MUST READ for TEACHERS

Read more.
Know more.
More power.
-- Sha & Ridz

Teachers, please invest in this book. I bought it at Borders, Berjaya Time Square. Lots of warm-up games to ... well, warm up your class and make you 'cool' (ironic?) I got the game SAD, MAD, GLAD that we always play in ESB from this book.

'Luar Bandar' in the House!

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring... but SMK Luar Bandar students are wide awake. Thanks to the loud and clear PA system (Elvis, thank you very much!), the darkened screen area and of course, the main 'ingredient' for a successful seminar -- the crowd -- we had a whale of a time.

So far, we've shared our ESB experience with close to 25,000 students, teachers, parents all over the country. What we notice is, those who really, really, really want to be good at English will enjoy the seminar. From "What's Up?" till "Bye-bye Butterfly", they will whoop it up!

To educators and students who have caught the ESB bug: We thank you for allowing YOURSELF to enjoy English Sure Boleh!

To others, remember that
LEARNING IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
(From The Laughing Classroom by Diane Loomans and Karen Kohlberg)

Scrabblemania

One of our seminar participants, Miss Chareesa of JB, will take part in a Scrabble competition next month. She SMSed asking for some tips. As ardent fans of word games, we suggested that flipping through the dictionary would be a good idea. But then, Ridz went the extra mile. He made a 'date' with Chareesa to play the game online. Now that we're in Miri, a WIFI city, and Chareesa had internet access, both of them managed to install the game. It was fun reading the SMSs going back and forth between JB and Miri - one asking, the other instructing- on online Scrabble. The result? Salute to Miss C!

(As for Ridz, well... I think he got too involved with the game. Sorry, pardner!)

SUMO & Sandwich

Usually when we travel without kids, Ridz and I would spend our time after seminar hanging out at bookstores. So, once back at the hotel after a full day ESB at SMK Semerah Padi, we went out again for a grub (hahaha there are 3 meanings of 'grub', but use your common sense pls). Ridz devoured his Hong Kong Kuey Tiaw, while I tucked into my Nasi & Blackpepper + Garlic Beef. Once Mr. Tummy was happy, both of us hunted for the nearest book haven.

That's where I found Paul McGee's book, SUMO. Shut Up, Move On.

So, stop complaining. Take action. Avoid the BSE syndrome - Blame Someone Else.

Remember the sandwich story? "I make my own sandwich." I always share this story in ESB, with students, teachers and parents. I told this story once on Inspirasi TV1. (The first time I heard it was on Dr. Dennis Kimbro's cassette. I modified a bit to suit school students.)

Jo and Han are two best friends. They go to school together. They sit in class together. They have their lunch together. Both bring food from home.

Riiing!! Jo and Han dash to the canteen to eat. Jo opens his Tupperware and sees a sandwich. He complains. He refuses to eat. Han, his buddy, says nothing and just eats whatever he has.

The next day, at the canteen, Jo opens his lunchbox and sees a sandwich again. He grumbles and throws the sandwich away. Han makes no comment and concentrates on his food.

The same situation continues for a week. The following week, still the same scenario. But on the third week...
something astounding happens.

Jo opens his container and he sees a sandwich. He screams, "I can't take this anymore! Yuck!!! I hate sandwich. Everyday sandwich. I HATE sandwich!!!"

Han, who never says a word before, finally says something. "Look man, you've been complaining about the same sandwich for 15 days now. C'mon, man. Do something. Tell your mom to make you a different lunch. Problem solved!"

"My MOTHER? Please, leave my mom out of this. Don't talk about my mom. I don't like it. I made my own sandwich OK?"


So, see you later alligator.

Borneo Exposure

Yea! Yea! Oversea trip!!! Kuching, Miri & Kota Kinabalu here we come.

At the airport now, waiting for our driver, Mr. Pilot man. Can't wait to meet students & teachers of SMK Semerah Padi, Kuching; Sains Miri, and SMK Pujut, Miri. Next, our tour covers Teknik Likas, SMK Kundasang, SMK Lohan, SMK Membakut 2, SMKA Limauan and SANZAC.

The thoughts of food already make me salivate, especially imagining 'umai' (our own sushi-like dish, even better than sushi), sweet chicken wings in KK, our fave drink Kicai and of course the fresh seafood of Sabah.

Travellers like us, we love to experience local cuisine, especially those we can't get in Taiping. That's the point of travelling, right? EXPOSURE! Opening our heart and mind to things uncommon to our daily routine. Meet new people. See new places. Hear different dialects. Taste new food.

So, get out there and get exposure. If you can't physically get away, do it mentally, ya.
Just READ.

Bernard Shaw once said, "I don't want to feel at home when I travel."
(saw this on Astro Travel & Living).

East Coast Roadshow

Finally, we are home. We here means me, my hubba-habibi Ridz, my bodyguards - Muhammad, Musa & Maryam - and my lovely PAs, Shima and Aini. 7 of us in a big, white van that resembles a bit like flower horn.
January, we (OK me only) splurged on budu in Kelantan. I love it soooo much. That salty, fishy taste combined with freshly squeezed lime juice topped with thin slices of onions and firy, little chillies. Lovely and smelly! Laziiiizzz...
In Darul Naim, we started our roadshow in SMK Kota (our repeat customer) which lasted for 3 fun-tastic days. The English panel, led by Mdm Rohayati and accompanied by cute Mdm Mas, was a warm host. Then Ridz and I charmed the Pengkalan Chepa Teknik students with Sure Boleh! tips to be good at English. Cool crowd, those fifth formers!

The following week, our gigantic Toyota Hiace made its way to Sains Pasir Puteh, aka SCIPP (pronounced SKIP). What a blast! All-girl audience, of course the ladies were very 'selamba' and comfortable to do whatever we asked them to. Hats off to Mdm. Nas and gang for organizing ESB.