NST Online: StreetsJohor
NST Online: StreetsJohor |
| Posted: 12 Sep 2011 10:57 AM PDT 2011/09/13 Befrienders JB celebrates its fifth anniversary with a party themed Hawaii 0-5 MEMBERS of the Befrienders Society Johor Baru, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that offers emotional support using telephone therapy, recently took time off and let their hair down at the non-governmental organisation's fifth anniversary and fundraising dinner themed "Hawaii 0-5". After listening to countless sad stories over the past year, the members showed up at the dinner in casual wear, beaming with delight as they welcomed each guest with a garland made of drinking straws and plastic flowers stringed together.
About 600 people attended the event, organised in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept 10 which had the theme "Preventing Suicide in Multicultural Societies". National Council of Befrienders Malaysia secretary, Lilian Chui, represented president Joshua Ling who was unable to attend the function.
"The growth and success of Befrienders JB is largely dependent on having dedicated and capable volunteers who make a difference in the lives of the people they come into contact with over the phone," said Chui. Also present were Befrienders JB president, Esther Teo, and event organising chairman, Lim Kok Sin.
Shahrir also announced that a conference will be held on Nov 5 in Johor Baru to provide a platform for private corporations nation-wide to meet with NGOs in Johor Baru. The aim of the inaugural event is to matchmake NGOs with private companies for a possible year-long collaboration as part of the companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. Shahrir, who is organising that event, said there are 190 NGOs in his database. He also urged the NGOs to get ready their 2012 budget for the conference so that they can submit them to the companies. Among the highlights of the evening were a martial arts performance, packed with kicks and punches, by the Win Long Taekwondo Club, and an energetic performance by a Michael Jackson impersonator. One supporter who was not a member of Befrienders JB volunteered to set up a booth selling items made from recycled materials, with all the proceeds going to the NGO. There were also lucky draws, a bellydancing performance and a song number that kept the crowd entertained throughout the night. A total of RM33,000 was raised from the charity dinner, surpassing the target of RM24,000 which was needed for the annual running of the NGO. A public seminar to create awareness on suicide prevention was also held at 11@Century Hotel in Taman Century, Johor Baru, the following day. There are currently 46 volunteers, and the NGO is embarking on another recruitment drive in November. |
| Using 'Johor Streets' to teach English Posted: 12 Sep 2011 10:22 AM PDT 2011/09/13 MUCH has been written over our students' poor command of English. The deputy prime minister himself lamented that after 13 years of learning English in school, our young people's proficiency remained poor. The time has come for us to check on the decline of English among schoolchildren. The question that needs to be asked is this: Is the problem with the teachers, textbooks or teaching methods?
Perhaps our younger generation is spending too much time in front of the computer and sending SMSes to their friends, and less time reading and talking. I have noticed that a number of schools in Johor are encouraging their students to read newspapers.
Some schools here are using Johor Streets as an educational aid during English lessons. Teachers have commented that this has sparked renewed interest in the subject among their students. Many teachers feel that Johor Streets is a good choice as it highlights local and current issues in the state which students can identify with.
She said it was an ideal teaching tool as it was a "slice of real life" and could be used to integrate issues of the day in English lessons. "I find teaching English the newspaper way is an excellent and inexpensive way to motivate students," she said. "Teachers should not be expected to work to a rigid syllabus, and must be given leeway in their approach to teach English." She stressed that it was not an "added burden" for the teachers to try NIE in class. "I know that a great concern among teachers is whether they would be able to complete the year's syllabus if they were to incorporate NIE into their classes," Pushpam said. Irene Lee, an English teacher and author, said: "Using Johor Streets has a more appealing and stimulating feel. Furthermore, the paper highlights localised issues that our students are familiar with." She pointed out that Johor Streets offered a wealth of materials for class activities incorporating grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, comprehension skills and dialogue practice. "News develops every day. The beauty of the newspaper in the classroom is that it is also fresh each day. It comes to you with the latest news and information and, unlike other media, comes beautifully written with lots of detail," she said. Desmond Pereira, a retired principal said: "Children should hear, or read news about what is happening in their own country before they hear or read news about events in other countries." Pereira said this was an extension of the educational principle "from the known to the unknown". He said: "The truth of this principle is self evident, in view of the fact that what children see happening in their own environment naturally has a greater impact on their senses, and therefore their understanding, than what happens further afield." Initiated by the New Straits Times in 1985, the NIE was aimed at championing the Education Ministry's goal to improve English Language teaching and learning through nationwide workshops and printed education supplements. Vincent D'Silva is an English lecturer who has been in the teaching profession for more than 22 years. |
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