August 7, 2019 by farahlawi95

Vol 542

Wednesday 7 August 2019

Elementary Bending with the wind Intermediate Finding inner strength Earn Your Band 6 Does social media hurt mental health? Tel: 03 7967 1388 Fax: 03 7955 4039 thestar.com.my/education facebook.com/niebrats

twitter.com/niebrats

Barn’s burnt down – now I can see the moon supported by the Ministry of education

— Mizuta Masahide, 17th century samurai and poet

-NiE , 7 August 2019

Note to the teacher

century

learning skills 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.

ELEMENTARY Resilience

The courage to go on ONE of the pages you may flip to when you get a copy of the newspaper is the comic section. While you enjoy the funnies, do you realise that there is some truth behind the humour? Some characters in the comic strips show examples of inappropriate behaviour. Unless corrected, the problems will get worse.

NiE Activity 1

NiE Activity 2

As a tweenager or teenager, you, too, are faced with a great deal of stress as you develop and mature. Listed below is an example of a stressor that arises from a certain situation. Which are your top three stressors? List them below. At least one of the stressors must be taken from your copy of The Star. They can be in the form of pictures or phrases that are linked to your stressors. Explain how they are connected. Then, gather in groups of five to share your answers. Do they overlap? As a class, do a poll to find out the top three stressors of your classmates. What is a conclusion you can draw from this simple poll?

Critical thinking

� Identify � Reason � Measure � Organise

(April 30, 2019) Something is terribly wrong in this comic strip taken from The Star. Answer the following questions in pairs, to explore further.

Creative thinking

� Imagine � Brainstorm � Connect � Invent

EXAMPLE

1. One of the characters in the comic strip is acting on impulse. Which one is it?

2. What is the inappropriate behaviour that is exhibited (meaning shown) by this character?

Problem solving

� Question � Research � Recreate � Present

Explanation: 3. What is wrong about carrying out such an action?

Picture 4. Who else – besides the character in the pink tee shirt – would suffer as a result of this rash behaviour?

Communicating

� Oral � Non-verbal � Written � Aural

5. Provide three examples of how someone close to this lady would suffer from the impact of her irrational behaviour.

Collaborating

� � Contribute Listen

Explanation:

Picture 6. Can you provide two other incidents of irrational behaviour in people?

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.

Explanation:

As in comic strips, people in real life who continue to act inappropriately will experience serious problems. People who go through stressors experience depression, confusion, low self-esteem, a lack of self-identity and a sense of uncertainty.

Picture

-NiE , 7 August 2019

ELEMENTARY

REsILIENCE is the ABILItY to...

Resilience

Bending with the wind

snap back in response to suffering.

HERE’S the good news! You don’t need to feel defeated by these challenges. Teenagers who develop resilience can avoid feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stress they experience. They are able to bounce back and be strong, efficient managers of their stress and live more effective lives. Being able to triumph over such challenges is known as resilience.

solve the situation that troubles you, although you are discouraged.

keep working hard on tasks that are setting you back and constructively dealing with the setbacks.

jump back up and reassure yourself when you are stressed.

We know that for every action, there is a reaction. This is also known as cause and effect. Carol Dweck, a Stanford University professor, conducted research on how children motivate themselves after they have failed. One very interesting fact she discovered was the mindset of children. Children with fixed mindsets give up when work seems hard. Those with growth mindsets, however, use effort and hard work. They see difficulty (or adversities) as challenges.

NiE Activity 1 What I CAN’T control the weather

My teacher

What I CAN control

Everyone can learn to be resilient. It just takes practice to get back on track after negative things happen to you. You can build your resilience and give yourself a chance to still hold your head high. Knowing how to solve problems that are within, and out of, your control helps you overcome these problems. In groups of four, discuss what some of these factors are. Some examples have been listed for you. Write your answers on a sheet of A4 paper. Use the graphic on the right as a sample template. List as many as you can but look for at least three words, phrases or pictures from The Star. When your group is done, pin your chart on a notice board. Then, take a gallery walk to see what your classmates have contributed.

My eﬀort Doing my homework My kindness My height

NiE Activity 2

My parents

Study this comic strip in groups. For easy reference, let’s name the characters Crab on the left) and Fish. They obviously want to practise for a performance.

What Crab CAN’t control

What Crab CAN control

(July 2, 2019) 1. Crab obviously wants to play flawlessly but he is met with a huge challenge. What is this challenge?

2. What is within Crab’s control and what isn’t? Write down your answer in the chart above.

3. If Crab had a fixed mindset, how would he handle this situation? Provide three examples of how he would handle the situation.

4. If Crab had a growth mindset, how would he handle this situation? Provide three examples of how he would handle the situation.

As a group, pick one example from any of the scenarios (d) to (f). Do a role-play of Crab displaying a growth mindset. Carry out the skit in two scenes – one that begins from the comic strip shown, followed by a scene that happens the next day when Crab changes his mindset to a positive one. Remember to add dialogue for Crab and Fish, too! Have fun as you act out your skits.

-NiE , 7 August 2019

INTERMEDIATE Resilience

Bouncing back WHAT would the world be like if Thomas Edison had given up on the light bulb after 10,000 attempts? Of his failure, Edison said: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” It is normal to feel flustered and disappointed when things don’t go our way. No one can live in a bubble devoid of life’s lessons. The first step is to accept that challenges and setbacks are part of life.

NiE Activity 1

NiE Activity 2

(June 8, 2019) Landing on one’s feet is an example of an idiom that denotes resilience. Scientists have long been researching the fact that cats tend to land on their feet – almost always. This is partly due to the fact that they are born with flexible backbones that enable that course correction while falling. When one is literally falling (or figuratively speaking, when one’s life is spiralling out of control), to be able to land on one’s feet shows how strong and resilient a person is. Like the song goes: when the going gets tough, the tough get going! Here are several more idioms that are related to being resilient: Roll with the punches It is a figurative speech. In a boxing match, you have to absorb the blows that your opponent deals you. You have to learn to roll with the punches. In other words, you have to absorb the blows.

Hard as nails This idiom is quite similar to “tough as nails”. It describes someone who is physically or mentally strong.

Tough as nails Nails are strong. They keep things in place. When you are described as such, it means that you are very strong, and able to withstand defeat and endure difficult situations. Gather in pairs for this blackout poem activity. You are going to construct a motivational line from a story that has been cut out from The Star. The task is simple. Construct a line that inspires confidence in someone who is going through a tough time in life. Remove all other words in the story by either blackening them out, artistically pasting some colourful pictures, or drawing pictures on the text. Only your words of encouragement will link your message in the poem. Once done, the class can put up their motivational messages on the notice board. Take a gallery walk and place stars on the ones you can relate to.

EXAMPLE Step one:

Draft out your motivational message. Think of pictures or images that can go with your message: YOUR ONLY LIMIT IS YOU. Step two: Choose your article

Resilience is the ability to cope when things go wrong. Read the following excerpt taken from The Star. Junaidah Baharom Kee, 40, will soon be studying with her two teenage daughters. The trio are set to study in Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah in Sabak Bernam, Selangor. Junaidah will be studying for a Diploma in Information Technology with Arina Narasha Mohamad Fairos, 19, while her other daughter, Arifah Adila, 18, is taking up a Diploma in Secretarial Science. “My interest to study came after seeing how efficient IT officers are in solving problems at my workplace. Learning should not be hindered by age. I am thankful that my husband and daughters are behind me,” said Junaidah, who works in a community college. (July 1 2019)

One way Junaidah can cope with the challenges ahead is to be prepared for what is to come. Gather in groups of four. Then, spilt the tasks into pair work for the following role-play. One pair will think of a type of challenge Junaidah may face while pursuing her education (act out the scenario), while the other pair will think of something positive to encourage Junaidah to move forward when faced with this particular adversity. Switch after each pair has had two role-plays. You may demonstrate some of your outcomes.

1. Pair One: Trying your best

2. Pair One: Holding your head high

Pair Two: Encouraging words or strategy to cope.

3. Pair Two: Standing up for yourself

4. Pair Two: Getting back in shape after you’ve been stretched

Pair One: Encouraging words or strategy to cope.

Step three: Formulate your message and begin your artwork

MUET 7 August 2019

When the ground moves By MAWARNI MUSTAFA ACCORDINg to a report published in The Star on Dec 4, 2018, Malaysia is among the top 10 countries with a high number of landslides over the past decade. Data from the us National Aeronautics space Administration (Nasa) showed that Malaysia had 171 landslides between 2007 and March 2016, ranking it the 10th highest country in frequency of landslides. this was due to a combination of reasons: a) natural factors such as periods of high rainfall and rugged topography, and b) human activities such as slope-cutting for hillside development. universiti teknologi Malaysia’s Centre of

CHECK LANDSLIDES

Bulging ground appears at the base of a slope or retaining wall.

Water breaks through the ground surface in a new location near a slope.

Fences, retaining walls, utility poles, or trees tilt or move.

geotropic has identified a total of 21,000 hotspots throughout the country in which landslides may occur. the centre’s director Prof Edy tonnizam Mohamad said Peninsular Malaysia had the most number of hotspots with 16,000 locations. According to Prof Edy, there has been an alarming number of 420 deaths related to landslides and debris flows in Malaysia since 1995. the highest number of deaths ever recorded happened in Keningau, sabah, where 300 people lost their lives. Now, study the infographic below taken from a public service advertisement published in The Star on Nov 14, 2018. then, carry out the activities that follow.

ON OR AROUND SLOPES

AROUND YOUR HOUSE

Water pipes break.

1. Identify where you can go in the event of an evacuation. It is best to have more than one option.

AROUND YOUR HOUSE:

please call

DETAILS Home of a friend or family member: Name: Address: Phone number: Hotel or shelter:

Cracks appear on the ground or in the foundation of houses, buildings and other structures.

Structures on slopes move away from their original positions.

Doors or windows stick or jam for the first time.

Bulging ground appears at the base of a slope or retaining wall.

Sunken or down-dropped road beds.

Land movement and small slides.

During a landslide ● Inform your neighbours; they may not be aware of potential hazards. ● Evacuate. Getting out of the path of a landslide or debris flow is your best protection. ● Curl into a tight ball and protect your head if escape is not possible.

To report signs of landslides,

AROUND YOUR COMMUNITY GROUNDS

In the event of a sudden landslide, you might have just minutes to gather your family and get out of your house. Planning ahead for the worst can help minimise the impact of a tragedy and may even save lives. the infographic advises people to plan an emergency evacuation. Complete the table below. then, share your answers in groups of four. STEPS

Address: Phone number: 2. Map out a primary evacuation route, including alternate routes in case your intended route is blocked.

sketch the route here:

3. Prearrange a specific place to meet in case your family members are separated before or during the evacuation.

Place to meet (make sure the meeting place is outside the impacted evacuation area):

4. Ask an out-of-town friend or family member to act as a contact person for your family.

Contact person:

Slowly developing or widening cracks appear on the ground or on paved areas.

Outside walls, walkways, or stairs begin pulling away from the building.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A LANDSLIDE EMERGENCY Before a landslide ● Monitor your surroundings for early signs of landslides. ● Develop an evacuation plan for your family. ● Prepare an emergency bag for yourself or for your family. ● Be aware of the landslide warning system for your area.

Student essay and teacher analysis

ACTIVITY 2

1300-888-557

After a landslide ● Check for injuries, if any, and inform rescuers for immediate treatment. ● Stay away from the landslide area, as there may be dangers of additional slides.

aduan.jkr@1govuc.gov.my

www.jkr.gov.my

Name: Address: Phone number:

5. gather important documents.

Cracks appear on a slope.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF A LANDSLIDE

AROUND YOUR COMMUNITY GROUNDS:

Water appears at the base of a slope.

Does social media hurt mental health?

One of the ways to prepare for a landslide emergency is to be aware of any tell-tale signs of an impending landslide. In order to do that, you need to be vigilant and monitor your surroundings for these signs. Without referring to the infographic, write down the early signs that signal a possible landslide. How many were you able to remember?

IN YOuR NEIgHBOuRHOOD

ON OR AROUND SLOPES:

6&7

ACTIVITY 1

FOR sIgNs OF

Keep a close watch on the slopes in your neighbourhood. If you see early warning signs of landslides, please report it to the Local Authority or the Public Works Department. This will enable them to inspect the site and to take appropriate measures if necessary.

Making the most of infographics

List of documents:

MUET 7 August 2019

Does social media hurt mental health? By MAWARNI MUSTAFA FOR question 2 of MuEt Paper 4, you are required to write an essay of not less than 350 words according to the question or topic given. the questions thus far typically invite discussion and are argumentative in nature. Candidates’ performance is normally assessed by how well they have addressed the issue given and how effective their arguments are in convincing the readers about their points of view. Many factors contribute to how well the candidates are able to do that. Chief among them are the accuracy and relevancy of the points put forth in the arguments, and the effectiveness of the language used. the Cambridge English Dictionary defines “argument” as a reason or reasons why you support or oppose an idea or suggestion, or the process of explaining these reasons. Most MuEt candidates would have been familiar with descriptive essays where you write about an individual, place, event, or object because this is probably the type of essay that you came across most frequently when you were in secondary school. Another type of essay that you would have encountered frequently, too, is the narrative essay where you tell a story that describes perhaps your personal experience or an imaginary incident. An argumentative essay, however, is when you try to convince your readers to accept your point of view.

Understanding the question

It is of utmost importance that you understand the question given; otherwise, you risk writing things that might not be relevant to what is

required. If that happens, you would not have fully fulfilled the task. In the worst scenario, you might even deviate from the topic and get penalised for it. In order to answer the question well, you need to understand all the words in the question, especially the keywords.

Determining your stand

In writing your argumentative essay, you need to adopt a specific stand on the issue at hand with the intention of persuading your readers to agree with your point of view. Let’s take a look at this essay question: Social media can affect the mental well-being of youths. Do you agree? Discuss in not less than 350 words. For this particular question, you are required to present your view on social media, focusing on whether they can affect the mental wellbeing of youths. As such, there are three possible angles of discussion or three different views on the matter that you can take:

Agree with the statement

social media can affect the mental well-being of youths.

Disagree with the statement

social media does not affect the mental wellbeing of youths.

Partially agree with both statements

social media can affect the mental well-being of youths but only to a certain extent.

Outlining

Writing argumentative essays gives you the chance to present your own opinions and thoughts and then, defend your viewpoints based on relevant evidence. However, finding the right evidence can be quite challenging. One effective way of doing this is to read about what the experts and other people have said about the issue in the newspapers. You can find an abundance of information from articles published recently in The Star about social media’s effects on youths. With so much information, you will need to find a way to organise it. Drawing up a matrix such as the one provided can help you to organise your ideas more efficiently.

USEFUL INFORMATION

SOURCE

the death of a sarawakian teenager who posted a story on Instagram moments before taking her own life has not only garnered worldwide attention, it has also increased scrutiny of social media platforms. Possible uses: Introductory paragraph – attention-getter Introductory paragraph – attention-getter Introductory paragraph – attention-getter

Global debate over girl’s death (The Star, May 7, 2019)

While some may say that the teenager would have resolved to kill herself regardless of the outcome of the poll, the fact remains that the need for reaffirmation through social media is prevalent among today’s youths. Possible uses: Introductory paragraph – precursor to your stand Introductory paragraph – precursor to your stand

Perils of being engrossed in digital world (The Star, June 13, 2019)

Four out of 10 teens in Malaysia have suicidal thoughts when they face problems. they tend to turn to social media to find solace, reveals a study on youths’ cyber wellness. suriana Welfare society chairman James Nayagam says that the study shows many of these teens, aged between 14 and 18, feel they have no one to turn to except social media to chat and find solace. Possible uses: Introductory paragraph – reinforcement of your stand Introductory paragraph – reinforcement of your stand

Study: Teens turn to social media to find solace (The Star, May 8, 2019)

Amid public calls for action against those who voted in a teenager’s Instagram poll, lawyers say the intention to abet the victim’s suicide must first be proven. Deepak Pillai, who specialises in media and telecommunications law, says the online voting could be considered “abetment” only if it was proven that the voters knew the girl’s state of mind. Possible uses: Body paragraph – main idea Body paragraph – main idea

Lawyers: Action can only be taken if there is abetment (The Star, May 17, 2019)

Youth and sports Minister syed saddiq syed Abdul Rahman also voices his worry about the youths’ state of mental health. “A national discussion must take place,” he says. Possible uses: Body paragraph – supporting detail

Outcry over teenager’s death (The Star, May 16, 2019)

ACTIVITY 1

the extracts on page 7 are taken from various newspaper articles published in The Star about social media’s effects on youths. Read the extracts carefully and determine where they might fit in your essay.

MUET 7 August 2019

USEFUL INFORMATION

SOURCE

Malaysia Mental Health Association president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj says an alert system must be set up on social media sites to detect posts indicating suicidal tendencies. social media, he says, can sometimes lead users to focus on self-image. “this constant anxiety of wanting to be validated means living in an environment of low self-confidence and feelings of worthlessness. this in turn leads to self-harm and suicide attempts,” he adds. However, he also acknowledges the formidable force social media can be of help to teenagers with mental health issues when used correctly. Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Need for suicidal posts on social media to be addressed (The Star, May 17, 2019)

teenagers are not consulting with the right parties when dealing with mental health issues, fearing they may be deemed problematic, says Befrienders Johor Baru. the group is concerned teenagers are not addressing their problems properly, says president sim Ah Moi. Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Befrienders: Teens not consulting right parties (The Star, May 18, 2019)

Malaysian Bar Child Rights Committee co-chairman srividhya ganapathy also questions how intention to abet suicide could be proven. “she just put D/L. For any crime, there must be intention, opportunity and motive. so, what is it in this situation that you are saying can be construed as a crime?” she asks. she believes the girl had struggled with depression even before her Instagram post, adding: “We need to address the fact that teenagers live in a difficult world and need help with mental health issues.” National union of the teaching Profession secretary-general Harry tan says counsellors were available to help students. “Counsellors are the front line and if needed, they will recommend further professional help and even alert parents and teachers,” he says. “Our experience tells us that people who want to kill themselves normally do not tell; they just do it.” Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Lawyers: Action can only be taken if there is abetment (The Star, May 17, 2019)

Dr gomez says that social media such as Facebook is a leading cause of depression among young people. “Oftentimes social media is used to portray this sense of success, happiness, enjoyment or fun but that’s only one aspect of human life,” he adds. “More often than not, they are not going to put a photograph of them when they are depressed. they are not going to post about the red marks they got for their exams. What you see on social media is skewed.” Youths that are vulnerable may start to make comparisons, and if they cannot achieve the same kind of lifestyle as their peers, they risk becoming depressed, he explains. But banning social media use may not be an option either. “Instead, it’s about helping young people make sense of what they see on social media. stop comparing yourself as you are not seeing the rest of your friends’ lives. You’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg which is exposed on social media. You’re not seeing the rest of the iceberg which is submerged in reality.” At the same time, Dr gomez says we cannot force our friends to post about the negative aspects of their lives on social media just to give others a sense of what reality is really like. Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Increase sustainable suicide prevention methods (StarEdu, June 16, 2019)

Parents play a big role in preventing social media addiction, which can lead to depression and possible suicide attempts. universiti Malaya Centre For Addiction sciences director Dr Rusdi Abd Rashid says parents should not spend so much time on social media either as their children will model their behaviour. “Parents should also set the rules at home such as no gadgets allowed during mealtimes or at night (during bedtime),” he adds. He also says parents can ban gadgets from being brought into the bedrooms and these rules should apply to everyone at home, not just the children. For those already addicted to social media, he suggests parents advise their children to delete the apps. If the child refuses to do so, limit their time spent on social media, says Dr Rusdi. “there are even apps that can remind you to limit your social media use. Apps are available for treatment, as well, and I’ve been using them for some time for some of my patients.” Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Increase sustainable suicide prevention methods (StarEdu, June 16, 2019)

Dr Rusdi adds that parents and teachers should be aware of behavioural changes in their children. “they can become withdrawn, isolate themselves, easily irritable and lose interest in their hobbies. they can also have biological symptoms like inability to sleep properly or sleeping excessively, and their appetite changes. there can be an acute drop in a child’s performance at school or the child may turn to substance abuse to cope with his depression.” He says that more awareness campaigns on the dangers of social media addiction need to be carried out, especially at the school level. these campaigns will also break the stigma surrounding depression and suicide, he says, adding that this will encourage more people to come forward and seek treatment. “Mental health awareness can be included in the school syllabus, for example, in the Civics and Citizenship subject. Let them know that depression is an illness but it can be treated. Early treatment can prevent suicide ideation, which is when the situation becomes very, very severe,” he adds. Dr gomez reiterates that preventive measures need to be carried out if we want to save the children from depression and suicide attempts. Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Increase sustainable suicide prevention methods (StarEdu, June 16, 2019)

social media plays a huge part in the lives of today’s youths. Its role is so big that it can affect their mental well-being. universiti Malaya Centre For Addiction sciences director Dr Rusdi Abd Rashid says that social media addiction can even lead to depression. Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Addiction to social media (StarEdu, June 16, 2019)

“It can also be that depression was already present in the individual before the addiction,” universiti Malaya Centre For Addiction sciences director Dr Rusdi Abd Rashid says. “social media is used to sort of ‘self medicate’ the depression,” he adds. He says that people who are depressed turn to social media because they have lost interest in meeting people in real life. He adds that during the initial stages of using social media to “treat” their mental illness, people will feel better. “they can alleviate their depressive symptoms or anxiety.” Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Addiction to social media (StarEdu, June 16, 2019)

Befrienders Johor Baru president sim Ah Moi points out that the tragic death of a teenager from sarawak who killed herself after respondents to an online poll encouraged her to do so, showed the immediate need to address mental health challenges among youths. “social media is a double-edged sword that can either help or harm those with suicidal thoughts. On one hand, it provides a platform where people can reach out or find help, but it can also push those over the edge,” she says. Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

Befrienders: Teens not consulting right parties (The Star, May 18, 2019)

Mental health issues are rising, especially among teens; social media use is growing, and teens are heavily into it – can you see where this is going? social media has not been around long enough for us to draw hard conclusions, but research indicates increased time on social media has a negative mental impact. In March, the American Psychological Association released results of a national survey showing a sharp increase in youths experiencing negative psychological symptoms – and specifically among those born in 1995 or later, the “igen”. the biggest spike in symptoms occurred in 2011 – soon after the boom in social media began. the rate of young adults with suicidal thoughts or outcomes (attempts or deaths) increased by a shocking 47% (from 2008 to 2017). Depression also shot up. But no corresponding rise was seen in older adults. Another study, in The Lancet medical journal, found social media contributed to low self-esteem, poor body image, poor sleep, online harassment and more. Instagram has often been deemed the most detrimental to mental health, concluded a study by Britain’s Royal society for Public Health in 2017. snapchat followed closely. All platforms had negative impact, except Youtube. Possible uses: .........................................................................................................................................................................................

A lack of humanity (StarLifestyle, May 26, 2019)

ACTIVITY 2

Once you have determined the ideas from above that will help make up the content of your essay, paraphrase them and put them in a detailed outline before you write the first draft of your essay.

MUET 7 August 2019

Essay by ALICIA CHIN YING JIE, 18 Kolej Matrikulasi Negri Sembilan, Negri Sembilan

STUDENT ESSAY AND TEACHER ANALYSIS

WINNING ENTRY RM75

Essay question: Social media can aﬀect the mental well-being of youths. Do you agree? Discuss in not less than 350 words.

“V.M. NARENDRAN contributed this analysis in her personal capacity. The views and comments expressed therein do not represent the views and comments of Star Media Group Berhad (“STAR”). STAR makes no representations as to the accuracy, correctness, completeness, suitability and/or validity of any information contained in this analysis and readers are strongly encouraged to seek appropriate advice before relying on any information provided herein.”

INTRODUCTION social media is one of the most successful inventions in the 21st century. It is because social media brings convenience to human’s life. simply because of the convenience it affords all of us. social media platforms such as twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, snapchat, WeChat and WhatsApp allow people to share what they think and how they feel whenever they want and wherever they are. Besides, social media also allows us to chat with family members and friends without paying any fees. this helps us to keep in touch with each other all the time. However, social media can affect the mental well-being of youths as it makes them introverted, leads to depression and causes loneliness. BODY Nowadays, youths tend to communicate via social media, instead of talking to each other face to face. This is because communicating through social media saves time and energy. to illustrate, if we would like to carry out a discussion on a given project, we can create a chat room in on WhatsApp. In the chat room, all the details about the project can be discussed. If information is needed, we can just do research online and share the information in the chat room. gone are the days when we have to meet each other at a particular place and at a specific time, bringing all the information in hard copy in order to complete a project. However, the convenience of communication via social media minimises youths’ daily face-to-face interactions with people around them. Moreover, social media such as Facebook allows people to make friends without meeting each other. It is undeniable that this makes it easy for those with few words to make more friends as they would not have to face the stress of talking to each other face to face. However, Sadly, they tend to avoid real-life social interactions with people around them. this will affect their mental health as this gives them a wrong perspective that they do not need to make friends in real life. On the contrary, real-life friends is are more reliable than online friends as real-life friends are the ones who can lend them a helping hand when they encounter obstacles in life. With time, they will become more introverts and do will not dare to speak in the public. They will have the fear to do presentation in front of people. Hence, social media can affect the mental well-being of youths as they may become more introverted by only making friends through social media communicating only through social media and not through real-life interactions.

Review by V.M. NARENDRAN

Examples of social media platforms are relevant and convincing. Be consistent with your use of pronouns. there is a change from the third to the first person pronoun here (from “people” to “us”). such inconsistencies indicate carelessness. Also, be compact with your writing. the two underlined sentences can be rewritten as: “Besides, social media helps family members and friends to keep in touch at no cost.” the use of a stronger transition will be better here, and do state your opinion clearly. For example: “Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that social media can affect the mental well-being of youths. With constant use, they become introverted and lonely, eventually leading to depression.” Key supporting sentence. this seems to be your first topic sentence. Key supporting sentence. Wrong transition.

this sentence is repetitive.

In addition, social media also leads to depression. This is because they are youths may be exposed to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cellphones, computers and tablets. this includes sending, posting and sharing negative, harmful, false or mean content about someone else. It is no doubt that social media allows people to share their lives with others by updating pictures and stories. While doing these, their lives are under a microscope. they start to care about others’ opinions to of their feeds and only update the best attributes and filter the negative characteristics. soon, they will struggle to maintain looking good while feeling the stress of facing the public with their original images real selves. this problem is especially real to youths who are celebrities. For instance, in 2016, selena gomez, an American celebrity who has the most followers on Instagram with 153 million followers, suddenly quit social media altogether and voluntarily checked herself in for a 90-day rehabilitation programme to get treatment for depression and anxiety. According to her interview with InStyle magazine, one of the things that pushed her to seek treatment was the pressure of dealing with her social media accounts. Thus, this shows that social media can affect youths’ mental health as it brings depression to youths. If unchecked, social media may have severe psychological effects on young people, especially.

this is your second topic sentence. there’s a clear link to the following paragraph and point. Cyberbullying is not the only cause of this type of depression. so, your sentence can be rewritten as: “Youths who are heavily involved in social media are often exposed to cyberbullying.”

Last but not least, the next evidence that youths’ mental well-being can be affected by social media is that it makes youths feel loneliness lonely. through social media, people can check on others’ feeds. It is good that we can know what is going on around us and what is happening to the people around us. However, when some youths are checking on others’ updates, they will feel that they are being left out. For example, stina sanders, a former model who has 107,000 followers on Instagram, explained how social media sometimes makes her feel she is being left out. According to her interview with The Independent, a British online newspaper, when she saw friends’ photos at a party that she didn’t attend had not attended, it made her feel lonely and anxious. As a result, it is clearly shown that social media can bring negative effects to youths’ mental well-being because youths feel lonely and anxious after using social media it.

this is your third topic sentence. Your sentence can be rewritten as: “Finally, with the use of social media, youths tend to become lonely individuals.”

CONCLUSION In a nutshell, I strongly agree with the statement that social media can affect the mental well-being of youths. As what I have stated above, social media can turn a youth into a man with of few words, besides facing depression and loneliness ultimately becoming lonely, anxious and depressed. to reduce the effect of social media to on youths, they should reduce the time spent on social media. If youths can achieve a perfect balance between social media and real life, I believe that the negative effects that social media brings to youths can be minimised. Youths are the backbone of any nation. They play an essential role in the development of the society and the country. Hence, the negative effects of social media should be handled so that youths can free themselves from these problems and they can work towards achieving the aspirations of the nation.

this is a real-life example that many readers can relate to.

try not to repeat your sentences and vocabulary. Your sentence can be rewritten as: “In hindsight, as youths constantly view others’ postings on social media, they begin to socially compare their lives with everyone else’s and become depressed in their own cocoon of loneliness.”

Let us rewrite this: “If youths can be encouraged to exercise moderation in the use of social media, and spend more time with people in their lives, they would definitely be happier.” Is this necessary? You are beginning to stray away from your conclusion and talk about youths, not about the effects of social media on youths.

-NiE , 7 August 2019 What can I do to get back on track?

INTERMEDIATE

Resilience

Finding inner strength

What can I learn from this journey?

WE are different. We come with different skill sets and talents. While we know that life isn’t always a bed of roses, there are some things that can help us smoothen the journey. Here are some questions you can ask yourself when faced with challenges:

I can’t control everything. But what is under my control?

How can I move forward?

NiE Activity

What can I change to manage things better?

Part 1

Many of us have learned of pain very young in life. But pain is very much a part of life. It helps you grow. This growth is also known as experience. There is always something we can be grateful for. People who have gratitude do live healthier and happier lives. What are you thankful for? One of the many things that help us get through life is the love and care of family members and great friends. While you should not look to others for validation, having people who genuinely have your interests at heart makes the transition smoother. Celebrities, too, are not immune to life’s challenges. Here’s one such example. Read on.

WHO CAN HELP ME?

Songstress Selina Jen from Taiwanese all-girls group S.H.E broke down after going off-pitch while performing at the 30th Golden Melody Awards, leading fans to worry about her condition. S.H.E was performing at the event for the first time in seven years, but fans noted that Jen sang off-key at the start and her voice was strained throughout the performance. A day after the event, Jen posted a photo on Instagram of the group’s performance, in which she was visibly in tears. “No matter how big the world is, as long as we are holding each other’s hands, we already own the entire world,” she wrote in her caption. (July 3, 2019)

You are Selina’s number one fan. You feel saddened by her experience. You want to encourage her to stay strong by sharing your own coping strategy. Use the following motivational poster to express words of encouragement. At least five of the words or phrases must be taken from The Star. You can choose to work on this activity in pairs or groups. Finally, share your piece in class before pinning it up on the classroom notice board.

I have a

I am in charge of how smart I am because I can my

like a muscle by learning hard things.

I can achieve

with

and

And when I fail or make a mistake, it is a thing, because I can

from them and I can . (Adapted from Big Life Journal)

Part 2

Was there a time in your life that was particularly draining emotionally? Think about how you handled that situation and eventually came through on the other side. Then, answer these questions: ● What was your goal? ● What was the outcome? ● What obstacles did you have to overcome? ● What unpleasant feelings and thoughts do you remember having in the situation? ● Who, if anyone, did you receive external help and support from? ● What specific attitudes and skills helped you cope with the situation? ● On a scale of 100%, how would you rate your resilience in that situation? ● What strengths and personal qualities helped you? Based on your experience above, write a piece of advice in about 350 words, counselling someone else in the same boat.

-NiE , 7 August 2019

ADVANCED Resilience

It’s never too late

THIS is the first stanza of an evergreen poem titled Hope by Emily Dickinson. Dickinson was a poet who lived in Massachusetts, America, in the 1800s. This poem serves to uplift the human spirit through the use of figurative language. The metaphor for hope is transformed into a bird – through the love that this poet has for birds. Hope is always present in the human soul – singing – especially during volatile times.

NiE Activity 1

Part 1

Look at the comic strip below that has been taken from The Star. This is a satirical jab at some of us who are oblivious to the wrong choices we make. But what is the measure of a man? Is there a way to redeem ourselves after we recognise that we have made a mistake?

Hope is the thing with feathers – that perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – Emily Dickinson

The important question is to ask ourselves how we weather a personal challenge. What would life for the above character be like if he were to overcome the situation he is currently in? Describe a possible frame you see this character to be in once he conquers his setbacks.

Part 2

Was there ever anything in your life that caused you to stop hoping? Gather in pairs. Discuss the following questions with a partner you are comfortable with. Be open to listen to your partner’s ideas. Some things that have worked for them may inspire you, too. ● Where do you believe your sources of hope, or lack of hope, come from? ● How has your environment affected your faith in hope? ● Where do you look for hope in your life? Name three things you hope for. ● Have your hopes changed as you have grown up? How so? ● How has hope, or a lack of hope, affected decisions you have made? ● What do you think needs to happen before you have more hope in your life?

Part 3

Think of an experience that was difficult for you. Using a sheet of A4 paper, draw yourself on one half of the sheet showing the challenge. Then, using the second half of the paper, draw yourself after having gotten through the difficult time and were feeling better. Provide a caption beneath your picture. Describe how you made it through this tough time.

NiE Activity 2

There are many movies that showcase the triumphant human spirit – from cartoons like A Bug’s Life and Mulan to the more serious ones like The Pursuit of Happyness and The Shawshank Redemption. Gather in groups of four. Think of a movie that is common to everyone in the group. The movie must highlight some resilience building principles. Discuss how themes such as personal achievement, friendship or teamwork are woven into the theme of the story. Use the following points to guide you: A. An analysis of the values that made the team (in the movie) successful. B. A personal reflection about how one of these values could be incorporated into your own approach to your life or relationships. Share your reflection with your group members. You may scan the TV section in The Star for movie ideas.

-NiE , 7 August 2019

ADVANCED Resilience

The road to resilience

HAVE you ever wondered how, after the bitter cold and frost of winter fade, green shoots of new growth sprout? Birds migrate across the vast wilderness to breed and raise their young. Frogs don’t freeze but resume their activities. Nature, too, has evolved and developed resilient methods to survive.

NiE Activity 1

Many people draw inspiration and strength from nature. Sarkasi Said, a Singaporean batik painter, is one of them. Sarkasi is internationally renowned for his work. He uses bold colours that frequently incorporate the theme of nature in his artwork. At 77, he still holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest batik painting, which is 103 metres long. Here is an excerpt about Sarksai taken from The Star.

Sarkasi’s View Of Life Sarkasi’s affinity for nature is rooted in his childhood. “I was lucky to be born in a kampung. I was surrounded by nature and always enjoyed being with it.” Sarkasi’s parents split up when he was young. He drew strength from the resilience of nature. “I went to gardens and small streams all the time, I slept in the Botanic Gardens, and it felt like I was part of nature. No matter what you do to nature, it grows and it develops.” Sarkasi says that large swathes of Singapore were originally swampland. In his mind, just as a beautiful flower can bloom in a muddy area, tall buildings have sprouted along the Singapore and Kallang rivers. This development is thanks to “those who have always been looking for alternatives and were willing to venture (forth)”. His work also reflects his personal view of life – to look on the bright side of things and be thankful even when life as an artist gets tough, which was especially true during his early days as one. He sold his sketches by the roadside and when there were no sales, there was no income. To survive, he had to rope in his wife and four children to help sell nasi lemak and curry puffs. Sarkasi adds: “I could not afford to give them holidays, so I would bring them along for my demonstrations and classes. They started with washing brushes and slowly started to colour.” His son, Ika Zahri, 50, is now a well-known batik artist, as well.

NiE Activity 2

Man when faced with adversity, is gifted with intelligence to overcome the challenges. Read the following excerpt from The Star to learn how this nomadic tribe in Africa has turned to technology in this instance.

Part 1 A. Write out a sentence from the excerpt above that indicates Sarkasi’s: 1. positive attitude

2. appreciation for life

3. coping skill

4. strength

5. healthy mental outlook : B. Upon reading this article, deduce two of Sarkasi’s proudest moments. 1. 2.

Tradition meets tech

Part 2

Legacy is defined in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor from the past.” We commonly hear about legacies “living on” today when they continue to affect those in the present. Legacy is not something that we have complete control over. We cannot control how other people perceive us. We can only control our own actions. So how can we leave the world with a legacy of our choosing? If you look at most influential legacies, you’ll see that they all inspired action through their own action. They didn’t just think about doing things, or tell others to do them; they went out and got things done on their own! Their accomplished goals became their legacies, which live on today. Have you ever thought of goals in terms of your legacy? Think of something you are skilled at. How would you turn this into a legacy that will live on in generations to come?

Imagine yourself at the age of 77. A piece about your legacy has been written about you. The reporter who wrote this piece about you, is YOU! In 300 words, model your composition after the excerpt from Sarkasi’s View Of Life. Begin with a short introduction like this:

Many people draw inspiration and strength from , a Malaysian

, is one of them.

is internationally renowned for his/her work. He/She .

Nomadic livestock herders in East Africa’s drylands have endured climate variability for millennia, driving their relentless search for water and pasture in some of the world’s most inhospitable terrain. But their resilience is being severely tested by climate change, forcing a rethink of traditional wisdom passed down for generations. Kenya endures a severe drought every three to five years, but they are increasing in frequency and intensity, and temperatures are rising too. With conditions ever more unreliable, Hassan (from this nomadic tribe) no longer relies on warriors she once dispatched to scout for suitable grazing land for her cattle. Instead, Hassan now uses customised weather updates on her phone, sent via SMS in Rendille, a local language. The service uses advanced weather data from US agricultural intelligence firm aWhere to provide subscribers with rain and forage conditions for the week ahead in their locality. The forecasts are sent as text messages, so they are compatible with basic phones often used by pastoralists in remote areas. (May 31, 2019)

In groups of four, scan The Star for a new technology or an invention that can offer mankind positive progress into the next century. Use your wh- and howquestions in a show-and-tell session with your classmates. Be creative and think out of the box!

-NiE , 7 August 2019

Complete the phrasal verbs below. Picture:

with (come along, finish... somebody,

1. “You’ve been bad-mouthing me,” Fifi declared, “so I am .”

finish... something) Go with somebody Across:

with (come along, finish... somebody, finish... something) Be done using, eating, looking at or utilising something

Down:

Fill in the correct one from the list below.

with (come along, finish... somebody, finish... something) Stop interacting with somebody

me,” Sir Cecil 2. “ told the dragon, “I’m taking you to the zoo!” 3. “I won’t go out until I’ve this detective story,” Bob gestured us to leave. a) finished with you b) finished with c) Come along with

eXPLAin to It is the nature of children to ask questions, and it is the nature of parents and teachers to provide them with answers. In fact, throughout our entire lives, we learn by seeing, doing, and having things explained to us. Explain to is to give or tell someone the facts in a clear manner. “Certain things are difficult for me to explain to my kids,” Heloise said.

Answers: Picture: come along with Across: finish with something Down: finish with somebody Fill in: 1) a 2) c 3) b

EPISODE 22 Hit me, why don’t you hit me again, you money-making bully!

Kwai grabbed Vichai’s arm to keep him from hitting Bao.

It’s dead. It’s dead now. I killed it. I crushed it.

Bully

Intimidator, a person who always seeks to harm or intimidate someone he thinks is weak

Familiar

something you are used to, or can recognise

You look familiar. Do I know you? My name is Kwai.

Question

But, it wasn’t your fault. It won’t ever ﬂy back into the sky again. It’s dead.

Kwai? This is your brother Kwai? Why do you help other people’s sisters, when you are so mean to your own?

In what way had Kwai been “mean to his own sister”, according to Bao? What are you talking about?