Point of View

Headmaster
I felt very proud as my students walked in playing their music instruments with pride. I went up to the stage to give my speech confidently, looking down at all the students and parents. As a usual practice of the school for all these years, I posed the students a question: " what are the four pillars of the school? " The reply was unanimous except for a few students who did not know the answer whom I believed were new to the school. After that, i proceeded to tell the students and parents about the history and achievements the school has achieved in the past years. As the audience gave me an awe look, I instantly felt that i had made the right choice to come to serve this school.

New Student
I sat at the bottom of the stage, looking very bored and listless as the students marched in playing their musical instrument. When the headmaster went up to give a speech, it was even more unbearable. I didn't understand a single thing he was saying as I was not paying attention to him at all. I was just staring into space. What made matters worse was when the headmaster asked us what the 4 pillars of the school were. I didn't know a single thing! My parents forced me to stand up and i stood up pretending to say something. When I sat down, I forced a smile out of myself, responding to my parents' applause.

Podcast

1. Slavery started during the Neolithic revolution around 11,000 years ago. The earliest records of slavery can be traced to the code of Hammurabi and the Bible, stating that it was an established institution.
2. Slavery began in southern states after the settlers imported black slaves for their plantations from 1607 onwards till until the outbreak of the revolution in 1775. 
3. Africa. 
4. The south Americans bought and owned  slaves to help the people out in the farms. Slaves working in the farm have long hours of work from sunrise to sunset. 
5. There were laws where slaves have to abide to.  The slaves were not supposed to learn how to read. The slaves were also not supposed to be harbouring slaves. The slaves are not supposed to teach other how to poison. The slaves not supposed to engage in killing, marking or branding cattle. Slaves are not to strike white people. 
6. The slavery in the United States, involved the Caucasians exploiting and using the African americans as their slaves, because they thought that the “blacks” were inferior to them, which is also the case in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The citizens of Maycomb county, where they discriminated against the African Americans too, but not to the extent of forcing them into slavery. They not only looked down upon them, but condemned them into a life of inferiority towards them. This also stirred up rage in the African Americans, just like it did in America in that time. This then was one of the causes of the civil war in America. 
7. The study of slavery has helped me understand the various reasons why the Caucasians saw the African Americans as an inferior race. Also it helped me understand the attitude and actions of various characters in the novel towards the African Americans, and why they do so. For example why Bob Ewell was so angry at his daughter for kissing Tom Robinson, as he felt that the “blacks” were “dirty” in a sense, and was not fit to be loved by a “white” person.

Names of Group Members: Ng Yong Hong(Leader)
                                           Lye Yu Xuan
                                           Ng Jun Hong
                                           Yeo Wen Jie
                                           Lee Juo Shuen

Week 7 Assignment: Reflection on the LA Lessons Covered so Far

I have learnt the different elements of a short story. E.g. setting and mood, characterization and plot. For setting and mood, I learnt that we need to have descriptive words and figurative languages in order to bring out a mental picture of the setting to the reader, creating a mood. Characterization is where you describe your characters in different aspects. They mainly are physical and mentally. Examples of physical characterization is their actions, appearance, behavior, etc whereas mentally characterization is their dialogue, thoughts and preferences. Plot consists of introduction, followed by rising action, then climax, afterwards is falling action and last but not least resolution/conclusion. There also many different types of figurative languages. Examples are: similes(as....like....), metaphors(he is a lion), onomatopoeia, etc.  The thing I like about this programme is that we get many chances to do group work and go up to present. I enjoyed the lesson on Prejudice and Discrimination when we watch two videos, Susan Boyle and a TV Commercial Ad. These two videos taught me that one should not be prejudice or discriminating against other people as things might not be what you think it is. Always expect the unexpected. I hope that there would be videos and group work included in this programme.

Week 5 Assignment

The school field appeals to many of my senses. Picturing it, I see the immense field and the green grass surrounding me. On a sunny day, the sky is bright blue and the clouds are fluffy and white. It seems that no matter what the weather is like, there is seldom a soothing breeze, in fact, it is scorching hot. During the day, it smells of honeysuckle and the sounds of birds chirping above. However
I am not sure what it looks like at night time. Perhaps sparkly stars which light up the sky and the moon which casts a soft glow onto the grass?  This area is large, but so perfectly enclosed that I feel comfortable and not so accessible to the world during training sessions. On rainy days, we may slip on the wet and shiny grass. The fresh smell of rain mixed with soil was tangling my nose but I
had to move on , so as to take a further step in my dream of becoming the best javelin thrower. Encouraged by the sound of my spikes digging through the ground, I continue training with sheer determination.

Characterization: Story excerpt

Jackie Chan 

Jackie Chan is a guy who always teach the bad guys a lesson. Whenever his friends are in trouble, he will save them no matter what even at the expense of his life. In movies, he is will do his very best in whatever he does and will not give up till the end He also helps tries to help people in need as long as he has the ability to do so. However, Jackie Chan don't usually think before he act and he will get angered easily. He donates money to others in need. He earns money in the movie business and then gives it to charities and retirement homes. He always create his own stunts. Although he got injured while doing those stunts but he never gave up. Despite all the hardships and pain of his youth, he never gave up. He worked very hard until he reached his goals and now he works for peace and charity and international understanding. And despite other adversity in his grownup life, everywhere he goes he brings lots and lots and lots of smiles!

Week 4 Assignment

The Hwa Chong's Field means very much to me because that is the place where I have my CCA every Monday, Wednesday, Friday on normal days and Tuesdays too when there are competitions round the corner.The Field is the place where I first learnt what is javelin and my first time seeing a javelin stick. That was also the place where i learnt how to hold my javelin stick properly and the techniques to throw the javelin far. It marked the start of my CCA journey and my achievement other than academic results. That is also the place where I bond with my batchmates. At the field, we talked, play, share about things happening around us which enhanced our friendship by leaps and bounds. We also competed with each other and with competition brings improvement, hence our distance were constantly improving. The field links to my identity as I am a javelin thrower and the field is the place where i train and practice, hence the you see the field, you will be able to link that I am a person who trains at the field.