Hwa Chong's LA progamme

As a secondary 2 student now, the Language Arts Programme for this year is certainly more challenging as compared to that of last year. Despite the challenge, I like this year's Language Arts Programme more than last year's because I feel that it is more organized as comapred to last year's Language Arts Programme. This year's Langauge Arts programme allows me to be clear of what I am learning each term without getting mixed up and rather "blur" about what I am really learn during each term.

However, to me, there are still a few flaws in this year's programme. One particular issue I'd like to raise would be actually the issue of ACE. ACE was set up for students to be independent learners and submit work based on their own efforts. However, the school has made it such that each student ahs to submit a certain number of work it he is to progress to the next year. Ironically, Hwa Chong wants us to be independent learners, but this has forced students to submit ACE so as to progress to next year. In my opinion, this is actually defeating the whole purpose of ACE as students no longer submit ACE for their own sake but rather to progress to the next year. When students are no longer doing ACE for their own sake but rather for their teachers, then, what is the point of having ACE in the first place?

A lesson that I particularly enjoyed would be actually the lesson on characterization. During the lesson, we watched videos and went through powerpoint slides in class. I think that particular lesson embodies exploratory learning the most. It was also a good example of "blended-learning" as it requires both info-comm technology and the traditional ways of teaching. The teacher uses IT to further expose us students to how writers craft their stories and the traditional methodof teaching to enusre that we fully grasp the method to be able to breathe life into our characters.

 Overall, I think that the Language Arts Programme this year is a great improvement from last year, however, I hope that the ACE system can be revised.

Description of Hwa Chong Clock Tower

The Hwa Chong clock tower is very special to me, it feels like another teacher that watches over me. On days that I had doen badly for any assignmemts it would seem to silently whisper words of compfort into my ears while telling me to buck up and work harder for the next assignment. On days that I had done well for tests it would seem to congratulate me while also telling me not to become cocky. The clock tower is a guiding beacon of morals for me. Seeing it would constantly remind me of the valueing time and making good use of it and not wasting it. The clock tower is like a representation of the hard work that our forefathers have put into this country. It serves as a reminder to always work hard an never be complacent.

Title: Excerpt of Tom and Jerry and description of Jerry.

 

  With great enthusiasm, Jerry leaps out of his bed. It is a brand new day and he walks to the kitchen looking for some of the beloved cheese that he had filched from Tom who guarded his owner’s food jealously. As he opened his fridge, he realized in horror that all his cheese was gone! “I must have finished all the cheese yesterday.” Jerry thought sadly to himself. “Well it seems it is time I took some cheese from Tom!” At the thought of that, Jerry’s eyes lit up and his entire body quivered in excitement. He could barely wait to see the look of defeat on Tom’s face when he stole the cheese from him. Despite being a mouse, Jerry had always come out tops in his frequent battle with Tom for food and he was confident that he could outsmart his dumber adversary. Using his wits, Jerry began to plot out the route to the kitchen on the map he had at home. He was careful to avoid the traps that Tom had set up which were, admittedly, rather easy to escape. Rather boldly, Jerry strode into the living room and he walked into the kitchen. Without any sense of caution, Jerry closed in on the huge looking fridge in front of him. “Oh the smell of cheese...” Jerry thought. As he opened the fridge, he saw a shadow loom over his body and realized in horror. “It was a Trap!”