English Short Course

It's been a really long time since the last time I attended English Short Courses which was held on every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. I really enjoyed attending the previous short courses. It not only served as a platform for me to improve on my English, but also served as a good habit for me to spend my free Wednesday afternoon rather than just wasting it on a nap. For me, I still have lots of things to improve on my English, especially my pronunciation and how to speak/write more precisely and concisely. I tend to blurt out long-winded sentences as it has become part of my bad habits which I picked up while writing blog. Yeah, you could see that there are lots of things I need to take note in order to improve on my English.

Few weeks ago, I was greeted with disappointment as the short courses were canceled off due to TECS thingy. After being able to squeeze out some time for the short courses finally, I rode my bike to N24 eagerly. Upon reaching the site, I was quite disappointed that there was no public speaking class, which was my most interested subject offered. For not having English as my mother tongue, I'm quite timid when speaking English in front of others. Yes, I could arrange moderate sentences on a piece of paper, but sometime only teeny voices being blurted out from my mouth when I needed them the most, as if I were a mouse squeaking in front of others. Having known my own weaknesses, I gladly take up the short courses, hoping that I could bid farewell to my weaknesses one day.

After making sure that there wasn't any class but Academic Writing for today, I went on to the room for academic writing. I was immediately greeted with a warm welcome by the lecturer, Ms Naimmah. Her warm welcome really stirred up some emotions, aww, I really missed the short courses. After unloaded my bag, I looked around for familiar faces, however those faces coming into my eyesight were mostly Arabians, except for Teo whom I've met a few times during the short courses. I exchanged a quick greeting with him and found that this was his second time attending the English classes for this semester, he mentioned that there wasn't any English classes due to TECS seminar, which I promptly agreed. I was also told that the class has just started.

Before the lecturer started the class, she asked for a piece of detached paper from everyone. She then told us to scribble something there, imagine that we're trying to write for friendship column in some sort of mags or newspaper, where one writes with the intention to get new friends. Ugh... I don't really like to introduce myself, well, in fact, I'm bad at introducing myself. I'm not really sure what to or how to introduce myself. It took me a quite a while to get started, but when I decided to introduce myself in a not-so-normal way, I flashed back to what's been the first reaction or first impression from others about me. I can't help but snickered, yeah, that would be a really nice way to introduce myself, I thought. My right hand danced swiftly with my ball pen on the stage of a piece of white paper for quite a while.

Upon finished, we exchanged the paper among ourselves and began to rate others as we read, whether we would be interested to get to know that person more and even to be friend with them. Well, since most of the Arabians didn't write much, it would be a very hard to judge them, hence I left quite a lot of answer to 'maybe' instead of only yes and no. At least it won't be as painful as a no which means total rejection, I thought. However Ms Naimmah glared at my answer and reminded me that only yes and no allowed, but I grinned back innocently.

After the short introduction, we entered the topic of the day, that is to learn how to use variety styles of writing to make the piece of writing more interesting. By alternating short and long sentences, the essay could become more catchy than monotonous essay of either all long or all short sentences. Short sentences maximise crucial points, but long sentences work well for incorporating a lot of information. The usage of both short and long sentences together is to deliver our ideas more efficiently. Quite and interesting fact, well, I almost never consider the sentences length when writing and never know that they would bring such effect.

The later part of the class concentrated on 5 ways to make long sentences, that is by using:

1. participial phrases (the use of present continuous, past, past perfect tenses to start a sentence instead of pronoun)
2. adverb clauses (linkers such as although, as, because, before, even though, if, in order that, since etc)
3. adjective clauses (must have subject and verb, answer questions of what kind, how many and which one, usually start with 'which', 'who', 'why', 'that', 'why' etc)
4. compound sentences/verbs (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Even though I've learned most of these things before, but it's still quite nice to refresh back things you've learned as it not only strengthens our memory but also acts as a catalyst to boost our self confidence as we are able to recall back things we learned would be like kind of achievement for a student. Well, English is not our first language, but being able to speak it fluently is like a dream for most people, I supposed.


For more info on the short courses or English notes, please refer to the website for more details.
MyLinE

与朋友唱k singing karaoke with friends

在 J 的叮咛下，我出外吃午餐。已许久没去 JUSCO 那儿的 RASAMAS 了，中午时就跑去那儿吃西餐。菜单一到手，我连续翻了几遍，依旧不知道该点什么。眼睛突然察觉到桌上的摆着近期的招牌餐套，不如我就点这个吧。呵呵。不久，餐套便上桌了。虽然菜色果有点不如菜单内的那么棒，但咬了一口在嘴里慢慢咀嚼，嗯，还算是个蛮不错的选择。

吃完午餐后便会工大，帮老大收拾华文班的房间。去华文班柜台路途中，遇到了Cyrus及伟明。原来他们要去外头走走。到了柜台，发现到原来只有老大，大嫂及我三人。顿时觉得自己好像成了电灯泡。哈哈，其实他们也是不介意的，所以咱们边聊天边收拾，很快就把房间收拾好。收拾当儿，发现到挂在空中的那粒纸凤梨，拆下来后不知如何把它折好收进箱里。玩弄了一翻后还是不晓得如何是好。就在这当儿，大嫂把纸凤梨转了一转，剪了一条绳子后边成功把纸凤梨瓦解。还是大嫂厉害。


收拾柜台是为了空出房间让位给讨厌的摄影团体。为了一学期一次的工大毕业照，讨厌的摄影团体将从3月8日借用柜台，一借便是一个月之长，每次还回房间时肯定是乱七八糟的，大胆留下他们的垃圾。两三年前，他们还把华文班柜台的几张椅子搬回去他们的摄影房间，过后还赖账说并没这么做。由于他们得到了上头工大的批准，真的拿他们没办法，只好把心里的所有不悦隐藏在心里，哀声叹了口气，自叹倒霉。

大约三点，敏来了。这时，老大说Cyrus临时约了咱们几位四点去唱k。顿时心里有丝丝的开心，很高兴他们没把我给忘了。心想这是我第一次唱k，应该会是一个很不错的经验吧。虽然我唱歌时完全走音的，但老大说这次唱k算是一种心中的呐喊，无需那么顾虑唱得是否好听。嗯，难得有机会与大伙儿一起大闹一番，我爽口答应了。J说我很幸运，虽然老友已经分道扬镳，但他们依然把我当成一分子。听了这番话后，顿时百感交集，深深感动，形容得非常体贴，谢谢你们，老友。突然想起伍思凯的《分享》：

与你分享的快乐，胜过独自拥有，至今我仍深深感动

好友如同一扇门，让世界变开阔

就这样，咱们八位、敏、雯、老大、大嫂、伟明、Cyrus、阿哈和我就浩浩荡荡从工大出发了。路途中有说有笑，由于司机雯还是个新手，她的室友敏就在指导方向。敏又是给了太多的选择而频频闹出小插曲，比如可以跟A路线到达目的地，也可用B路线到达，就是因为太多选择但太少时间做决定，弄得司机满头雾水。所以老大拔刀相助，建议只需给一条路线即可。而咱们则在车后笑个不停。

半个小时后终于到大嘴叭，唱k的地点。由于主脑还没到，所以我们等了一会儿。这是的我不禁想起从前，从不曾与友人一起唱歌过，就算有也是在培训营或红新月会生活营时哼哼了几句，不曾拿着麦克风大展歌喉。一想起到这里就有些紧张，一旦经过麦克风把声音放大后，我那走音问题岂不就大刺刺展现在每个人眼前了吗？顿时捏了把汗，有些担心等下回献丑了。就在我正胡思乱想当儿，突然大伙儿不约而同往外，原来Cyrus、伟明及阿哈来了。只见Cyrus从钱包里亮出会员卡然后便付钱。这时气氛很明显变得更佳了，我顿时忘了刚才的担忧，跟着大伙儿一起走，准备大展歌喉了。

登记

一到了唱k房间，大伙儿便点了水喝。深怕不听话的咳嗽又反复，我点了杯温美禄。过后，咱们来了几首简单的歌热身热身一下，都只唱了歌曲的上半节后就换歌，都怪时间不充足嘛。这时，阿哈与伟明俩争着点歌，偶尔在忘我境界当儿突然大声起来，大嫂立刻训了他们俩几句，驯服了他们。来唱k时争着点歌也许是正常的，但堂堂正正的大男生竟然被一位女生所训话，真是怪景。话说回来，老大虽然每天被大嫂欺负但依旧乐在其中。哈哈。还是客套话一句，开心就好。

蛮美的壁画

唱了几首歌曲热身后，平均一首歌只花了一分钟半，大家逐渐high了起来。这时，突然伟明建议我点几首歌曲来唱，他还边笑边说一定要唱周杰伦的歌曲。奇 怪，他怎么会知道我有听周董的歌曲，难道说他记得我在面子书上曾post 过周杰伦的歌曲？哈哈。应该是这样吧。随便啦，反正大家尽兴就好。于是点了几首周杰伦的歌曲，包括了给我一首歌的时间、青花瓷和发如雪。伟明一时兴起，建议咱们挑战几首较高难度的歌曲如丸子的爱你卡农及周杰伦的以父之名、爱在西元前和听妈妈的话。哇，都是超难唱的歌曲，随便啦，反正有歌词。等等，即使有歌词也不一定能唱，有些歌曲只限于周杰伦自己一个人唱的，都是太快了，而且他的咬字不清耶。

说到周杰伦，其实老大也是个名副其实的歌迷哦。哈哈，之前一起等巴士时，我突然一时想给他听一首由周杰伦歌迷所编出来的歌曲，名为《yes周杰伦》。在之前的文章我曾提到此歌曲，相信读者还记得吧。我当时跟着歌曲哼哼了几句，而他也跟着喜欢上了这首歌曲，也跟着哼了起来。此刻才发现到原来老大也喜欢周董的歌曲。呵呵。唱周杰伦的歌时，伟明、老大及我各拿了一只麦克风，轻轻咳了句便开始了。都喜爱周杰伦的歌曲的咱们三人，唱起他的歌来特别有味道，已经无暇顾虑他人的眼神，大大声唱歌爽快。只是一到了那些较难唱的歌曲时，我还是投降了，只剩下老大和伟明偶尔唱，我只能简单的啦啦啦伴奏呵呵。说起来也惭愧，什么周杰伦迷嘛。

轮到丸子的爱你卡农时，哈哈，只有伟明独掌大旗了，结果只唱了二十几秒后便被下毒手了，直接跳去下一首歌。唉，对不起，伟明。 我真的只能对这些饶舌歌曲挂白旗，顶多也是啦啦啦马马虎虎带过罢了。过后，有几首男女合唱歌曲，大家都唱的很过瘾，有几位一时high起就站在沙发上唱歌。呵呵。果然，大家都似乎有点high过头了。最后两首歌事古巨基的勁歌金曲一与二，由于都是广东歌曲，再加上我并不熟悉他的歌曲，所以我只是在旁静静聆听别人唱。突然发现伟明也没跟着唱，心想也许他也不会广东话，也许只是我多心罢了。这首长达十多分钟的歌曲是唯一一首大伙儿从头唱到尾的歌曲，也许当中勾起无数的记忆吧，所以他们都唱得非常高兴。

准备回家

时间是残酷的，七点一到，荧幕已出现了催我们回家的字幕了。当时大伙儿还在唱着劲歌金曲那首歌曲，Cyrus酷酷地说还有一点时间，果然，成功吧劲歌金曲唱完了。正要进入劲歌金曲二时，荧幕突然变成了广告的歌曲，都是一些没听过的，心想都是新歌吧。于是，大家才依依不舍会工大。真的很过瘾，谢谢每位老友，谢谢你们带我去唱k，是我终身难忘的美好回忆。再次说声谢谢。

blessing

最近，每当我读以前写的文章，读到有些部分时，心里感触甚多，嘴角扬起笑容，心里有种莫名其妙的阵阵幸福感，顿时心情也好起来了。是的，很多时候回忆是很美好的。一个回忆勾起另一个回忆，另一个回忆又勾起其他的回忆，连绵不断。虽然有些复杂，但美好回忆始终是美好回忆，一点也不会因为太多事情而搞砸了。

Recently, when I read back the older posts, upon reading some parts, a sudden gush of emotions filled up my heart, a smile easily curved up my lips, the mixed emotions was mostly happiness, as a result, my emotion gets a bit better. Yeah, and of course it's good memory most time. A memory could easily link to another memory, which would lead to yet another memory, another endless process. Even though it's a bit complex, but good memories are always good memories, won't be affected by just a mere complexity.

小淘气

最近更新部落格时有了种推动力，原因何在呢？呵呵。部落格的右上角，多了只可爱的棕色小仓鼠在飞轮上不停地跑步着。其原名为“Hammie”，但是小仓鼠早已在心中有了个重要地位，越看它就越觉得它很可爱。每当打开部落格，就不时逗它，无聊时就把滑鼠的箭头指着小仓鼠打圈圈，它的头部也跟着打圈圈。但有着无底洞似的胃口的它，似乎不抗拒任何人的食物，贪食的它吃客不停，吃了那么多的食物依然有着魔鬼般身材。于是将它改名为“小淘气”。

有一天，J突然告诉我每次能给十粒食物，我眨了眨眼。在我的追问之下，终于明白原来J是在说我部落格上的那支仓鼠。虾米！我从来不数多少粒食物，只知道不停地按滑鼠的左键盘到没有食物出现为止便停止。自从知道有更多读者前来阅读我的文章时都有停下来喂食小淘气，我心里有种莫名的欣慰，心想小淘气真有魅力，直接把我这部落格主人给比下去。

Lately, I had a bit of drive to update my blog more often, what's the reason(s) behind this? Well, if you notice, on the top left corner of my blog, you could see a hamster running on a flywheel continuously. His original name was 'Hammie', but it turned out to have rooted in parts of my heart, it looks even cuter each time I see him. Each time I open my blog, I would tease the hamster, when bored, I would hurl over the cursor around the hamster and form circles, the hamster would never grumble but keep its head keeps following and make circles too. Little did I know that it has bottomless appetite at first, it never reject food offered, greedy little hamster keeps on eating all the time, but it manage to keep such slim figure after eating so much. Hence, I named him 'Xiao Tao Qi' which means 'Little Naughty One'.

One day, J told me that each time could offer 10 food. I was surprised and can't stop but gazed at J. Upon questioning, J revealed that it's all about the little hamster in my blog there. Wow, to think that even the blog owner never counts when feeding, it's quite a surprise for me. I only keep on clicking till no more food appear. Ever since I know that there are more readers stopping by my blog and even feeding my little naughty one, I felt a bit relieved, relieved that the little one is never alone, and is even more popular than the blog owner.

曾有位朋友这样问我， 笑着问我何谓幸福？顿时想起大学友，慧慧在部落格上这样写着：

A friend once asked me what's happiness. I quickly recalled what my friend Hui Hui wrote on her blog:

小时候，幸福，是件很简单的事；长大后，简单，是件很幸福的事。 (my translation) while small, happiness is simple; when grown up, simple is happiness. (SN Liow, July 2010)

是的，简单就是幸福快乐。对我而言，只要一切顺利即是幸福，我是为很容易就满足的人，不太在意他人眼光，物以简为重嘛。如今，多了个小淘气及几位读者的支持，我寻回了写作的乐趣，我想以后可以给读者更多惊喜，但愿此动力不只是三分热度。咱们就拭目以待吧。

Yeah, indeed, simplicity is happiness. For me, as long as everything runs smoothly, it's happiness. I'm someone who can easily be satisfied, I don't really care about what other think of me, simplicity is the best after all. Now that I have little naughty one and support from my readers, I found back the joy of blogging, hopefully I could deliver more surprises to my dear readers. Also, hopefully this drive is not just for a short period of time. Let's hope so.

在此，我想谢谢小淘气及我所有的读者，谢谢你们给了我无限的推动力去继续更新部落格。谢谢。

Hereby, I would like to thank little naughty one and all my readers, thanks for giving me the strength to keep on updating my blog. A million thanks to all.

最后献上这首歌曲，有伍思凯演唱的《分享》。祝咱们友谊永固。