Category: Personal

I did not log in to my FB account for a quite some time.  When I logged in yesterday, I notice that some of my friends’ pictures have changed.  They appeared “older”.  Then I saw the Apps that makes the changes.  Aaah… Face App.  What is it?  Why it becomes such a craze?  Why do people curious about knowing how they look when they are “older”?  It is as if they know for definite that they will live that long to reach that age.  Astagfirullah. 

Well, to be honest, I am really slow when it comes to whatever trending Apps and whatsnot and that is why it is quite a challenge for me to learn developing my class materials using Powtoon, Prezi, Moovly and whatsnot.  I am getting used to using Prezi and I am still struggling to use Powtoon and Moovly.  I don’t know how long should I spend converting my notes in Moovly or Powtoon format.   May Allah guide me in my struggle to be a better Muslim.  

One of the students asked me whether I have an Instagram account.  I said “No, I don’t have“.  He then sheepishly replied “I thought that you have one.  I have an account.  I like to post English quotes on my Insta.  I thought you might have seen it“.   I asked him again “Is it important for me to have an Insta account just to look at your posts?  Do you want me to stalk you via your Insta?”  

When the millennials ask me about the trending social media and whatsnot, I feel old.  Well, it is a choice that I made not to have more than 3 social media outlets.  I have Facebook, Friendster (which is no longer existed), researchgate and my own official webpage i.e. https://people.utm.my/hadijahjaffri/.  What more do I need right? 

 I know that it is trending to have accounts in Insta, Twitter and whatsnot.  But, let’s face this.  I had passed the phase when I was concerned about who should know about me and why they should know me.  Capisc?   Even though it is somewhat required that I should share my knowledge with others, but I need a space for my own privacy.  Having Insta or Twitter clearly indicates that I am willing to “jeopardize” or “negotiate” my freedom and privacy.   Nope.  Facebook, researchgate and this web page is enough for me.  Call me oldies.  I admit that.   

Why don’t I just close my FB account if I treasure my privacy that much?  Well, I have dear friends and mentors that I can only keep in touch using FB rather than through phone because I don’t have their phone number. 

Why don’t I get their number then?  I don’t think I have that honour yet to ask for their numbers. 

There.  I hope the student will read this post 😀 (tongue in cheek remark) 

Few days ago, I heard about it on the radio.  Since then, I have been searching and researching about it.  Of course, I rely on the news like Berita Harian and whatsnot as my main source of information.  😀 [Note: Even though I do not watch Malaysian TV programme on TV, but I do keep abreast with the latest news about the country, Malaysia using different modes of information]

Like what I have expected, there are positive views and also criticisms about the reintroduction of PPSMI in Malaysian education system.  Here are some news from various sources

• Berita Harian
• Harian Metro
• MalaysiaKini

When it was introduced more than ten years ago, it caused people i.e. parents, teachers and others, to query about its effectiveness.  After several years since its implementation and with lots of evidences and research about it, it was postponed (uhuk uhuk stopped).  Then it is going to be reintroduced again this year or the upcoming year.  

What is my opinion about this?

a) I never had any experience as a student nor a teacher when they implemented it first more than ten years ago.

b) When I was at school for my Latihan Ikhtisas, I notice that majority of students from B40 families at my school are having low proficiency in English.  One of the reasons is due to lack of reading.  Sometimes, it is not their fault when they could not proficient in English because some of their parents do not use English at home (some use broken English – so what do you expect?) and some of their parents don’t feel the needs to supplement their children with reading materials and exercise books in English.

For these students, it might be difficult for them to understand science and mathematics when they are taught in English as compared to in Malay.  I know that some old school people said that they excel and proficient in English because they were taught science and mathematics in English even though their parents were not educated and did not supplement them with English reading materials at home.  It is true.  But, look at the time frame.  Things are different from the years when they were students.  Look at the current situation now.  

c) The intention to reintroduce PPSMI is good.  For the betterment of our future generation.  We get that.  But how are they going to do that?  Teachers are not taught  to teach science and mathematics in English. 

I remember one of the teachers who graduated from UTM in 2005 that I met when I underwent my Latihan Ikhtisas (she was among the batches of teachers who have experienced to teach science and mathematics in English and they were trained at university to teach science and mathematics in English) who said this to me “I find it hard to teach the students mathematics in English because I have to teach them mathematical terms like division (bahagi), multiplication (darab), addition (tambah) and all.  It is not easy for the students to get used to the terms.  So, when I have to teach them something involving calculation and solving problem, some of them just rely on the mathematical symbols and not many of the students would able to do well if they were given narrative questions involving mathematical problems“.  

d) To conclude, PPSMI is good because the intention is good but we need to be careful when it comes to implementing it.  It might backfire us and leave detrimental effects on our future generations.  We are attempting to close the social gaps in our society, not broaden it.  

I went to Kluang last Monday (15 July 2019) to visit my aunt, my dad’s sister.  The only one left (another three had passed away few years ago).  But, she is in comatose state now.  No reaction.  Nothing.  It is due to blood clot in her brain.  All started when she fell down when taking wudu’ before maghrib prayer.  She was alone at that time.  Her son went to the mosque for jama’ah prayer.   This was a week after Eid Fitr.

When she was warded, the doctors told her children that there is nothing can be done to remove the blood clot due to her age.  She is 85 years old.   When I saw her lying in her bed, looking so serene, I could not help from thinking about my dad who was in similar condition 10 years ago.  It is never easy to deal with that situation as a caregiver.   My eldest sister and I did not bring anything with us as a gift except adult pampers.  Seeing the pampers that we brought as a gift, my cousin said “Only those who have been there as a caregiver would bring this kind of gift.  If you bring food, I don’t think my mom will be able to eat and you know that as a caregiver, you lose appetite.  Thank you for being thoughtful“.   

I still vividly remember when I was a caregiver for my mom before her passing nearly two years ago.  It is not easy.  More often than not, I didn’t have time to go shopping.  Shopping was a luxury at that time.  Why?  The thought of leaving her even for a while was killing me.  

When I browsed my FB today, I came across a post by my former lecturer, Dr Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid.  She is the caregiver of her father who is inflicted with Alzheimer.  May Allah ease everything for her.  Dr Hariyati, I still remember the day I had my viva 7 years ago.  When I posted the news that I had my viva on that day, you said that you remembered me and prayed for my success after Asr’ prayer.  Thank you, Dr Hariyati.  

Today is 17 July 2019.  7 years ago I had my viva