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Khoo Yihan 2A112

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Narrative and Graphics - My Connection

Posted by Yihan 2A112 at 4:31 AM comments (1)
Hi everyone (again),

Recently, in my language arts lesson, we got help in identifying our learning styles (though I did it before in P5 and found out that I was a tactile learner) through graphic evaluation. We were split into groups, according to our learning styles, and then given quite a number of pictures which we had to put together to form a story. (Those who were visual learners got the most pictures with the highest difficulty level). The website from which we obtained our results from was this website.


So the story we had to form was the narrative part, and the pictures were the graphics part. My connection between them? As a picture paints a thousand words, then many pictures would paint many many words. (Okay, just kidding about that bit.)

Actually, between narrative and graphics, I feel that the graphics play an essential role in piecing together the different fragments of the narrative - each picture having its own story to tell. It is only with the pictures that the story can form.

Although I am not a spatial person, I can say that the way we (the group) piece the different pictures together in chronological order determines the way we interpret the story and how well we can interpret it. And this is something which I am not too good at, especially if there are no words involved - just images.

So my connection, generally, is that we need to go through graphics in order to understand a narrative, at least for the exercise we did in class.
Okay, so here are my Top 3 Learning Styles: (in no order of merit =)... )
1 Intrapersonal
2 Interpersonal
3 Logical

Do you have your own views about this topic? Share it here. All comments are welcome =D.
Photos From:


Public Speaking Competition'09 - My Reflections

Posted by Yihan 2A112 at 6:40 AM comments (1)
Hi all,
Recently, all the Sec 1s had to join a mandatory, annual English Speaking Workshop organised by our school. (And for certain confidential matters, I'm not allowed to reveal the name of this event, based on our RBP.)

During the workshop, after being briefed on tips on public speaking, we ajourned to our classrooms where our coach gave us an impromptu speech topic to prepare - 3 minutes to prepare for a speech 1 minute long. Some of us contributed, and our coach selected 2 of us (My friend and I) to meet the teacher-in-charge because they were considering of allowing us to participate in the competition's Grand Finals. We repeated our speeches in front of that teacher.
When it turned out that I would be admitted to the Grand Finals, my immediate response was: I'm so very dead. I mean, I didn't even know how to speak properly with my friends, what more with 400+ people and judges? I wanted to withdraw (I mean, I contributed during the workshop out of fun, and wasn't expecting this to happen.) from the competition, because I had no confidence.
But we were assigned coaches (last year's Grand Finalists) whom we had to meet up with at least twice before the competition. We were assigned various topics by drawing lots, and I was lucky enough to get this: Time waits for no man.

So we prepared and prepared, and even collaborated with other coaches. As the Grand Finals neared, we were just getting better (admist those term tests) - really surprising. Anyway, when the grand finals came, I just felt really quirky - despite the many rehearsals.

Although I have spoken in front of huge crowds before (those who came from my Primary School know what I mean), this was something totally different - there are spotlights, strong, yellow spotlights, shining so perisistently in your eyes. And all you have is a microphone squatting in the middle of the stage, and I was supposed to, with my 4 cue cards in my right hand, step in front of the microphone, and deliver a 3 minutes speech, bearing in mind that I am representing my class and my consortium. I got really nervous, because from the previous speakers, they were really loquacious, and speaking was their natural talent.

But for me? No. I forced out my prepared speech, holding the hopes of my fellow consortium-mates with me. However, after the impromptu speech, when the results were announced, I withheld with me even greater anxiety, as the consolation winners, in no order of merit, were called out to receive their award. I held the hopes of my classmates and consortium-mates, and as each name was called, I silently hoped that mine would not be next. Then, the time came.
"And our last consolation winner is...". The name was announced, and thankfully, it wasn't mine. I stood as 2nd runner-up and oh how much I would like to thank my coaches. And my classmates as well. Through this experience, I can say that hard work does pay off. And that winning a competition isn't just about everything (this sentence reminds me of my PSLE EL Oral Picture Discussion).

To all my friends out there, who were in the auditorium supporting me, and including my consortium counterparts, thanks a bunch for that moral support. This competition has in a way or another, moulded me into some form of a public speaker.
And yes, I found out that hard work does pay off, if you work hard the right way in the right time, or time would not wait for you either.
Photos From:



Diary Entry of Philip Malloy: "Why did I do it?"

Posted by Yihan 2A112 at 6:34 AM comments (1)
Disclaimer: I am writing this entry based on an assignment. To my friends who are not in the same class, please do not mistake this blog entry as my genuine diary entry. Do not get me wrong. =)

Dear Diary,

Today was rotten. Nothing went right. I feel like punching Narwin straight in the face. Life stinks. Narwin is just so totally unfair. Why is she even made a teacher of this stupid school anyway? Why was I even admitted to this school?


Okay, it all happened like this: I wanted to annoy that Ms Narwin because she is just so partial in her thinking. I hate her. So, I deliberately sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" out loud in class when we were meant to observe silence as this anthem was played on tape. I knew that I was supposed to shut up. Everyone in class knew. But I didn't. Why? Because I want to make her blow her top. And I did.


At first, she started by questioning who was humming so loudly. And when she identified me, she asked me to stop, and I did not. She yelled - and I knew I got my way. I did it for another 2 times in succession, only that after each time I got sent to Palleni's office. And in the end, guess what?


I ended up on the losing end. I got suspended, but I did this dumb thing. I told Palleni that I was just fighting for my rights, like what Dad told me, but in the end, he just told me to play along with the rules. I got stubborn - and he suspended me.

I did it because I hoped that Narwin would know that she was paying for what she had done. I wanted her to pay. Which was why I did all that humming. I knew that she would go hopping mad - and I am glad she did. At least, although I end up in this sticky mess, I got Narwin to pay for her wrongdoings.

Now all I need to think about is how to get out of this situation. Getting suspended is never fun you know. And if I can, I want to transfer out of Narwin's class, if not out of school. I hate Harrison High, just hate it! And Ms Narwin? She's just such a numbskull.

(On the behalf of)
Philip Malloy


Photo From: http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/business/business-people/6537396-reading-rules-or-bill.php?id=6537396


My Reading Habits

Posted by Yihan 2A112 at 8:49 PM comments (1)
As the years go by, as time passes, I realised that my reading habits have changed really drastically. I know that this blog post might sound boring to you...but I just have this natural compulsion to share my reading habits in this blog, partly also because I am required to as part of my E.O.Y. Assessment. =)


Okay... let's just start off with my Nursery schooling years. I used to just to pick up a picture book - one with the most colours, pictures and graphics - and sit down on the floor; no matter how dirty the floor may be, and then flip through the pages (in an almost desperate manner), looking at the pictures only, not even caring about the content. So you might as well just say that I am not reading, but appreciating those illustrations only. As I was only four then, if I were to see a book loaded with words, I would just force it back onto the bookshelf and mark it as "unreadable".


Yes, that was when I was four.

As I proceeded to my later kindergarten years, I began to take up those "Budding Readers" books, and started to read some books written by Enid Blyton. I did not really understand who this person "Roald Dahl" (and I pronounced his name as "Road-Dial" [-_-"]) whenever I heard my older cousins buzzing about him. Nevertheless, I was confined only to children books written by Enid Blyton, but I was already beginning to have some form of interest in reading.

Okay... When I was in Primary school (P2 to be exact) I classified reading as one of my hobbies. You know, all these "milestones" seem to work out into a timeline, and this continuous line would not stop getting longer until I put down my last book and -

In P2, I started to read books written by award-winning authors, such as E.B. White (who wrote "Charlotte's Web" and the like (and I started with Roald Dahl books as well).

And then as I went on with my primary schooling years, the level of difficulty in the books I read increased and I began to read those wrist-thick Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling (I read one book only from this millionaire because I could not stand fantasy stuff). Also, before I reach the end of a book, I would be tempted to look at its ending. And the only book which I recall not doing this is "Nothing But The Truth".
The timeline goes on, but as of today, I feel that my reading has somewhat reached a sub-advanced level, meaning that I can somewhat decipher the connotational meanings behind stories (reading between the lines), but I am still working on this. As I progress in Secondary School, I sure hope (=D) that this reading standard of mine will constantly incline, and I hope that it will never stop completely.
Want to know more? Here is my link to my electronic bookshelf - which I will be updating every now and then:


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