Ms. Betsy's next assignment: Independent Writing (topic 160)

Hi, Brilliant class year 11,
here is Ms. Betsy's task of independent writing, with the assignment of topic no. 160 (See the Official ETS iBT TOEFL, 2009). Please write your answer in the COMMENT field (deadline Nov 2, 2009) for Tuesday's printing (sir).

Thanks! Congratulations as well to you for taking the 1st TOEFL simulation, mainly on reading and listening comprehensions.

For Year 11 (Batch 2011): Ms. BETSY's TOEFL task: Independent Writing (deadline Oct. 20, 2009)

Hi, Brilliant class year 11,
here is Ms. Betsy's task of independent writing, with the assignment of topic no. 20 (See the Official ETS iBT TOEFL, 2009). Please write your answer in the COMMENT field for Tuesday morning printing.

Also take a look at your photos during last Friday, Oct 16, 2009 Cambridge Biology experiment/practice at PENABUR International Jakarta with Brilliant Class 12th graders, planning to take the test next Oct. 22, 2009. Here is the link:

http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/id/node/5457

SIR

An inspiring and energetic colleague passed away

What a shocking news today from the morning Christian service. One of our most active teachers, a native speaker of English, Mr. Arthur Laronde, nicknamed Art, passed away due to heart attack yesterday (Sunday).

My thoughts flew to our last meeting in Biology laboratory of SMPK 8 PENABUR International. It was one of the last Biology experiment trials by Brilliant Class 12th graders, as well as an extra class for 11th graders. Mr. Oscar Efendy (LIPI/ Indonesian Research Centre) was administering the Biology experiment paper 32 of Oct 2007, when Mr. Art joined us and gave some tips of facing the exams. Among the tips were looking quickly at all the experiment tasks, and paying attention to the time management. I did not realize it was the last meeting with this PENABUR International Jakarta Head of English Department, such an active and inspiring person, who, in his last year, still had the passion to complete doing an advanced Cambridge course in one centre.

Good bye, Mr. Art, may you rest in peace. May your family in both Ontario and Jakarta be strengthened always to face future life.

Teguh, your BPK PENABUR Jakarta English colleague, having gotten
your Bread Talk's oatmeals twice for dietary purposes.

Ms. Betsy's task for year 11 (TOEFL: Integrated Writing)

Dear Year 11 students,
On Oct. 6, 2009 next week, in TOEFL class, you are going to have your 1st writing class with iBT TOEFL integrated writing task to be prepared and delivered by Ms. Betsy herself.
In the end of the class, between 2p.m. and 2.30p.m., please copy-and-paste your writing on the comment field below.
I will be printing out your works for Ms. Betsy at 2.45p.m.

SIR
As requested by Ms. Tantri, TOEFL course coordinator,
from Trisakti School of Tourism

Strange dishes on holidays!

Well, well, here is another holiday without servants. IED holiday! Creativity ... and calamity came! Ha ha ... yesterday, I made breakfast for my small family. You know what? Indonesian "soto" (beef soup). Actually, I did not make, but just heatened the already bought "soto".

What happened then? I had bought some salted eggs ("telor asin"). I broke one, and taraaa! The yolk flew out of it. I could not believe it I had bought raw duck's eggs. 8 of them. Well, I quickly put it into the pan with still boiling "soto". Just now I overheard my sis, brother and dad gossiping about the "eggs" inside the beef soup I created. It turned out the yolk turned into something my vegetarian sis was reluctant to have. She had thought there was something wrong with the thick, bubbling soup. Haah!

Well, today I was smarter, I guess. This morning at 6.30 something I felt so starving I could eat an elephant! I boiled 3 duck's eggs (not salted eggs, of course), for some 5 minutes, I guess. Duck's eggs are slightly bigger and rounder, you know, than chicken's. Meanwhile, I defroze another "soto"/beef soup, and put into it the 3 already peeled boiled duck's eggs. 2nd menu served!

Surprise!! When I tasted SIR's beef soup, what a pride I had. Here is the COOK's own dish! Ha ha ... no sooner than that did I find out another surprise: the boiled duck's eggs were half-cooked! I should've boiled it for 6-7 minutes instead of 5. I love half-cooked sunny-side-up/ "telor mata sapi", but this was a half-cooked boiled egg in one beef soup! Something unusual!

Gosh! I need to learn how to appreciate what the cooks, or my servants, make for our meals. Cooking has never been weirder! I hope my cousin, happening to be the cook of Chinese dishes in "pasar Modern", BSD, can teach me how to cook well! Well, once I cooked my students the green pungent "pete" with sweet/soyabean ketchup. Guess how many ate? Ha ha ... only 4 of 12 students did in that dorm supper. Phew!

Wish this holiday to last longer, not just for a full week. Then, I could cook the strangest dishes amateurly cooked for your pleasure to read and enjoy here!

Let-me-down not

What a dizzy day!

Class was quiet like desert.
No reply do I like quite
Only sound of typing SEAL online
And God knew what else I could find.

Last night enjoying a thriller

Final Destination 4, such a killer.

Cries of fear, yet excited

only to find today disappointed.

Mood tumbled down
I was anything but a clown.
Flying home with a shaky taxi
Even making me feel dizzy.

Gosh!

Smashed!

Showers.

Metamorphs.

Sir/ Gandaria home/ 3.08p.m.

Year 11 (2009/2010) 1st Assignment: TOEFL writing (independent)

Dear Year 11 Batch 2011,
After August 4 explanation on samples of graded writing as well as August 11 notes on writing, including usage of transition signals (cohesive devices), such as "to begin with", "first of all", "secondly", "furthermore", "in addition", "to conclude", "to sum up", "for instance/example", and "such as/ like", and how to respond a disagreement on a statement with negative meaning, like "I disagree that ... NOT ...", now write in the COMMENT field of this August 14th, 2009 blog your assignment with the following details:

1. Topic: *Do you agree that being creative is better than planning carefully when facing problems?
2. State your reasons to support your agreement OR disagreement.
3. Use cohesive devices given in your class notes.
4. Write around 200-250 words.

Deadline: Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Announcement: Wish this exercise to help you in some way in your August 21, 2009 4-hour pre-test (iBT TOEFL) in Mangga Dua Square venue (not: Plaza Sentral, Semanggi as in this morning's email) held by Trisakti School of Tourism, which gave a seminar on iBT TOEFL today at SMAK PENABUR Gading Serpong, 14.00-15.40.

*The topic above was part of the 2009 iBT TOEFL exam held on Sat., Aug. 1, 2009, in the writing section (independent type). Thanks to Vincensius (Year 12) for contributing it, and congratulations for your wonderful TOEFL score! 103.

What a day! General election, Mon Ami pastry n Starbucks

Here came the general election day. Today! Holiday. Got no notice, so brought a copy of my ID card and family card. Darn. The post (TPS) I used to come was vacant. Moved to different location I did not know. Well, went to a gov. district. "Kelurahan Melawai". Told the post was nearby. Got lost twice. If it had not been for casting my vote for the presidential election, I would have gone straight to my bed. Actually, I got a different plan.

One international coffee retailer, Starbucks, advertised in national Kompas newspaper yesterday. Any voter, showing their finger covered with purple ink, would get a free MISTO, coffee with milk. On the way from the Dharma Karya school, near Melawai Road (South Jkt), my sister and I stopped by Mon Ami bakery. Yummy! Snacks, and pastries, such as cassava cake and glutinuous cake (ketan bubuk).

Well, there we were. 20 minutes earlier to a Starbuck shop on Melawai Road. Then, voila! One hot milk coffee for my sister and one cold one for me. Mm ... I successfully persuaded the shop assistant to take a picture of us with the ink-tainted finger showing we have voted! Gosh. What a day.

Birthday celebration at Sand's ...

June 7th, 2009, my friends and I celebrated together our birthday at Sand's, Mangga 2 Square. It was the birthday celebration of 7 of us: Ms Dian (absent), Cu Hong (organizer), Markiano, Hartaty, Ms. Dian (absent), Leonie, Melissa, and me. Among those coming are Lina, Since, Amelia, and of course Cu Hong's wife and some of our family. Nani was going overseas, while Mr. Andy was celebrating his son's birthday on the same day.

Anyway, I think the food was tasty! The music was damn COOL. The karaoke was wonderful! 2 thumbs up, especially with the big discount from Sand's for June 2009 promotion with still best services.

A reunion with Batch 1996 SMAK 1 Jakarta in Urban Kitchen, Pacific Place, May 2009

Next are two photos sir took from Agus Dwireka's facebook on SMAK 1 Batch 1996 PRE-reunion in Country Kitchen last May 2009. Wow! Some have already had babies, and I haven't! Poor sir. Ha ha ha ... on the right picture, smiling widely on the foreground is Ms. Wati, the Indonesian language teacher, also one of my best colleagues at SMAK 1.

Thanks to Henny for the source of the other photos (requiring a facebook login account) is:
http://www.facebook%20.com/home.%20php?#/album.

BTW, I've just updated Brilliant Class website, with another PRESTIGIOUS achievement, this time in Math, in University of Indonesia, sweeping all 4 top medals for LOGIKA individual events. Click: http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/school/smakgsjkt

School Climate Challenge projects (a May 2009 review)

Next is my review on beginning of May 2009 on the four projects done by 4 teams of SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR Bandung. The environmental-themed projects, called School Climate Challenge (SCC) was initiated by the British Council Indonesia. Deadline: today, June 7th, 2009.
Also find in my REVIEW for the 4 projects put into blogs/website for much more complete articles and updates, including WOW! comics, youtube video links on global warming and facebook links:
http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/node/4941
The SCC blogs of British Council Indonesia:
http://schoolclimatechallenge.wordpress.com

REVIEW
The British Council Indonesia, in collaboration with Ashoka Foundation, National Geographic and Pandu Pertiwi, held an environmental project called the Climate Challenge for high school students nationwide. Their website is, respectively, www.britishcouncil.or.id, www.ashoka.or.id, http://nationalgeographic.co.id/ and http://www.caretakers4all.org/.

Since February 2009, the British Council Indonesia has also launched their blogs at http://schoolclimatechallenge.wordpress.com/ and their facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/people/Scc-Indonesia/1531114087. Two of the noble purposes include involving the teenagers—1/3 of the Indonesian population below the age of 18—to take an active role to save the earth and giving the community an economic benefit as resulted by the teenagers’ actions.
The four teams have sent their application form and their proposed projects. Team A and B are supervised by Mr. Teguh Santoso (English teacher), team C by Mr. Hanky Purnama, and team D by Ms. Anna Mey Hasian Sinaga (Geography teacher). In mid-February 2009, the British Council Indonesia committee sent the email, informing the four teams of BPK PENABUR Bandung have been approved to continue their project until early June 2009. Since then, necessary steps have been taken, such as some briefing by the teachers, some data-collecting, an interview (and one coming interview with one of the British Council Indonesia partners above) as well as frequent text messaging (sms) to encourage each other about these wonderful efforts to help save and protect the mother earth, particularly from the global warming and the climate change.1

What have SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR Bandung teams done so far? You can click at http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/node/4941, in which on April 28, 2009, the four blogs/website have existed, namely:

Team A (Brigita, Erlangga, Hizkia, Michael)
http://teenforgreen.blogspot.com/

Team B (Andi, Ben, David and Stephen)
http://forest-mywaymyworld.blogspot.com/
English version
http://english-mywaymyworld.blogspot.com/

Team C (Osgar, Daniel, Merry and Johnny)
http://www.freshearth.webs.com/

Team D (Erlina, Queency, Rolamjaya, Stephanie)
http://paper-saver.blogspot.com

It is interesting to take a look at the contributions made by the four teams. For instance, team A defines what global warming is at http://teenforgreen.blogspot.com/2009/04/definisi-global-warming.html, and suggests the use of the biodegradable matter and avoid, among others, the overuse of plastic bottles, which can last for 70-450 years to be degraded! Wow! Therefore, minimize the use of plastic bottle and (supermarket) bag, and if possible, use the recyclable/ eco-friendly paper bag. Team A further explains about the use of air-conditioning (A.C.) substance, called freon. Some are hazardous to the ozone, some other types are eco-friendly. Click: http://teenforgreen.blogspot.com/2009/04/freon-ramah-lingkungan.html. Hopefully, they have got time after the pre-Final exam to hold some mini research on SMAK 1 students’ use of A.C. in both their house and cars.

Comic from team B, on the other hand, provides great illustration and articles, though it was started in May 2009, after long meditation. It’s a joke, of course. Please browse here: http://forest-mywaymyworld.blogspot.com/2009/05/update-comic.html. It supports the awareness of minimizing the leak of the planetary air. One wonderful thing is that at this team B’s posting of May 9, 2009, they took part of it from Scientific America May 2009, and provided the Indonesian translation for broader range of readers. An exclusive interview with Principal Ms. Boniwidiati Bunjamin revealed the school support for the paper saving as well as the electricity saving until the coming 1,000 tree plantation. See: http://forest-mywaymyworld.blogspot.com/2009/05/interview-with-smak-1-bpk-bandung.html. Team B even went further to elaborate the importance of the reefs to the global warming.

Team C tried to present some tips on helping to reduce the threat of global warming, such as some efficient use of paper, and electricity, a bit similar to those in team A, and suggests a come back of using a handkerchief, instead of spending tissues processed from trees. This way, more and more trees are not cut, and of course, become the earth’s giant lungs. In http://www.freshearth.webs.com/ there is a shocking figure, i.e. the leak pipe of water may spend 200 gallons of water a day at home.

Finally, team D attempted to create a polling of their own on how much paper one used. They also warned us of the threat to humanity as taken from a source http://www.austrianinformation.org/volume-59-julyaugust-2006/2006/9/15/climate-change-a-threat-to-humanity.html. It is such a relief that the teenagers, like those in team D, avoided plagiarism on the environmental article by quoting the source.

Well, June 7th is the end of the competition period. What can you do for those teams, readers? Why don’t you drop by their blogs, and website, and leave some supportive comments in them. Wish the SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR Bandung students to do their best, not for the sake of getting nominated for the top environmental projects, of course, but also for the noble purposes of saving our beloved land. Our Earth!

Teguh Santoso
A Year X (regular class)
Year 11 (accelerated class)
and Year XII CIP English teacher
SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR Bandung (2008/2009)
Blogs: http://sirteguh.blogspot.com

Being a webmaster ....

Hi, just a brief notice.
Please drop by 4 school websites I'm handling at:
1. SMPK 7 PENABUR Jakarta
http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/school/smpk7jkt
2. SMAK PENABUR Gading Serpong
http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/school/smakgsjkt
3. SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR Bandung
http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/school/smak1bdg
http://www.smak1bpkpenaburbandung.or.id

Some items of the updated news include:
a. teacher training for SMPK PENABUR Jakarta I helped to organize
with ITB and Parahyangan Univ. Bandung doctors/professors, May 25-29, 2009;
b. Singapore Mathematical Olympiad, June 2-3, 2009,
joined by 18 Indonesian students--9 of whom come from
SMAK PENABUR Gading Serpong; and
c. International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) joined by 3 students
of BPK PENABUR Indonesia1 from Bandung and 2 from Jakarta.
d. Seminar on Bilingualism with a bilingual education expert,
Ms. Jan Edwards Dormer held by BPK PENABUR Bandung, June 9-10, 2009

Brilliant Class Year 10 exam (ESL) this morning

Hi, guys! What a relief, learning you were able to do the exam tasks in 2 hours this morning. Attached is the 2-page exam tasks, while the 1-page Jakarta Post article and the 5-page Asterix and Obelix comic (black and white) have been handed out. Enjoy! ;)

Next is the copied version of the exam document. My apology for the inconvenient format of the test due to the incapability of the blogs to have an attachment.

SMAK PENABUR Gading Serpong
Academic Year 2008/2009
1st SemesterBrilliant Class Year 10 FINAL EXAM
ENGLISH Language (ESL)
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 / 120 minutes

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. There should be an 8-page document, including the 5-page comic of Asterix and Obelix.
2. There are 5 tasks: 3 on writing, 2 on reading and vocabulary worth 30% of the total semester mark.
3. All the writing should be done on the other side of the first 2 pages. You may take home the comic.

WRITING
A. Complete the following FORMAL letter with an appropriate content and style. You are writing a letter to the Director of the Jakarta International School to arrange for a joint swimming competition for students. You should include the purposes, the possible date, your contact number/email, and a humble closing paragraph (20 points).

Kelapa Gading Barat Raya Rd.
Tangerang, Banten

……………., ………………………………. (1 point)

………………………………………………
…………………………………………….. (2 points)

Dear ………………………………….., (1 point)

My name is ………………………………………,
a student of ……………………………………………… (1 point)
Through your website http://www.jisedu.org/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta_International_School,
I read about the swimming lesson and facilities and wonder if …………………………………………………………………… (2 points)

To us, swimming has at least two purposes. First, ……………
…………………………………………………………………………………… (2 points)
…………., we love swimming because ………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………… (2 points)


Therefore, we wonder if we …………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………… (2 points)
I could be reached at …………………………………………………… (2 points)


…………………………………………………………………………………… (2 points)
and we are looking forward to ……………………………………… (1 point)


……………… Yours, (1 point)

…………………………………. (1 point)


B. On the other side of the paper, write around 100-word experience
of EITHER ONE of these 2 topics:
1. My Last Easter Holidays
2. One Unforgettable Evening in My Class
(10 points)


C. ERROR ANALYSIS (10 points)
Correct the italicized word(s) based on its grammatical errors.
CORRECTION
1. I would like to join pet community because I could meet
other people who loves animals. ……………….
2. And on May, I will follow the final test and will graduate in June. ………………
3. We went to the nearest lake every week and to the sea once a month. ………………
4. I am so interested to reading your “magic home stay” advertisement. ………………

5. Yesterday I was read your advertisement
on the flyer for searching talented swimmers. ………………
6. I could improve my skill on swimming. ………………
7. US official believed that the intruder appear
to have originated from China. ………………
8. This inspiring story tell us ………………
about 12-years-old boys ………………
who saved his father live. ………………

READING and VOCABULARY
A. Reading and Vocabulary
1. Complete the text below by writing the vocabulary in the list into the blanks. (10 points)
A synonym/definition of the vocabulary is supplied in the parentheses behind each blank.
Each vocabulary can be used only ONCE.

NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE
Spotlight Revive Passionate
Hostility Achieve Partial
Precedent Encourage Innovative
Mediation

Indonesia and Singapore were reported to have a high ……………………… (=enmity) over the Batam island. The news has caused a ……………………… (=incomplete) diplomatic disturbance, and become a(n) ……………………… (=glare) on TV and websites. It ……………………… (=brought back) the memories of some conflicts on a different island before.
Some people are so ……………………… (=obsessive) about it, so the rumour has topped in most Indonesian media. Even a billionaire has offered a(n) ……………………… (=negotiation) because of the interest in his import-export business. He has failed to ……………………… (=reach) his efforts as the news turned out to be a hoax! False information. It was created to find out about people’s opinion on the two countries’ international relations. Do you think it was a(n) ……………………… (=creative) way, or a destructive ……………………… (=example)?


2. Read the attached article of “American Space Tourist Buys Return Ticket to Orbit” (page 3) partly taken from:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/03/24/american-space-tourist-buys-return-ticket-orbit.html until the sentence "... He will return to Earth on April 7 in a Soyuz capsule."

Answer the questions below. (20 points)
1. Who was the American space tourist in the title?
2. What is his profession?
3. How many times has that person travelled to outer space?
4. How much has he paid for the two space vacations altogether ?
5. Has he become the oldest person to fly in space? Explain.

6. Why won’t Russia receive any space tourist starting in 2010?
7. What date did Simony go to the outer space for the 1st time?
8. What date will Simonyi go to the outer space again?
9. How old was Simony at his first outer space travel?
10. Why did Simony take only half the training period on his 2nd travel?


B. READING (30 points)
*Read the 5-page comic of Asterix and Obelix.
Retell the partial story in around 100 words on the other side of the paper. Do not copy the dialogue, please.

END of EXAM

= = = = =
*The 5-page comic in the exam here is the continuation of the previous 5-page comic task, as can be seen here at:
http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2009/05/year-10-comics-summary-asterix-and.html
Also see my comments and correction in the last two postings 2 days before this exam was conducted.

Year 10: Comics summary (Asterix and Obelix: The Legionary)

For Year 10, please post yesterday's 1-hour assignment of summarizing comics, an Asterix and Obelix series, titled "The Legionary", pp. 4-13 into around 200 words.

Grading criteria:
1. Plots
2. Language use: grammar, spelling
3. Originality--hardly any copy of the text in the dialogue boxes
4. Extra images (from google/ website) no more than 2, please,
add a special point.

Deadline: Monday, May 18, 2009.

1-week assignment for both Year 10 & 11

Hi, guys, thanks for the bunches of assignment. Wow! It's going to keep me 2 weeks of checking, phew! Well, now here is the 1-week assignment as I am not teaching you next Tue., May 5, 2009.
Deadline:
Wednesday, May 13,2009 (Year 10)
Deadline: Thursday, May 14,2009 (Year 11)
due to Cambridge Math Paper 1 Exam on May 13

1. Year 10: From what I am sharing you today
about a novel review today,
and based on the Penguin series book
you've borrowed:
a. Write a 200-word review on the PLOTS.
b. Pick one protagonist OR one antagonist
and review their character in around 100 words.

2. Year 11: Summary on 2 articles of the magazines (online/
found in the library) with around 150 words/each summary.
You may find the online link of the magazines from:

a. ONE news item from either
http://www.sciam.com/sciammag/ (Scientific America)
OR http://online.wsj.com/ (Wall Street Journal)

b. One article from either
http://www.rd.com/ (Reader's Digest),
OR http://www.ngm.com/ (National Geographic Magazine)

Please include the complete/exact LINK of the article, please.

Thanks, guys!

Year 10: 2 assignments of WRITING a formal letter & SUMMARIZING news/a magazine article

Dear Brilliant Class Year 10,
Welcome again to my class, including those 9 students, having joined Olympiad selection, and its preparation early last week.

There are 2 assignments to do to be put in the comment box of this posting:
1. Write a formal letter based on the task on a copy of Alison Digger's IGCSE page 120.
Modified task: reply to an advertisement on your joining a singing group, OR
a swimming team, OR having a pet from a club, OR whatever topic interests you.
Don't forget to include your reason, what interests you, and what you are going to do with it
(deadline: Friday, April 24, 2009).

2. Summarize only ONE article of the three online magazines below
into around 100 words:
a. Any article from http://www.rd.com/ (Reader's Digest)
b. Any article from http://www.ngm.com/ (National Geographic Magazine)
c. Any news from http://online.wsj.com/ (Wall Street Journal)

For point 2:
Please copy and paste the LINK/ web address for references
(deadline: Monday, April 27, 2009).

P.S. Happy swimming this afternoon at the Sports Club!

Love,
SIR

2009 Easter celebration ... a brief reflection

Yesterday the Easter celebration for BPK PENABUR Jakarta teachers took place in Kelapa Gading. 2 reflections I gained from the BPK PENABUR secretariat drama related to
choosing your own cross (read: burden), and the sermon delivered by Rev. Arliyanto Larose are:
1. Drama: Never give up to the cross you have chosen, or God has chosen for you. One has certain responsibilities to take with, and never be afraid.
2. Sermon: Services to others, in this case to my students, must not be done half-heartedly. Through God's resurrection, we are reminded to serve without limit. Of course, serving others, as said, should consider contexts to avoid destructive effects.

Well, those two strong messages, I guess, have revived and recharged my spirit.

Amen.

Year 11: Wall Street Journal article on BIOTECH or ... alternative to summary: TRAVISHUNT Bio. website

DearEST my beloved Year 11 students,

Still remember your March 31st homework on
summarizing a Biotech article from a Wall Street Journal,
March 27-29, 2009? If you lose your photocopy, here is the online version:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123809943944451143.html

It was a 2-week-ago homework, eh? Come on ... elephants never forget!
It's a proverb, okaaaay? Not literally offending my own body, for goodness!

OR, if you do not want to summarize the long article of biotech,
you had better do the REAL BIOLOGY web,
try ANY 2 exercises here, then submit the answers to me.

The *website is:
http://www.quia.com/pages/travishunt.html

Please include THE EXACT LINK of the 2 (TWO) exercises
and the answers (after you try it, of course, ho ho ho). Deadline
of EITHER the Wall Street Journal summary
OR the answers to the 2 Travis Hunt
exercises ---> Friday, April 17, 2009. Post your answers in
this COMMENT BOX ....

Am I not so kind and sweet?
I know you're facing your 1st hurdle/ toughest step for
Olympiad selection this Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Good LUCK!


*I once gave it to SMAK 1 PENABUR Jakarta student,
Ferdy, and he went to the top 17 students for IBO (Olympiad)
of the Indonesian team.

Love,

SIR

SMAK 3 (Jakarta)'s SCIENCE media

Try this, guys: http://www.e-smak3.net/resources/media
It's SMAK 3 PENABUR Jakarta's resources. Activate/ download Java Applet.

Please comment what you think of our fellow SMAK 3 e-learning. Complete:
http://www.e-smak3.net How's Leonard's simple Science blogs?
Thanks for your Math postings, Leo. Others?

SIR

Good Friday and Easter period

After the lent period (40 days of fasting) started with Ash Wednesday, here came three moments in conjunction with Easter: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, with surely preceded by the Palm Sunday last week. Click for what the events are at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_Malta.

Anway, I went to church on Maundy Thursday (Indonesian: Kamis Putih) at 10p.m. in a chill cold (now) air-con St. John's church (Melawai). Though my choir, CAVIDO took part, I observed from a distance. They looked damn smashing in their white uniforms. The sermon reminded us that Easter in the olden days means "transition/movement" from Egypt to the promised land, Kanaan, and so was our life journey.

Yesterday, I joined the 2p.m. mass at the same church, this time I was asked to sing with the same choir, CAVIDO, now with black outfits. Uedan rek, an East Javanese shoutout, meaning "My goodness!" Within just 14 hours, my choir performed again. Well, most of the repertoires were those I was familiar with (I joined the choir since 1988, and have stopped practising for more than 2 years!) though I hadn't joined the Easter choral practices before. Yet, of course, I didn't sing for some songs I was not sure of singing, lah. Ho ho ... thank God, it was a success.
Well, what a break now, this weekend.

Btw, if you happen to drop by the fX plaza/mall on Sudirman street, South Jakarta, just near Senayan, and are looking for some affordable dishes, yet with superb taste, like those in Bistro Delifrance, also click: http://www.jakartaspot.com/dir/jakarta-selatan/all,
try the Muffins! The name may trick you of a place serving only muffins, but it turned out it came up with some affordable package of dishes less than Rp. 30,000 (US$2.5), including drinks. Most of the cafe and restaurants there charge us with an average Rp. 50,000 (US$4) excluding the Rp. 20,000 (US$1.6) drinks! Anyway, I tried the minched beef with rice(Odobo package if I'm not mistaken, certainly not "Adobe", ho ho .... ). Delicious! Already 3 months of absence to fx mall/plaza since my last visit with SMAK 1 PENABUR Bandung teachers in early January 2009. It still looked damn great!! One day, I'll give a try to the f7 (7th floor) two exclusive restaurants, if invited. Gosh! So elegant. Mmm .... a bit contrast eh when talking about the lent(en) period in the start of my posting. Sigh!

Well, well, what am I going to do this Saturday? Mmm .... sleep and sleep. And of course, Extravaganza comedy show in Trans TV tonight! Easter will have to wait until Sunday morning, I guess.

Year 10 B.C. Assignment

Hi, guys, put your today's work on a persuasive letter to the President of the IOC, stating your reasons why you must be the one to go to London for the 2012 Olympic Games. Also include:
1. some ideas from passage A on page 1 (Workbook)
2. your own ideas.

Write around 150 words and post your writing in the COMMENT box.
Don't forget, guys, to write your name.

Deadline: Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Year 11: Test and Assignments

Updated from April 7th posting:
As told in the classroom today, for those willing to revise their 1st draft,
write your REVISION on this blog comment, starting this April 21 (Tue.) until
Aprl 24th (Friday). Thanks, guys!!

Please put your 30-minute test work and 20-minute assignment on this blogs:

1. Description of people. See the photos here:
http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/node/4905
a. Take one of the 5 pictures/photos of people doing a speaking test (100 words) AND
b. Take one picture of people doing the traditional "Batik" painting (100 words).

2. Descriptive essay
on First Language English (Workbook) page 37.
a. Choose ONE of the two topics below (write around 200 words):
- Describe the general atmosphere of a busy airport, and refer to particular people
and events which you observe.
- Describe a day in the life of a pilot, a flight attendant or air traffic controller.

b. Write the 10 adjectives you are writing in your essay (point 2a).

Deadline: Tuesday, April 7th, 2009.

For Year 11 BC: 200-word descriptives assignment

Hi, Year 11 Brilliant class,
As discussed today on Cambridge (First Language) textbook, page 19 and 22,
please submit your 200-word essay on the comment box of this posting.
Choose ONE of the 3 topics here:
1. My favourite animal (Kingdom: Animalia, excluding human/your friend, please)
2. My Brilliant Class teacher
3. My dorm friend

Make sure you use the descriptive devices/techniques, including some of the 5 senses.

Grading:
1. Styles (50%)
2. Language use (50%)

Since it is put in blogs, you may use some informal expressions, including some funny jokes.
Deadline: Wednesday, April 1st, 6p.m. (It's not an April Fool's Day/ April Mop, okay?)extended from Tuesday (today), March 31st, 11.59 p.m. due to my late posting of blogs.

P. S. Check your grammar/spelling with MS Word/ other word-processing facility.

Blackout TONITE helps to reduce CO2 emission

Hi, my high school students and blog readers,

I have known about "Earth Hour 2009"--a world efforts of switching off electricity for 1 hour at 20.30-21.30 local time tonite. It's just one Indonesian tv show, "Extravaganza",
awarded a Panasonic award just yesterday, is aired every Saturday nationwide 20.00-22.00. Miss you!

Mm ... guess it will take some efforts to tell my dad and others at home. Possibly reduce the use of electricity by 85-90% of regular use, excluding the fridge (user friendly, lah). This could be 100% as our Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo planned to support Global Earth Hour 2009 by applying a partial blackout tonite. Read the Indonesian news:

http://www.earthhour.wwf.or.id/news_detail.php?id=25
Wow! Viva our Jakarta governor! Must be a tough task to persuade malls, apartments and factories to use their generator/ even experience some blackout, for sure.

Well, one suggestion from me:
Are we going to do it on "Good Friday" during the Christian's Easter week, or probably on some other international/ local holidays to reduce the CO2 emission?

My blog readers and students,
I think the information I quoted from today's Kompas Indonesian newspaper, Saturday, March 28 (page 13) titled "Satu Hari Utk Merawat Bumi" (meaning One Heart to Care For the Earth) is very worthwhile to read. The article can be clicked here:

http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2009/03/28/04330059/satu.hati.untuk.merawat.bumi

Please COMMENT in the box of this posting, will you?

Next are at least three amazing figures and info for you, guys!

1. In Jakarta only, capital city of Indonesia, 284 tons of CO2 will be reduced
if Jakartan citizens switch off their electronics (and laptop, ho ho ho ...)
and light for one hour. Guess I'll be watching "Extravaganza" in dark
unless the Trans TV station joins the "Earth Hour 2009" movement. Wow!

2. 1,508 cities and towns in at least 80 countries have confirmed their involvement
in caring for our beloved Earth. What a figure!! Some of the cities are
London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Shang Hay, Moscow, Singapore and Sydney.
What a realistic and significant contribution from WWF to help preventing
from global warming and (-) climate change.

3. I read a special club in one college in Jakarta city called Climate Change Champion Club
of London School of Public Relations (LSPR) iniated to disseminate the news on WWF's
"Earth Hour 2009" through leaflets, posters and even banner. The website
http://www.earthhour.org/ even suggested the use of, to mention some, facebook, flicker,
and blogs. I'm posting this, too, to my friendster bulletin in a minute.

As an English teacher of two of at least 133 schools of BPK PENABUR in
4 Indonesian provinces, and as one of SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR Jakarta's three school
coordinators of the British Council project "Climate Change Challenge", at least I could
help to spread the knowledge within the team's projects and through this blogs.
Wish my students at SMAK PENABUR Gading Serpong (Brilliant Class) to read
my blogs as the dormitory is online 24 hours for internet access via their notebook. Guys, please drop your comments in my posting, okay?

P.S. Please don't tell me as "naught and tricky". I even set my email vacation response in my Yahoo! account for 2 days from March 28-29, 2009 (GMT +07.00), pleading for supports of "Earth Hour 2009", ho ho ho ....

Also, I sent sms/text to 15 of my Bandung and Jakarta students, as well as sending emails to all the four teams (16 students) of our SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR Bandung city, joining the Climate Change projects from the British Council. Their website, blogs and comics are soon to be uploaded. I'll notify you about this.

POST SMAK GS info/news here via COMMENT box (as of March 23, 2009)

Dear B.C.ers,
Starting March 23, 2009, please send any ACHIEVEMENTS, social activities (Easter, etc.),
news on Brilliant Class/regular class activities,and do not forget to write:
1. Date of event
2. What level: regional/ national/ international
3. Place/ campus/ high school
4. Some top schools joining.
5. If you win one award/ trophy, let me know
who are the other winners and which school.
6. Please post the original photo (1 Megabytes OK for PUBLICATION/ BANNER/
PRESS release). Email to sir at uget1st[at]yahoo.com

Example of publications sir has just created (Noel and Kelvin's being #1 Winner in ITS Surabaya this afternoon has not been created yet):
http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/node/4866
on Lusia and Felik's achievements (2 prizes) in Maranatha Univ. Bandung (I.T. Competition).

PLEASE POST THE NEWS through the COMMENT area. The photos can be to your blogs/ friendster/ by a separate email to sir. Have a great Sunday, and focus on Cambridge exam, starting on May 13, 2009!

Blogs training and samples (GS, 3/18/2009)

Dear SMAK GS colleagues,
for today's training on making blogs, see this:
BLOGS / weB LOGS Via:
www.blogspot.com
www.wordpress.com

CHRISTIAN Values/ Education:
a. www.mudarwan.blogspot.com (Christian contents/ links)
E.g., http://mudarwan.blogspot.com/2008/11/pembimbing-ktb-yang-kreatif.html
b. http://penaburbestbuddies.blogspot.com/ (N2K in BPK PENABUR)

PERSONAL:
a. http://hatelovebc.blogspot.com/ (Hans, Year 10 BC)
b. http://leonz-science.blogspot.com/ (Leonard, Year 10 BC, science website)
c. http://diary-of-joses.blogspot.com/ (Joses, Year 10 BC, psychology)
with interesting comments at
http://diary-of-joses.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-feel-frustated.html#comments
d. http://noah-riandiputra.blogspot.com/ (Noah, Year 10 BC, see “about myself”)
e. http://rickysetiamanah.blogspot.com/ (Ricky, Year 11 BC, letter to university)
f. http://lushee.blogspot.com (Lusia, Year 11 BC, with photo of
UNPAR 2nd Winner programming competition)
g. http://bambanggunawan.blogspot.com (webmaster of Pahoa, OeL, and once BPK PENABUR)
h. http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/ (Mr Teguh's blogs since 2008)

For FUN:
Taken from Mr. Teguh's
a. Hobby http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2008/12/whale-2-gold-fish.html
b. Meeting http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2009/03/nus-high-singapore-bpk-penabur-jkt.html
c. Fun http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2008/06/christian-n-titi-kamal-2m-fr-me.html
Food-hunting
http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2008/07/food-hunting-on-return-trip-bali-jogja.html

For ONLINE STUDY:
a. March 2009 Blogs as Homework
http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2009/03/holiday-assignment-for-year-10-bc.html
b. October 2008 Sample of Writing
http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2008/10/joy-and-sorrow-be4-halloween.html
c. June 2008 link: SAT 2
http://sirteguh.blogspot.com/2008/06/june-july-holidays.html
d. SMPK 4 PENABUR Bandung:
http://k4-physics.blogspot.com/
http://www.k4-biology.blogspot.com/
http://www.k4-mathematics.blogspot.com/

SCIENCE:
a. Oxford University: http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/science_blog/
such as
http://www.ox.ac.uk/go.rm?id=8673 (Accelerate, Entertain with Physics)
http://www.ox.ac.uk/go.rm?id=8640 (The Drama of the Earth –Geography)
b. www.mudarwan.wordpress.com (Biology and others by P4 staff, Mudarwan)
E.g., http://mudarwan.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/jamur/
c. See ONLINE STUDY above, too, point d.

BUSINESS:
http://eravictoriaproperty.wordpress.com/ (initially created by Teguh S.)

Holiday assignment for Year 10 B.C., 3/17/2009

Dear my beloved Year 10 students,
Well, well, well, as I promised, you've got homework to do
during your 3-day holiday (March 16-18, 2009).
It's a reflection on your 7-month study in Brilliant Class
SMAK PENABUR Gading Serpong. The composition should be:
1. around 150 words
2. using proper grammar (be consistent, please) and style (informal)
2. typed on the COMMENT box here (write name & your blogs address as well,
so other readers can visit your blogs, guys, and make you famous! ho ho ho ....)
3. submitted before Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 11.59 p.m.

Choose one of the two topics for writing here.
1. Two of the unforgettable events in my Brilliant class:
one academic, such as class/tutor/competition, plus
one non-academic, such as sports/arts/dormitory life/Christian service/field trip.
2. What two school subjects I am fond of and why:
one science/math, such as physics, bio, chem, computer, and math, plus
one non-science/math, such as sports/language/Christian education.

Reminder: post it ONLY in my blogs comment box, please.

Thanks! Have a great holiday due to teacher-training/seminar.

3 deaths on NTU & NUS foreign students this week

Baffled! How come 3 deaths befell to 3 foreign students in Singapore in only 5-day time this 1st week of March!
1. March 2, 2009:
Indonesian top student David Hartanto Widjaja (NTU) died of falling from the 4th floor,
having been suspected to stab his professor on the 6th floor of an NTU building.
Click:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_344879.html
also doubts over David's death causes (in Indonesian language) at:
http://www.detiknews.com/prokontra/detail/pro/2009/03/05/113846/1094737/612/bunuh-diri-david-di-singapura-diragukan

2. March 4, 2009:
An USA undergraduate from Miami Univ. (a national merit scholar) was found dead in his
NUS hostel room, apparently over drinking with a bottle of pills found.
Click:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_346180.html

3. March 6, 2009:
People's Republic of China student, just graduating from NTU and started working in NTU on
March 2, 2009 (the very day David passed away) Zhou Zheng was found hanged in
Nanyang Heights.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_347185.html
and some interesting comments from the Straits Times readers at:
http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=17551&page=2

Also read the Indonesian detik.com news at:
http://www.detiknews.com/comment/2009/03/07/152155/1096029/10/setelah-david-giliran-staf-ntu-ditemukan-tewas-gantung-diri

Only God knows what has been happening this week in Singapore, involving NTU and NUS--the two most famous universities in Asia! BTW, guys, peek out my comment on the Straits Times comment page at:
http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=17387&page=53
Here I quote my comment:
"Regarding the Misnomer's comment of at:
http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=17387&page=13
saying "3.5 score over 5 is a score which many average students can achieve. Here, we are talking about an ASEAN scholar. ", allow me to inform that in MIT, yes, the GPA scale is 0-5.0., seehttp://web.mit.edu/registrar/gpacalc.html,but in NTU, at least the undergraduate study as written here:http://www.ntu.edu/Ac/bulletin/admission.pdfthe GPA scale is 0-4.0. Therefore, the demand of the required GPA for the ASEAN scholarship requires best of the best students, and not average ones."

BTW, also read one blogs' conspiracy theory on the #1 and #3 incidents from:
http://www.gabrielsai.com/blog/2009/03/a-conspiracy-theory-on-deaths-in-ntu.html

NUS High Singapore & BPK PENABUR Jkt meeting

Some time ago in February 2009, there was a visit from NUS High School to BPK PENABUR Jakarta. Next is the photo (l-r) Ms. Dinah Tanuatmadja (Head of R&D BPK PENABUR Jakarta), me, Mr. Anton Wardaya (Surya Institute), Principal Hang Kim Hoo, Mr. Michael Caprist (PH BPK PENABUR), Mr Bernard Ricardo Widjaja (NUS staff of Dept. of Physics and Engineering) and Ms. Van Li Hui (NUSAssistant manager of Admission and Recruitment), and Mr. Winfrid Prayogie (Executive Director of BPK PENABUR Jakarta).

We discussed the possibility of having a joint field trip/ science camp from Jakarta to Singapore as well as offering BPK PENABUR Jakarta students to join the NUS High School admission. For the latter purpose, the NUSH High School team was encouraged to carry this out in the form of advertisements and personal approach to prospective candidates as the Brilliant Class of BPK PENABUR Jakarta also had its own admission programme.

Still wonder whether or not NUS High School is willing to have a joint field trip/ science camp in the future. What a chance then! BTW, for the website of the 2 foundation/schools:

1. NUS High School:

http://www.highsch.nus.edu.sg/

2. BPK PENABUR Jakarta

http://www.bpkpenabur.or.id/en/region/jakarta

UPH "The Wizard of Oz" musical play and Coral Cady

Yesterday I enjoyed the Wizard of Oz musical play organized by Pelita Harapan School (SPH) in Graha Bakti Budaya (TIM) in Jakarta. 2 thumbs up! Fantastic! Truly wonderful for a play with a more-than-6-month practice, as the director Coral Cady told me at the end of the play. Coral was the Brilliant Class teacher back to 2007/2008 academic year.

What I admired most is the acting of at least three characters. Scarecrow, Lion and the leading character the Girl. Of course, the tin man rocked, too. What was so amazing, I found later, was all were NOT dubbed. There must have been wonderful sensitive microphones used, and it was PERFECT! I had thought it was a dubbed play, yet after around 30min. performance (I came 50min.'s later, yet still enjoying +/- 3hour-show), I noticed how their lips movements were in harmony with the dialogues. Wow!

What a surprise at the end to receive Coral's warmest welcome to see me joining the audience. I was blushing when she gave me a cheek-to-cheek kiss. It was Valentine's Day after all. Ho ho ho ... unfortunately, the Brilliant Class year 11 did not join the festivity. Some were busy competing in Jogja Technobiology competition, the others, well .... one incident in the show happened, I'll tell you later--something to do with queueing on a pizza stand. :)

Updated: (Mon., Feb. 16) Here is the Sat. incident.
During the break (SPH called it intermission), I went straight away to the Mazarno Pizza stand. I queued as the 2nd one. I noticed the price of one type of pizza and a diet Coke. I prepared my money. Suddenly, right beside me joined an expatriate, saying loudly enough to her son, something like this,"Son, look at the man, not knowing how to queque. He even has money on his hand." That last part must have meant the man as me! So rude!

Then, I said aloud without looking at the lady,"Well, I was the first (to queue)," possibly surprising him that this Chinese guy spoke English. She replied,"No, you weren't". Then, I persistently said,"Yes, I did". She replied, something like this,"We queued in front of the cashier." I was baffled. I came the second, lining up in front of the pizza, though not in front of the cashier. When I showed my money to the cashier, the man right in front of the lady, lining up at first, rudely waved into the direction of my money. I was pigheaded! No rules in Indonesia telling us to queue in front of the cashier. As far as I recall, we usually pick our pastry/cake, then proceed to the cashier, right? Then, my order came. I paid. I went. I left the two impolite snobbish people behind. Mmm ... what a delicious Mazarno pizza I tasted in the TIM terrace. Haah!

Wonder ... can anybody explain the rules of queueing overseas? Does it mean you need to line up first in front of a cashier, order the cake by still standing in front of the cashier before you pay it? Wow! What a waste of time! (End of grunts, ho ho ho). Thanks to Leo (Brilliant class) who encouraged me to finish my blogs.

Batch 1998 SMAK 1 Jakarta reunion

Next are the Dec. 20, 2008 reunion with Batch 1998 SMAK 1 PENABUR Jakarta. Thanks, Teddy, for the pictures. The graduates even created an updated Yearbook! Wow!!







Photos
Above


1. In the middle of 1998 grad.' digital memories


2. With M.C.


3. With graduates--so boyish, eh? Even the MC thought I was a graduate (see below). Well, have got to go to Bandung now, taking care of my master degree administration after 2-semester of taking a leave. Ho ho ... returning on Sat. nite, I guess, as there are 2 programmes to attend: Temasek Intrl. School Bandung's character building seminar with Helen K. Pratama at 1p.m. Sat, and SMPK 1 Bandung's Opus Maximus at 5p.m. Sat. See you.

DNA Molecule (bio): training 24/1/2009

Soal ....
a.
b.
c.




Contoh soal:

If I die before next 2009 Valentine's Day, what will I have done & not done yet?

What would you have done if you died now? A bit more optimistic question is "What will I have done and not done yet if I die before next Valentine's Day?

This question seems absurd! Yet, it motivates me, and raises satisfaction of my accoplishments (thanks to God), and at the same time, wakes me up that there are still projects and those in need around me. There are at least three reflections and expectations involving my life achievements, life and ambitions.

First, when I look from the heaven (if I'm qualified), I can smile looking at my so-called achievements. As a BPK PENABUR teacher, I was sent/awarded four times to Thailand and Singapore. The last time, January 2008, I took a leave from my master's program at UPI Bandung due to limited budget. I was invited twice by SEAMEO RELC www.relc.org.sg
to receive awards on VFLT-SEAMEO (a virtual forum for ASEAN language teachers). I won at least 4 medals/ became winners in DKI Jakarta Teacher Competition, and internal BPK PENABUR writing competitions (in Indonsian language) as well as multimedia competition. I think those are the memories as one says,"Awards/medals may inhibit your next achievements".

Secondly, as far as my personal life is concerned, my family has to be satisfied to let me be a forever bachelor ("jomblo" in Indonesian slang). I broke up twice due to miscommunication and being too picky. I still remember my mom saying,"Hey! Lower your standard. Look at you yourself," reminding me I don't own a 6-pack abdomen and have a chubby posture! Haah! Excluding this one, I take my life as pretty satisfying! For instance, joining 2 wonderful choirs in 15 years (Cavido, St. Yohanes Penginjil, Melawai, Jakarta) and in less than a year in a demanding choir (Cantorum, Bandung) has resulted in various networking and experiences in choral techniques and social lives. Having friends at work--imagine my circles of friends from BPK PENABUR Jakarta until January 2009 (I have taught 5 Jakarta schools for 17 years so far) and Bandung (I have taught 4 Bandung schools for 3.5 years) and online friends, such as the internet motivators, Mr. Bambang Gunawan, and Mr. Tikky, as well as the dynamically ambitious conductor, Rizal. What kind of friendship should I regret to own anymore. One say,"A friend in need is a friend indeed". YES! Everywhere I go, including in overseas, my friends contact me just to say a big hello, missing me (what a narcist I've turned into) and even to discuss some work affairs.

Finally, what about my ambitions? Well, currently I'm an ordinary English teacher (ehm, with an extra-ordinary weight) in 2 of the best schools in Tangerang and Bandung, i.e. SMAK PENABUR Gading Serpong (Brilliant Class) and SMAK 1 PENABUR Bandung. I think you'll agree with me that in the 21st century, it is not enough to teach only with traditional ways, such as memorizing, blackboard and chalk, and the old techniques of listening/speaking. I've got an ambition to provide not only the modern I.T.-based learning, yet an international-standard teaching in conjunction with the 2010 Asian Free Trade Area (AFTA), removing the barriers of international education from one ASEAN country to another. In short, one needs to own an international certificate to help him/her to be a qualified teacher. Thanks to my foundation, BPK PENABUR Jakarta, starting this January 26 (on the Chinese new year, arrrrgh) I started my 1 semester distance learning with UK Cambridge training centre on EFL (English as a First Language) module. In addition, it is my satisfaction as well as three SMAK 1 PENABUR Jakarta teachers to publish an exam-preparation book for senior high school/upper secondary students this February 2009 managed by Erlangga publisher.

However, regarding my master degree programme, I had 2 semesters off due to my departure to Thailand with a sum of budget I had to finance myself and my osteo-arthritis disease in mid-year, taking pains and quite a budget to heal. Having a master degree is something, but the struggle to reach one, I believe, is another thing. It will set an example to my students/graduates on a lifelong education ... come to think, I'm almost 40 year old now. Gee. To add, regarding my last unfulfilled ambition is to have students reach international achievements and return to home country, Indonesia, gaining champions, medals or awards overseas, this time in English language subject.

In conclusion, there are more wishes fulfilled, raising the level of satisfactions in my life, yet I need to focus more on my academic enhancements. And my mating season! Nevertheless, there is a bright side here. My passion and desire to teach and work for others never last (tg).