Please, not Bae Yong Jun and Carmen Electra!
I have a secret to share: I can remember most of my pupils. Not only that but I remember full names and sometimes even how you wrote it on your full-scap paper or where your name appeared on the class register.
I very recently surprised an ex-pupil (bless those who retain email addresses!) when I remembered her name in full.
"I'm really amazed you remember it actually, since i have this feeling you only taught me when i was about Primary 1 or 2 (she is now in JC). And yeah I've been using this e-mail account for a long time, and I'm lazy to change it even though I do have others, simply because too many people know about this one and trying to contact them to tell them about the change would be hell. Although I still don't understand how you actually managed to get hold of it, considering I probably didn't have an email account when I was still under you.
I'm not exactly sure I'm doing what would be commonly considered as -well-...( (she proceeds to update me very humbly about her progress which she calls a "fluke" but I can infer she i doing very well cos she is thriving amongst giants). It seemed so much easier in secondary school when topping the class was a breeze; now I actually have to struggle. I guess the reason why the numbers of Lit. students is declining is because in this typically kiasu society students are scared to lose out, and Lit. is the one subject where you can never study enough, and you will never know what comes out in the exam. Incidentally, I encountered this question in my humans (humanities)scholarship interview when they asked me how I got my A1 in Lit at Olevels when so many people didn't want to take it because it was 'difficult'. And with the new JC systems of H1, 2 and 3, even more people are opting for Science, which is considered the more practical option, and even though they have to take a contrasting subject many choose Economics since it is the closest Arts subject to a Science. But really, I think getting A's for Lit is more about skill and passion than about studying (after all, I always thought of it as the only subject where you could not study and still get A), so if you loathe the subject no amount of mugging is going to get you anywhere, and even if you do get your A it won't be anything more than a letter on a sheet of paper.
Alright I'm rambling again. All the best with your blog!"
So here is the truth from the horse's mouth. Lit. is a tough subject but you know what her scholarship interview experience tells me? In a culture where the Science and Maths As are a dime a dozen, the Lit. A is a really defining grade.
Lit. A = different soul, special ability, rare skill, deeper sensibility.
Imagine what the girls may think of you if you have an A in Lit. And imagine what novelty value you will have as a girl if you fight the boys in their long-time turf of the Science faculty and chicken out by taking Economics?
Very uncool observations that will probably irritate quite a number of you I guess but you must admit people have done stranger things to stand out from the crowd.
Here's the thing: the most watched people in show business are cross-industry celebs. Think of Lance Armstrong-Sheryl Crow earlier, Brooke Shields with Andre Agassi, that model with Leonado Dicaprio and Johhny Depp with a French singer.
They still stand out because of their choices. Years down the road, nobody is going to remember which As you got in the final exams. But a Lit. A? "How did she do it?" "He was one of the few that year.."
I am doing a very poor job of promoting the subject, I admit.
Tip of the day:
If you find you have difficulty visualising a story, this is just a symptom. You got to engage in some serious self-diagnosis: Do you
1 love nothing more than to have a free afternoon, a bag of potato chips and house all to yourself for uninterrupted online gaming,
2 populate your dreamworld with angst-filled Korean actors who specialise in emoting and not much else or
3 watch any of those sun-filled beachwear-infested excuses of TV programmes set in Santa Monica or Hawaii?
If you do, you have just uncovered your own secret failing, your Achilles heel. To be fair, online gaming is the most useful exercise among the three as the earnest gamer has to employ a whole range of thinking skills. But (2) and (3)? Who are you going to cast in the play or story in your mind?
Serial Korean star-gazers, beware the brain cells diminishing. And beach gawkers who have the capacity to numb themselves to the poor acting and poorer dialogue, be warned.
I very recently surprised an ex-pupil (bless those who retain email addresses!) when I remembered her name in full.
"I'm really amazed you remember it actually, since i have this feeling you only taught me when i was about Primary 1 or 2 (she is now in JC). And yeah I've been using this e-mail account for a long time, and I'm lazy to change it even though I do have others, simply because too many people know about this one and trying to contact them to tell them about the change would be hell. Although I still don't understand how you actually managed to get hold of it, considering I probably didn't have an email account when I was still under you.
I'm not exactly sure I'm doing what would be commonly considered as -well-...( (she proceeds to update me very humbly about her progress which she calls a "fluke" but I can infer she i doing very well cos she is thriving amongst giants). It seemed so much easier in secondary school when topping the class was a breeze; now I actually have to struggle. I guess the reason why the numbers of Lit. students is declining is because in this typically kiasu society students are scared to lose out, and Lit. is the one subject where you can never study enough, and you will never know what comes out in the exam. Incidentally, I encountered this question in my humans (humanities)scholarship interview when they asked me how I got my A1 in Lit at Olevels when so many people didn't want to take it because it was 'difficult'. And with the new JC systems of H1, 2 and 3, even more people are opting for Science, which is considered the more practical option, and even though they have to take a contrasting subject many choose Economics since it is the closest Arts subject to a Science. But really, I think getting A's for Lit is more about skill and passion than about studying (after all, I always thought of it as the only subject where you could not study and still get A), so if you loathe the subject no amount of mugging is going to get you anywhere, and even if you do get your A it won't be anything more than a letter on a sheet of paper.
Alright I'm rambling again. All the best with your blog!"
So here is the truth from the horse's mouth. Lit. is a tough subject but you know what her scholarship interview experience tells me? In a culture where the Science and Maths As are a dime a dozen, the Lit. A is a really defining grade.
Lit. A = different soul, special ability, rare skill, deeper sensibility.
Imagine what the girls may think of you if you have an A in Lit. And imagine what novelty value you will have as a girl if you fight the boys in their long-time turf of the Science faculty and chicken out by taking Economics?
Very uncool observations that will probably irritate quite a number of you I guess but you must admit people have done stranger things to stand out from the crowd.
Here's the thing: the most watched people in show business are cross-industry celebs. Think of Lance Armstrong-Sheryl Crow earlier, Brooke Shields with Andre Agassi, that model with Leonado Dicaprio and Johhny Depp with a French singer.
They still stand out because of their choices. Years down the road, nobody is going to remember which As you got in the final exams. But a Lit. A? "How did she do it?" "He was one of the few that year.."
I am doing a very poor job of promoting the subject, I admit.
Tip of the day:
If you find you have difficulty visualising a story, this is just a symptom. You got to engage in some serious self-diagnosis: Do you
1 love nothing more than to have a free afternoon, a bag of potato chips and house all to yourself for uninterrupted online gaming,
2 populate your dreamworld with angst-filled Korean actors who specialise in emoting and not much else or
3 watch any of those sun-filled beachwear-infested excuses of TV programmes set in Santa Monica or Hawaii?
If you do, you have just uncovered your own secret failing, your Achilles heel. To be fair, online gaming is the most useful exercise among the three as the earnest gamer has to employ a whole range of thinking skills. But (2) and (3)? Who are you going to cast in the play or story in your mind?
Serial Korean star-gazers, beware the brain cells diminishing. And beach gawkers who have the capacity to numb themselves to the poor acting and poorer dialogue, be warned.
Comments
But yes, times have changed - how analytical do you have to be to enjoy a Korean serial? I recommend all ex-pupils of mine to drop any love interest that professes a passion for the current Korean drama serials - imagine such sedated genes inherited by your kids?
You displayed such early talent I think it spoiled you. When you enjoy a text, it is your right brain working. When you study a text, you have to exercise left brain discipline to examine and explain your right brain response. I've got a theory about this so I will post it next time. But Sarah, you are a wonderful example of early enviable right brain approach to Lit. You have good genes to thank for this.