reason l Measure l Organise

Creative thinking l Imagine l Brainstorm l Connect l Invent

Problem solving l Question l Research l Recreate l Present

Communicating l Oral l Non-verbal l Written l Aural

Collaborating

NiE Activity 2 In the following activity, look for two pictures of people featured in The Star. Cut out and paste their pictures in the boxes below. Next, write a 50-word composition about what a day in the life of each person is (in an urban and rural community).

The urban and rural community will be based on the photographs you used in NiE Activity 1. Give your characters names.

Creative thinking

l Identify

Problem solving

l Imagine

l Measure

l Connect

l Organise

l Invent

l Question l Research l Recreate l Present

Critical thinking

Communicating l Oral l Written l Aural

Life in an urban community Paste photograph here

Life in a rural community Paste photograph here

l Listen l Contribute respectfully l Compromise l Attain goal

nie editorial manager: ShARON OvINIS senior nie executive: ROWENA ChUA writer: S. SIvAM layout designer: ShOBA illustrator: hASSAN BAhRI To order The Star for NiE lessons, call: Sundarrajan 03-7967 1388 ext 1437 or 016-288 3682 We welcome feedback; write to: Star-NiE, Star Media Group, 15 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Petaling Jaya or e-mail us at: starnie@thestar.com.my

Elementary

The community around me NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking l Identify

l Reason

Creative thinking l Imagine

Enrich our lives

8 February 2017

WHAT makes the community you live in special? Just as every person has his own identity, so does a community. Let’s create some descriptive words and phrases about the community you live in.

Before we do that, see if you can set up groups (no larger than four members each) of classmates who are from the same community.

Once you have found groups of friends who are from the same community, answer these questions. Use as many pictures, words or phrases from The Star as possible. Cut them out and paste them in the appropriate space. Use a sheet of A3 paper if you need more space.

l Connect

Problem solving l Question l Recreate

-NiE ,

Answer

Question

l Research l Present

What sounds do you hear in the community?

What tastes can you find in the community?

Communicating l Oral l Written

What smells do you associate with the community?

l Aural

Think about the following questions as a group. Brainstorm ideas but come up with one answer everyone in the group agrees on. Then, share your answers in class.

Collaborating l Listen

l Compromise

1. What is your community famous for?

l Contribute l Attain goal respectfully

(Note that famous is positive word while infamous is a negative one that means: known for something bad.)

Answer: …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Where, in your community, do people go for recreation?

Answer: …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Why do people live in your community?

Answer: …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. If you could change one thing in your community, what would it be? Why? Answer: …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking l Identify l Reason

l Measure l Organise

Creative thinking l Imagine

l Connect

l Brainstorm

l Invent

p for this Remain in your grou u have to t yo activity. Here’s wha discuss. mmunity has Imagine that your co million dollars. been awarded one rs are Your team membe the money to empowered to use services or improve community hat would your help the people. W oney to group do with the m

Problem solving l Question l Recreate

l Research l Present

Communicating l Oral

unity? improve the comm ction of The Using the Metro se me up with one Star to help you, co community. project to help your as a class.

Share your findings use your Who, (Note: Remember to , Why and How What, When, Where is question.) questions to tackle th

l Aural

Collaborating l Listen

l Compromise

l Contribute respectfully

l Attain goal

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-NiE ,

8 February 2017

INTERMEDIATE Social skills NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking l Identify

l Reason

Creative thinking l Imagine l Brainstorm

l Connect l Invent

Problem solving l Question l Recreate

l Present

No excuse for rudeness

WHAT would life be like if someone treated you with respect?

We know what courtesy is and we know how to use words like: please, thank you, excuse me and many more. But how often do we put this into practice? Good manners are about treating other people with kindness and respect.

Let’s go back to the basics with this activity. How do we introduce people who are with us? Look at this picture from The Star. Imagine this scenario. Now, form groups of three. Each team member takes on one role:

Character 1: Person in cap (on the extreme right) is a man, aged 50. His name is Mr. Ho. Character 2: Person in the blue shirt, with spectacles, is aged 30. His name is Simon. Simon and Mr. Ho are neighbours. They live in Taman Melawati.

Character 3: The lady in the green shirt is Simon’s sister, Lisa. She is aged 25. Lisa has just returned from Australia after completing her studies. She has never met Mr. Ho. Your group’s task is simple. Act out the scene where Simon and Lisa meet Mr. Ho while they are at a sports complex. Take turns presenting the scenario. The scene must take at least 45 seconds before Mr Ho leaves by saying “Goodbye”. Your teacher will monitor the skits and provide feedback after all groups have presented.

File picture

(Teacher’s guide: See appropriate etiquette suggestions on Page 9)

Communicating l Oral l Aural l Non-verbal

Collaborating l Listen

l Compromise

l Contribute l Attain goal respectfully

NiE Activity 2 Read the article from the Views section of The Star.

Creative thinking

l Identify

Problem solving

l Imagine

l Question

l Reason

l Connect

l Recreate

l Organise

l Invent

l Present

Critical thinking

Communicating l Oral l Non-verbal l Aural

Courtesy should be our second nature SOME trends from the past are making a comeback albeit with a more refined look. Among them are crop tops, round sunglasses and even the practice of wearing denim on denim.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for manners and courtesy as people are caught up with the technological advances of the world.

I was leaving a 7-Eleven outlet in George Town a few days ago when I saw a man with one arm in a sling walking towards the exit. He had his phone in his hand and was busily texting away. I held the door open for him as I walked out.

He was still busy with his phone and did not acknowledge my action; there was not even the slightest nod of his head or a “thanks” which would only take one breath. It made me wonder why I even bothered. It doesn’t hurt anyone to say “Thank you”. Manners should be second nature for everyone.

QISTINA ZAINUDIN Subang Jaya,

The Star, Nov 26, 2016

Scene: At the 7-Eleven store. You are holding the door for a man with a sling around one arm. He is texting away and does not bother to look up or say “thank you” to you as you help him.

You:

What do you think would have happened if the writer had confronted the man for being rude? Write an imaginary conversation (in the form of a dialogue) between the two people. What would the exchange of words be like? Share some answers when the class is done with this activity. Discuss how you felt as you heard some of the dialogues. But remember: no foul language, please!

....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................

Rude man: ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................

You:

You:

Rude man: ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................

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Rude man: ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................

You:

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-NiE ,

8 February 2017

5

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.

– Henry Ward Beecher, American author

Teacher musings

The value of creative expression Art has many roles to play not only in society but also in our individual lives.

HOW can art impact our lives? To write about it, it is necessary to first define what art is.

It is a term that has been applied to many things and is sometimes bandied about in humour to describe something that we might not understand.

“You don’t have to understand it, it’s art,” one might say.

The Oxford Dictionary defines art as the expression of human creativity in various forms such as painting, music, literature and dance, all of which have long and complex traditions and are also constantly developing every day.

To do justice to each tradition in this short article is an impossible undertaking but I can suggest some general ways that art has impacted our lives by using different forms of expression as examples.

Firstly, art can be used as a means of spreading information. An example of this in our daily lives is the use of art in awareness campaigns conducted by organisations like the World Wildlife Foundation, which uses art to spread its message about the need to protect the earth’s endangered species.

There is something about visuals, be it through the use of photographs or drawings, that catch our eye and as our brains make sense of what we see, the intended message is communicated to us.

Have you noticed that art competitions are often organised as part of promoting a particular public message such as a “no smoking” health campaign?

While it serves the purpose of unearthing new talent, the competition also encourages participants to think of the message and how best to present it. Thus, information is spread both through art and the production of art.

Art also challenges our ideas about things.

Such works of art are often mind-boggling and are intended to make us question our assumptions, often provoking a response because they are contrary to what we think.

One such experience I remember is when I studied a play written by Samuel Beckett entitled Waiting for Godot first performed in

Art makes us question our assumptions, often provoking a response.

Paris, France, in 1953.

Prior to that, I had amassed certain ideas about plays, be it consciously or subconsciously. I thought a play must have a storyline; a discernible plot with an exposition, climax and resolution; and a conflict which usually results in character development. It should also encourage viewers to engage with it.

Waiting for Godot, on the other hand, had none of those things. It had no discernible plot, not much character development and it somehow kept me distant rather than engaged.

My first reaction was to say that it is not a good play but I then realised that it is successful precisely because it made me question my assumptions of what defines a play.

Art which challenges us is thoughtprovoking and their impact can change how we view a particular subject.

Aside from an expression of creativity, art also serves as a means to document

moments of time. Since contemporary art is meant to reflect our society, art then becomes a historical depiction of us as time passes by.

A prime example of the value of art in documenting history is a scroll painting by Zhang Zeduan, an artist who lived in early 12th century China during the Song dynasty.

The painting is titled Qingming Shanghe Tu, which translates as Along the River during the Qingming Festival and is roughly 24.8cm wide and 528cm long.

Scholars view this painting, depicting a panorama of farms in the countryside to city streets bustling with commerce, as one of the main sources to explore the life of common folk in the Song dynasty.

Finally, art impacts our lives because it is a great source of inspiration. Artists are often inspired by the works of others.

J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, for example, loves reading and some of her favourite books as a child are Elizabeth Goudge’s The Little White Horse

and C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

In fact, we do not have to look to recognised authors to see how inspiring art can be. The simple act of listening to music can inspire us, sometimes influencing our moods and emotions.

There are songs that encourage us to gather strength and face our challenges, songs that allow us to engage with the power of our emotions and songs that just spark something in us.

A song that has always been a mood-lifter for me is Defying Gravity from Wicked, a musical that is still performed on stage around the world.

I first watched the musical when I was a Master’s student in the United Kingdom.

Being far away from my family and struggling to cope with the high standards of my university, I found the song astoundingly inspiring.

It was a song about self-belief and about having confidence in one’s ability. I was comforted by the thought that even if things did not turn out as desired, at least I had tried and that was what mattered in the end.

Till this day, hearing strains of the song would bring back the same motivation and drive.

All in all, art has many roles to play not only in society but also in our individual lives. Each form of art is different and should be accorded respect as a product of creative expression.

Even though it is sometimes dismissed as insubstantial and non-profitable, its value and impact on our lives should not be denied.

By recognising how influential art is, we engage and activate our imagination. After all, as Albert Einstein said, “Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Lecturer DR GRACE LIM feels very strongly about art, particularly English Literature, and wishes more people would feel the same.

Defining art

Music

● Classical ● Jazz

Literature

● Hip-hop

● Poetry

● Latin

● Prose

Dance ● Ballet

● Modern ● Folk

● Ballroom

● Drama

Painting

● Landscape ● Historical ● Portrait ● Still life

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-NiE ,

BRATs – Teen features

8 February 2017

Strokes of passion

I feel most fulfilled when every white spot of the paper is covered and I have my masterpiece in hand, says the writer.

THE enjoyment and satisfaction I get while splashing colours around is a feeling beyond wonderful.

As a child, I loved adding all colours onto paper. Every shade of paint I had, I tried to somehow fit it in somewhere. I couldn’t get over how stunning the colours were, and how magical paint-mixing was.

Back then, I drew the sun at the corner of my paper, birds in the shape of the letter M, skies bright blue and grass in a spiky formation.

That was my version of an artwork, all those years ago. I suppose my mother – a top art student in her school days – saw my interest and wanted to cultivate it.

She signed me up for art lessons when I was just four. Thereafter, I picked up new tools and mediums – crayons, oil pastels, watercolours, acrylics, oil paint, you name it – and let my imagination run wild.

But my mother did not stop there. She took it upon herself to introduce various ways of adding texture, shadows and highlights to painting, creating layers and shading, and mixing colours to maximum effect. Times like that were and always will be special to me.

In school, I enjoyed my visual art lessons and it became one of my favourite subjects. While my classmates groaned whenever our art teacher gave us a new assignment, my mind would be thinking up all sorts of ways to work on it.

Would I make it colourful, monochrome, complicated or simplistic? Visualising the image in my head was fun but doing the actual practical work made it even more so.

I would lock myself in my room for hours, painting my heart out. Those were the times I felt most content losing myself in art.

For me, art exists in all forms – it could be a simple scribble, a dripping splatter of paint or even the modelling clay statue by a toddler.

There is no right or wrong; that is the beauty of it all. And that is also why I have pursued it for so long.

It has become a part of me so much so that I can’t go a week without producing a painting or creating modern calligraphy.

I feel a deep sense of connection with my art mediums and tools. Every tube of paint, every marker pen and every colour pencil is special to me.

They are my most treasured possessions which empower me to express myself and convey my message through art.

When I start putting my ideas down on paper, the magic comes alive. Hours could pass, and I wouldn’t even realise it.

These days, I love painting sceneries especially. I draw inspiration from real life; sometimes, I merge different scenes together to create new places and landscapes.

I feel most fulfilled when every white spot of the paper is covered and I have my masterpiece in hand.

Art is powerful. It can raise awareness and in some cases, even eyebrows.

Someone once said: “Art speaks where words are unable to explain.” I couldn’t agree more.

Every piece tells a story, symbolises something, or can be taken subjectively – there could be a million different opinions about it and that’s ok. It’s up to you how you would like to interpret it.

So, even if you think your artwork is not good enough, I’d suggest that you continue creating, and honing your skills at the same time. Your art is yours and yours alone. You should be proud of it.

You don’t have to make a million off your art to be a true artist. As long as it drives and motivates you, it’s worth much more than that.

I may not be as skilful and talented as many others, but I am grateful for having found a passion that I could nurture for life.

By JYNN KOK E-LYNN, 16 SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (3), Petaling Jaya, Selangor

A stepping stone Students get a head start through their Visual Arts Education in school.

I was a science stream student but I chose visual arts as an elective in the SPM because out of so many subjects, it was the only one that could relieve my stress and soothe my mind. Besides, I got to improve my drawing and colouring skills and most importantly, I found my interest in art. The skills I have gained are useful, especially in completing my biology assignments nowadays.

– Nicole Ting Jing Hui, 20, SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong (1), Puchong, Selangor Art is not only about drawing and painting, it also appears in many other forms such as craftwork. I took visual arts as an elective because I was interested in exploring it further. Also, it would be useful in my tertiary studies as I plan to study an art-related course. While designing a

scrapbook for the exam, I tried out some new projects and it was fun.

– Chang Jing Mei, 18, SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong (1), Puchong, Selangor I’ve always been passionate about the arts, so it was a natural choice for me to take visual arts as an elective in the SPM. My art teacher taught me well as I managed to pick up a lot of tips and techniques, be it in painting, drawing or sketching. I find the skills I’ve learnt really useful, especially now that I have to draw and sketch different body parts in my anatomy class.

It’s easier to revise the subject for exams when you know what you are drawing, don’t you think?

– Goh Hui Yi, 20, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah

The main reason I took art as an elective was my interest in it. My teachers and seniors told me that the skills would come in handy, and it’s certainly true. It has helped me to think out of the box. I also draw and paint to de-stress. I’m grateful for having an amazing art teacher who taught me techniques in drawing, painting, and making art and craft. She constantly reminded me to stretch my creativity. All in all, art is fun and it makes learning fun, too!

– Priscilla Gunn Fong Ern, 20, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Perak I took visual arts as an SPM subject because I wanted to challenge myself before going further into the field at the tertiary level. And now, I’m studying animation, which is what I’ve always wanted to do from young. For me, art enables me to express some of my feelings that cannot be conveyed through words.

– Amirul Afiq Khalim, 19, The One Academy, Subang Jaya, Selangor

Compiled by From young, I loved watching Art Attack, an art and craft TV series. Art ended up as my hobby, a part of my life, and in some ways, my “therapy”. Some may say art is the easiest subject in school but it is the most difficult for me. But I have since improved my drawing and I am rather proud of myself. After the SPM, I plan to pursue art courses and contribute to our country in the field of arts.

– Yasmin Yunus, 17, SMK Sultan Abu Bakar, Kuantan, Pahang I’m studying interior designing now, so taking art in secondary school was a stepping stone. Through the subject, I learnt various techniques. I hope in time I can produce a realistic drawing just by visualising it in my mind.

– Goh Kai Li, 19, First City University College, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

KU TZE XIN, 17 SMK Puchong Permai, Puchong, Selangor

CHAN SHU CHEN, 19 Methodist College, Kuala Lumpur

BRATs – Teen features

-NiE ,

Weaving magic with his paintbrush Internationally-recognised artist Charles Cham shares how he found his role and place in life.

WHEN he was five, Charles Cham watched a movie about an artist with a magic brush that made everything he painted come alive.

It inspired him so much that he drew a portrait of the painter on the floor of his house using some of his mother’s cake powder. That was his first portrait.

From then on, there was no turning back as he threw his heart and soul into creating art. Thus, an artist with a passion for the intricate simplicity was born.

“Ars longa, vita brevis. When we’re gone, art remains,” says the 54-year-old Malaccabased artist, quoting a Latin translation of a Greek saying which means “art is long, life is short”.

That is why he strongly believes that art is a necessity in life.

“Without art, we’re just robots. Art helps us to see ourselves as a human race and shows us not just our achievements, but also our struggles,” he adds.

“It doesn’t only show beauty, but reflects our personal growth and spiritual journey, too.”

Based on the yin and yang concept, Charles’ work centres on projecting two sides, blending the negative and positive, dark and light, cold and hot, male and female.

He also places great emphasis on “art that has a face”.

“I like figurative art, especially those after 1945. I like calligraphy, graffiti, masks, portraiture and simple lines that make a face. Why? “Because faces are very interesting. It’s the first thing you see in a person. They’re all different and yet they’re all alike, because every face tells a story.”

Other than that, he continually works on “transforming non-art to art”, which entails taking something common like a normal household item and turning it into an artistic object.

“Sometimes it works, other times it just looks like a disaster. But art doesn’t always have to look good, because in art there are no fixed rules and guidelines. So, what is art, what is not? It is your perception that matters.”

Charles: What is art, what is not? It is your perception that matters. where he attended two art schools, first at the École des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence and later in Toulon.

He subsequently became a member of the Association des Artistes Indépendants in Aixen-Provence for over two years before returning to Malaysia to set up The Orangutan House in Malacca.

It began with his vision to “start an art centre on Malacca’s Jonker Street where local and visiting artists could work and exhibit together”.

On the origin of the name, he says, “I love orangutans. I chose the name not because of any ‘monkey business’, but to create awareness on wildlife protection as poaching and the destruction of primary rainforests in the 90s had escalated.”

Now, years after its installation in 1993, it still remains a meeting place for artists, art aficionados and students to discuss art – along with his two other studio-galleries of the same name in the historical city.

“Through art, I have discovered my inner

No monkey business Starting out, Charles worked as an editorial artist at The Star after completing his Higher School Certificate or HSC examination.

Six years later, he left for France

The Orangutan House is a meeting place for artists, art aficionados and students to discuss art.

self, and found my role and place in life,” he shares, revealing that he prefers the atelier (or studio) to the gallery.

“In the atelier, while creating your new work of art, you can truly be yourself. It’s a very meditative process and usually, you paint like you’re in a trance. Through this, you discover who you really are, inside and out,” he explains.

Self-discovery aside, one still has to face the reality of making ends meet – something which many artists grapple with.

For Charles, he sells his paintings online, at his three studios in Malacca and through exhibitions abroad in countries as near as Singapore and as far as Switzerland.

Apart from that, he designs T-shirts for sale, which achieve the purpose of both generating income, and putting his creativity and skills to good use.

“The T-shirts I sell are also my art. Instead of being painted on canvas or on paper, it is printed on cotton T-shirts,” he says, adding that art is a dynamic medium which can be created anywhere.

He also points out that “you don’t sell paintings like nyonya kuehs where you make them in the morning and sell them in the afternoon”.

“Selling art is an art in itself and it’s not easy. The process of painting is long, but that of selling takes even longer,” he emphasises.

On support for the local art scene, he feels that more could be done to bring new artists into the fold and stop mid-career artists from dropping out.

“In Malaysia, it’s not easy for young artists to make a living solely from their work. In certain countries like Australia and Europe, all new buildings have to allocate two per cent of the total building budget for the acquisition of artwork from local artists, but this policy doesn’t apply here,” he muses.

Believe in yourself For someone so passionate about art, it is no surprise that the father of two would encourage creative expression in his children.

“My children used to paint with me in my studio, just having fun getting messy playing with colours. I don’t force them to do things my way but I give them guidance and options,” he says.

To budding teen artists, Charles doesn’t forget to offer his advice.

“Listen to your heart and know that this is what you want. Know your stuff.

Read up on art history. Be updated on contemporary art. Also, be original. Create.

Never copy what others are doing. If you do, you’re only cheating yourself and this will not bring you satisfaction.

“And most importantly, believe in yourself. Things can be rough, but be ready to accept it. There will be lots of challenges, but if you believe in yourself and what you can contribute to art, you will have the courage to carry on.”

By SAMANTHA GOH MIN SYUEN, 18 Sunway College, Subang Jaya, Selangor

8 February 2017

A quick guide to drawing comics EVER wanted to impress your friends with a comic strip but could never do it to save your life? Fret not! Here’s a four-step guide by Joanne Lai, 17.

Formerly a student at SMK St. Mary, Kuala Lumpur, Joanne has taken part in art competitions at school, as well as PaigeeWorld, an online art community.

She draws inspiration from Japanese animation, especially that from Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary Studio Ghibli.

Joanne picked up drawing seven years ago and believes that age is no barrier to learning a new skill.

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By LEVIN LOW YUN YI, 16 SMK St. Mary, Kuala Lumpur

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-NiE ,

BRATs — Short stories

8 February 2017

A reason to smile

The wandering spirit of a girl has nowhere to go until she meets a kind soul.

SNOWFLAKES drifted down from the sky, fading as they fell through my gloved hands.

My head was in a whirl as I walked down the street. It was cold... so cold...

The other pedestrians ambled past me without so much as batting an eye. Most of them had children in tow, clutching wrapped boxes and laughing.

“What time of the year is it?” I wondered as I looked around. My mind was foggy and I could barely remember anything.

As I digged deep into the recesses of my memory, I saw a shop filled with toys. I stood outside the window, watching the children choose their toys; their parents smiling at their excitement.

In the background were trains chugging on tracks, dolls staring bright-eyed from the shelves, and wreaths and mistletoe hanging festively from the ceiling.

Presently, my eyes fell on a big Merry Christmas sign on the wall behind the checkout counter.

“That’s right,” I thought to myself, “it’s Christmas!”

As I looked into the window again, I caught a glimpse of myself. I hadn’t noticed my clothing until then. Petite with brown hair and big brown eyes, I was in a white dress and a little white poncho.

The glass also reflected the crowd of shoppers who seemed to slip past like water moving around a rock. I pressed my hand onto the glass and sighed. But the spurt of air left no mark on the window. “Strange,” I thought just as I heard a voice.

“Sam, come now. We have dinner with the Carrows!” A woman called out as she stepped out from the shop.

A boy, presumably her son, came running out after her, a stuffed teddy in his hand. In his haste, he bounded down the pavement towards me. I threw up my hands, screaming, “Watch out!”

But instead of barrelling into me, he slipped right through me! I gasped as he ran towards his mother, who took him by the hand lovingly, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Watching their retreating figures, I slumped down against the wall. “No one sees me,” I said quietly, my heart sinking into the abyss as I stared down the street.

Not a single passerby had stopped to ask why a young girl like me was out in the cold alone.

“What happened to me? Why can’t I remember anything? Is it because I’m...” I tried to stop myself from thinking the worst but a small voice in me said it anyway, “You’re dead!”

Tears sprang into my eyes as I got up and sprinted down the street. Laughter rang out all around but I felt even more alone.

“What is going on? How did I die? Where are my parents?” The questions swirled in my mind as I ran.

Turning round a bend, I found myself

BRATs young Journalist Camp 2017

Join!

before a lane flanked by two rows of double-storey houses. It was getting dark but aided by the lampposts and Christmas lights, I could see what the occupants were doing.

Almost all of them were getting ready for their feasts. Outside a house, I caught a whiff of roasted turkey as the family prepared to tuck in.

But amid the merriment, one house stood apart from the rest. Its curtains were drawn although several cars were parked around it.

On a plot of land at the church ahead, a crowd had gathered.

“Christmas service?” I wondered, heading towards it. But I soon realised that it was a far more solemn ceremony. I felt a lump in my throat when I saw the newly-dug grave.

Standing in the front row were a couple dressed in black. The woman was sobbing while the man held her close, his grief etched into every line of his face.

When the priest said a prayer, everyone in attendance bowed their heads, giving me a clear view of a photo frame on a coffin. I didn’t need to look at the picture to tell who it was. I recognised the smile from the girl’s face but it felt so foreign to me now.

Before long, I watched my coffin being lowered into the ground. The guests gathered around the anguished couple after the service ended, uttering words of comfort.

“Mummy... Daddy...” I called out to them aloud but to no effect.

Not wanting to stay at the sad scene any longer, I turned around and headed back towards the high street. Most of the shops were now closed and the snow-covered street was deserted.

My feet felt heavy and I shivered as I walked. “I’m dead... why do I still feel cold?”

I wondered miserably. Walking past the earlier toy shop, I glanced into its now dimly lit windows and was struck by a memory.

I had been in the shop not too long ago!

Instantly, a scene flashed before my eyes. It was a wintry day just like today but how awesome it had felt as my parents and I went around the aisles shopping for gifts.

I had squealed in delight as they held out a doll to me. When we left, we had gifts stuffed into our bags and grins plastered on our faces. We were about to step into another shop when someone called out to my father.

It was a friend from his college days.

As the adults started their conversation, I fidgeted close by. But when I saw a doll shop across the road, my eyes lit up.

Without a second thought, I ran towards it, not even caring to look to my left or right.

My parents screamed my name just as I turned my head and the world went white.

So that was how I died! I sank to a bench.

The streets were quiet and the wind howled.

I wrapped my small arms around myself as tears fell down my cheeks.

“Mummy... daddy... I miss you!” I wailed as sobs racked my body. I must have been

sitting there freezing in the cold for a good half an hour when I heard footsteps.

Looking up, I saw a man gazing right into my eyes with a gentle smile on his face.

“Are you alright, little one?” he asked.

How could he see me?

Unless...

“Are you dead, mister?” I asked solemnly but he laughed in response, his voice like a calm sea.

“Now what gave you that idea?” he said, sitting down.

“Why can you see me?” I asked again, kicking my feet into thin air. “I see those in need,” he replied softly.

For the first time since I had found myself alone, I felt a sudden surge of warmth.

“I’m dead... where can I go?” I muttered to myself, tears welling up afresh in my eyes.

“Who said you have nowhere to go?” he said, getting up and brushing snow from his black coat. Then, he offered his gloved hand to me and asked, “Shall we, little miss?”

I stared at his hand for a moment and thought, “I have nowhere else to go. I’m dead anyway, he can’t harm me.”

Slowly, I took his hand and before I knew it, we were in front of a homely manor.

“How did we...” I started to ask as he knocked on the door but a footman answered it before he could reply.

“Welcome back, young master,” the footman said, bowing. My mind was racing as we were led down the hall and into a large dining room where a passel of children were playing while a group of adults were engaging in light banter.

“Hey there! You wanna play?” A boy called out. Hesitating, I looked at the man.

“Go on,” he said gently and I smiled for the first time that Christmas.

of al tale r or n i g i r ut o re, horro 0 ous b 0 fictiti e, adventu about 1,2 aid a n i v p n Sp i o l e , , nse will b u like suspe g that yo shed, you ted, don’t in it li anyth If it is pub ork subm ame, age, w n s. l y l d n r u a f o hone r w 0! For , telep e you il RM10 t to includ IC number ess. E-ma forge f school, ostal addr : o to p name r and full missions m.my e o ub .c s r a r t u s numb yo @the f f u t ls schoo

By ABIGAIL SHANNON CHUA, 20 Kolej Yayasan Saad International School, Malacca

Join BRATs!

Find out how you can be part of our young journalist programme.

IF you’re aged between 16 and 19, and want to learn all about journalism and documentary video production, here’s your chance!

The BRATs Young Journalist Camp 2017 –

run by The Star’s international awardwinning R.AGE team – is now open for registration. You may choose to take part either in March, June or August.

Participants will learn skills such as news writing, video production, photography, interviewing skills and social media reporting. On top of that, participants will go on field assignments.

Here’s how to apply: download the registration forms from rage.com.my/ bratsrecruitment, fill them up and submit them along with an essay (max. 1,000 words) or a video (max. five minutes) on “why you want to be a journalist” to brats@thestar.com.my.

Only 30 participants will be chosen each camp. So, register as soon as possible.

Camp participants will subsequently be recruited as our teen writers and stand a chance of having their articles published throughout the year.

So what are you waiting for? Hurry up and register today!

For more information, go to rage. com.my/brats. Submission deadline for the camp in March is Feb 17.

-NiE ,

INTERMEDIATE Social skills

8 February 2017

9

Magic manners

POLITE words like “please”, “thank you” and “excuse me” make other people feel appreciated and respected.

You can show kindness and respect for other people’s feelings by speaking politely to them.

Good manners requires thinking about other people, instead of just thinking about yourself. Other people will feel comfortable and happy to be around you when you are polite and treat them with respect.

Read this article that appeared in The Star on Sept 11, 2016. Then, answer the following questions.

Mind your manners, please IT is important for young people to have good manners and conduct. Sadly, many children seem to lack basic courtesy.

Looking up to acknowledge a person in a room, or to say “hello” are basic manners that young people must have, but many just don’t seem to have it. Showing good manners reveals that you have respect for others as well as for yourself.

Recently a VIP recalled an incident where students who received ang pows did not even say “thank you”.

They obviously were excited about the cash gifts, but surely, the children could have shown their appreciation by saying the “magic word”.

Using “please” and “thank you” are important words. While there are some who may not use these terms, there will be others who will notice and admire us for being polite and courteous. Good conduct and values do play an important part in shaping young people.

Educators and policy-makers also have a role to play, and must ensure that values are instilled and practised. We need to constantly speak to our children about values and etiquette, for only then will it be ingrained in them.

By doing so, we hope they will become adults with character and integrity.

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking

MS ETIQUETTE Kuala Lumpur

l Identify

l Reason

Creative thinking 1. Can you remember a time when someone did something nice for you or gave you a gift? How did you show appreciation to that person? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Why it is important to show thankfulness? Discuss your answers in pairs using the following points:  that person - more likely to help you - or to be kind - in the future.  makes everyone feel good.  shows respect to - the person - who helped you or gave you a gift. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. As a class, discuss different ways of expressing gratitude besides verbalising a “thank you”. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. The writer believes that educators and policy-makers, too, have a role to play to make sure that our children grow up with good manners. Do you agree with the writer? Explain your answer. ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………

l Imagine l Brainstorm

l Connect l Invent

Problem solving l Question l Recreate

l Present

……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. If you and your group members were such policy-makers, suggest one way your team would go about moulding the children of our nation into “adults with character and integrity”. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

NiE Activity 2

l Connect

l Brainstorm l Invent

Problem solving l Question

l Present

l Recreate

Communicating l Written

Note to teacher

l Imagine

for NiE Activity 1, Page 4:

Creative thinking

There may be some awkward moments as students try a round of introduction.

Allow other students to provide feedback about what they see after each group has presented the skit. Ask if there were “awkward” moments or pleasant, smooth ones.

l Organise

l Reason

The rule of thumb is as follows: After Mr. Ho and Simon exchange greetings, Simon should introduce Lisa to Mr. Ho as Mr. Ho is the eldest in the group. It is also common for ladies to extend their hands first for courtesy handshakes.

Simon can then use some information to break the ice by telling Mr. Ho a little about Lisa.

l Identify

It is always appropriate to send a thank you card or note when you receive a gift. It is one way of expressing thanks.

Now, think of someone who has helped you, given you a gift, or been especially kind to you in some way recently. Write a thank you note to give to this person.

Specifically mention what you are thanking the person for and what you liked about the gift, or how you were helped by the action. Use at least three descriptive words from The Star in this note.

You can do this activity in your exercise book, using appropriate pictures from The Star to decorate your note.

Some cultures do not encourage handshakes between different genders.

What’s the best way to approach this cultural practice when in a local or foreign setting? Discuss with the students.

Critical thinking

10

-NiE ,

8 February 2017

ADVANCED

Serving the community NiE Activity 1

What we have in common HOW do you define a community? Do you live in one or are you alienated?

Communities are groups of people who live in the same place and share similar beliefs.

Your community is in a certain neighbourhood, city or town, state, country, and even planet!

There are various versions of communities. For example, your classroom could be one community, so could your school, neighbourhood, city, online community or global community.

Gather in groups of four for this activity. Each team member will be assigned to one of the communities below:

Critical thinking

recreation

school

l Reason

l Identify

Creative thinking l Imagine l Connect

Problem solving l Question l Research

online community

sports

Invent

l Recreate l Present

Scan your copy of The Star. Look for four items – in the form of words or pictures – that tie you to this particular community. Paste them below.

ExAmPlE

my community: recreation Name of item: The uniform that scouts wear.

Communicating l Oral

l Aural

How it helps me bond with my community: The standard attire creates a camaraderie for all of us who wear it as we share the same values and beliefs.

Name of item: .......................................................

How it helps me bond with my community:

Name of item: .......................................................

How it helps me bond with my community:

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

Creative thinking

Critical thinking l Identify

my community: ........................................................................................

l Measure

l Reason

l Imagine l Brainstorm

l Connect

Name of item: .......................................................

How it helps me bond with my community:

Name of item: .......................................................

How it helps me bond with my community:

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

....................................................................................

1.

Share what these elements are with your team members.

2.

Explain what the word “community” means in the context that you have been given.

3.

Explain how each item helps you bond with the community you are assigned to.

4.

Give an example of how you cooperate within your community to accomplish a goal.

NiE Activity 2 Problem solving

l Question l Recreate

l Present

Positive strengths that make a difference We are all different. We have varied personal strengths that can make a difference in the world we live in today. It can make a difference in our family, among our friends, our football team and many more.

Brainstorm personal strengths and actions people can take that make a difference. Use the T-chart as the class does this activity together:

Collaborating

Communicating l Oral

l Aural

l Listen

l Compromise

l Contribute respectfully

l Attain goal

Negative characters that hinder

-NiE ,

ADVANCED

Serving the community NiE Activity Scan The Star in groups of four. Select a story in which an individual makes a difference in his area of expertise or community: politics, sports, performing art, science.

8 February 2017

11

Making that difference TO make a difference, we must use our strengths to face challenges that result from standing up for something that we believe in. The newspaper carries many stories of individuals who have made decisions and stood by them. They do so to make a difference in their own lives and those of others.

Activity 1 Creative thinking l Brainstorm

l Imagine l Connect

Problem solving l Question l Recreate

l Present

Before your group goes on to read the article, however, share the headline of your article by taking turns to write it on the board. Go though each headline as a class and discuss what you think each article is about.

Communicating l Oral

l Aural

Activity 2 Creative thinking

Critical thinking l Identify

l Measure

l Imagine

l Reason

l Organise

l Brainstorm

l Connect

Problem solving l Question l Research

l Recreate l Present

Collaborating

Communicating l Oral l Written

l Aural

l Listen

l Compromise

l Contribute respectfully

l Attain goal

Read the story selected as a group.

Write down a challenge the character faced: an incident, problem, conflict, solution.

Incident

Problem

Conflict

Solution

As a group, answer the following questions: 1. How would you feel if you were this character? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Imagine you were him or her, how would you handle this situation? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. How did this person make a difference? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. What were the challenges he or she faced? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. What personal strengths did he or she have? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. How do the challenges faced by this character compare to the ones you have faced? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

12

-NiE ,

8 February 2017

Unscramble the words to find the idioms: ● Picture: Bristol and fashion/order in shipshape Refers to something that is very neat and clean (origin: Bristol, England, as known for skilled workers who maintained ships and kept them in a tidy order.)

by John & Ching Yee Smithback

● Across: a after fashion do something only moderately well

Fill in the correct one from the list below:

● Down: fashion a plate a person of either sex who is always well-dressed in the latest style

By: Dean Pitchford

Answers: Picture: in shipshape and Bristol order/ fashion Across: after a fashion Down: a fashion plate

“How long will it take us to get to Earth?” Ethos asked. “In this old spaceship of mine, it’ll probably take a hundred years,” Esper replied.

“Wow, lucky I put the cat out and turned off the lights at home!” Ethos answered. “Never mind, it will all be the same in a hundred years,” Esper replied. ● This saying – it’s used humorously – suggests that a hundred years from now, most things will be much the same as they are today so perhaps we shouldn’t worry so much.

a) fashion plates b) after a fashion c) in shipshape and Bristol order Fill in: 1) b 2) c 3) a

IT WILL BE ALL THE SAME IN A HUNDRED YEARS

1) “I’m a busy person so my cooking is usually done _________,” Sarah confessed.

2) “Felix is getting a new car even though his present one looks to be _______.”

3) “We have a number of ________ working in our office,” Douglas said, “Nikki is my favourite. She’s truly elegant!”

Episode 1

It was the morning of the Big Game. The last time everything was okay.

You’re not kidding!

Distracted (*page 3)

Losing focus or not being able to concentrate because attention is diverted or side-tracked

Electrifying (*page 4) There at the top of the Sports page was a giant colour photo of my brother, Chris.

Dad, check out what the Sentinel said aboutHang on, Newt.

I figured I could tell Dad later about the article.

Mum! You gotta see this morning’s sport sec-

Just a minute, sweetie, I’ve got to get that call first.

Exciting or thrilling

Blueprints (*page 5)

Designs, prints or drawings of plans

(*Refer to the novel)

QUESTION Based on Chapter 1 of the novel Captain Nobody, how would you describe Newt’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Newman?