This is a reflection for my Language course, but since it seems to reflect my overall feelings of the semester, I've decided to share it in my long outdated blog.
In a glimpse of an eye, we have reached the end of our first
semester in ASASIpintar. Time sure flies when we are having fun. Truly, the
past few months studying in Pusat PERMATApintar Negara had been enjoyable
because of the complete facilities and the conducive learning environment, thrilling
as the variety of courses attempts to develop different rationales of the mind and
challenging at the same time because these tough subjects are structured in a
way that it probes the reasoning ability and true understanding of students
toward a topic. One of the most exciting feature of the course for me is the manifestation
of independent learning. Students were sundered from the norm where educators
tend to conform to the spoon-feeding approach, and instead were required to
self-study, where the importance of initiative comes to view.
If you’d ask me, I would say that my favourite subject in
the course would definitely be Language and Literary Appreciation. I for one am
a keen English learner who loves to read and would always strive to improve my
language skills. This subject certainly aided me to comprehend and appreciate
the language more. By studying poems, stories and novels of different genre, I
was exposed to more mature topics such as patriotism, crimes, traditions and
religions, war, social pressure and love. I was able to adopt the different
styles of writing – the fun, chick-lit and liberating style of Love in a Headscarf, the stern and harsh
way of Independence Day, the random
but clever style of The Tell-Tale Heart…. It is obvious that these had molded
me into a better writer and a wider reader.
Another fulfilling experience obtained from the subject
would be the production of our Creative Project. I now understand the hardship,
stress and struggle behind every movie produced, as the process is not as leisurely
as it seems. It is true that one would not be able to grasp its arduousness and
complexity unless after a first-hand experience. All the sacrifice, toil and labour
from actors, producers, and crew, be it on screen or behind-the-scenes, contribute
to the perfection of the project. A movie is surely not a something that can be
accomplished by a single person only because it needs a collaboration of many
teams for various tasks, working as one along the way to completion.
Last
but not least, I was able to equip myself with a handful new skills and tools in
the language. An intriguing exposure was the training in academic writing,
where we were taught on how to draft and finally produce a research proposal.
As enthralling as it sounds, research is a world without bounds, where all
sorts of questions are continually being generated, and answers unfold
themselves to the researcher. Academic writing, which differs from freelance
writing in every way, plays a crucial role in research, and through the help of
the course, I have embarked on my journey as a young researcher, and believe
that it will go on along the way to university and post-graduation, searching
for and unveiling solutions and answers that will make the world a better place,
and would assist in shaping mankind as a race that is most knowledgeable and
capable. I have realized that research is the key to wisdom – the more we
adventure, the more we will discover.
As a
whole, the course had sculpted me as a more mature individual, and I have
forged friendships which I am sure would last forever, while the subject had
reinforced my foundation of the language and had elevate the height that I could
reach as a user of the language. The casual and moderate delivery of the
subject was what made me passionate and energetic about the language, and had
caused me to look forward to every lesson to come. Despite the unwanted ending
of this semester, I vow and resolve to be persistent in enriching myself with
the command and competence of the language which is yet to be acquired.
Quatre
Plat,
Josh