This guide is to provide guidance in writing quality essay.
About Myself
My name is
Shafiqah. I am in Year Six. I am studying in SK Sepang, Selangor.
On weekdays, I
get up early in the morning and go to school. I learn many things at school.
In the evening,
I play with my friends. We play in the park. Sometimes we jog too.
I am a happy
girl. I make my teachers happy too. I always do my homework. I make my parents
happy by studying hard and make them proud.
I am glad to be
myself.
Carlos - My Little Brother
My name is
Suzanna. I have a brother. His name is Carlos. Carlos is a cute boy.
Carlos is in
Year One. He studies in the same school as me. He is good in Mathematics but
not in English. He tries his best to improve.
Carlos loves to
play with his toys. He likes to share them with his friends. Mother always buys
toys for him. He takes good care of his toys.
My brother,
Carlos is a kind-hearted boy. Sometimes, he helps his classmates by buying them
food and helping them with their homework. I love him very much.
My Dream
I always wanted
to be a runner. I usually take part in the running events for my School Annual
Sports.
My teachers too
feel happy to see me running. 1 usually win.
They call me
Usain Bolt because I can run fast. Usain Bolt is a famous sprinter from
Jamaica. I adore him and always surf the internet to read about him.
I hope one day I
can be a world known runner and an Olympic Champion. I hope my dream will come
true.
My Dearest Mum
Hi, I am Sally
Tan. I come from a small family. There are four members in my family.
We have a
beautiful mother. She is Mrs. Tan. She is very slim and pretty.
My mother likes
to bake cakes and cookies. She likes to bake cakes for tea. She also sells the
cakes and cookies to our neighbours.
We enjoy eating
her cakes very much. She prepares a well balanced food for lunch and dinner.
Father loves her cooking. She always serves food with a smiling face.
I love my mother
very much.
My Father
Hello, I am
Fuad. My father’s name is En. Ramly.
My father is a
policeman. He works in the police - station. He catches thieves and works hard
to upkeep law and order.
He is a good
man. He likes to play with me. He plays football with my friends and me.
Sometimes, he is
strict. He checks my books and helps with my homework. He wants me to be a good
and a well-behaved boy. He wants me to be successful in life.
I love my father
very much. He loves me too. I make sure I study hard and make my father proud
of me.
My Grandmother
My grandmother
is sixty years old. She is thin but strong. She is a pretty and loving lady.
My grandmother
is an active person. She does all the housework. She takes care of me. She
always keeps me clean and teaches me good manners.
I like my
grandmother because she always helps me with my school-projects. She buys many
things for me too.
She is my best
friend too. I always share my stories with her. I always pray that God gives
her a healthy life.
My Family
My name is Husna.
I come from an average family. I have two siblings. We study in the same
school. We go to school by bus.
My mother is a
teacher and my dad is a health inspector.
My mum and dad
are a loving couple. They do not argue with one another. My mother does the
household chores without grumbling. Whereas, my dad settles the utility bills
and sends us for our tuition classes. We go outing on weekends.
We are a happy
family. We believe in respecting each other.
My
Neighbour
My neighbour is
Ramesh. He is from Sabah. He is nine years old.
Ramesh likes
drawing very much. He can draw beautiful pictures. He likes to take part in art
competitions.
Ramesh’s mother
is a nurse. She is a kind lady. Ramesh’s father is a fireman. He is a brave
man.
I like them very
much.
My Beautiful Pet
I am Hazril. I
have a pet. It is a Minah. I call it Princess.
Princess is very
talkative. It wakes me up in the morning by saying “Good Morning”.
When I come back
from school, it likes to say, “Homework”. So I never miss doing my homework.
I feed it with
nuts. It lives in a special cage.
I love Princess.
It is a good friend to me.
My Beautiful Cat
Hello, I am Lucy.
I have a pet. It is a cat.
I call it Fanny.
Fancy is a fat
cat. It eats fish everyday. It loves to play too.
My pet, Fanny,
catches rats at night. Though it is fat, it is very active.
I love Fancy
very much because it does not make me bored. I am always busy with Fanny.
On weekends, I
will bathe her and clean her ears and paws.
Fancy is a
healthy pet.
My House
Hey, this is my house. It is a terrace
house.
I have many neighbours. Our houses are all
in a row. My house is painted brown. It has three rooms and a porch.
My house is big. We sit together to watch
the television in the hall.
At the dining hall, we gather to have
food. My mum’s favourite place is the kitchen. She likes to cook there.
I like my house very much. I will keep it
clean always. My sister and I take turn to sweep and mop the house.
My mum will always wash the porch and the
kitchen, for these two places are dirtied easily. We like our house very much.
My Favourite Game
My name is Shalu. I am in Year 3.1 spend
my free time playing my favourite game.
Word games are always my favourite. They
can make me go crazy. I always play in the evening with me sister, Sheela.
Word games help me to build my vocabulary.
They help me to spell words correctly.
I enjoy playing them.
My Favourite Game At School
I am Abdul Ziyad. I am 8 years old. Do you
know that I go to school early on Tuesday mornings? It is for the Chess Club
meetings.
During the meetings, I play at least 3
sets of games. I play with the club members.
Sometimes I win but sometimes I don’t.
When I lose in a game, I do not feel sad. Instead, I try to improve and play
better.
I am glad to be a chess player.
My Father's Car
My father has a car. It is a Proton
Perdana. It is long and spacious.
Proton Perdana is a very comfortable car
for driving. My father says that it is the best car he had ever driven.
On weekends, we go for a long journey in
our car.
We never feel tired travelling in our Proton
Perdana. When I grow up, I will buy the latest Proton Perdana.
Dola’s Laptop
I am Dola. I am in year two. I have a
laptop. It has a name, ‘ACER’.
My father gave it to me on my birthday. It
is a red laptop.
I use it to play games. I use it to chat
with my friends and to learn and read.
I like my laptop. I take good care of my
laptop.
My Birthday Gift
Hi! I am Suzan. I have a new bicycle. Its
name is BMX3.
My bicycle is a birthday gift. It is blue
with a red handlebar.
It has two wheels and a small basket. I
take care of my bicycle very well.
I always cycle around my neighbourhood.
My Hobby
My hobby is playing the piano. My mum
bought a piano last year. It is a new piano, named ‘YAMAHA’.
I enjoy playing the piano whenever I am
free.
My good friend, Afiza has the same hobby
too. We practise playing the piano together.
I can tune to songs like ‘Auld Lang Syne’
and ‘Five Hundred Miles’. I enjoy playing the piano.
I want to be a famous pianist when I grow up.
My Computer
I have a computer. It is a Samsung
computer. It has a flat screen.
I do a lot of work with my computer. I use
the computer to complete my school projects and folios.
My computer is very helpful. It gives me
colourful pictures to attach to my folios. Sometimes, I play games on it. It
makes me happy.
I like my computer very much. I take good
care of it.
My Dictionary
I have a dictionary. Its name is Oxford
English Dictionary. It has many pages and there are colourful pictures in it.
It is suitable for children of my age. I
use it often. I use it to search new words and their meanings.
When I write stories, I need to know many
new words. I get them from this dictionary. My teachers usually praise me for
my choice of words.
All my friends have English dictionaries
to improve their vocabulary. Using the dictionary is fun!
My Toys
My name is Kumasegaran. I have many toys.
They are all from various countries. Father brings home toys whenever he goes
overseas for business trips.
Some are cheap and some are expensive.
Some are big and some are small. Some are new and some are old. I even have a
robotic doll which can walk and talk.
All my toys are kept in my bedroom. There
is a special shelf to display them.
I like to play with my toys whenever I am
free. My neighbours, Julia and Tan come to my house to play with the toys too.
We do not fight with one another but we
play together.
My School Canteen Day
Last Tuesday was my School Canteen Day.
There were many stalls set up at the parking area in the school.
I bought some coupons at the booth. I
bought food like nasi lemak, fried noodles and sweet drinks for my
siblings and parents.
My friends bought buns, chicken rice and
sweet corn.
We enjoyed the food, it was indeed a very
happy day.
Farah’s School Sports Day
Farah is studying in SK Kampung Bistari.
Last Wednesday was Sports Day. All the pupils were excited.
Most of the pupils took part in many
events. Farah took part in the running in the sack event.
Her group won the first prize. They
received hampers and trophies.
Soh Keng took part in the 4 x 4 relay
race. She won the second prize.
The Red House scored the highest points
and was the Champion for 2016.
Prize Giving Day
Hi, I am Peter Wong. My school is SK Sri
Cerah. Yesterday was the Prize Giving Day.
Those who got straight A’s were awarded
with certificates and trophies.
The pupils involved came with their
parents. Their parents went up to the stage with their children and collected
the award.
We were happy to celebrate the day. It
motivated us to work hard and produce good results in the approaching
examination.
Suhaimi
Suhaimi is in Year 5 Melur. His classroom
is on the 2nd floor.
It has 30 desks and 30 chairs for the
pupils. There is a cushioned chair and a big table for the teachers. There are
two bookshelves for the pupils to arrange their books.
At the back of the classroom there are
several notice boards and a reading corner.
Suhaimi’s classroom is always neat and
tidy. Suhaimi and his friends like to keep their classroom clean.
My School Library
There is a library in my school. It is on
the first floor. It is next to the office.
Many pupils go there to read books,
newspapers and magazines.
It is fully air - conditioned. It has many
tables and chairs.
There are many librarians on duty. They
take care of the books. They clean the library and arrange the books neatly on
the shelves.
I like my library.
My School Field
My school is SK Sungai Besar. It is an
average - sized school. There are about six hundred pupils and teachers in this
school.
It has a big field. Most of the time the
boys play football there.
The other half of the field is used by the
girls to play netball. Miss Messa is our netball trainer. She is very strict.
Many competitions are held at our school
field. Last week, the District Netball and Football competition were held here.
After the competition, we usually clean
the field. The school cleaners help us to keep our field clean.
The Internet
The Internet is used by most people all
over the world. We can the use internet to surf for information and
entertainment. We can also gain knowledge by surfing the internet.
Younger children can use the internet to
play games. They can use their leisure time wisely.
We can also use the internet to buy things
online. We can save time by buying things online.
Everyone enjoy themselves surfing the
internet.
My Neighbourhood
I live at Kelana Jaya in Selangor.
I live in a flat. My house is on the 12th
floor. There are neighbours of different races living here. They are Malays,
Chinese and Indians.
In my surroundings, there are many
clinics, shops and hotels. There is an old market too. On Sundays, many people
go to the market. The nearby roads are also full of ears.
There are primary schools and private
kindergardens in my neighbourhood.
It is a busy area.
Melvin - My
Best Friend
My best friend is Melvin. Melvin is in the
same class as me. He is a very kind boy. He likes to share his things with me
and other friends.
Melvin is very good at Mathematics. He
always scores well in Mathematics but is weak in Bahasa Malaysia.
Both of us love to play online games. We
like to play, ‘Angry Bird’ and Temple Run’ very much.
On weekends, we attend tuition classes
together. Our tuition teacher is Puan Khaini.
I like my friend, Melvin.
My Hometown
My hometown is Penang. It is a very busy and beautiful island.
There are many foreigners here. Some come
here to work and some come to visit.
There are many kinds of restaurants here.
They sell many types of food. The most famous food here is ‘Char Koew Tiaw’
Gurney Drive is famous for its varieties of local food like ‘Pasembor’.
In Penang Island, we can see many
historical buildings. They are the Penang Museum, Fort Cornwallis and many
others.
There are many happenings here. So, it is
always exciting to watch them. I love my hometown, Penang very much.
The State of
Perak
I am Izham. I am from Perak. Perak is the
second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia.
Its capital city is Ipoh. I live in Ipoh.
It is a busy town. There are many shopping malls, offices, educational centres
and recreational parts here.
There are some important places to be
visited here like the Kelly’s Castle, Taiping Safari Zoo, Gua Tempurung and the
Lost World of Tambun.
Many tourists come here to visit these
places. They snap a lot of photographs and buy plenty of souvenirs from here.
Perak produces the best ground nuts in
Malaysia. They taste the best. Perak grown bean sprouts are also famous and
mostly bought by hawkers to prepare ‘fried koew tiaw’.
A Visit to the
State of Kelantan
During the last semester holidays, Nora
visited her grandparents in Kelantan. She travelled by train from Bukit
Mertajam to Kuala Krai.
Nora’s grandparents were at the railway
station to welcome Nora and her parents.
Nora stayed in the fishing village for a
day, then she followed her grandfather to the ‘batik’ factory. She saw how
materials were printed. She was amazed and excited. She was also given a chance
to print.
Lastly, she and her relatives had a
gathering at Cahaya Bulan Resort. They swam in the beach and enjoyed the
barbecued seafood there.
Nora enjoyed her holidays very much. She
plans to visit Kelantan again during the final school holidays.
A Holiday in Genting Highlands
Last weekend, Kok Wei went to Genting
Highlands. He went there with his aunt. They travelled by bus.
The road to Genting Highland was winding,
Kok Wei did not like it.
When he reached the theme park, he was
truly amazed with the games offered there. He went on the roller-coaster and
screamed loudly while it moved swiftly.
He was thrilled to go round the gigantic
wheels. His aunty shivered while riding the roller coaster.
They, they took a rest. They were scared
and promised themselves not to ride the roller - coaster again.
Kok Wei and his aunt took their dinner at
a nearby restaurant and started back home. While driving back home, they
enjoyed the cool climate.
Maya's trip to Langkawi Island
Maya’s family went on a vacation to
Langkawi Island in Kedah.
Maya’s father drove to the jetty at Kuala
Kedah. He bought 5 tickets for his family to get into a ferry.
When they reached Langkawi Island, they
booked a hotel. They went shopping and island hopping. She was happy to see the
eagles being fed at a particular spot.
Maya bought lots of chocolates and
souvenirs for her neighbours and friends. She was very happy being there.
Maya enjoyed the trip.
A Visit to the State of Melaka
Last December, Izana visited her uncle in
Malacca. She stayed there for a week.
Her uncle took her to visit many historical
places. They visited A’
Famosa’, an old fort. They also visited
the Malacca Museum.
Izana climbed the St. Francis Hill with
her cousins. She also had a chance to have a ride on a trishaw around Malacca
town.
She plans to visit Malacca again during
the school holidays. She wants to visit the Butterfly Park and the Crocodile
Farm.
She enjoys her trip very much.
A Visit To Taiping, Perak
Last Saturday, my class visited Taiping.
There were thirty pupils for the trip.
We visited the Taiping Zoo. It is the
oldest zoo. I saw many kinds of animals there.
Next, we went to the Lake Gardens. The
lake looked beautiful. We played games at the lake.
Finally, we went to the museum. We saw
many interesting old things there.
I was very happy and excited on this trip.
Dr Kumar’s Clinic
Mr. Kumar is a doctor. He has a clinic in
my town. He is a famous doctor.
He treats patients with love and care.
He charges them reasonable rates. His
medicine cures sickness quickly.
Dr. Kumar talks to people softly. Many
patients queue up at his clinic to get treated.
His nurses and attendants are also kind
and soft in their conversation with the patients.
It is closed on public holidays but on
other days it is opened from q
a.m. - 5 p.m.
A Walk In The Jungle
My science teacher, Mr. Lim took us for a
walk in the jungle last Monday.
On our way, we saw many types of plants,
insects and animals.
We also saw many types of trees. They had
different shapes of leaves.
My friends and I went near the anthills.
We saw how the ants worked together to build their nests.
Lastly, we snapped some photos and returned
home happily.
Darhan’s New Watch
Darhan got a watch from his dad. His dad
gave it as a gift on his birthday.
Farhan is very proud of his new watch. He
shows it to all his friends.
Darhan uses his new watch to school
everyday. His friends admire his watch because it is unique.
He always keeps it in its special box. He
takes good care of it and his father too feels happy to have bought a watch for
Darhan.
He loves his watch very much. He promised
to take good care of it.
Barbara’s Bakery
Miss Barbara is a baker. She has a bakery
in town.
She opens it at 10.00 a.m. and closes it
at 8.00 p.m. She sells all kinds of bread, muffins and cakes.
She sells pizza, buns and birthday cakes
the most. She makes good profit on Sundays.
Miss Barbara is helped by two assistants
who are skilled in baking too. Many people come to buy from her shop because
the items are sold at reasonable prices.
She enjoys her career as a baker.
Mr Razak’s Restaurant
Mr. Razak is a restaurant owner. He sells
Malay food during lunch time. He has many workers to prepare varieties of food.
Mr. Razak opens his shop on all days
except Tuesdays. Everyday he changes his menu. His customers are of all races.
They love the hot and spicy food served at the restaurant.
His restaurant is always clean and neat.
His workers are very polite
to the customers.
He welcomes all his customers with a wide
broadsmile. He charges them reasonably.
En. Razak has many faithful customers.
Jya’s Laundry
Jya is a washer woman. She has a self
service laundry near the factories. Many officers and workers bring their dirty
clothes to her shop to be washed.
Jya has twenty washing machines. They are
automatic machines. Jya’s customers insert coins into the machines and press
the buttons to wash the clothes.
She is always helpful to the customers.
She helps them to pack their clothes neatly.
Jya’s customers keep coming to the laundry
as she is a very cheerful person.
The Post Office
Yesterday, Zuraidah followed her mum to
the post office. Many counters were opened for service.
Zuraidah and her mum queued up at the
first counter to send a parcel to her friend in Japan. They brought the parcel
well wrapped using brown paper. Her mum wrote the correct address on it. She
gave it to the officer who was in-charge. He weighed it and told her the amount
for the postage.
Zuraidah was happy to see the various kinds of services being offered there. She
saw some
buying stamps, some paying their utility
bills and some saving money in their accounts.
Her mother bought a stamp and pasted it on
the parcel. Then, she gave it to the officer. The officer put it in a special
trolley.
They went back home happily.
Hari Raya Puasa
Akmal is a Malay boy. He celebrates Hari
Raya Puasa.
Before Hari Raya Puasa, Akmal fasts for a
month during the month of Ramadhan.
On Hari Raya Day, he gets up early in the
morning, he cleans himself and puts on his new clothes. Then, he follows his
father to the mosque.
When they return home, they prepare
themselves to serve their guests with ketupat, chicken rendang and other
delicacies.
Hari Raya is a day to see all relatives
and friends.
Chinese New Year
Lin Xze is a Chinese girl.
Every year she celebrates Chinese New Year
which falls in the month of January or February.
Before the festival, Lin Xze helps her
family to clean her house. They also do shopping to buy new clothes for their
family members. Some would also buy new furniture.
On this day, all friends and relatives who
visit Lin Xze usually give her red packets called “angpow” with money in them.
Lin Xze feels excited to get a lot of red packets.
In the evening, her family members will
have dinner together. After that, she plays fire crackers with her siblings.
She enjoys herself during this
celebration.
Alex Celebrates Christmas
Alex is a Christian boy. He celebrates
Christmas in December. It falls on 25th of December each year.
His parents would decorate a Christmas
tree and leave it in the hall.
On Christmas eve, he goes to the church
with his parents. Later in the night, he would unwrap the parcels given to him
by his parents.
Alex loves to eat grilled turkey with ghee
rice which his mother prepares.
After lunch, he will be busy chatting with
his friends and sending them wishes and greetings.
Alex is always very happy on this day.
Deepavali
Arun is a Hindu boy. He celebrates
Deepavali.
His mother and sister will prepare
‘muruku’ and other traditional cakes.
Arun will help his mother to clean the
house and put up new curtains.
On Deepavali day, he wears new traditional
clothes and follows his family to p^ay in a temple.
He likes Deepavali because he can have
many visitors in his house. Arun’s mother serves ‘thosai’ and chicken curry to
their visitors.
Arun is also helpful for he helps his
mother to clean the house if it is messy on this day.
Usually Arun is very excited on this day.
Shila's Birthday
Last Sunday, Shila celebrated her
birthday. She went to a temple in the morning. Then, she had a great breakfast.
In the afternoon, Shila’s parents arranged
a surprise birthday party. They invited all her classmates.
Her friends sang the Birthday song and
Shila cut the cake.
After cutting the birthday cake, they
played some games and ate the varieties of food prepared by Shila’s mother.
Later, after her friends went back home,
she opened the gifts. She was very happy with the gifts.
She showed them to her close friends, Naza
and Rose the next day. They felt happy for Shila.
Local Fruits
There are many types of local fruits. Some
are seasonal and some are non - seasonal.
The seasonal fruits are durians, mangosteens,
rambutans and the non-seasonal ones are bananas, pineapples and water-melons.
Our local fruits are cheap compared to
imported fruits. They give us health benefits if we include them in our daily
diet.
I love to eat our local fruits.
Zura, A Poor Girl
Zura lives in a small village with her
mother and two siblings. Her father died when she was six years old. Her family
is a poor family.
Every morning Zura walks to school with
her siblings who are younger than her.
Sometimes Zura could not go to school on
rainy days because she does not have umbrellas or raincoats. She stays at home
and helps her mother to sell nasi lemak.
Zura never grumbles or complains. She
accepts her life as it is.
Lalitha, A
Quick Thinker
Lalitha is in Year 3. She is the only girl
in her family. Most of the time, she stays with her blind grandmother.
One day, a thief entered her house. Her
blind grandmother was talking to him. Lalitha knew she was talking to a bad
person. She saw the man was searching for something in her house.
She quickly let go her goose. The goose
ran straight to the hall and attacked the thief.
Lalitha was happy to see the thief running
away. She hugged the goose and thanked it.
The Noisiest Day
The noisiest day in my life was when we,
the pupils of Year 3 gathered to celebrate our class party.
We had lots of games and food. We burst
lots of balloons to become the winners. Our team cheered loudly, jumped and
shouted our names out.
In the end, we played water bombs. We
filled the balloons with water. We burst the balloons to splash the water on
our friends. We ran helter skelter shouting away.
It was the noisiest day in my life.
The Saddest Day in
My Life
The saddest day of my life is the day when
my pet dog, Jolly was hit by a car.
It ran out of my house chasing a cat. It
dislikes seeing cats. The cat ran across the road opposite our house. Jolly
chased it angrily.
It did not see a speeding car. It hit him.
Jolly was thrown up. It fell heavily onto the road and was breathless.
It was dead. That was the end of my pet. My
brother buried it in our garden. I always feel sad and cry when I think of dear
Jolly.
A Toothache
The dentist checked and said that her
teeth had decayed. The dentist told that her tooth had to be extracted. Noriah
was afraid but she had to face the music. The dentist gave her a jab and after
ten minutes, he extracted her tooth.
Noriah cried but it was of no use. She
learned a very good lesson for not being obedient. From that day onwards. She
does not eat much sweets and brushes her teeth in the morning and at night
before going to bed.
Noriah loves to eat sweets and chocolates.
Even though her mother scold her, she still insists on eating sweets.
Last week,
Noriah suffered from a terrible toothache.
Her mother gave her a pain killer but it did not relieve her pain. So, she
brought her to the dentist.
Our Breakfast Time
Usually on Saturdays and Sundays we have
breakfast together at about eight in the morning.
Mother prepares oats for our breakfast.
Sometimes she prepares bread with butter or bread with half - boiled eggs.
Dad and I enjoy our breakfast. Before
having our breakfast we say our prayers.
After breakfast, we will help mother to
clean the kitchen. Father will help mother to cut the vegetables and fish for
lunch.
A Letter To A Friend
7,
Jalan Satu, Taman Indah,
56000
Kuala Lumpur,
20 June 2015
Dear John,
How are you? I hope you are fine. I am
fine too. I am writing this letter to let you know that I am attending a
swimming course during these holidays.
It is a ten day course. 1 shall learn all
the 4 strokes of swimming. It is thrice a week from 9:00 - 11.30 a.m. The
coaches are also very friendly.
If you are interested, you can also do so.
Please talk to your parents. I hope they allow you to join me.
See you then!
Your
friend,
Peter
A Letter To A Friend On Buying A gift
No
17, Jalan Mas,
Taman
Cantik,
70000
Seremban,
22
July 2016
Dear Kelvin,
How are you? I hope you are fine. Do you
know that Katherine is celebrating her tenth birthday on 14 March?
So, we have decided to buy her a
mini-compo. Zara, Liana, Jason, Wenny and I have decided to pay RM20 each. Do
you want to chip in some money, perhaps RM20?
If you want, meet me at Parkoon Corner at
10.00 a.m. on Sunday, 10th of March. We can go shopping together. Both of us
can make a good choice.
See you, Bye.
Your
friend,
Hana
I Am A Smartphone
My name is Blurberry. I am a smartphone.
I was made in England.
One day I was brought to Ampang City
Store. A young man bought me. He liked me very much.
He felt proud to show my talents to his
friends. He took good care of me.
After a few months, an incident happened.
It was a terrible incident. My master went
on a canoeing trip. When the boat capsized. I slipped and fell into the river.
I am still lying helpsessly on the river
bed. Please help me. I want to live like before.
I Am A School Bus
My name is Mercedes. I am a school bus. I
am yellow in colour. My job is to send children to school and fetch them home.
Mr. Lim is my owner. He gives me a rest on
Sundays. He services me very often and make sure that I am in good condition.
I am well taken care of. I like Mr. Lim
very much because he keeps me clean. I do not like some of the school children
because they like to jump and litter me.
Anyway, I am happy to be a school bus.
I Am A Rose Plant
I am a rose plant. My flowers are big and
red. I have little sharp thorns on my stem.
I am planted in the garden of a big
mansion which belongs to Dr. Kumar.
I have many friends there. The gardener
takes good care of me. He waters me daily. He makes sure I am healthy.
Dr Kumar’s wife always talks with me.
Sometimes she plucks my flowers and places it in her long hair.
I feel happy as I am taken good care of.
I Am A Refrigerator
I am a refrigerator. My name is Tashoba.
My model number is XI24. I am big and sweet blue in colour.
My owner is Cik Rozita.
She is a good cook but a messy person.
She loves to buy many things and simply
chucks them inside me. When she wants to cook she will search for the things
high and low.
Her maid cleans me once a week. It is
alright for me to live with Cik Rozita.
A Landslide
Last week after a heavy rain at Taman Kencana,
many trees were uprooted. Many potholes were seen on the roads.
Yesterday, there was a landslide. Before
the landslide occurred, there was a loud crash. The residents ran out to see
what was happening. They saw rubble and soil come crashing down from the nearby
hill.
Few cars were damaged. Some houses nearby
the landslide area were damaged too.
Some of them quickly grabbed their
children and ran out of their homes for safety.
A Flood
It was raining for a week. The residents
of Taman Meranti were very worried. They started to pack their things and
valuables.
Soon, there was an announcement. The water
level kept rising in the neighbourhood of Taman Meranti. The rescue department
sent rescue boats to help the people there.
The people were happy to see the boats.
They got onto them with some of their valuables.
They were sent to a relief centre at SK
Taman Meranti. They were given clothing and food.
Essays Writing
General Guidelines
How to excel
in your essay writing or examination?
Many students
find it difficult to write a flawless essay.
However,
with sheer persistence, constant practice in writing essays and a passion to
learn and master the English language you can develop your skills in writing.
There is a
no short cut to master the language.
Read,
listen and speak English every day.
When you
read you will develop a wide range of vocabulary.
Study how
words are used and use a dictionary to learn the meaning of new words.
Reading and
having a good vocabulary are not enough for you to write a good essay.
You must
have a solid foundation in grammar as well.
Difficult topics
require difficult techniques.
For example,
if you are writing a formal letter, it is different from writing an informal
letter.
The language
in a formal letter is serious, whereas, in an informal letter it is friendly.
It is
therefore, imperative to master the techniques of writing the different types
of essays.
Writing a
good and flawless essay comes with constant practice.
You need
to work on it diligently.
These are
the seven stages for writing a good essay:
Brainstorming
Organising
and developing the outlines
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Proofreading
The final
draft
Selected Essays
Watching out For Bullies
If your child becomes uncharacteristically
quiet or starts retreating into a corner to be alone, he or she may be
experiencing trauma.
CHILDREN are often too shy to tell their
parents that they are being bullied because being a victim can be a shameful
experience.
Bullying also comes in many forms, so when
it does not directly involve hitting or shoving, kids sometimes do not realise
they are being bullied.
Bullying includes name-calling, hounding
someone continuously, spreading nasty gossip, purposefully leaving someone out
of events and refusing to speak to him.
Speaking to your child often about his or
her friends at school can help pinpoint what is going on. With little ones,
however, communication can be difficult, so here are some other signs to look
out for.
Too quiet - Some people withdraw when they are frightened or depressed. If your
child becomes uncharacteristically quiet or develops a habit of going off to be
alone in a comer, he or she may be experiencing trauma.
Too sleepy - Depression can cause sleepiness and can also be a way for your child to
try and avoid going to school by “oversleeping”.
Too bratty - Children often have naughty phases, but sometimes they act out because
they feel miserable but do not know how to express their feelings.
Illnesses - Bullying can end in bruises and grazes, so look out for those. In other
cases, they can bring on headaches, stomach aches and rashes.
Too few friends - Children have a social life too. Check to see how other kids in class
mingle so that you have a baseline.
If your child is falling too far below the
normal level, it may mean that he is being isolated by bullies.
A drop in grades - Bullying has a dreadful effect on the mind and you may see your child
experiencing falling marks, extra forgetfulness and unusual clumsiness.
It could be growing pains too, but do keep
the other possible reason in mind.
Adapted from TheStar/PositiveParenting/Thursday,
24 November 2016
House Chores Made Fun
Harness your children's imagination and turn
simple tasks
IN some families, children have just one
task: to study. However, the danger of this is that they may lack the skills to
cook a simple meal or wash their own socks once they go off to college.
This can be an expensive problem.
As such, it helps to have your children
learning simple household tasks. The easiest way is to start them young and to
make it as hassle-free as possible.
To make the process as fun as possible,
harness their imagination and turn simple tasks into fun activities.
Mix and match sock laundry
Put out a pile of clean socks and have the
kids play Snap by picking matching socks.
For older kids, have them fold T-shirts
and pile everything into the cupboard or drawer according to colour.
If you have competitive children, you
might want to engage them in timed folding games. This way, they get to have
fun and at the same time learn the importance of being neat.
Have an achievement chart on hand
Children love to see their own progress as
much as we do and there is nothing that shows achievement better than a chart
with gold and silver stars.
Ensure that your children get points for
tidying, setting the table, washing their own cup and dusting.
You could also set a rule that for every
10 points gained, the child is allowed a treat such as deciding what the family
will eat for a weekend treat.
Small fingers cannot handle grown-up
things easily, so make house chores simple by buying small dusters or toy
brooms for them.
Then play games where the children pretend
to have superpowers and must deal with naughty volcanoes that have erupted toys
all over the bedroom floor, or keep it real and be butlers and hotel workers.
Adapted from TheStar/PositiveParenting/Thursday, 24 November 2016
My Hero
By Nur’ain Zainuddin
Adapted from
TheStar/Heart&Soul/Sunday, 30 October 2016
MY father, Zainuddin Abdul Ghani, is a
regular reader of The Star newspaper. Every Sunday, he buys the
newspaper and stores “Heart & Soul” the section.
Even back in my teenage years, when I was
at boarding school, he would save the section for me to read. According to him,
this was a good read.
As it was my father’s birthday recently,
instead of writing this on a piece of paper or sending him the usual WhatsApp
message, I am taking the opportunity to express my words here, in one of his
favourite sections of the paper, so the whole world will know how special my
father is to me.
Throughout my schooling years, my father
has always reminded me that education is ever so important. He spent much of
his money on my tuition fees from primary school right up to university.
I still remember every time I called him
up on the phone, he would say: “Make sure you get a CGPA7GPA of 3.50 and above.
Don’t waste Father’s money!”
Because of his push, I worked hard to
achieve the best results in every examination to prove that I could do it.
With God’s grace, I managed to graduate
with a CGPA/GPA above 3.50! It was a proud moment for me to finally fulfil
father’s wishes, and to see his happy reaction when he received my result slip.
Now, I am currently working in Bangi,
which is quite far from where we live. Since I dont have a driver’s licence
yet, it is father who drives me to work and comes to pick me up in the
evenings, driving to and fro, from Kuala Lumpur to Bangi, every day.
Although I may have been stubborn at times
while growing up, I know that if not for my father’s strict rules and for the
way he has brought me up, I would not be where I am today.
I know that those actions have made me a
more hardworking and disciplined person. He has shaped me to become a good
person.
My father made many sacrifices for our
family and I will always appreciate what he has done.
He also set a good example, one that I
will try to follow. Till this day, I still turn to him for advice and guidance,
and he never fails me.
When I look at how far I have come, I
cannot ask for anything more from God. I have a great father and a loving
family. There is this realisation that I am just another human being who has
been given so much. I thank Allah Subhanahu Wataala for His blessings.
Thank you Father, for everything that you
have sacrificed for me and the whole family. No words can ever be enough to
show my love for you. There can never a daughter who loves her father more than
I love you.
To the best father in the world, this
one’s for you. I hope you had a happy birthday!
From Star2:
Happy Birthday Zainuddin Abdul Ghani!
Varsity’s Record Achievements
Students from HELP score a record 17 First
Class Honours in the exams.
TheStar/Campus/Sunday, 30 October 2016
HELP has delivered the University of
London’s International Programmes (ULIP) for over 30 years with distinction and
recorded many notable achievements.
It has consistently produced First Class
Honours graduates every year.
In the 2106 exams, an unprecedented 17
First Class Honours results were attained by students from the two ULIP centres
of the HELP Group - 11 from HELP Academy (HA) and six from HELP College of Arts
and Technology (HELP CAT).
This places the HELP Group among the best
ULIP teaching centres in the world and reaffirms its strength as a centre of
educational excellence in the Asia Pacific.
The five First Class Honours students
from HELP CAT are Ong Ken Lip, Nai Sin Hong, Toh Yik Hon, Roselyn Chai, Ong
Tiek Huey. The sixth student, Low Chang Song, obtained his First Class Honours
in Economics at the LSE where he had been admitted after his first year at HELP
CAT.
The 11 First Class achievers at HA are
Seng Rou Lin, Ng Teik Man, Ham Ji Eun, Johann Oh Hock Seng, Gew Ee Von, Hannah
Tan Hui Em, Ling Hui Yee, Oh Chai Woon, Chua Wei Zhen, Shabeen Ibrahim and Tessa
Phang Shyn Li.
These excellent results prompted an elated
response from Dr Mary Stiasny, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) of the
University of London, who wrote to HELP saying: “Seventeen First Class Awards
is a stupendous outcome...all of us at the University of London International
Programmes share your pride.”
“My congratulations to your students and
teaching colleagues who have helped make this magnificent achievement
possible,” she added.
In the 2016 exams, three HELP students
also scored the highest marks in the world in specific subjects in the ULIP
exams, beating students from ULIP centres around the world.
These scores elicited another round of
compliments to HELP from Dr John Ferra, Deputy Director of the University of
London International Programmes at LSE saying that these are truly amazing
achievements.
“This is a resounding endorsement of the
high quality teaching undertaken at HELP Academy and HELP CAT.
“Please convey this news to the relevant
teaching staff whom I’m sure will be delighted to know,” he added.
Most of this year’s 17 First Class results
are in the Accounting and Finance pathway. This places their Bachelor of
Science (Accounting & Finance) degree among the best Accounting &
Finance qualifications in the world, as the London School of Economics is
placed fourth in the world for Accounting and Finance by QS World University
Rankings by Subject 2016, ahead of the universities of Oxford, Chicago and
Cambridge.
The latest round of excellent results
places the HELP Group among the best ULIP teaching centres in the world and
reaffirms its strength as a centre of educational excellence in Asia Pacific.
Over a period of 30 years HELP’S graduates
from ULIP have distinguished themselves in many fields.
They have won scholarships for
postgraduate study at too universi-
They are also serving as distinguished
academics in universities in the UK, Singapore and Australia, and hold top jobs
in multinational companies and international agencies.
The University of London is renowned for
its contributions to scholarship, research and knowledge. Illustrious staff
and alumni of the university include four monarchs, 52 presidents or prime
ministers and 74 Nobel Prize winners.
In 1858, the university started its
International Programmes to enable people who could not study on-campus in
London to obtain a university degree.
Today, more than 54,000 students are
studying University of London degrees in over 180 countries. The university’s
degrees and its reputation for academic rigour remain highly respected by
employers throughout the world.
Academic direction for the university’s
International Programmes is provided by the London School of Economics (LSE),
an international centre of academic excellence and innovation whose teaching
and research is recognised worldwide as a benchmark of quality.
Both of the HELP Group’s departments
responsible for delivering the International Programmes, at HELP Academy and
HELP College of Arts and Technology, have achieved another mark of excellence
by being designated as Affiliate Centres by the university for providing
students with an excellent level of teaching and ancillary support.
Affiliate status is the highest level of
recognition awarded by the university to teaching institutions around the
world.
Youth Should Live Their
Dreams
Lau says that the best way for young people to excel in today's
globalised world is to become global citizens.
TheStar/Campus/Sunday,
30 October 2016
YOUNG people should have an open mindset,
stay curious, uphold integrity, collaborate rather than compete with others,
and live their dreams.
In a speech titled ‘The Opportunities of
Globalisation and Digital Connectivity’, SY Lau who is senior executive vice
president, Tencent Holdings Company said such values are important in a world
dominated by economic globalisation. Lau pointed out that as economic
globalisation intensifies, digital globalisation “will re-shape our lives in
uncountable ways and bring disruption and changes”.
“It is not just relevant to countries and
governments, but to every individual,” he said.
Lau who is president of Tencent Online
Media Group, knows firsthand the challenges that the youths of today would
face when the time comes for them to join the workforce.
He suggested that the best way for young
people to excel in today’s globalised world is to become a global citizen - a
human being, not defined by membership of any nation, but whose mission is to
make the world a better place.
Lau was speaking at INTI International
University and Colleges where he was awarded Alumnus of the Year.
He looked to his own experiences and
recommended five pathways to global citizenship.
The
five pathways are global citizens reject extremism; global citizens are the
masters of technology;global citizens lead with integrity; global citizens
collaborate rather than compete and global citizens embrace authenticity.
Under the first pathway where global
citizens reject extremism, Lau said in an interconnected world in which data
flows freely, anyone can contribute to the formation of new knowledge via
online socialisation.
“To be a productive global citizen, one
needs an open mind and be able to see things through different points of view.
“Open- mindedness requires critical analysis of the message and often requires
us to leave our comfort zones to experience the unconventional,” he said.
Under the second pathway on global
citizens are the masters of technology, Lau said technology can be imagined as
an impending tidal wave.
“Either we embrace it, or we will be swept
away,” he added.
“In order to be the masters of technology,
we have to speak their language. This can be as direct as learning how to code.
Knowledge of coding allows us to understand machines on their level.”
Lau said the third pathway on global
citizens lead with integrity is where leadership is all about trust.
“Those who aspire to be leaders must possess
a moral compass in order to lead a life of integrity.
“Global
citizens lead with integrity not because they are worried that they will get
cayght misbehaving, but because they have a responsibility to live up to,” he
added.
In
the fourth pathway where global citizens collaborate rather than compete, he
said: “In a world of increasing globalisation, corporations should no longer
view each other as enemies to be defeated, but as partners working towards the
same goal.”
In short, Lau said it is no longer
relevant to think of rivals as competition, adding that everyone has their own
strengths and if different individuals and groups work together, they can
accomplish much more.
In the fifth pathway where global
citizens embrace authenticity, he said: “Instead of trying to be the next Steve
Jobs, we should strive to leave our own mark.”
“In the real world as in the art world, no
one wants a copy; the value is in the original,” he added.
After
sharing the five pathways, Lau said that by adopting a global mindset, young
people would be rewarded socially, spiritually and financially.
However, he advised them not to worship
money or titles. “A reputation for integrity is far more important and
lasting,” he said.
Creating a Safety
Culture
By
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye
TheStar/Educate/Sunday,
30 October 2016
THERE have been many accidents involving
schoolchildren in recent months. Such accidents have happened in school
premises, on roads near the school, and while travelling to and from school.
Incidents of teachers, students and staff
being injured or killed due to collapse of building structures, ceiling fans,
goal posts and toilets have also been reported over the years.
Recent incidents of primary school pupils
dying after being hit by cars or heavy vehicles while crossing the road in
front of their school should not be taken lightly, nor should fatal accidents
involving children riding on motorcycles on their way to school and back.
All relevant parties must draw up an
effective action plan to ensure the safety of school children.
Safety awareness needs to be inculcated among students, teachers and
other employees such as canteen workers, laboratory assistants, security
guards, gardeners, cleaners and school crossing guards.
If everyone makes safety their priority,
many accidents can be prevented. Through safety and health education, every
school will be more capable of dealing with emergencies that might occur.
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), in its effort to make our schools safe places for
study and work, is conducting the “OSH In School” programme to complement
initiatives taken by the Education Ministry to make the school a safe place for
students, teachers, other staff and visitors such as parents.
The “OSH in School” programme, which has
been introduced in a number of schools, aims to
create awareness of safety and health at an early age. It is one of NIOSH’s
ongoing corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects and is implemented with
sponsorship from the corporate sector.
During a recent meeting, Education
Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid agreed to NIOSH’s suggestion for the
programme and said he would ask the ministry’s director-general to take the
necessary action.
The programme views the school as a
workplace in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
1994.
A school or educational institution is
considered “a place of work”, therefore according to the OSHA, employers have
to make schools safe and healthy places of work for teachers, students,
administrative and support staff as well as visitors.
The programme aims to:
Ensure safety, health and welfare for
those at work.
Protect the students against risk to
safety and health in connection with the activities of persons at work.
Establish a safe and healthy working
environment in schools including the office, laboratory, canteen, toilet,
hostel, and fields.
OSH awareness in school can be promoted
through OSH education, information dissemination, training and exhibitions
which are NIOSH’s core activities.
The programme will help create a safety
culture in schools.
Students in schools with the OSH programme
will have practical knowledge on which they can take with them when they join
the workforce.
Schools Are Places to Learn
TheStar/Educate/Sunday,
30 October 2016
DR VISHALACHE
BALAKRISHNAN Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya
Post-doctoral scholar, University of Waikato, New Zealand
WHAT are becoming of our schools? Are we
progressing or regressing in the world of knowledge and wisdom? It is a mind
boggling question which needs every individual to reflect as we go on with our
day to day activities.
When parents send their children to
school, they have hopes of wanting their children to be successful, live a
good life, secure a good job and the list goes on. But do they realise that the
children learn so much at home and from them, the children’s’ first teachers in
life. Many a time, teachers are faced with multiple situations where values
brought from home needs to be unlearnt and reengi
neered in the school.
In my years of teaching Moral Education in
secondary schools, I had one issue of students using “swear” words or
inappropriate phrases on their friends and even at teachers’ indirectly. I try
to create awareness that using such ‘swear’ words and phrases is neither
acceptable nor encouraged in a social environment. Some students reflect and
try to refrain from using such words at least not iivthe Moral Education class
but others keep using them and tend to think that it is acceptable. When I
further researched on some of my hard core students, I found that parents have
been using such words and phrases on their children and now their children are
using it on their friends and teachers.
The point I am making here is school is
not just a place to learn knowledge and practice values, but also to unlearn
and reengineer one’s inner values especially if such values are not appropriate
for communal living and creates disharmony in society. It is pretty difficult
when the home or social environment is not supportive. It is essentially
important for teachers to understand the home environment that each of their
students is coming from. Spending several minutes each day with each student,
talking to them and understanding their background builds a notion of trust
and mutual respect.
From my years of teaching experience even
the most hard core students are soft and compassionate deep inside. These
groups of students need the support of school and the
school community to help them realise that they need to unlearn and learn
again.
The process of unlearning and learning
again is a lifelong skill and as students become more matured in their
intellectual process, the task becomes feasible. It is the process that equips
the students with the skills and knowledge to reflect and know themselves.
Nuturing Important Life Skills
The British Council has developed courses that introduce children aged
five to 12 years to higher-order thinking skills.
Children need to develop higher-order thinking skills so that they can
access better educational opportunities.
ONE key lesson children gain from their
schooling and academic knowledge is the development of skills that will help
them in their careers and future lives.
These include skills such as cultivating
teamwork, positive self-esteem and the confidence to present their opinions
clearly.
Such skills can help children grow into
successful adults who are able to interact in the global arena and contribute
to society.
To achieve this goal, it is important to
take a “whole child” approach to learning.
Furthermore, it is imperative that
children develop higher-order thinking skills so that they can access
educational opportunities.
These skills involve the ability to
analyse information and break them down into components, to evaluate or judge
ideas and texts, and to use learned knowledge to create new ideas.
Instead of just memorising facts, children
need to engage in higher levels of thinking to reach their full potential.
Practising these skills outside of school
will give children the tools that they need to understand, infer, connect,
categorise, synthesise, evaluate and apply the information they learn to find
solutions to new and existing problems.
Recognising the importance of developing
these skills, the British Council offers courses that enable students to
succeed in both local schools as well as an international English-medium
environment.
Curious children will discover how to
learn and to enjoy learning. What they will need in the future is more than any
specific body of knowledge. They need to know how to think critically in order
to face new challenges and solve new problems.
The British Council has developed courses
for primary school learners, introducing children aged five to 12 years to
higher-order thinking skills.
This is in addition to essential English
language skills such as writing compositions, giving presentations and
conversational skills that children will need to become confident users of
English.
They encourage interaction, team building
and creative thinking.
Children are encouraged to develop their skills
by using English confidently and fluently in an environment where they can feel
safe and supported.
Secondary classes are designed to build
students’ confidence and skills in speaking, reading and writing as well as to
develop their academic skills to help them prepare for SPM, IGCSE and future
studies.
Meanwhile, teachers are taught to deal
with the specific needs of students through continuous training, development
programmes and regular observations to constantly improve and deliver quality
classes.
In addition to providing motivating
year-round courses, the British Council is celebrating the 400th anniversary of
British playwright William Shakespeare by offering holiday courses from this
month until December.
Designed by its dedicated team of highly
trained teachers, these courses introduce children to Shakespeare’s most famous
plays in a fun, motivating and accessible way.
Adapted from TheStar/PositiveParenting/Thursday,
24 November 2016
Breakfast
Five tips to get your children to have breakfast
during the school holidays.
HAVE you ever felt that pang of guilt in
the morning when you are rushing out to work and suddenly you envision your
kids going through their day on empty stomachs because you are not around to
feed them? It’s not like you didn’t try to give them breakfast but all you
could get from them was “I don’t want to, I am not hungry! I’m on holiday, I
can eat later!” Which parent hasn’t heard this before?
Then somewhere at the back of your mind,
you hear an echo of your own mother’s voice, “Breakfast is the most important
meal of the day”.
It may be the school holidays but a good
breakfast is still vital in shaping your children’s day.
Here are different scenarios and five
tricks to get your kid to eat and enjoy breakfast.
Eat
with them
If chaos is the best way to describe your
mornings, try to take a breather.
Take a moment and sit with your kids while
they are having their breakfast.
Have you ever thought about all this time
wasted fighting about breakfast?
Well, don’t focus too much on trying to
shovel that food down their throats any more.
Make breakfast a family session. Ask the
children questions and you might even discover something you never knew about
them.
Parents are role models and your kids will
emulate you, so it’s important to show and teach them good habits.
MyBreakfast Study - the first
comprehensive nationwide study on breakfast habits conducted by the Nutrition
Society of Malaysia in 2015 - recommended that “parents should be actively
involved in all efforts to promote healthy eating and active living among
children.”
Breakfast rituals provide routine and structure
that give children a sense of stability and security which are important for
their development.
Your mornings will only get more positive.
Vary
the menu
Kids like variety. If you keep on serving them the same old bowl of cereal,
they will look at you like "Excuse me?? Again??” How about different kinds
of food?
Sit with them over the holidays and
research different cuisines, and get them to choose what they would like to
try.
Keep in mind that kids lose 80% of their
energy reserves during their night’s sleep, so they need to replenish it
properly in order to do their absolute best throughout the day. Whatever you
choose to serve them, keep it balanced and healthy.
Make
breakfast fun
Put a little twist to your children’s
morning by turning breakfast into a game.
Give out points to those who finish their
meals, especially when they eat up what they don’t usually like, and let them
accumulate points for prizes. They can be treats such as homemade pancakes or
chocolate chips in strawberry muffins.
If a cup of Milo is their favourite
drink, how about hiding it and organising a treasure hunt, with clues and all.
Keep the prizes focused on breakfast to
reinforce the importance of the meal.
What better time to try this with your
kids than during the school holidays. Creating a breakfast event means
additional family fun time.
Indulge
If for six mornings a week, you made
absolutely sure your kids ate the healthiest, most balanced breakfast possible,
then indulge in a cheat day. An occasional big fry-up of turkey ham, eggs and
sausages is a yummilicious treat to look forward to.
Remember to top it up with a nutritious
cup of beverage so your children are ensured the full charge of energy they
need for their day. It will certainly have your kids yearning and associating
breakfast with treats.
Spice
things up
Your work mornings are organised like
clockwork. Get up, get ready, breakfast and rush out of the house ... you have a set routine.
But sometimes it is good to change it up a
little.
We all know that eating in the car is not
ideal. But sometimes, it’s better that the kids have a good breakfast in the
backseat on the way to dropping them off at their holiday camp than to send
them off on an empty stomach.
What’s even better? Always pack beverages
for them so they could replenish their energy and reduce their tiredness. This
doesn’t make you a bad parent; it makes you a practical one.
Breakfast is essential during schooldays
and holidays, so continue cultivating the habit by planning each day with
breakfast in mind. Make it a fun family practice for your children to look
forward to, especially during the holidays. After all, fun activities aren’t so
fun without sufficient energy from a good breakfast.
For more tips and breakfast ideas during
this school holiday, visit: www.milo.com.my.
This article was brought to you by Milo.
Adapted from TheStar/PositiveParenting/Friday,
11 November 2016
Love of Learning
Q-dees' language programmes
encourage children to expand their vocabulary and foster correct language usage
in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin.
WITH almost 200
centres regionally, Q-dees has successfully prepared more than 200,000 students
for school for over 25 years.
Q-dees Starters
- This
cutting-edge preschool programme integrates interactive learning materials to
ensure children are engaged in achieving fruitful learning outcomes.
Taught
thematically and phonetically, its language programmes encourage children to
expand their vocabulary and foster correct language usage in English, Bahasa
Malaysia and Mandarin.
Q-dees’ Hands-On
Minds-On Maths Board allows children to explore concepts as they learn to count
and think creatively and logically.
The science
programme is designed to make science simple and stimulating as children learn
how the world works.
The arts and
craft programme develops their imagination while also strengthening their
photographic memory and creative thinking skills.
Q-dees also
prioritises the growth of fine and gross motor skills as well as good values
through the Gymflex and Love to Life programmes respectively
Q-dees
Scholars - These primary enrichment
programmes prepare children for primary education and beyond.
The
award-winning Q-dees Link and Think Methodology guides children to link logical
and creative thinking, as well as accelerating intellectual and artistic developments.
It links what
they learn at Q-dees Starters preschool to the next level when they start
primary school.
The IQ Math
programme provides a platform to conceptualise logical processes, while the
International English programme is designed to instil children’s confidence in
listening, reading, writing, conversing and exhibiting their English language
skills through the use of interactive multimedia.
The Q-dees Hub
(digital learning software) stimulates children’s interest through the use of
graphics and songs while also increasing their grasp of technological
advancements.
The programmes
include syllabuses covered by KSSR (Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah).
Herbal Care For Hair Problems.
NEETA’S Herbal
offers a safe and natural solution to combat hair problems.
A pioneer in
Ayurvedic hair treatment, Neeta Gosalia has been practising herbal treatment
for the past 29 years and has established many outlets worldwide.
Neeta introduced
her corrective formulas after years of research on products that eradicate hair
loss.
Commonly
encountered hair dilemmas among clients are hair loss, premature greying,
hereditary baldness, male pattern baldness, alopecia areata (also known as
patchy baldness) and dandruff.
There are many
reasons why people start losing hair. Research has shown that stress is a vital
factor, along with a poor hair care regime, climate changes, lifestyle and
diet.
Ascertaining a
person’s hair type is important as it determines the type of care needed.
“Dry hair would
need plenty of nourishment, specifically from the roots,” explained Neeta.
“Oily hair requires a different kind of therapy.”
Hair loss falls
into two categories: one distributed over the whole scalp and the other
localised to certain areas of the scalp.
Other problems associated
with the scalp include rashes, itchiness, pimple-like protrusions (sometimes
filled with pus), dry and brittle hair, premature greying, patchy baldness and
male-pattem baldness.
Hair roots
require special attention as they are the hair’s life source - they determine
the essential characteristics of.a person’s hair during its formation.
They are
responsible for hair colour, texture, length, thickness and shine. They are
also the starting point for haircare products, which are designed to bring out
the best in their natural qualities.
In some cases,
balding is common among male family members. This can be treated depending on
the severity of the problem and whether the pores can still be activated.
A thorough
consultation will provide a clear treatment path.
Neeta discusses the most common causes of
hair damage and tips for healthy and lustrous hair.
As with
premature greying, treatment should be done from the onset of the problem.
Protein treatment, minerals and vitamin supplements are said to lessen the
problem of greying, but there are more effective ways to address this issue.
It is best to
know if your hair is dry, oily or a combination of both before choosing hair
products.
The Internet
The Internet has rapidly spread through
every aspect of our life. Has its users been wise enough to avail of its
positive features to improve their quality of life or have the drawbacks
exceeded the benefits?
The Internet or the World Wide Web is
indeed a wonderful and amazing addition in our lives.
Its focus has always been in expanding
communication and has turned our earth into a global village. Today, we can
communicate in a fraction of second with a person who is sitting in any part of
the world. The Internet has allowed millions of users to become highly mobile,
yet still stay connected to business and loved ones. Information is probably
the biggest advantage the Internet is offering. One can find any type of data
on almost any kind of topic. Some assignments that teachers give require
research on the Internet. Students have learnt to become autonomous 10 learners
by surfing the/Internet to gather resources for their schoolwork. Many people
surf the Internet for entertainment: downloading games, visiting chatrooms or
just surfing the Web.
There are numerous games that may be
downloaded from the Internet for free. Chatrooms are popular because users can
meet new and interesting people. The Internet has been successfully used by
people to find lifelong partners. Many services are now provided on the
Internet such as 15 online banking, job seeking, purchasing tickets for one’s
favourite movies, hotel reservations and guidance services on an array of
topics engulfing every aspect of life.
Consumers are now able to shop online and
do not havfi to leave their house. The best advantage is that one can compare
prices on different websites to benefit from the best price. Nothing can be
more amazing than the wide array of products available ranging from household
needs, 20 technology, to entertainment. Shopping online has become a huge
success as it allows people to save on cost and time. Just one click of the
mouse on the items they want to purchase and the items are delivered to their
front door.
Yet, many fear the Internet because of its
dangers. One major disadvantage of the Internet is lack of privacy. Electronic
messages sent over the Internet can be easily snooped and tracked, 25 revealing
who is talking to whom and what they are talking about. As people surf the
Internet, they are constantly giving information to websites. The collection,
selling, or sharing of the information they provide online increases the
chances that their information fall into wrong hands. Consequently, they become
a victim of identity theft, one of the worst privacy violations with
potentially devastating financial consequences. In other words, the most common
Internet 30 crimes are frauds and con games. Computers catch viruses too,
mainly from the Internet or through pen drives. Some of these dangerous viruses
destroy the computers entire hard drive, meaning that the user can no longer
access the computer.
Using the Internet for long periods of
time can isolate people from family and friends. Though many develop online
relationships, these virtual friends cannot replace real life socialising.
Children using the Internet have become a big concern. When children talk to
others online, they could actually be talking to a harmful person. There have
been cases where children have been convinced to meet people they have talked
with online. A child or teenager can be lured into something foolish,
dangerous, or even deadly. In addition, children may also receive pornography
online by mistake as pornographic sites tend to make sure they are the first
sites to be listed in any search area. Thus, children come across such sites
easily. The sending of unwanted emails in bulk, known as spamming, serves no
purpose and unnecessarily clogs up the entire system. These emails may contain
viruses that may corrupt the system and, even il they don’t cause any harm,
these can be plain annoying.
Although the Internet can also create
havoc, destruction and its misuse can be fatal, the advantages exceed the
disadvantages. Millions of people each day benefit from using the Internet for
work and pleasure.
Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites have witnessed
growing popularity worldwide. Yet, can it be said that they have brought only
benefits?
Social networking sites have become
extremely popular among the youth as well as the professional people due to the
immense freedom they provide to people who share common interests and passions.
While the Internet made the world a global village, the social networking sites
brought the world within the four walls. Here geographical locations are no
barriers to stay in touch, they have paved the way to easier communication.
People can get to know the various cultures and places while sitting at the
same desk. Networking sites are platforms to interact with long lost friends,
classmates, and relatives. As such, they can discuss on different topics and
interests with a large number of people. It is also the most cost effective way
to keep in touch with their people. They are very interactive as people can get
to see their friends’ activities. These sites enable them to send and receive
messages, upload photos, and videos. By joining different communities, people
easily know about the latest news related to that community. The social
networking sites facilitate people to procure information on any subjects from
anywhere. These sites also make it easier and faster to collect information,
get free expert advice on any challenge they may face related to their topic of
interest.
Social networks are the best means for
businessmen wishing to attract more customers. They have helped many small
businesses to achieve their business targets. The professional people use these
as a medium to raise their visibility, get noticed, tell about their company,
service, and get more clients. There can be no better means to keep in touch
with contacts around the world than by advertising in the form of banners to
increase sales. When there is information about new products, special offers,
or others that encourage purchase, customers react promptly.
Yet, despite the picture of bloggers
happily interacting, there exists some real dangers. The absence of privacy in
these sites is a major drawback for personal details can be disclosed. When we
accept strangers’ friend requests, we are not very sure whether they are what
they claim to be since we can’t see them face to face. There are instances
where people are lured by a false image and reveal some private information
which they would not have shared in normal circumstances. These in turn make
them the perfect victims of crimes like theft, rape and murder. Some people are
always in search of a fake identity. If they get all the personal information
about someone on the Internet, they may usurp his identity for different types
of illegal activities, which may cause problems in future. Information like the
e-mail address, name, location, and age can be used to commit online crimes.
Another cause of concern is online harassment and persecution. Since social
networking sites are very poorly regulated, it can be a fertile ground for
people trying to get even with their enemies. They can spread malicious rumours
among one’s friends and also download and morph ones photos. There is a
potential for failure of security in both personal and business contexts.
Social networks can be addictive as people
play games and check for updates several times throughout the day when they
really should be doing more worthwhile activities. This can lead to several
health and mental complications. People become so absorbed in a virtual world
that they become disconnected from socialising in the real world. Instead of
real communication, people waste their free time on the Internet, losing their
communication skills as online conversation is very unemotional. When put in
real-world social situations, these people do not know how to behave and act.
The good news is that the pros for social
networking outweigh the cons. The drawbacks of social networks can be avoided
or minimised with a few healthy habits.
Poverty
Poverty is a social problem which has wide
ranging repercussions. Can the problem be easily solved?
Poverty conjures up the image of people
who are in need of help. Think of those thousands of vulnerable people
worldwide for whom life is a daily struggle. People become poor due to rises in
the cost of living which compels them to spend a greater portion of their
budgets on food than rich people. As a result poor households and those near
the poverty threshold are particularly vulnerable to increases in food prices.
Problems of hunger, malnutrition and disease afflict the poorest in society.
The failure of governments to provide essential infrastructure such as public
sanitation, schools and social welfare condemn them to remain destitute. Often,
children are kept from school because they are needed at home to support their
family with additional income. Lack of education keeps children from obtaining
jobs that would lift them and their families out of poverty. Likewise,
opportunities in richer countries drive away talent which is essential to the
country’s progress. Brain drain has cost the African continent a huge sum of
money in the employment of 150,000 expatriate professionals annually.
Poor health and lack of affordable
education severely affect production. Inadequate nutrition in childhood reduces
the ability of individuals to develop their full capabilities. A deficiency in
essential minerals such as iodine and iron can impair brain development. In
developing countries, it is estimated that 40% of children aged 4 and younger
suffer from anaemia because of insufficient iron in their diets. Similarly,
alcoholism and drug abuse can condemn people to vicious poverty cycles.
Infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis can perpetuate poverty by
diverting health and economic resources from investment and productivity. The
onset of disease, such as HIV/AIDS or malaria, can result in death which can
cut off a major source of income for a family or high medical cost that many
impoverished families cannot afford. Natural disasters such as hurricanes and
earthquakes have devastated developing countries by destroying crops and
animals. They suffer much more extensive and acute crises at the hands of
natural disasters because limited financial resources slow down the
construction of adequate housing, infrastructure, and mechanisms for responding
to crises.
Poverty has dramatic consequences for one
third of deaths are due to poverty-related causes. In total, 270 million
people, most of them women and children, have died as a result of poverty over
the past two decades. Those living in poverty suffer disproportionately from
hunger, starvation, disease and have lower life expectancy. According to the
World Health Organisation, hunger and malnutrition are the gravest threats to
the world’s public health, and malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor
to child mortality, present in half of all cases. Poverty increases the risk of
homelessness as there are over 100 million street children worldwide. One
impact of poverty is the high rate of early childbearing with all the related
risks to family, health, and well-being.
Children from low income families are more
prone to have a criminal behaviour, the more so if they live in a single parent
family. Areas strongly affected by poverty tend to be more violent as children
from disadvantaged inner cities witness serious assaults and homicide.
Studies have shown that there is a high
risk of educational underachievement for children who are from low-income
families. It is said that societies which have low levels of investment in the
education and development of less fortunate children end up with less
favourable results. They are also the ones who are less likely to perform well
academically or to finish school. School truants and dropouts engage in
juvenile delinquency and criminal behaviour. Poor children have a great deal
less healthcare and this ultimately results in many absences from the academic
year. Additionally, underprivileged children are much more likely to suffer
from illnesses which could potentially restrict their focus and abilities to
learn.
Poverty is a blow to human dignity and
attempts at all levels must be combined to eradicate it. While the government
can implement policies to reduce absolute poverty, it is also the
responsibility of poor people to take an active part in improving their quality
of life.
Gambling
Gambling is an activity that arouses so
much passion that some have become addicted to it. But are there any solutions
to the problem?
It is clear that gambling has become one
of the most widespread pastimes in many countries including Mauritius and is to
become even more popular as time goes by. Betting on sports, buying lotto
tickets, playing poker, slot machines, or roulette are only a few of the
activities in which compulsive gamblers engage. As the popularity of gambling
grows, so does the number of people who become addicted to gambling. For these
people, there is treatment but most do not seek it out until it is too late.
Actually gambling problems cause enormous debts which can be settled only when
the gambling addiction has been overcome. Gambling is often criticised for the
negative impact it has on family life. Compulsive gamblers can’t control the
impulse to gamble, even when they know their gambling is hurting themselves or
their loved ones. Many people who struggle with gambling addiction distance
themselves from their loved ones, friends and spouses. Spouses become victims
of domestic violence as gamblers find in them an outlet to express their
frustration. Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse,
as well as neglect, resulting in higher levels of tobacco, alcohol and drug
use. Teens whose parents gamble too much are more inclined to follow the same
trend. Gamblers become irresponsible as money spent on gambling is to the
detriment of needs such as food and housing.
On a personal level, although many people
gamble frequently for relaxation and enjoyment, gambling can also make people
vulnerable to mental problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicide
ideation. They experience shame for being so out of control. This is
accompanied with loneliness due to lack of nurturing and rewarding
interactions, resulting in the gambler becoming even more vulnerable to
gambling addiction. Compulsive gamblers are likely to accumulate disastrous
relationships, such as divorce, when the addict blames the spouse for the
addiction itself. As debts build up, people turn to other sources of money such
as theft, or the sale of drugs. A lot of this pressure comes from bookmakers or
loan sharks people rely on for the capital to gamble with.
Yet, although the problem of gambling is
multifaceted, solutions exist at different levels. Sessions with a therapist or
psychologist help to identify the root of a gambling problem and the gamblers
motivations. Therapy offers a safe zone where a gambler can discuss his
problems openly and get the weight off his chest about lies, debts or other
problems
created by pathological gambling. The
gambler can turn to friends and family for help and support during recovery. By
showing a willingness to change, a gambler will feel closer to his friends and
family and one step closer to recovery. As gambling is always centered on
money, having someone take control of the gamblers money is a practical
solution. A friend or family member can legally be given control over his money
in order to pay bills, eliminate access to money for the most part. It may help
curb the desire to gamble long enough to get help and reduce the desire to
gamble over time. The practice of sport or a challenging hobby, such as
mountain biking or rock climbing can substitute the excitement provided by
gambling. Most casinos offer self-exclusion lists to patrons who have lost
control over their gambling. They simply tell the casino they would like to be
banned from the facility.
The government and casinos promote
awareness of the problem by encouraging responsible gambling. The answer is not
in banning gambling but in awareness and knowledge. Gamblers are made aware
that there can be healthier ways of entertainment than gambling. The best way
to combat addiction is to join a group like Gamblers Anonymous for group
support and talks. Conversing with people who have been through and can
understand the struggle with gambling addiction or compulsion is an effective
therapy.
Although gambling causes much distress, it
also has more pleasing attributes. It is an important form of recreation
enabling people to socialise and have a thrilling experience while contributing
greatly to the economy. It has its own good, as long as it is done moderately
with discipline and control.