Modernization Era

Modernization is rising nowadays, especially in a big city or in a capital city of province. Take a look in Jakarta, the modernizations is really amazing for some people. Every sight in old Jakarta in 1980’s has changed into wonderful modernization in every corner at Jakarta nowadays. We can see a lot of condominium fill up Jakarta. Besides, any modern vehicles are in Jakarta’s traffic. For example; bus way (public transportation), and modern train. Some people are astonished to realize how significant the differences between Jakarta in 1980’s and Jakarta at present are.
We can see such a big alteration in building between Jakarta in 1980’s and Jakarta at present. There were only a few buildings which filled up Jakarta in 1980’s. The buildings are not such a kind of condominium as we can see nowadays, but it is only simple building such as traditional store buildings and restaurant buildings which sold ancient cuisine. Unlike Jakarta in 1980’s, Jakarta at present has more buildings which are definitely advanced. There are a lot of buildings a long the road in Jakarta nowadays. Moreover, the design of buildings is more complicated than the past. The shape of buildings and the room are not merely square but also more complex such as hexagon, trapezium, and so on.
Not only buildings which are getting advanced, but also the traffic in Jakarta nowadays is more complicated than Jakarta in 1980’s. The traffic at Jakarta in 1980’s was really rare. Moreover, they were only traditional vehicle, such as; Pedi cab, carriage, and cart. the road was still simple. Different with the traffic in Jakarta in 1980’s, Jakarta’s traffic nowadays is much more crowded. Even people sometimes are trapped in traffic jam. Furthermore, the vehicles are really advanced. Unlike the road at Jakarta in 1980’s, nowadays the road is modern, such; fly over, so that we can ride our vehicle comfortably.
At the other hand, Jakarta nowadays is more polluted than in Jakarta in 1980’s. In 1980’s there were less pollutions’ so that people could still breathe in fresh air, drink with clean water, and grow any plants in fertile soil. It is really contradictive condition with Jakarta at present; everything in Jakarta has been polluted by factories and vehicles. It is difficult for people to find fresh air, clean water, and it is also rather hard to find fertile soil to grow a plant.
Some people feel a little regret when they see Jakarta as a bustling town. Now they can not visit and enjoy the old Jakarta which used to be quite anymore.

Taken from Writing-3 Project

Torturing Classroom Management for Students

This article tells about a student of the high school in Yogyakarta. He feels that the education system in Indonesia is not more than a prison for students. Because students must take some lessons that are less in need, but that system is difficult to change, because it has been running long enough. He is not trying to imitate the foreign schools, but he thinks that we need to try first. As what has been done in his school today; which have accelerated classes; at the second grade of SMA (Senior High School). This is just an experiment, but keeps applying.
Nowadays, his school is trying to deliver the lesson material using a computer, even though the school facilities is not adequate, but there is a teacher who wanted to apply this new system in his school. Even though once opposed by many teachers and even the headmaster, but it did not discourage his intention, and it's going pretty smoothly. The student support conveying lesson material by using Power Point and it is quite pleasant and quite clear. Some time ago our school was visited by several school headmasters in Yogyakarta to see the system of using a computer in classroom activity.
Actually the writer does not want to blame anyone, but it makes him and another students feel tired and bored. Many students skip school because of boredom; every day the same contents and activities. Nowadays many students do not respect to their teacher at all, and I think this is the fault of a chaotic system.
Critical Reflection
In particular places, there are still many schools which keep Teacher-center as a method of teaching-learning process. I strongly agree with the writer’s opinion who state that school (teacher-center learning) seem like a prison. Most of students will fell bored during the lesson, all they hope are the lesson will over soon. Most of students will feel cheerful when it is holiday or the lesson finish earlier. It occurs because nothing interesting from the lesson to the students. The teacher only gives the lesson and the students accept by listening; Students more like vessels that will be poured water (knowledge) by the teacher. Sometime this boredom condition will make some students hate the teacher and won’t respect the teacher at all.
I think the best solution of this case is making attractive classroom; like what has been done by the writer’s teacher (delivering the lesson by using computer). Sometime that kind of bright idea will get some barriers from surrounding, because of conventional thought (in remote area especially). Teenagers will be attracted with something new and unusual. As a teacher we must be clever to make use that condition. Teacher must stimulate the students by conveying materials begin with what they like and improve to the more specific ones.
Beside the teacher factors, we still have another barrier in creating an attractive classroom activity. Because of expense limit that we have, as we know that the government does not give enough expense in supporting education. On the other hand, we have to be aware that we live in developing country and keep finding another less expense solution with remarkable result.

Taken from Critical Pedagogy and Literacy Project

Teacher’s Feedback in Students’ Speech

Actually it was my neighbor’s experience in getting some feedback from his teacher in classroom activities. He is 2nd grade students of SMA____. His school obliges all of the students to use English (full English). Whatever, whomever they talk; they have to use English.

In this school also apply some punishment as a feedback; for students who found out using another language outside English. They have to wear “caping” (head cover of woven bamboo of broad conical shape) as a symbol that they have used another language outside English in school area, while they are talking.
One day, His talk with his friend in Javanese, actually he did not merely talk in Javanese. But he talks Javanese only in one sentence, but he got difficulty to convey some sentence in English, so he convey that sentence in Javanese to make it more understandable. He talk “ montore di gowo deknen ra di balekke, jebule di gadaike”. As the rule, he has to wear caping on his head all the day; as the punishment of running over the rule. Some students judges him as a stupid boy, he get very embarrassed and threatened at that time. Actually he is quite talkative boy, but since at that moment; he becomes a quiet boy. He does not have enough bravery to speak up anymore, he tend to be silent rather than making mistakes in speaking and being punished. The thing that makes him discourage in speaking up the most is being judged as a stupid boy by others.
Critical Reflection I do not agree with this kind of feedback. I think every teacher has to avoid any feedback which cause negative impact; discouraging learners. According to Reid (1993; 218), “feedback is any input or response from teacher as an initiator to the students, as producer which consist of information for revision towards errors or praises in order to encourage students.” I think the biggest impact toward the students is it could really discourage them in performing ability. I think children have certain psychological characteristic. On that age, children are easily offended and sensitive to criticism they can be restless and self conscious. That is why the teacher has to be wise and careful in providing feedback.


When the students feel embarrassed, they will lose their confidence in performing their skill and tend to be silent rather than making mistakes in speaking and being punished. I think making some mistakes are something common and protruded thing to do in learning activity. Sometime it is very useful for the learners; so that the learners will not repeat the similar mistake, by learning from their fault (will not fall at the same hole. Moreover, in this case the student actually has made some big effort in speaking English.
I think the best thing to do is the teacher has to aware the kinds of errors to be given feedback, when to give feedback and how it should be done. Because giving correction to the students is also teacher’s job; the teacher are seem to be like a mirror, so that the students could realize their fault. Making some follow up exercise, and ask the other students for correct answer of incorrect answer which has been made; are some good way in giving feedback I think. As I assume that the main goal of giving some feedback is to help the students to improve their ability and encourage them.

Taken from Critical Pedagogy and Literacy Project

Ability Measurement Based on The Final Examination

Actually it was my friend’s bad past experience; when he failed to pass final examination for SMA graduation (UAN). He was not stupid; even he was always on the top ten ranks in the class every semester. He could not pass UAN, because he could not fill up the minimum standard grade for graduation (4.25). He got only 4.10 for his English course UAN.

Actually he was good enough in English, he often involves in class discussion; he was active students. He almost never skipped the class; he paid much attention toward the lesson and asking question if he got confused. But it does not influence the graduation at all. He is also good in conversation in the real life; he had ever become a winner in English championship. After I asked why he got bad mark in English, he explained to me that he was sick quite seriously at that time, so that he could not prepare it well. He did not study at all for preparing the final examination and he also did the final examination in not good healthy condition.
On the other hand there were other students could filled up the minimum standard and passed the UAN, even though they were not good enough in English and did not face any problem in graduation. In the daily routine activity class, they often did not involve in the discussion, they were only passive students. Even, there were some students who only paid a few attentions and even there were some who skip the class, but as a result of their final examination; they could pass any courses.
Critical reflection
I strongly disagree with ability measurement only based on the final examination (UAN) which decides the graduation. I think it is kind of oppression, because sometime it does not reflect students’ ability at all. Sometime talented students will get a bad mark and also at the contrary, because many other factors outside ability will also influence the grade of final examination. On this case, talented students got a bad grade because he was sick and could not prepare for the test well; on the other hand actually he has higher ability than others who got good grade.


Other oppression is it also forces the students to learn more and memorize all the materials from the beginning till the end which is sometime it is not applicable into real life. In addition, sometime students who do not need to study particular course are still oblige to learn in order to fill up the minimum standard grade for graduation requirement. For example; students who will continue to study in English department also oblige to fill up standard grade for mathematic course. It seems like useless thing to do.
I hope miss-measurement will not occur anymore latter on; because it gives quite huge contribution toward students’ future destiny. I hope other performance like daily performance in class will take a part in ability measurement; so that it could really measure the students’ ability and decide whether the students are good enough or not to graduate. I think more applicable materials for students are very useful to fulfill the students necessary latter on.

Taken from Critical Pedagogy and Literacy Project

Language In Social Life

I live in social life, so I do need to communicate one another. I can not be separated with language and as we known language used in social life as a sociolinguistic. I found several kind of languages in social life and I must be able to speak in those languages in order to communicate.
In this case I notice something interesting in using some language in communication. These are “Code Mixing” and “Code Switching”.
Code Mixing is some technique in using language to communicate in order to make the interlocutor get more understand what I am saying; when I mix or combine two or more different languages while I am speaking. I often use it either in formal or informal. For example I use it in formal occasion while I am delivering material in some presentation. I mix/ combine English and Indonesian language. I use Code mixing to overcome limitation of vocabulary, because sometime I can not find some words in English (E.g. : enlarge). So I use the Indonesian words (E. g. : memperluas) to over come. I speak English and then I put some Indonesian words in my speech. What I am doing is to keep the interlocutor understand what I am talking about. In in-formal occasion I also use the code mixing. For example when I am chatting each other to talk about a lesson talking in Javanese and then I put some words in language outside Javanese. I use the term “it’s gonna be easy” to emphasize the meaning that I want to convey, but the interlocutor still understanding what I am saying. It is also make it more associable (gaul) to keep my existence in community.
While Code Switching is I switch some language into another language totally. For example when I am at campus where people come from everywhere (western, Jakarta, local people); they speak in different language also. When I talk to the local people I always talk in Javanese. Then if want to talk people come from Jakarta who are not able to speak in Javanese, I have to use Indonesian language to make them understand. Then when I speak to western people I must use English and not use neither Javanese nor Indonesian anymore; in order to keep the interlocutor understand what I am talking about.

Taken from Sociolinguistic 1st reflection project

Ars (WB and Edward Brown)

I was born with a song in my tongue
They say to be a woman is a heavy fate
I wouldn’t know. I never take my weight
I freely give — but never sell my good to you
My death rattle and eagle scream and wheeze
Lyre, my lyre, are your swanlike curve and hiss.

Paraphrase
The poem “Ars” by WB and Edward Brown tells about what she feels toward his life; boredom, frustration, depression. She eager to live happily and does not want to stay in the sorrow anymore. She wants to live with his lovely son and husband, but they had died (based on the background of the poet).Comment
This poem tells about the poet experience or the poet life. I know it after I read the background of the poet. At the first stanza, tells about the happiness that she actually had in her life. But now it has turned into a grief which color her life, because people (her son and husband) have died. As I read in the background of the poet, her husband has been arrested and shot, and her son was killed in the war. At the second line there is a word “phony” it refers to person who has killed her son and or son. “but would not waste it for the phony chasuble or hood” means that she will not share anything with people who kill her husband and son even she will not share anything with that people surrounding.
In the second stanza she has a big dream to escape from the depressing situation. In this stanza written “can not live like you with chitchat of a snake” means that she can not live happily like any other people, here happiness is represented in word “chitchat”.
In the forth stanza, tells that her life is always not far from any sorrow represented in the first line of the forth stanza “I am an ally of the laurel, the wind and dawn”. The next line tells that she is waiting impatiently to live in a happiness again as she was.
In the fifth stanza tells that she live in improper life, as we can see in the word “rat” as we know that rat is always live in improper place.
In the seventh stanza tells that her life is really heavy even she never takes off her weight. The next stanza tells that she is going to die we can see it in “my fingernails are turning blue” and finally she die; represented in eagle scream. So she has died before the happiness came into her life again.
Actually I am rather confused, how she could become happy again, at the other hand the thing that makes her sad is the death of people that she loves (her husband and son). But I think she has a big spirit. For me it is quite useful to be applied in my life so we must have a big spirit in whatever the condition is. I realize that sometime I give up in my problem easily and stop trying to solve that problem.

Question:
How could someone become happy (again) if the thing that makes that person sad is the death of beloved person?

Taken from Literature Appreciation project

Sad Toys

Wish someone
Would rebuke me and rebuke me again!
That’s the kind of mind I have!

Paraphrase

The poem “sad toys” tells us about someone who eager to be criticized by other people, because he wants to be a better person. He thinks that being criticized is a good way to be better man, because by being criticized he will realize his faults ant and renovate himself.

Comment

This poem tells that we do not have to be shy being criticized. Because we will realize every faults that we made, and will not repeat it anymore letter on. I think it is rather difficult to realize any faults that we made ourselves. It is just same as while we are dressing up ourselves. We need a mirror at the front of us to get it easier and get the best result. Let’s imagine if we dress up without a mirror, it is rather difficult, and as the result our appearance will be rather awful.
On the first line “Wish someone” it means that he need someone to be his advisor who can give him some advice and/or critics toward his life. As I told before he needs an advisor because he want to realize every fault that he made and renovate that fault.
On the second line “Would rebuke me and rebuke me again!” it explains that he really need some advise toward his life. The author repeats the word “rebuke” two times on this line because he eager to get some advices and critics from other person.
On the last line “That’s the kind of mind I have!” it tells that being criticized is the best way to realize any faults and renovate his life.
I think what the author writes is such s great idea. We often find someone who do not like being criticized, he always thinks that he is the best parson and do not need any improvement on his life. I think someone who wants to be criticized is a wise man. If everybody apply it well in to their live, it will be very useful and I believe they will get a better life letter on.

Question:
What can we do with someone who do not like being criticized, but actually he need some critics?

Taken from Literature appreciation project

Notes on love (By. Aida F Santos)

Notes on love

if we must say goodbye
it should be like a kiss
gentle and warm
passionate but not pained
we are both women
we know the contours
of our grief

in loving and leaving
we must harvest joys
like blooms in may
lining the alleyways
in places quite unlikely
along the path
littered with rubbish
a bounganvillea shoots up
pink flowers
daring the smog

of this city’s mornings.

Paraphrase

The poem “Notes on love” by Aida F. Santos tells about women who face a farewell, as we know that farewell indicate with a grief in our mind. In this poem, the author wants remind us not to be sad, when we are in any farewell. We have to be struggle and against our own grief of farewell.

Comment

The poem tells women’s feeling when faces a farewell. In this poem the author wants to give strong spirit for the women not to be sad and dare against that grief of farewell. We must be wise because if there is a meeting, there will be also a farewell.
The second line of first stanza, “it should be like a kiss” it means a farewell should not bring any farewell into our mind. As we know that kiss will bring happiness, it is symbol of love. The author suppose a farewell will not bring any pain, it is represented in “passionate but not pained”. On the fifth line of first stanza is written “we are both women”. Actually this poem is especially for women who face a farewell. It is quite interesting because the author also include the reader (women) in this poem. As we know that women’s feeling is smoother than men’s feeling. “We know the contours of our grief” it means that the writer wants to share about women’s grief. It is also aware us, even though it is difficult to be strong when we are in a farewell, we have to try it hard and still enjoy our life after separation.
The two first lines of second stanza, “in loving and leaving we must harvest joy”. It means that we must enjoy our life in any case (loving and leaving). The word “love” means when we unite and leaving means when we separate. It is also represented clearly on the third line “like a blooms in May” means that we must be still happy and enjoy our life after any farewell. On the forth-seventh line “Lining the alleyways. In places quite unlikely. Along the path” means even though we are in saddening situation, we must be strong. On the second last stanza “daring the smog of city’s morning” aware us to be dare against the grief (represented in the word “smog”) of farewell (represented in the words “city’s morning).
What the poet writes reminds me about several years ago when my parents left me and two of my brother’s to do a project in Beijing. I felt very sad at that time, because I can not meet them for several months. But I realize that we can not stay together forever, we have our own business and we have to be self-reliant.

Question:

What the comparison between meet and separate, does every one should appreciate in meet?

Taken from Literature appreciation project

The birds told your grief (By. Cecep samsul hari1967)

The birds told your grief

Because you suddenly refused to greet the flowers
The leaves fell more quickly than usual
and the dew
departed silently
leaving no messages

the birds told the wind of your grief
and the twilight, flowed with the rivers
down into the silent sea

because you refused to play with the fireflies
the morning was restless
outside your lonely door
it longed for your happy daughter
like a child finding a lost toy

the birds told the wind of your grief
and the twilight, flowed with the rivers
down into your heart

Paraphrase

The poem “the birds told your grief” tells us about a girl’s grief. The girl’s grief also influence everyone else surrounding her; family, close friends. People surrounding her also feel the same grief with her, because they really care with her. They not only feel the same grief, but also try to help her; they support and cheer him up. They really miss the happiness and happy laughter in her life comes again.

Comment

The poem tells that we live in society, we will never walk alone. There are still other people who care about us whenever we are in happiness or even when we are in any sadness or face some difficulties in life. Actually, I believe that this poem gives us spirit in life; it makes us aware that we are not alone in this world. Because sometimes, some grief will make us give up in life if we do not realize that we still have other people to help us.
The first stanza tells about someone’s action which represent a grief “Because you suddenly refused to greet the flowers”. I think the word “flowers” in this case means people surrounding her, in this line also written the word “greet” but in this case, it does not mean in to the real meaning, but may be she refuses to hang out or having a cup of coffee together. The second line of the first stanza tells that other people also feel the same grief (it is influenced by her grief) because they really care with her. It is represented in “the leaves fell more quickly than usual” and at the following line also written “the dew departed silently leaving no message” means her surroundings (friends) do not know how to entertain her anymore.
The second stanza tells about people when they share or talk each other about her grief in order to find the solution of her grief. It is represented in “the birds told the wind of your grief”. They want to solve the grief because they also feel grieved, it is represented in 2nd and 3rd line of 2nd stanza “and the twilight, flowed with the rivers down into the silent sea”. It shows that they really care with her.
The third stanza tells about people surrounding her really miss her happy laughter. We can see it in the words “restless” in second line of the third stanza. Happy laughter is represented by “like a child finding a lost toy”, we can imagine how happy the child is when he find a lost toy.
The last stanza tells about sympathy of people surrounding her. We can see it in the 2nd line of the last stanza, “and the twilight, flowed with the rivers”. In this stanza also tells that people not only grieved of that, but also try to help her, represented in “down into your heart”.
What the author writes in this poem is really useful to cheer someone up when she is in sadness even for me myself. It can give strong spirit and strong reason not to give up in life. It pasteurizes about socialism and/or close relationship in daily life. We have to live contiguously and help each other.

Question:
Shall we hide our grief in order not to make people surrounding us become sad as we are?

Taken from Literature appreciation project

Tired of Trying (By. Sanju paul)

Tired of trying
Try again
Energize your brain
Ready with double with
Will make it
Make it happen
Failure turns to success
“while the sun shines, make all the hay”

Paraphrase

The poem “tired of trying” by sanju paul tells us about something that we need to do when we get tired of trying to reach anything that we want. We have to struggle more and never give up trying to reach it, until it come true and sadness of failure will turn into happiness of success.
Comment
The poem teaches us how to face failure. As we know in Indonesian proverb “failure is delayed success”. So we must not give up in everything that we try to get. If we face any failure, it means it means we have to try again and gain more in everything we need to get success. Take for example: when we failed in the exam, we have to study more and more, until we get a good grade. Success is not easy, we need time, thinking, energy, patience, spirit, effort, struggling, and any other sacrifice to reach what we want/success.
The first line, the author just wants to introduce the case written in this poem to the reader that is failure.
The second line “Try again” tells us to never give up when we face any failure.
The third until sixth line tells us how to solve failure that we face. We need to add more energy, spirit, effort, etc. “Gain energy”, “Energize your brain”, “Ready with double with”. As I told before that success is not easy and need some sacrifice. In this poem the author writes the word “again” in several time, actually it is to emphasize that we must not give up and never stop trying and struggling.
The seventh until the end tells us about what will we reach after we face failure and try to get it in several times. Sadness, pain, weariness of failure will be paid immediately by happiness of success, especially represented in 19th line “failure turns success” and it is poured into proverb “while the sun shines, make all the hay”. Take a look at the grass on field; it will turn wilt if the sun shines in quite long time. It is just same with us after running far away, reach the destination and drink a glass of water, our thirstiness will disappear immediately.
Actually if we take a look back on this poem, it is quite interesting. This poem is like a journey in every line; journey to get success. At the beginning part introduces us about weariness of trying success. On the middle part tells how to solve it or how to face any failure well, and at the last part tells about everything that we dream will come true after we try it hard and face some failure.

Taken from Literature appreciation project

The River (By. Valerie Bloom ;1979) Jamaican/British

The river’s a wanderer

A nomad, a tramp
He doesn't choose one place
to set up his camp

The river’s a winder
through valley and hill
he twists and he returns
he just can not be still

The river’s a hoarder
and he buries down deep
those little treasures
that he wants to keep

The river’s a baby
he gurgles and hums
and sounds like he's happily
sucking his thumbs.

The river’s a singer
as he dances along
the countryside echoes
the notes of his song

The river’s a monster,
Hungry and vexed
He’s gobbled up trees
And he’ll swallow you next.

Paraphrase

The poem “the river” by Valerie Bloom tells us about the omnipotent of God, which is expressed through river. Nobody could conquer the nature. We have to preserve our nature, because nature could damage our life if we don’t preserve it.

Comment

The poem tells about the description of river, which can intimidate our life, so we have to do everything friendly with our environment. If we do anything without think the consequences, as a result the nature will bring detrimental impact (disaster) to our life, Such as Tsunami, landslide, flood, earthquake, etc. But in this poem does not tell any other disaster, but only tells us about disaster which can be caused by the river. However, even if it is only a river, it can create huge disaster (He’s gobbled up trees and he’ll swallow you next).

The first stanza of the poem tells about river as a wonderer, it can go everywhere he wants. No body can control this case. Here, the river represent as a wanderer, as we know that wanderer or adventurer will take a rest or set up a tent in everywhere they want.

The second stanza of the poem tells about river behave like a wind even more than just a wind. Wind is always in everywhere, in this poem is represented by “trough valley and hill”. May be the writer wants to tell us that we can find the river wherever it is. No matter in remote area or in city.

The last stanza tells us about river will bring such a terrible impact in our life if we do not really take care our nature as well, represented by “He’s gobbled up trees and he’ll swallow you next”. River could destroy our live. Ruin the building, trees, house, even it can make us die. It is similar that when we disturb the nature, we will get even bigger disturbances from the nature itself. We must really aware abut this because we often do not realize that we already have destructed the nature.

What the poem writes reminds me how important the nature is. We must not do anything harmful which can damage our nature. For example: cutting down all the trees, making air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, etc. we must not do anything selfishly. If we do not take care to our nature it is just same as waking up the sleeping tiger, as the writer says in the last stanza “he’ll swallow you next.”

Taken from Literature appreciation project