My sad story

I know I should have been happy when a very close friend of mine,Umi Kalsom Masrom told us- me and Ayu - that she'd got a job as a lecturer at UNITEN, Muadzam, Pahang. No doubt it was a very happy moment for her because she is getting a permanent job, which at KPMIM she's still on contract basis despite her many written applications and phone calls since 2008 to the MARA Headquaters requesting (or begging is more appropriate)to be made permanent. Obviously there're so many red tape, rules and what not in MARA. The good news is the delay in recruiting her made it easy for her to 'jump over' to other Institution and the happiest news is she isgetting a double pay - at 4K a month plus a RM500 monthly allowance. For this, I'm happy for her.

What make me so deeply depress are 2 factors. firstly, we have been close friends for years now - since we were crammed in the same room at the old building - then we did our Masters together and with Ayu, we were always in the same group, she was our 'pusher' who always reminded us the get our assignment done, schedule our group study - always sat together in the front row in every class. Having meals and do all the good and bad things together. Too many good memories with her. In many ways, she was naive - we made fun of her because we could easily make her believe whatever we say. we sure gonna miss her and her kids -especially Musyhid and Mukmin who were always confussed between Untie Jamie & Untie Ayu!

The second factor is why am I not as lucky as other people are? I possess a Masters degree in TESL but I am still the old me - no salary or grade hike, still a DG 41 English teacher just like the newly grad teachers. I guess the feeling of complacency in me leads me to where I am - it's NOWHERE

Time flies.....2010!

Wow! It seems like yesterday I wrote my last blog. Little did I realise that it was written last year - early January to be exact! What have I done throughout 2009. Have I become what I aimed to be? I really doubt. But one thing for certain - I became a year older and looked older.

Happy new year..2009. Time really flies. It was just like yesterday when I joined KPM Indera Mahkota.Wow! actually it has been 5 years now.I joined KPMIM in Feb 2003. come to think of it..I've been a teacher for quite sometime now. I started teaching in 1992. I'm trying hard to recall and figure out what type of teacher am I or was I... I really could not tell. My real audience is my students and ex-students. I just wish and pray that I've done my job well in educating them, at least they had learnt something from me that they are practising it now, especially in their working lives. As for me, I need to always keep abreast with the changes that happen around me, especially with the IT advancement, that I can make use in my career as a teacher. I guess that will be one of my resolutions for the new year. I want to be a great teacher! InsyaAllah.

Happy birthday to me...

Today is my 'umpteenth' birthday. I feel a bit 'old' today. Normally I feel young because I am surrounded by young collegues. I guess today, after getting few birthday wishes, I realise that I'm a year older. Older? How I wish I could stay young forever. I am.. well, at least deep down in my heart.
Shouldnt I make a resolution or that sort of vow that people use to commit themselves every new year comes ? I guess I should. I am very thankful to the Almighty Allah for blessing me with so many good things in life. What are we without His blessing. For that, InsyaAllah for years to come, my oath is to always be a good muslim because that covers everything in life.

Time to get back to work

Class resumes today after a long semester break. I always feel excited about teaching new students and new subjects . This semester , I was given a new subject which I have never taught before – ELT 3722. Great. Some changes will do me good I think. I do miss my PIP classes though. I’m sure my successor, Madam Chia will be an excellent coordinator for PIP. So this semester, I am teaching all the DECOM students, semester 3 and 4. In terms of language, these students are not that bad, their English are quite good so basically I just need to do merely ‘polishing up’ work. That is one reason why I miss teaching PIP – in PIP, the lecturers need to do much more – not merely ‘polishing up’ work. The students are rather , sorry to say, weak but the satisfaction of teaching is there ..well sometimes, not to forget the frustration is sometimes there too .. when the students, upon attended your classes have shown some improvements .. some could make it and manage to enroll in the DECOM course! What a lovely feeling. At that time you are not sure whether you are proud of your students or you’re proud of yourself. I just hope upon completion of this semester, I’ll manage to ‘feel good’ with myself. I hope my students will benefit and appreciate having me as their lecturer. I know they will if I do my job well. And that is just what I intend to do . InsyaAllah.

YES ! I made it!

Finally the much awaited comprehensive master TESL result is out.I received a letter from UPM yesterday evening saying that I've passed the exam. Thanks to the Al-mighty Allah for granting my prayers. I also need to thank a handful of people who have helped me, directly or indirectly, in making me a 'Master holder'.
Firstly, to my dearest husband who was and is very supportive and understanding,who has never complained about my lack of attention to him for the past one and the half year, never said anything about me always bringing home food from elsewhere and never cooked for him, and how he had to spent the weekends by his own because I got classes in Kuantan. Thank you my dear.

I also thank my beloved mother whom I'm sure always prayed for my success especially when I told her that the comprehensive exam was difficult..she was very worried that I might not make it. Thanks mak..I know you always pray for me.I love you so much.

Lastly, I need to thank my friends - my study group - 5 of us - Umi, Ayu, Dahlia and Aida , without them, I dont know whether I will survive until the final semester. I need to personally thank Umi (who always 'pushed' me to study, always urged us to get the assignments done quickly), organised and arranged our study group effectivly and efficiently.
To Ayu, thanks for teaching me statistics and other subjects. I was always 'lost'(Actually, thanks for being so helpful and patient in teaching and clearifying things that i dont understand - i know it must be tough to teach someone who is not clever!)
And also thanks to Dahlia who has been a very good teacher to us during the discussion and study group sessions. It was always Dahlia who did the most explaning part in our discussion sessions. Obviously she read and knew alot. Umi read alot too but she had problem in explaning what she knew. Both of them are top scorers. Congrat my friends!
Also thanks to Aida whom i feel is very much like me. Both of us are a bit 'slow' compared to our other study group members. But Aida..we made it, in fact I'm sure we are much better than some of our Master classmates. Let's be proud of ourselves.
I also would like to thank Ahmad, and all my Master classmates for being so cooperative. It was really fun being with all of you every weekends at Vistana.
Finally not forgetting, thank you to all our lecturers who have taught us - Dr. Fauziah, Dr. Noorreen, Dr. Jaya, Cik Pah, Dr. Edwin, Dr. Sahandri, Dr. Ghazali, Dr. Arshad and Pn. Juriah - for the knowlegde that you all had imparted to us.
Thanks alot.

Where is my result ?

Umi, Ayu and Ahmad have got their results via the mail. They made it ..they passed the comprehensive exam. I have not received anything. Is this implying a 'bad' luck? Those who failed will get their result later? Oh no.. I got to pray harder!