On hiatus. Being funny is tough business. Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya to readers, colleagues & students. Salam.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Orang-Orang Istimewa & Pembuat Kasut
Been teaching my class a story called The Elves & the Shoemaker. Trouble was, the kids didn't know what elves are and I didn't know what they are called in Malay.
T: Elves bah. Orang damit-damit!
My students looked puzzled and some were trying to suppress their laughter and started signalling towards the height-challenged boy in class.
Sigh!
T: Aah! Orang kerdil! Elves are orang kerdil in Malay!
Then a student raised his hand and criticised me for being politically incorrect.
S: Teecha, mana bulih panggil orang kerdil atau urang damit. Mesti panggil urang istimewa!
I laughed so hard but he was correct though. Congrats to their Malay teacher. Hence the title was changed to Orang-orang Istimewa & Pembuat Kasut.
Elves- Orang bunian (according to Oxford Dictionary)
T: Elves bah. Orang damit-damit!
My students looked puzzled and some were trying to suppress their laughter and started signalling towards the height-challenged boy in class.
Sigh!
T: Aah! Orang kerdil! Elves are orang kerdil in Malay!
Then a student raised his hand and criticised me for being politically incorrect.
S: Teecha, mana bulih panggil orang kerdil atau urang damit. Mesti panggil urang istimewa!
I laughed so hard but he was correct though. Congrats to their Malay teacher. Hence the title was changed to Orang-orang Istimewa & Pembuat Kasut.
Elves- Orang bunian (according to Oxford Dictionary)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Not in there!
Have been playing "Pet Society" on FB lately and my bossy nephew would join.
"Babe, go to the bank!"
"Babe, go to the shop!"
"Babe, buy new clothes!"
He wanted me to buy stuff for my pet's house eventhough I kept telling him that I didn't have enough gold coins.
I also preferred buying necessities like food but my nephew wanted me to splurge on masks, toys and furniture.
Finally I gave in and bought whatever he wanted. I got some food and a pot. Before I placed them in the kitchen, my nephew shouted "No!!!! That's the dry kitchen!"
So now my pet's house has a living room, dry & wet kitchen.
Did I tell you my nephew is bossy?
"Babe, go to the bank!"
"Babe, go to the shop!"
"Babe, buy new clothes!"
He wanted me to buy stuff for my pet's house eventhough I kept telling him that I didn't have enough gold coins.
I also preferred buying necessities like food but my nephew wanted me to splurge on masks, toys and furniture.
Finally I gave in and bought whatever he wanted. I got some food and a pot. Before I placed them in the kitchen, my nephew shouted "No!!!! That's the dry kitchen!"
So now my pet's house has a living room, dry & wet kitchen.
Did I tell you my nephew is bossy?
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The King of Pop
A couple of years ago, I bought a Michael Jackson CD meant for one of my listening lessons. After listening to his music, I was simply hooked. Instead of using it for teaching, I just stored MJ's songs on my ipod and my feet tapped along to "Beat it", "Thriller" and "P.Y.T" while marking.
Then one day, I was supposed to have a short reading lesson but 5 minutes before my class, I realised that I had left the tape & reading materials at home! I searched my drawer for something to keep my level 2 boys quiet. No candy, no comics, no puzzles, oh no!
Something hidden under a stack of files caught my eye, my Michael Jackson CD! At first I had some misgivings about playing Michael Jackson in class. What would other teachers think? And probably my students would laugh because I was an MJ fan. Ketingalan zaman.
The bell rang. I didn't have any more time to think.
I played "Smooth Criminal", "Remember the Time", "Billie Jean", "Heal the World" and by the time "You Are Not Alone" was playing, the students were singing along. Some of my students also got into groups and talked about Michael, his dance moves, his changing looks and his music videos.
Me? I just stood in front of the class feeling a bit dumbfounded. I had not realised that my students were familiar with MJ and how interested they were.
After that day, I started using music in my lessons- Madonna, The Beatles, Phil Collins and some day, I will play my MJ CD again.
Bye Michael.
Then one day, I was supposed to have a short reading lesson but 5 minutes before my class, I realised that I had left the tape & reading materials at home! I searched my drawer for something to keep my level 2 boys quiet. No candy, no comics, no puzzles, oh no!
Something hidden under a stack of files caught my eye, my Michael Jackson CD! At first I had some misgivings about playing Michael Jackson in class. What would other teachers think? And probably my students would laugh because I was an MJ fan. Ketingalan zaman.
The bell rang. I didn't have any more time to think.
I played "Smooth Criminal", "Remember the Time", "Billie Jean", "Heal the World" and by the time "You Are Not Alone" was playing, the students were singing along. Some of my students also got into groups and talked about Michael, his dance moves, his changing looks and his music videos.
Me? I just stood in front of the class feeling a bit dumbfounded. I had not realised that my students were familiar with MJ and how interested they were.
After that day, I started using music in my lessons- Madonna, The Beatles, Phil Collins and some day, I will play my MJ CD again.
Bye Michael.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
This cracked me up
Been teaching composition lately. Before the students write their composition, the kids and I brainstorm together. Last week involved writing a ghost story.
After pooling our ideas together, we reached a consensus that the ghost was a female vampire with long hair, pale skin and white clothes.
Ss: Cher, kalau mukanya berdarah apa?
T: Bloodied. Ok everyone, now please write your own title.
And as usual, I walked around the classroom, checking the kids' work. When I approached a kid, I laughed uncontrollably.
For his title, the kid wrote- The Bloody Woman.
After pooling our ideas together, we reached a consensus that the ghost was a female vampire with long hair, pale skin and white clothes.
Ss: Cher, kalau mukanya berdarah apa?
T: Bloodied. Ok everyone, now please write your own title.
And as usual, I walked around the classroom, checking the kids' work. When I approached a kid, I laughed uncontrollably.
For his title, the kid wrote- The Bloody Woman.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
I spy
I spy with my little eye, something that begins with the letter C!
"Chair!"
"Cicak!"
After so many wrong answers, I gave them a clue.
"Actually you have two. Part of your body!"
And everybody answered proudly, "Cheese!"
"Mengapa pulang ada cheese arah badan kamu?"
"Cheese bah teecha. Cheese!"
I was clueless until a boy yanked his friend's shirt and pointed to his nipple.
"Cheese bah!"
Rupanya they meant "chest" but the actual answer was cheek. Now I've lost my desire for anything with cheese.
"Chair!"
"Cicak!"
After so many wrong answers, I gave them a clue.
"Actually you have two. Part of your body!"
And everybody answered proudly, "Cheese!"
"Mengapa pulang ada cheese arah badan kamu?"
"Cheese bah teecha. Cheese!"
I was clueless until a boy yanked his friend's shirt and pointed to his nipple.
"Cheese bah!"
Rupanya they meant "chest" but the actual answer was cheek. Now I've lost my desire for anything with cheese.
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