POST MORTEM
This posting is about the Language Camp. For me personally it was fun and interesting but tiring, of course. The pupils were really active except for some of them, who were very passive and shy, especially Zultex (Yatie and I facilitated that group). But then frankly speaking, some of the pupils are really good in English. Though they do not know how to make sentences, I mean express themselves in English sentences, at least they know how to spell the words, even some difficult words. Some of them can even understand some difficult words. That's was very encouraging for me! But then the sad part is that they did not understand what we were talking about. Maybe we used to professional words/language. Hehehe...anyway, at least they get our points right? And guess what, they learnt one most famous word: FANTASTIC. That was really so great!!! Fidhah or Mimi actually told them this word once only and they remembered it till the end of the camp! Wow!!! As for the games, I believe things went well and the pupils learnt something (a lot I think) especially vocabulary. Thanks to Mimi and Siti D for preparing the materials, and to everyone who helped out!!! Thanks to everyone for creating the games!!! Brilliant!!! One of the pupils in Zultex actually knows how to spell GRASSHOPPER which she did not know only after I spelt once for everyone. Brilliant, isn't she? I was very motivated by her and some other pupils. One even know how to spell RUBBER-TAPPER! Wow!!! But then some were very disappointing and discouraging in the sense they have no motivation to learn. Some were very ego and moody. I hate that!!! Anyway, I was really very happy when I heard the pupils using the vocabulary they learnt in the games before. They actually remembered and used the vocabulary in other games. Very good pupils, I'm telling you seriously. I believe they will be very good in English if the teachers put in more effort giving them motivation to learn. As for the programme, though things didn't go as scheduled, everything went on pretty well and smoothly. So, great job to Fidhah!!! And everyone!!! Well done!!! Oh by the way, the songs! The pupils really love singing and dancing. It was fun and FANTASTIC watching them dancing and singing so energetically!!! The Boogie-Boogie and The Side songs were really fun for the kids. And it was fun watching them doing the boogie-boogie!!! Soooo.... cute!!! Also It's a Small World, Ba Baa Black Sheep and some other songs were great too! I believe they enjoyed themselves very much though it was really tiring for them and us!!! Some of us actually lost our voice as we had to speak really loudly in order for the pupils to heard and understood us. They were indeed very loud and noisy. But then overall it was fun and enjoyable. Oh yaaa...regarding the teachers and parents there...they were really very helpful and friendly. The welcoming team was great. It was really grand for us. So many people greeted us at the gate!!! FANTASTIC!!! And besides the food was great!!! We actually had six meals per day EXCLUDING the meals we had in our foster parents' home!!! Wow!!! Really too much!!! I felt like I was eating all the time. Sooo full man!!! Kind of feel horrible when I recall. Hehehe...and for another group's information, each one of us had our own foster family!!! Hiak hiak hiak!!! Lucky aren't we? They really loved us and took care of us with so much care and love!!! My foster family gave me so much love, care and even presents. I am really touched and somehow felt very disappointed for not being able to give them much. Hope I could visit them again before I graduate. Well, basically this camp was really great as I gained lots of experience (about handling pupils in camps, games, how to organise camps for pupils, Malay culture especially and a lot more. Well, experience is the best teacher!!! You and I know that!!! I would like to tell everyone that you had done a great job!!! I hope Mr. G approves this. :) And thanks to the school teachers, the school organising committee, our foster families, pupils and their parents, Mr. G, Mr. Faruk, Dr. Norazman, Miss Fatimah, Evelyn and all the TESL committee members for making this camp a success and a memorable one for me and hopefully for all of you too!!! Well done!!! And do have a good rest!!!