Vol 540
WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 2019
Elementary The world in colour Intermediate Put it on credit BRATs Fostering self-expression
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Thrashing the planet > 11
Supported by the Ministry of Education
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Style and fashion
The world in colour
learning skills
Critical thinking
� Identify � Reason � Measure � Organise
Creative thinking
� Imagine � Brainstorm � Connect � Invent
Problem solving
� Question � Research � Recreate � Present
Communicating
� Oral � Non-verbal � Written � Aural
Collaborating
� Listen � Contribute
respectfully
� Compromise � Attain goal NiE editorial manager: SHARON OVINIS NiE assistant manager: ROWENA CHUA Writer: S. SIVAM Layout designer: ASHARAH KAMARUL Illustrator: Hassan Bahri To order The Star for NiE lessons, call: Sundarrajan 03-7967 1388 ext 1437 or 016-288 3682 We welcome feedback; e-mail us at: starnie@thestar.com.my Teachers, you are welcome to join our Star-NiE Facebook group.
THANKS to Hallyu, otherwise known as the Korean wave, many of us have gotten to know the Korean culture better. It’s not just the Korean dramas, pop stars and athletes that we are so caught up with. Korean restaurants and eateries too have been mushrooming in Malaysia. Did you know that aesthetics (meaning: the appreciation of beauty) play an important role in Korean food? Not only is Korean food balanced in taste and flavours, it is also balanced in colour. Traditional Korean foods include dishes with five different colours to represent the earth’s five elements. Cooking food in these five colours is the practice of capturing the energy of the universe and absorbing this energy as we eat each meal. This harmony is known as “obangsaek”. Guess these colours in the puzzle below. The letters repeat themselves:
EXAMPLE
P P TT A A T R P Y R RT R P AYA Y Y PARTY
W E H B C K L K L R R E N R N D E R D R OY W LO E K C E I E E L H W ET HI T C A BA A AC E G E E N E R E D R R E E O O E YW L L E T R D L C G N G EE T L R HI DR ER Y LWL L W I E W K B B L KB A R E G N R D
Our children are riding the great wave of technology today. They now have facts and procedures at their fingertips. Teachers have to equip their students with new skills that allow them to thrive in today’s global economy. The activities in The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education pullout combine literacy skills with current content to build this set of skills. The key below indicates the skills integrated into the activities in this pullout.
D
century
ELEMENTARY
E
Note to the teacher
1.
2.
3.
4.
As you can see, colours play an important role in the world we live in. Colours are believed to impact people’s moods and emotions. Colours are an emotional expression of who we are. People play with colours in fashion as a form of expression too. Fashion in clothing, footwear, accessories, makeup, body, or furniture is distinctive (meaning: unique). When we match colours and fashion, what do we get? We get a glimpse into someone’s personality.
NiE Activity
Part 1
Let’s play with colours and words using word shape art. First, think of your favourite colour. What does this colour “look like” or “feel like” to you? Next, draw it out in words. Use colour pencils to make your shape art more exciting. For example, if your favourite colour is red, ask yourself what “RED” means to you? Could it be a sign of danger or love? If it means love, you can use the word “rose” to demonstrate that.
EXAMPLE Here are two examples using the words “rose” and “look”:
ROSE LOOK Once the class has completed this assignment, all the students who were in the same group colour should gather their clippings together and paste them on a mahjong sheet. Place the sheet up on the notice board. Do a gallery walk and mark your favourite word designs with a star!
5. Answers: white / black / green / red / yellow
2
Part 2
Gather in groups of five to work on another form of word art known as “Word Clouds”. In your groups, discuss this question: WHY IS FASHION IMPORTANT? Write down 15 key words such as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs that have come up during your discussion. Scan The Star for at least three key words / ideas to include in your Word Cloud. You are now ready to design your Word Cloud as follows: 1. the words can be placed in any direction but the size of the words matter. The most important ideas are usually larger than the less important ones. 2. the words you choose should be lively and exciting so that people who read them can form images in their minds as they look at your Word Cloud. 3. you can use colour pencils or markers to make your word cloud look more exciting. 4. use capital letters for your words. Once you are done, have a show and tell session with your classmates. Show them your Word Cloud as your group members take turns telling the class why fashion is important.
EXAMPLE of a Word Cloud themed “Family”
HOME
FAMILY
JOYFUL
PARENTS TOGETHER PARENTHOOD
TOGETHERNESS MOTHER LIFESTYLE FATHER
HAPPINESS
KIDLOVE
PLAYFUL CHILD SISTER PARENTING BROTHER
CHILDREN
DAUGHTER
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ELEMENTARY
Style and fashion
What clothes say about you THERE is an idiom in the English language that says: clothes maketh the man. It means that you can tell how successful a man is by the apparel or clothes he wears. His character too can be judged on his appearance. Do you agree that this idiom still holds water (meaning: is still true) in this day and age?
NiE Activity
Part 1
What fashion means to you can mean something completely different to another. Let’s have some fun with this idea. Here are four mighty Avengers. Gather in groups of four or five for the following discussion. 1. Pick you favourite hero from any of the four shown below. Express what you think his superhero fashion statement says about his alter ego. 2. Next, snip off the pictures at the necklines. Mix and match one hero’s face with that of another. How does this fashion change affect each hero’s “personality”? Do you think you have found a better alternative? Find the best “new” combination then have a show and tell session with the rest of the class.
Hawkeye
Iron Man
Thor
Captain America
Part 2
The Star often features celebrities in StarLifestyle. Much is written about them and their styles. These fashionistas can even help the humble flip flops become overnight sensations! In groups of four, scan the newspapers. Look for pictures of four celebrities. Cut and paste them in the space below. Rank their dressing from the best dressed to the worst dressed. Complete the chart that comes with the activity. Each group then takes turns to share their discussion with the rest of the class by pretending that you are all hosts of a fashion programme. Use the points below to critique.
Ranking (Best dressed) 1.
2.
3.
4.
Name:
Name:
Type of outfit worn
Name:
Description of how it makes them look
Name:
Adjectives to describe the outfits
24 July 2019
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INTERMEDIATE
Being financially savvy
Be money smart YOU probably keep your money in a money jar or wallet at home. As you get older and get more money, you will probably want to put your money into a checking or savings account at a business called a bank. Putting money into a bank is called making a deposit. Taking money out is making a withdrawal. Money that you earn for keeping your money in the bank for a period of time is called interest. Banks also charge interest to people who want to borrow money from them. In addition to actual paper money and coins, banks also provide debit or credit cards, which are plastic payment cards that allow the cardholder to have electronic access to his or her accounts.
1.
Activity
How financially savvy are you? Complete this crossword puzzle to check your understanding of money matters.
2.
Across 2. To remove money from a bank account. 5. Money that must be paid out for work, goods or services received. 7. Money received for performing work or a service. 8. Parents around the world annoy their children with this !” phrase: “Money doesn’t grow on 9. A helpful plan used to keep track of money earned, spent and saved.
3.
4. 5.
6.
Down 1. When you owe more than you can pay. 3. A phrase referring to something that is easy to get and a dozen.” therefore of little value: “A 4. To put money into a bank account. 6. A well-known adage about money: “The love of money is .” the root of all
7. 8.
NiE Activity
Most people think that winning the lottery would be a dream come true and would be the answer to all of life’s problems – financial and otherwise. Ironically, many lottery winners and people who earn exorbitant salaries eventually find themselves in financial ruin. University researchers reported in 2010 that winners of jackpots of more than USD150,000 (RM626,190) were more likely to file bankruptcy three to five years after winning compared with winners of less than USD10,000 (RM41,746). Read this story that appeared in The Star on June 19, 2019.
RM4.9mil lottery prize ends up being a misfortune
Down 1. Debt 3. Dime 4. Deposit 6. Evil
9.
Answers: Across 2. Withdrawal 5. Expense 7. Income 8. Trees 9. Budget
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Think of this man’s lifestyle. What went wrong? Then prepare a pie chart in the circles provided. In the left circle, pen in the activities and percentage you think this man has squandered his money on. In the right circle, prepare a pie chart illustrating how you think he should have allocated his winnings of RM4.93mil instead. Then gather in pairs. Tell your partner how you felt after reading this story. Continue the discussion by sharing your pie charts.
How I squandered RM4.93mil
A MAN got the windfall of a lifetime when he won a lottery worth 1.9 billion Korean won (RM6.69mil) in 2006, but was left a pauper eight months later. Korea Times, the daily, reported that the 39-year-old man received an after-tax sum of 1.4 billion won (RM4.93mil) but squandered his newly acquired fortune by partying and gambling. He was declared bankrupt shortly after. After a brief one-year stint in prison in 2007 for robbing a jewellery store, the man is once again in trouble with the law. According to Busan Yeonje Police Station on Monday, the man is being investigated for stealing 36 million won (RM126,800) from 16 restaurants in Busan and Daegu over the past two years. He was identified by the police and was arrested after he bragged to a taxi driver that he had won the lottery more than a decade ago. “Winning the lottery could have been a turning point for him, but he blew it,” a police spokesperson said.
How I could have survived wisely on RM4.93mil
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I want to express myself in a different way. I have a performing inclination. Rowan Atkinson
Teacher Musings Teacher JINGHANN HONG believes in empowering students to explore their creative sides. THE arts are all about creative expression. You may be familiar with visual arts where mediums such as paint, charcoal and crayon are used. Performing arts, on the other hand, include any form that is dynamic in medium – think dance, music and theatre – and expressed before an audience. As a child, one of my very first exposures to performing arts was through radio plays. These were often hours-long Mandarinspeaking family dramas with multiple romance plots and triple betrayals, designed to entertain listeners on the drive back to hometowns during festive seasons. From young, I have interacted with different aspects of performing arts, from dancing and acting to singing. In my later teens and early university days, I moved on to writing and helping to produce performances, while dabbling in marketing and costume designing on the side. Through these experiences, I have been able to learn a few new things about myself, think outside the box, build self-reliance and trust, overcome performance and presentation fears, as well as explore various creative outlets. As a teacher, I have come to appreciate performing arts even more. On a day-to-day level, I incorporate songs and drama in the classroom, to encourage my students to be more confident in using the English language. I find that reading short pieces helps to improve vocal projection, articulation and intonation. My students and I sometimes have a go at tongue twisters, and project
Fostering self-expression How we keep the local arts scene relevant in this day and age depends on how much priority we give it. different moods while reading scripts. Performing arts are also vital in keeping our heritage and identities alive, especially in a multicultural country like Malaysia. As a student, I loved muhibbah dances because I got to learn more about other cultures. As a teacher, I often find myself pondering how we should keep our vibrant local arts scene relevant to globalisation. When I studied in the United Kingdom, I was pleasantly surprised to find students performing the dikir barat while infusing modern beats into the moves. Some even took the initiative to showcase their multicultural Malaysian identities onstage. In addition, performing arts help enhance students’ interpersonal skills because they need to understand themselves and their roles. This necessitates intrapersonal growth in which students gradually relate better to different situations, people and feelings, and develop the ability to be in “someone else’s shoes”. For example, acting out scenes from Dear Mr. Kilmer allows the youths of today to imagine what it is like to be ordinary students in times of conflict and war. As a whole, performing arts can teach students about compassion while providing an insight into what it means to live another person’s life. Moving away from teacher-led activities, student participation in the performing arts offers a valuable lesson in leadership,
THE PERFORMING ARTS IMPROVE DRAMA Social skills Emotional awareness Story comprehension MULTI-ARTS Reading skills Math skills Higher-order thinking DANCE Social tolerance Creativity Self-esteem MUSIC Reading skills Math skills Exam scores
Students from SJK (C) Wu Teck, Klang, staging a performance at Damansara Performing Arts Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. — File photo responsibility and teamwork. Students get the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships while experiencing the joys and frustrations of large-scale organisational activities. Regardless of whether you are in a team of eight dancers or 80 crew and cast members, performing arts act as a low-stakes outlet to develop soft skills, give and receive constructive criticism, as well as mediate and resolve conflicts where necessary, before one is exposed to real-life scenarios. Last but not least, performing
arts bring elements of joy to those taking part. It is a fruitful way to do something fun while learning new things. Most of these students also grow up more emotionally mature and secure about themselves; they are able to view things from multiple perspectives and are thus more empathetic. Of course, students can reap none of these benefits if they do not proactively take steps to support the performing arts culture in Malaysia. Educational institutions must provide the platform for students to explore their creative outlets.
Teachers can play a role, too, by incorporating performing arts into their classrooms. Students can always take the initiative to lobby for an end-of-year concert or talent showcase that can also double up as a charity event. If you can afford it, watch local productions at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. Or take acting classes, support your friends who play in the orchestra, take karaoke out of your shower and onto the stage – the possibilities are only limited by your own imagination!
People making waves 2. Darci Lynne Farmer
Compiled by CHIA ZHI ZHI, 18 Methodist College Kuala Lumpur, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur
1. Harith Iskander
Born in 1966 in Johor Baru, Harith is known as “the Godfather of Stand-Up Comedy” in Malaysia. He has also established himself as a worldclass stand-up comedian. Harith has performed tons of shows locally and internationally such as To Know Malaysia Is To Laugh Malaysia. On top of that, he has his own Netflix show called Harith Iskander: I Told You So.
This 14-year-old ventriloquist from Oklahoma in the United States captured the hearts of millions across the globe the moment she stepped on the stage of NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2017. Her unique talent crowned her - and her puppets the winner of the 12th season of the show. Other than headlining shows in Las Vegas and performing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she has been going on her own tours! Almost all her shows were sold out when she went on the Darci Lynne and Friends Live national tour. She also starred in and hosted NBC’s holiday TV special Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas.
3. Yuna
4. Misty Copeland
Copeland is a prodigy ballerina from Missouri, United States. She made history as the first African-American to be promoted as the principal dancer at one of the leading classical ballet companies, the American Ballet Theatre. What made Copeland such a wonder was the surprising fact that she only began dancing ballet at the age of 13. More surprisingly, she was able to dance en pointe within three months of learning. She made it into TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, Glamour magazine’s women of the year 2015 and ESPN’s 2015 Impact 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest impact for women in sports. In addition to being a professional ballerina, Copeland also developed careers as a model, public speaker, celebrity spokesperson and onstage performer.
5. Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh
The Ipoh native is a household name in Malaysia. This could be attributed to her great success in the movie industry. As a multilinguist, Yeoh stars in English, Mandarin and Cantonese language movies. She was propelled to fame after starring in various Hong Kong action movies in the 90s. Yet, perhaps the most renowned movies of hers are the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and the 2000 Chinese language martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Her sterling performance in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon even won her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress. She was ranked the greatest action heroine of all time in 2008 by the film critic website Rotten Tomatoes. In addition, she was the only Asian to be honoured as one of People’s Magazine’s “35 All-Time Screen Beauties”. She has scored an acting job as Dr Karina Mogue in the upcoming Avatar movies.
Yunalis Mat Zara’ai, professionally known as Yuna, is a renowned Malaysian singer-songwriter. This 32-year-old was originally from Alor Setar. She started writing songs when she was 14, and began self-learning guitar when she was in law school. Her debut album Decorate in 2008 successfully earned her five nominations and four awards, including Best New Artist and Best Song, at the Malaysian Music Awards. Two years later, the song Rocket from the Decorate (EP) went viral and she was featured on Billboard. Since then, her career has only continued to get better. She has collaborated with various renowned artistes such as Pharrell Williams and Usher.
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Breathin
art f
Meet these persona to the local pe
Compiled by AMELIA JADE XIN and JONATHA
DATIN SUNITA MEI-LIN RAJAKUMAR Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival director (since 2015)
Sunita (centre) at the Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival.
How you first got into the performing arts “My mother has always been passionate about music. It was common to have classical music or operas playing at our home. My siblings and I were sent for regular music and dance classes. During school holidays, we would organise a mini concert with our neighbours. It wasn’t a project my parents initiated or specifically encouraged, but something we wanted to do. Everyone played a role, including the boys who hastily brushed up on their magic tricks and clown antics. It was a small beginning in understanding the mechanics and challenges of staging shows with a not-always professional cast, the potent immediacy of live performances and how they could impact people.” How your passion developed “While I was studying and living in England, especially while working in London, I had great opportunities to wander around galleries and museums, as well as catch some memorable productions, be it theatre, music, ballet or opera. In the United Kingdom, culture plays such a significant role in society that one in every three visitors has a cultural touchpoint. It wasn’t until much later, while supporting some friends in their stage production, that I ended up helping them raise funds and being called the executive producer.” Your most memorable experience “Every year, as part of the KL International Arts Festival, we bring the less-privileged to the shows, including refugees, orphans, street kids, and those with special needs. This is without doubt one of our most memorable experiences. The performing arts are completely alien to many of them. With relatively little effort, we bring together volunteers, transport sponsors, and angels who pay for the vastly discounted theatre tickets. The ‘thank you’ letters are often funny and very moving.”
What keeps you motivated? “My husband has been tremendously supportive. Having him as a confidant and a sounding board has been invaluable. It is also gratifying to be able to unlock the support and sponsorship of the private sector and other arms of the government. The festival plays a big role in building capacity because in staging large productions, artists learn through doing and this experience is invaluable. We have a generation of hugely accomplished and talented arts practitioners who have invested years, if not decades, of their lives in developing their talent and craft; they deserve six-digit funding or more to stage shows which display the full scope of their creativity. Despite the pleasure it gives me, I view this as a responsibility – we can make a collective and significant difference to many lives, hence it is something we should – and must – do.” What you hope for the local performing arts industry “For starters, the arts grant funding needs to be a priority and material allocation needs to be set aside by the government to support the arts practitioners. The festival has become a platform to channel such funding directly to the artists but it is challenging to sustain the only city-wide month-long performing and visual arts festival solely through private sector funding, especially against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and where there are multiple other competing priorities. Second, I believe it should be the role of the government to facilitate an initiative that cuts across multiple industries and involves multiple stakeholders. Finally, with scarce resources, decisions should be made with the intention of building capacity. For every actor you see on stage, there are many jobs being created behind the scenes to make this performance a success. The festival has played an important role in such building capacity.”
How you first got into the performing arts I first started with commercials when I was two years old and that’s what I have been doing for the most part of my career, though I have been involved in musicals, as well. My first big role was in 2015 when I was 14 years old. It was for a Chinese drama called October. The role was difficult for me as Mandarin isn’t my forte. The experience taught me that acting is something that you can grow from, so the obstacles I faced became valuable lessons later on. I’m 18 this year and it’s been a crazy long ride. How your passion developed It all started with my love for entertainment. I love movies and pop culture, so being surrounded by incredible co-stars and crew mates who always have my back is a dream come true. My passion just grew over the years; I gradually came to love what I did even more. Acting is a genuine passion that I have, so I hope I can keep it as a career. Your most memorable experience Everything I’ve done so far has been an
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24 JULY 2019
ng life into
forms
alities who are contributing erforming arts scene.
MAE-XIAN LIM, JESSIE GAN ZE AN LEE RONG SHENG
YAP SIONG CHENG Johor Society for the Performing Arts (JSPA) president and founder
GABRIEL NOEL POUNTNEY Teen actor, a Mouseketeer of Disney’s Club Mickey Mouse, nominated for the 2017 NTV7 Golden Awards’ Best Newcomer
amazing experience. I was able to learn and grow from meeting so many talented people. For example, my fellow Mouseketeers have taught me numerous things that I never knew and the many directors I’ve worked with have shaped me into the actor that I am today. I can’t pick a specific memorable experience as all of them were equally unforgettable. What you hope to achieve I just hope that I can continue doing what I do, and keep entertaining and bringing joy to people. I’d love to take on a diverse range of roles in the future. What you hope teenagers or the general public know about the performing arts To be involved in acting, you have to put yourself out there and try your very best. In order to achieve something, you need to work for it, be committed and you will eventually get there. The results won’t be immediate but nothing is, so keep at it! Don’t think about what you can’t do but about how you can improve. Learn to take criticism and grow from it.
How you first got into the performing arts “The music scene was booming in the 1960s with the emergence of pop music, and rock and roll. As a child, I grew up listening to records and humming along to tunes by the Beatles. There was a record player in my house. I would spend hours immersing myself in the various music genres. Even though my voice was not mellifluous at all, and I knew that I was not cut out for a prosperous singing career, I continued doing it because I always had so much fun.” How your passion developed “I was never really involved in music clubs back in my schooling days as they were non-existent but that did not deter me from singing and dancing behind closed doors at homes, much to my sisters’ annoyance. While I am a lawyer by profession, my love for music has never faded; in fact, it grew stronger as years went by. I founded JSPA in 1998 with a group of like-minded creative individuals, all of whom shared an immense passion for the arts. We wanted to fill a hole in the performing arts scene in Johor Baru as music festivals were generally held in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. We decided to have informal gatherings on the last Friday of every month to exchange ideas on the future prospects of local art festivals. After registering the society in February 2002, we made a bold move to launch our maiden festival in 2004.” Your most memorable experience “Even though the JB Jazz Festival, an initiative under the Johor Baru International Festival City umbrella, is considered by most as a regional festival, we managed to get Sadao Watanabe, a world-renowned saxophonist touted by many as a titan in the world of jazz music, to perform at the festival in 2015. It was a surreal experience and a personal milestone for me as I have always enjoyed his music. This goes to show that music transcends cultures, soundscapes and barriers, illustrating that music at its most universal has the ability to bring people closer together.”
What keeps you motivated “The upward trend of people attending the festivals is a positive validation of our team’s hard work and serves as a source of encouragement for me. While the festivals may have evolved since its inception, the root of our cause has remained unchanged as JSPA seeks to offer new curated experiences across a diverse range of art practices for Johoreans. Passion sits incongruously with the realities of life, but there is no greater satisfaction than putting a smile on people’s faces after all the hard work that went into organising a successful event.” What you hope to achieve “All of our projects are modelled around the simple belief that the arts are not merely for the sole purpose of entertainment, but serve as invaluable platforms to educate, engage and empower the community. From classical music to jazz, spoken word to graphic arts, photography to forums, comedy to fashion, we hope that our programmes reflect the diverse tapestry of Johor Baru and its people, and encourage a greater interest of the arts.” What you hope teenagers or the general public know about the performing arts “Sometimes, people don’t realise the amount of work and meticulous preparation that goes into the makings of a musical performance or fashion event. As the Chinese saying goes, ‘Behind three minutes of glory on the stage may be 10 years of hard work.’ Everything from the lighting to the costumes plays an integral role in bringing a story to life. Watching a show put up by Malaysian artists or taking the time to appreciate local artisan craft like wayang kulit means so much more than you would think because artists create from their souls and their work is a reflection of the years they have spent in honing their craft to perfection. Only with continuous support from the people can the arts thrive meaningfully.”
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Breaking boundaries through
Chee has the support of her parents in her dance pursuits.
dance
Compiled by GAN XIAO TIAN and ABIGAIL DILUSHA MUN WAI XI
CHEE JENN WI
LEE HWEY LING AND NATASHA BALAN
Dance instructor
Ballerinas
How you first got into the performing arts Hwey Ling: I’ve been dancing since childhood. My mother, Wendy, is a ballet instructor herself, so I’m pretty used to the training. The first time I performed was at my uncle’s wedding when I was two. Dancing has always been a part of my life, I can’t imagine myself without it. Natasha: I started lessons at the age of five. I probably started dancing a long time before that. I liked dancing a lot, and after my mother got in touch with Wendy, she became my mentor. She definitely has a no-nonsense approach to teaching, but she’s taught me all I know. How your passion developed Natasha: Both of us took part in a few international ballet shows as corps de ballet, or the backup dancers. The auditions were nervewrecking. We felt encouraged whenever we found out we made it to the shows.
Hwey Ling: We took part in the International Ballet Gala in Istana Budaya, organised by KL Danceworks. The principal of KL Danceworks Madam Choong Wan Chin has also been really supportive, and one of our guiding lights. We owe a lot of our achievements to her. Your most memorable experience Natasha: Definitely La Bayadere. My role there was pivotal for my growth as a ballerina. I realised how rigorous training really is, being in a studio with the other corps de ballet, just overall tired and sweaty. Yet my feet somehow keep moving. Often I struggle to portray the emotions of the ballet into my movements. Sometimes you forget that technique can only get you so far. La Bayadere is a tragic story, and even when your moves are perfected, you still have to get that tragic atmosphere into every move you make. Hwey Ling: When I was six, I performed in a Sailor Moon charity show at the Mines. I remember it was for a charity home. I also remember my legs feeling like jelly onstage and offstage. I was all decked out in my Sailor Moon costume. It was a really cute dance, in retrospect. Until now, my legs still shake tremendously onstage. I’ve learned to hide it better though. What you hope to achieve Natasha: I really want to entertain people and put a smile on their faces. Every time I compete, I tell myself that it’s a performance, instead of a competition. Essentially, I just want to do my best at what I love. Ballet is really a foundation for all the other dances, so it’s good to have a ballet background when you dive into another branch of dance like contemporary or hiphop. Really, technique can only take you halfway. The rest is up to passion. Hwey Ling: I’ve been happy with my progress all this while, but what I really hope for is the growth of my own students. I want to share all my knowledge of dance to them so they can be better, too. Ballet is a really personal thing. Everyone dances differently, and everyone can interpret the steps differently. I will continue striving for perfection. What you hope teenagers or the general public know about the performing arts Natasha: It doesn’t get easier or less scary! You’ll still get jelly legs even after 10, 20 years of dancing. After a performance, you’ll spend an entire night just thinking about your mistakes. But it’s all worth it. The jelly legs, the pre-performance anxiety and the sweaty smell of dance studios, just for that one minute onstage. It’s exhilarating and there’s really nothing like it. And about the jelly-legs, just fake it till you make it! And you will definitely make it. Hwey Ling: It’s an individual thing. Even with acting, singing, all of that, your emotions and how you see yourself play a big part in your performance. A lot of people think ballet is super rigid and strict. True, a lot of it is about discipline, but what you bring to the dance is what will bring you furthest. There’s this quote by Virginia Woolf I like: “I am rooted, but I flow.” It’s like ballet: the steps are just steps, the dancer makes it ethereal.
Hwey Ling and Natasha during one of their practice sessions.
How you first got into the performing arts I started out as a gymnast in my early primary school years. I wasn’t as flexible as my teammates when it came to manoeuvring the apparatuses. I kept to my comfort zone and focused more on the dance steps. When I was 10 years old, I started covering Korean songs. Back then, it was BoA and TVXQ, who dominated the K-pop stage, so I would copy their music videos and learn the dance steps all by myself at home. How your passion developed I have always enjoyed dancing but the only time I ever went for dance classes was for a short span of two months. I was 16 years old then. At 20, I switched my dance style to waacking, a form of street dance entirely different from K-pop. It was a challenge, hence I started taking classes. After six months of learning the dance style, I took part in the Astro Battleground competition. It really pushed my dancing career forward. Your most memorable experience It would be my three months’ stint with the Astro Battleground 2016. We were placed in two different dance teams with entirely new teammates. Every week, we had lessons with a new dance teacher, and every week there was a new choreography to pick up. It was like standing at the edge of the cliff every day, but the experience moulded my personality and skills. What keeps you motivated The people around me are reasons why I keep moving forward. My parents are the conventional type. They tend to do the opposite of what they say. They forbid me from dancing but deep down, they support my dream and passion. When I was younger, I went all the way to South Korea to audition to enter the K-pop industry. Throughout the entire process, my father was there with me. During the Astro Battleground competition, my mother initially forbade me from going, but after she saw how sad it made me, she relented. There is always a sense of achievement and satisfaction after being able to break my current boundaries and move forward to a higher level in dancing, so it keeps me going and motivates me to continue. What you hope to achieve As of now, I hope that I can improve to be on par with my role model, Ibuki Imata from Japan. I want to continue improving and enjoying myself through dancing. As a law student, dancing has helped me cope with stress. What you hope teenagers or the general public know about the performing arts The general public often has prejudice and stereotypes that youths who dance - especially street dancers - are bad influences. I hope people can try out something before judging, and to everyone who is interested in dancing, just go for it! Follow your passion, and you’ll see something ahead.
-NiE , 24 JULY 2019
INTERMEDIATE
Being financially savvy
Put it on credit
SOME people think the solution to a budget problem is to just make more money. This seems logical, but it often doesn’t work out. It is challenging to land a high-paying job, especially when first starting out, and the more money people make, the more they tend to spend. Debt is not a problem just for low-income people. Many people with large incomes still spend more than they make or live paycheck to paycheck. It isn’t about what you earn as much as it is about what you spend and how you manage your money.
NiE Activity 1
When it comes to expenses, there are basically three kinds. They are: Fixed expenses Variable or flexible expenses Discretionary expenses In groups of four or five, scan The Star for words or pictures that fall under each category. Then carry out a presentation to show and explain items you have collated under each category. Use a sheet of A3 paper for each category. Refer to the template and examples given below. Your fellow classmates may not agree why certain items have been categorised as such. Be prepared to justify your answers.
Fixed expenses
Variable or flexible expenses
Discretionary expenses
Expenses that do not change from month to month and that are necessary for day-to-day living, such as rent or a car payment.
Expenses that occur regularly but vary a little from month to month. They are usually necessary for day-to-day living, but you can have some control over the amount. Examples: groceries and utilities.
Expenses that you choose to have and which you can control, such as entertainment or savings.
(Note to teacher: Each group can be asked to present one category so as to shorten the presentation time. Allow students to ask questions and express differing opinions.)
NiE Activity 2
It is a matter of time before you are out on your own. And being independent can be fun and exciting, but it also means taking on new financial responsibilities. The decisions you make now about how you manage your money can affect your ability to get credit, insurance, a place to live, and even a job. Read this story about Ng Pui Yee who started running a financial education programme for children four years ago called “Little Tauke”, after realising how little she knew about managing her finances. It was only when she wanted to leave her job that she realised she had no safety net – her savings would barely keep her afloat for three months.
I was too used to spending and I found it hard to go on a ‘money diet’. When I was young, my parents made it very clear that they could only provide us our basic needs. My father was the sole breadwinner for our family of six and he was very frugal. I saw myself as a deprived child as I could not satisfy my wants. So, I worked after school and through university to earn money, which I spent on things – clothes, shoes, bags. This went on even after I started working. When I joined the banking industry, I began to realise how little I knew about how to manage and multiply money. I continued to spend. I was so stressed at work and wanted to quit. But I realised that with my meagre savings, I couldn’t. That was the moment I realised all the costly mistakes I’d made. Money isn’t everything but almost everything we need requires an exchange of money and getting an effective financial education is the first step towards financial independence. The Star, Oct 12, 2018
When it comes to money matters, budgeting and planning ahead lead to more thoughtful and responsible choices. Think of an incident, although painful, that became a lesson learned on the importance of financial planning. Narrate the experience concisely (as shown in the written piece above). End with a piece of advice for your peers as learned through your experience. Keep your anecdote to about 300 words.
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-NiE , 24 JULY 2019
ADVANCED
What a waste
Food, glorious food! THE title of this page is that of a song from the musical Oliver! It is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel and tells the adventures of the young orphaned boy, Oliver Twist, who runs away to London in hopes of a better life. The boys Oliver mixes with are sadly underfed and malnourished. In this song they complain about the lack of food.
Activity
Think about the word “food”. Take two minutes to write down all of the different words associated with “food”. Walk around the class and mingle in pairs. Spend a few minutes with at least three different people. Share your words with these partners and talk about them. Return to your seats after a time frame of about 15 minutes. Then discuss the “categories of food topics” that arose from your discussions. List them on the board.
NiE Activity 1
A. Match the following words found in the article to their synonyms. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Ramadan Without Waste campaign kicks off
crucial throwing out share grow cause begin crusade frame of mind uncurbed swings to
2. Are the following statements based on the article Ramadan Without Waste campaign kicks off true (T) or false (F)? A. Malaysia’s government made a statement on global food waste. B. Malaysians waste over 15,000 tonnes of food a year. C. A Malaysian politician outlined 10 solutions to the problem of food waste. D. The politician said it was environmentally friendly to throw food away. E. The politician said people needed to go to the Ramadan bazaars to buy food. F. Food wastage causes environmental pollution. G. The politician had lunch with the reporters during the campaign kick-off.
T/F T/F T/F T/F T/F T/F T/F 3. F
4. F
5. F
6. T
7. F
KUALA LUMPUR: The high level of food waste and large allocation for solid waste management each year has made the government launch a “Ramadan Without Waste” campaign this year. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof said the amount of food waste in the country was a major concern to the extent that the government had to allocate over RM2bil just for solid waste management in 2017. “According to the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute’s report, Malaysians are dumping 15,000 tonnes of food per day, with 3,000 tonnes of it being good enough not to be discarded in the first place. “Worse still, the amount of food waste tends to increase by 15% to 20% during Ramadan. I call on everyone to change their attitude and think 10 times before buying food at Ramadan bazaars this year so as not to contribute to an excessive amount of food wastage which may also affect the environment,” he told reporters after launching the campaign here yesterday.
allocation launch campaign major dumping tends to increase attitude contribute excessive
NiE Activity 2
Ironically, as a nation passionate about food, Malaysians throw away a lot of it. The Star reported that in a 2017 survey by SWCorp, food waste, makes up 44.5% of the almost 38,000 tonnes of solid waste generated by Malaysians daily. That’s close to 17,000 tonnes of food waste! A blue whale, the largest mammal alive weighs about 105 tonnes. That’s about 162 times as heavy as a Blue Whale. While our society has become more conscious of this wastage, much can still be done to curb this. Gather in groups. Rank these categories of people / things that can best cut down on food waste. Rank them from top down, with number 1 being people / things that would make the biggest impact on this effort. When everyone is done, carry out a presentation to share your opinions. Give reasons for your opinions.
fast-food restaurants
hotels
families
food banks
supermarkets
children
farmers
governments
Photo of food being wasted.
Answers: 1. F 2. F
During the course of your discussion, did the matter of food wastage arise? Read the following article that appeared in The Star in May 2019. Much has been discussed about food wastage among Malaysians in the last few months.
Answers: 1. share 2. begin 3, crusade 4. crucial 5. throwing out 6. swings to 7. grow 8. frame of mind 9. cause 10.uncurbed
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-NiE , 24 JULY 2019
ADVANCED
What a waste
A system in crisis WHILE progress may be a little slow with regard to this cause, more people are becoming aware of the link between single-use plastics and the damage the materials are causing to the environment. Do you believe that this is a worthwhile cause? What are you doing to show your commitment to this campaign?
NiE Activity
Part 2 Support why reducing waste will help the environment. Use the graphic organiser below to prepare your points. You may want to surf the Internet for some ideas. You can carry out this activity in groups. Then take turns to present your findings.
The Selangor government’s ban on plastic straws comes into force on July 1, while Penang’s ban of plastic bags every Monday, also begins on July 1. After imposing a statewide ban on plastic bags 10 years ago, the Penang government has decided to take the initiative one step further by deciding that there would be no plastic bags for shoppers even if they are willing to pay 20sen. Do you think it is possible to aim for zero waste in our country? Read this excerpt that appeared in The Star on June 17, 2019.
Aiming to be ‘zero-waste’ KAMIKATSU (Japan): Plastic, paper, metal? In Japan’s Kamikatsu, sorting rubbish isn’t that simple. Residents face a mind-boggling 45 separate categories for their garbage as the town aims to be “zero waste” by 2020. And that’s not all: there isn’t even trash collection. The 1,500 residents of the town in western Japan have to transport their waste themselves to a local facility. One man who had brought in a shelf had to use a hammer to prise the wood from the metal, while elsewhere workers chopped up a thick, long rubber tube so it would fit into a sorting box. In 2000, the town was ordered to shut down one of its incinerators because it no longer met stricter emissions standards. That left the town with just one incinerator that couldn’t handle all of Kamikatsu’s waste, and there wasn’t enough money for a new one or to pay a neighbouring town for use of theirs. “We thought, ‘If we can’t burn waste in the town, then let’s recycle.’ It’s cheaper to recycle waste than burn it,” said town official Midori Suga. Kamikatsu is already close to achieving its goal, recycling about 80% of the 286 tonnes of waste it produced in 2017, far more than the national average of 20%.
Part 1
Topic: Introduction:
The reduction of waste safeguards our environment
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Evidence
Evidence
Evidence
Evidence
Evidence
Evidence
Conclusion:
1. What types of plastics do you use in your daily life? (Examples: bottled water, straws etc)
2. Who do you think is responsible for plastic consumption in a student’s everyday life? (Your parents, the school etc?) Elaborate on your answers.
3. Think about the one way that you could personally cut down on plastic in your life.
Reduces landfill waste
4. In what way will you need someone else’s help in cutting down on plastic?
5. Would you want to live in Kamikatsu? Elaborate on your reason.
6. Do you think that a “zero-waste” policy can be achieved in Malaysia? Explain your reason.
7. Gather in groups of four or five and share your opinions based on Questions 1 to 4.
Cuts carbon emissions
Saves energy
Conserves natural resources Protects the ecosystems
Protects wildlife Protects the poor and the forest communities
Creates jobs
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-NiE , 24 JULY 2019
Complete the phrasal verbs below. Picture:
Fill in the correct one from the list below.
on (build, agree, come) Come to the same opinion or decision
Across:
on (build, agree, come) An expression of encouragement
Down:
on (build, agree, come) Develop something on one’s reputation, success or beliefs and values, etc
1. The success of her company creating a happy workplace for her employees. , you can get the 2. “ job done in 15 minutes!” the manager gave Tom a pat on the shoulder. 3. Their frequent meetings had given them an idea: they getting married themselves! a) Come on b) agreed on c) is built on
While everyone else was buying property and tying up their money in real estate, Winslow was busy on another project. “I was tying up my money in money. I thought that would be a whole lot safer,” he said cautiously. The term Winslow is using means to place one’s money in some type of investment. “If you’re looking for a loan, I can’t help you,” Winslow said. “All my money is tied up at this moment. Sorry.”
Answers: Picture: agree on Across: come on Down: build on Fill in: 1) c 2) a
TIE UP (IN)
3) b
EPISODE 20 The sparrow made no move to fly out. Instead, it hopped timidly over to the other side.
Bao slipped her finger between the bars and prodded the bird gently. Finally it seemed to realise that it was free.
Why isn’t it flying out?
Timidly
Fearfully, nervously
Striding
It doesn’t realise it is free. It needs some prodding.
I see what it is you mean. For you, the door may not be open that long. You must dart out quickly and fly free with your own set of wings! Thank you for showing me…
Walking, treading, stomping
Then she felt Bao’s arm stiffen. Her attention seemed riveted onto a figure striding stri towards them from behind a nearby fish stall.
Quick! Hide!
But what for? Who are you afraid of?
QUESTION
It’s my brother. The bird… you can’t pay, can you? He’ll be furious!
Why was Bao worried when she saw her brother?