Singapore English

Keep it clear, keep it simple

Thirty years ago today, on Feb 27, 1979, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew called a meeting of ministers, ministers of state and senior civil servants to discuss how government papers and minutes can be written in clear, clean prose.

Singapore's GDP has grown almost sevenfold since 1979. Marina Bay didn't exist then. Changi Airport was still two years away from completion. Singapore has been transformed beyond recognition in the last 30 years. But the same, alas, cannot be said of the quality of written English, which remains recognisably the same now as it did in 1979. We reprint excerpts of Mr Lee's address to mark a melancholy anniversary.

I WANT to discuss the importance of simple, clear, written English. This is not simple. Dr Goh Keng Swee gives every officer whom he thinks is promising and whose minutes or papers are deficient in clarity, a paperback edition of Sir Ernest Gowers' The Complete Plain Words.

It presupposes that the man who attempts to read the book has reached a certain level of literary competence. The book, written words, cannot convey to you the emphasis, the importance, the urgency of things, unless the receiver is a trained reader. And in any case, human beings are never moved by written words. It is the spoken word that arouses them to action. Arthur Koestler rightly pointed out that if Adolf Hitler's speeches had been written, not spoken, the Germans would never have gone to war. Similarly, Sukarno in print did not make great sense.

The spoken language is better learnt early; then you will have fluency. However, my thesis is that the written language can be mastered at any age without much disadvantage. It is learnt fastest when your written mistakes are pointed out to you by a teacher, friend, or senior officer. That was the way I learnt.

When I was in school my compositions were marked. When my children were in school they simply got grades for their written work. Their teachers had so many essays that they never attempted to correct the compositions. This has contributed to our present deplorable situation.

I want to convince you, first, of the importance of clear, written communication; second, that you can master it, if you apply yourself.

The use of words, the choice and arrangement of words in accordance with generally accepted rules of grammar, syntax and usage, can accurately convey ideas from one mind to another. It can be mastered.

When I was a law student I learnt that every word, every sentence has three possible meanings: what the speaker intends it to mean, what the hearer understands it to mean, and what it is commonly understood to mean. So when a coded message is sent in a telegram, the sender knows what he means, the receiver knows exactly what is meant, the ordinary person reading it can make no sense of it at all.

When you write minutes or memoranda, do not write in code, so that only those privy to your thoughts can understand. Write simply so that any other officer who knows nothing of the subject can understand you. To do this, avoid confusion and give words their ordinary meanings.

Our biggest obstacle to better English is shyness. It is a psychological barrier. Nobody likes to stop and ask, 'Please, what does that mean?' or 'Please tell me, where have I gone wrong?' To pretend you know when you don't know is abysmal folly. Then we begin to take in each other's mistakes and repeat them, compounding our problems.

The facility to express yourself in a written language is yet another facet or manifestation of your ability, plus application and discipline. It is a fallacy to believe that because it is the English language, the Englishman has a natural advantage in writing it. That is not so. He has a natural advantage in speaking the language because he spoke it as a child, but not in writing it. It has nothing to do with race. You are not born with a language. You learn it.

- ST


"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it." Buddha

"Books defy universal physical laws — they are time machines transporting us backwards and forwards to lost civilizations and futuristic worlds." Renie Garlick

" I've always worked very, very hard, and the harder I worked, the luckier I got." Alan Bond

Help or Harm

Anyone who attains a minimal level of success or even a degree of enlightenment understands that there is no true and lasting achievement without helping others and making a difference in the world around one.

While most everyone would agree on the fact that they want to help others, the act of helping another person is not as easy to identify as one might think.

Abraham Lincoln said, "The worst thing you can do for anyone you care about is anything that they can do on their own."

People who are given things, opportunities, and solutions without earning or paying for them often are harmed more than they are helped. Wealth without work, position without effort, and remedy without resource is seldom positive in the long run.

The majority of lottery winners are in worse financial condition five years after their winning number is called than they were before playing the lottery. They suffer a much higher divorce rate and instance of drug abuse and alcoholism.

At some point in life, all mature people learn that action shave consequences -- either good or bad. The sooner we can learn this lesson, the more productive and peaceful life we will have.

If you shelter a child from all consequences of their decisions, you may protect them temporarily from a few bumps or scrapes. Unfortunately, you may relegate them to making a poor decision during a life or death situation. We all need to learn that the stove is hot--one time--the hard way. From then on, we are cautious around stoves and begin to consider the consequences of other decisions.

Any study of successful people in our society will reveal a disproportionate number of underprivileged immigrants achieving great success in a relatively short period of time.

There is nothing innate about financial struggles, language barriers and cultural challenges that make people succeed. It is simply that enduring problems and overcoming barriers is a habit that, once learned, carries over into every area of our lives.

That person that turned you down for help may have done you the greatest favor of all. Self-reliance and independence are critical parts of succeeding in life.

All of us have received a hand up at one time or another, and hopefully have offered the same to those coming along behind us; but it is important to be sure that we are helping and not harming those that we care about.

As you go through your day today, look for ways to assist others, and eliminate any harm you're doing by trying to help in ways that people can perform on their own.

- Jim Stovall (adapted)

"Through adversity and life's challenges I am made stronger for having had overcome and worked through each particular hardship. I remind myself that on the other side of every single challenge which stands before me, I have within me, though it may be hidden deep, the necessary ingredients to overcome and thrive." Jim Stovall

"Any rough patch that you're going through right now will smooth out to a tiny wrinkle by the day's end, so you shouldn't waste too much time worrying about things. Turn your thoughts to tomorrow, when all of this will be over and things will be so much better. You can't have a good day every day, but you can certainly choose to focus on positive things instead of negative ones. And if the only positive thing in your life right now is hope, then so be it."

"Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty." Stephen King


"The money I have is in direct proportion to the value I've given to others. The more I give of myself, incredibly, the more economic power comes my way." Tod Barnhart

Billionaire wishes to donate wealth

Bias for Targeted Action

What are you doing? What are you studying? What's your objective?

Geoffrey James's business perspectives (adapted).

1) Any business activity that can’t be measured quantitatively and objectively is a waste of resources.
2) The point of commerce is to generate profitable revenue, so all measurements should tie back to sales.
3) Everyone’s compensation should be tied to their ability to help sales generate profitable revenue.
4) Employees who object to being measured quantitatively and objectively are running a scam.
5) Effective marketing are activities that can be objectively and quantitatively measured that make it easier and quicker for sales to take place.


Brand Management
1st - Confidence
2nd – Quality
3rd – Service
4th – Selection
5th – Price

"I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. Henceforth, I will repeat these words again and again, each hour, each day, every day, until the words become a habit as my breathing and the actions which follow become as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids. With these words I can condition my mind to perform every act necessary for my success. With these words, I can condition my mind to meet every challenge." Og Mandino, author and motivational speaker (1923 - 1996)

"Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it; men come to be builders, for instance, by building, and harp players by playing the harp. In the same way, by doing just acts we come to be just: By doing self-controlled acts, we come to be self-controlled; and by doing brave acts, we become brave." Aristotle, Greek Philosopher (384 BC – 322 BC)

"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible." Orison Swett Marden
1850-1924, Author

"Action makes more fortune than caution." Luc DeClapiers

Assessment

"Assessment is often described as having two purposes: one lies in measuring someone's performance to communicate it to the outside world; the other in helping the student to learn. The NUS, and many academics who study assessment, argue that there is currently too much emphasis on the former at the expense of the latter." Rebecca Attwood Adapted


NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS' PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE ASSESSMENT, UK.

1. Should be for learning, not simply of learning
This positions assessment at the heart of learning rather than it serving as a simple add-on at the end of the process.

2. Should be reliable, valid, fair and consistent
It is crucial for staff, students and employers to have confidence in the assessment processes and their outcomes.

3. Should consist of effective and constructive feedback
Effective feedback on assessment is a crucial aspect of assessment processes and a key feature of enhancing the learning process.

4. Should be innovative and have the capacity to inspire and motivate
Formative assessment practices have the potential to inspire and motivate, and this aspect can be captured by innovative approaches, including those making use of new technology.

5. Should measure understanding and application, rather than technique and memory
Assessments need to have a holistic approach that transcends the particular method being used; only this will truly test and reflect levels of learning.

6. Should be conducted throughout the course, rather than being positioned as a final event. Positioning assessment as an integral part of the course helps facilitate continuous learning.

7. Should develop key skills such as peer and reflective assessment
Not only do such mechanisms allow students to receive extra feedback on work beyond that of their tutor, they also help develop the key skill of self-reflection.

8. Should be central to staff development and teaching strategies, and frequently reviewed
Assessment processes must be innovative and responsive to learners' needs, and as such they need to be central to staff development and teaching strategies.

9. Should be of a manageable amount for both tutors and students
While assessment should be placed in a central role in learning, for it to be effective neither tutor nor student should be overburdened.

10. Should encourage dialogue between students and their tutors and students and their peers (Mutual Goals)
It is important that students and staff share the same definitions and ideas around standards. This can be fostered by increased dialogue and engagement.

"'Fitness for purpose' - To give them the maximum opportunity to perform you want to provide a wide variety of opportunities. Somebody who is not terribly good at writing essays may be very good at presenting a paper or doing a project. The more kinds of assessment you use, the more you get a proper picture of what the student can really do." Patricia Broadfoot

They say that we live in an A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) society and that we are bombarded with: ==> so much advertising ==> so many refined foods ==> and literally thousands TV channels, it is not surprising that more and more people are turning out to have ADD than ever before...

"The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing." Michael E. Gerber

Being Happy

The path to happiness
No money? No marry

Count your blessings
With the economy in bad shape, it may be time to take stock of the other things in your life that you can be happy about, like having friends, family and being in good health.

'Reflect on what really matters and re-chart your course to one that will bring joy, meaning and fulfilment to your life,' said life coach Kenny Toh.

Money can't buy happiness
Material ambitions can sometimes be our downfall in building a happy life, as a bigger income can often lead to more desires and expectations.

Thus, our overall happiness may not increase by much even as we get richer, said psychotherapist Stephen Lew.

His advice: Engage in more meaningful activities like bonding with family and friends, or pursuing charity work.

Avoid 'toxic' people
Ms Zaibun Siraj, author of the book, Zany, Zeal, Zest And Zing: The Z Way To Happiness, said that it is best to avoid those who may bring you down with their persistently negative attitudes.

Conversely, happiness is infectious so one can find joy in both spreading and receiving it.

Show gratitude and appreciation
Mr Lew also advised people to keep a diary consisting purely of the happy events in their lives.

This may seem hard at first but it can bring about reflection and acknowledgement of the good things in one's life.

Another easy way to feel happy, he added, is to write a letter of appreciation to someone close to you, to thank them for who they are and what they have done for your life.

Keep things in perspective
The key to happiness, said psychiatrist Adrian Wang, is balancing your expectations with the reality of your situation and your own perception of things.

Keeping things in perspective, in this sense, is essential to maintaining high spirits.

For instance, losing your job does not mean that you are a total failure, as your career is only one part of your whole life, said Dr Wang.

- ST


"It boils down to thinking and coping strategies. Happy people are able to problem-solve instead of dwelling on the negatives." Dr Adrian Wang

Xuan Mai

Authentically Vietnamese. Beauty queen turned spy and now chef.

LINING the walls of a Vietnamese restaurant in Bangkok are newspaper clippings trumpeting the owner's illustrious past as an FBI agent.

And yet some of 58-year-old Vietnamese-American Meyung Robson's customers still think the former spook is in deep cover.

"Many people suggest that I'm working undercover as a restaurant owner. But once I quit (the FBI), I quit," says the owner of Xuan Mai restaurant.

Pointing at the framed articles from American, French, Japanese and Thai newspapers and magazines, Robson continues: "If I'm undercover, I would not – you know – show off."

Asked why she displayed her clippings, she replies, "I'm proud of my past (as a FBI agent)." Her past reads like a best-seller memoirs.

Robson, the daughter of a three star general who was second-in command of the South Vietnamese army, was Miss Saigon in 1970.
On the afternoon of April 29, 1975, a day before the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese army, her family – carrying only US$60 – fled the city via a South Vietnam navy ship for the US.

"We went from the sky (a privileged existence in American-backed Saigon) to the bottom (refugees picking strawberries in New York)," she relates.

In 1984, she became the FBI's first Vietnamese-American special agent.

She went through a 16-week training programme, and to pass she had to score 85% in 10 exams (including firing 8,000 live rounds).

Although she is not generous with anecdotes of her undercover days, Robson did show me a photograph of her masquerading as a refugee. It was amazing to see the beauty queen transformed into a downtrodden immigrant.

In 1999, Robson was posted to Bangkok, working at the FBI legal attache office at the US Embassy.

Her two biggest achievements as an agent are assisting in the capture of two fugitives in the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list – a Vietnamese-American murderer who fled to Vietnam and an American paedophile who jumped bail when he was arrested in Bangkok.

On Christmas night in 2005, Robson – after retiring from the FBI – opened Xuan Mai (which is named after her daughter).

The plan was for her to be a silent investor while her Vietnamese friend, a professional chef, took charge of the kitchen.

"On opening night we had a huge fight (it had been simmering for three months because she disagreed with the chef's preference for MSG and artificial colouring) and I was left to cook the ten dishes on our original menu,"she says.

It turned out to be "a totally happy accident" of how she became a chef.

Robson taught herself Vietnamese cuisine. And she does not use a recipe book. "I have a gift of taste. I can even remember the taste of dishes that I ate when I was 10," she says.

Back in the 70s, her family who "entertained a lot" had two full-time chefs. "I grew up watching the chefs prepare the dishes and, somehow, I can cook the dishes from memory," she says.

Since her debut three years ago as a Vietnamese cook, numerous Thai publications have named her as one of Bangkok's top chefs. She credits her accolades to her philosophy of serving authentic Vietnamese dishes.

Is her restaurant popular because she is an ex-FBI agent or is it her cooking?

"At first customers come because of the write-ups. For some reason – I did not plan it – this formula of 'ex=beauty queen + ex-FBI agent + chef' works," she says.

"FBI is a catchword. But if you cook junk, trust me, they will not come back."

Asked if she had used her FBI skills in running her restaurant, Robson says: "Profiling? It is fun to watch people."

How? "It is a trick of the trade, so I can't tell you," she replies, giggling. Who do you profile – your staff or your customers?

"My customers," she says, quickly adding “sometimes so that I can serve them better”.

"What other FBI skills have you found useful as a restaurateur?" I query.

"No, I can't tell you," she says. Probably if she did, she would have to shoot me.

How to get there: Take the Skytrain (BTS) to Nana station. Walk up to Sukhumvit Soi 13. From there you can either walk to the restaurant (which is located close to the end of the soi) or take a motorbike taxi (10 - 15 baht).
Open: Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday 11:00 - 14:00, 17:00 - 22:00;
Friday & Saturday 11:00 - 10:30, 17:00 - 24:00
Skytrain: Nana
Contact: +66 (0)2 251 8389

Cash accepted only.

by Philip Golingai, The Star (adapted)


Trung Nguyen Coffee
02-34 to 35
Liang Court Shopping Centre Level 2
River Valley Road
Tel: 6837-2480
Open daily: 9am to 11pm


"Venture all; see what fate brings." Vietnamese Proverb

Mind Your Language

"Ordinary Person; Extraordinary Passion"

Lunar Reunion

"When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree." Vietnamese Quote

陈潇的剩余人生店

She sells her 'life' on the Net By LIEW HANQING
MEET the woman who's selling "the rest of her life"on the Internet. Miss Chen Xiao, a 25-year-old Beijing native, started her unusual online business last month on auction website Taobao.com.

Her online shop is aptly named "Chen Xiao's remaining life shop". (Chen Xiao của cửa hàng còn lại cuộc sống)

Miss Chen wrote in her online mission statement: "People can sell their personal time. Planning my time is your right. Completing your tasks is my mission."

On the site, she sells time slots - ranging from eight-minute to one-day slots - where she offers to perform any service, except "sex, porn, violence and anything illegal".

People who wish to book Miss Chen for an assignment need only to log on to her auction site, send her a description of the intended task and the estimated time the task will take, and,upon her approval, send her payment.

Business has been brisk - in just a month, she has sold more than 80 time slots, and made as much as 2,000 yuan ($436) in a single day. Her auctions have attracted more than 9,000 views each.

In a write-up on her site, Miss Chen explained her rationale for setting up her unusual business: "Life has no meaning... I want to change my lifestyle - so I'll let you plan the rest of my life."

To prove her sincerity, Miss Chen posted her personal information, including her online messenger ID, e-mail address and phone number on the website, along with a recently-taken passport photograph.

The response to her online auctions was almost immediate.

Her first assignment, which came just a few days after her online store was set up, was to "pose triumphantly" for a photograph and post it online.

Then came several other assignments: To photograph a flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, to get herself photographed at the entrances of Beijing University and Tsinghua University, and to have a bowl of noodles at a well-known food outlet.

It seems Miss Chen has taken all her assignments seriously, diligently completing each task as instructed.

This shows in the feedback her "clients" have left on her profile on the auction site.

One netizen, who booked Miss Chen for eight minutes, wrote: "An intelligent, beautiful woman, deserving of praise. I hope you find meaning and purpose in life."

Varied & Interesting
Another commented: "Thank you for finishing my assignment. Take care of your health, and I hope you will keep doing this for a long time."

Miss Chen's assignments have been interesting and varied.

She has been tasked with picking up people from various locations, delivering coffee, buying train tickets, delivering meals for beggars and sampling food on behalf of netizens.

Miss Chen told technology website tech163.com that even though she has received some harassing e-mails ever since she set up her website, most of the people who contact her are "friendly and sincere".

Her most lucrative assignment was a 2,000-yuan assignment, where she was asked to collect pictures of smiling people for a charity event.

Some maybe skeptical about the longevity of her business, but she has become a mini-celebrity in cyberspace in just over a month.

In a forum post on a popular Chinese website, one netizen wrote: "As long as it's nothing illegal, this is a really creative form of business.

"She'll get to experience different things, and every day is new and unexpected."

Added another netizen: "Even if this just a gimmick, it's a heartwarming, fun one. She's made cyberspace a little more personal and warm with her small business."

- TNP


"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." Lewis L. Dunnington

Japan learns English from Obama speech textbook

TOKYO - President-elect Barack Obama's speeches are proving a best-seller in Japan - as an aid to learning English.

Obama's Speech: 'A More Perfect Union'

An English-language textbook, "The Speeches of Barack Obama" (website), has sold more than 400,000 copies in two months, a big hit in a country where few hit novels sell more than a million copies a year.

Japanese have a fervor for learning English and many bookstores have a corner dedicated to dozens of journals in the language, many of them now featuring the new U.S. leader's face.

"Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates are excellent as listening tools to learn English, because their contents are good and their words are easy to catch," said Yuzo Yamamoto of Asahi Press, which produced the best-selling text book.

"Obama's is especially so. His speeches are so moving, and he also uses words such as 'yes, we can,' 'change' and 'hope' that even Japanese people can memorize," he said.

Speeches by President George W. Bush and former nominee John Kerry's four years ago did not have the same appeal, however, and nor do those made by Japanese politicians, Yamamoto said.

"In Japan, we don't have politicians who have such a positive influence. That's why we have to turn to a foreign president for someone in whom to place our hopes."

The 95-page paperback features Obama's speeches in English from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and during the Democratic Party primaries, in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. They are accompanied by Japanese translations.

The 1,050 yen (S$17) book, which includes a CD of the speeches, tops the bestseller list on bookseller Amazon's Japanese Website.

"Readers have sent in postcards saying that when they heard the speeches, they were so moved and cried even though they don't understand English very well," Yamamoto said.

He said lawmakers from Japan's main opposition Democratic Party had bought the book to study Obama's speeches.

Following Obama's inauguration on Tuesday, Asahi Press plans to issue a sequel that includes his inaugural address, as well as President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech. It will also feature a reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address of 1863.

By Yoko Kubota (Adapted)


"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." Barack Obama

"We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent." Barack Obama

"Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential." Barack Obama

Best ways to make extra money

Question: I'm a college student, and I've been reading your articles online. I receive a weekly allowance from my parents, and with the tough times these days, sometimes it's not enough. And in a few weeks, tuition for the second semester will be due and I wish I could help with that. What can a student like me do? Jong C.

Answer: In the US, it's not unusual for children to earn some extra money. Some young children sell lemonade, while the older ones offer services like babysitting, dog walking, lawn mowing, and newspaper delivery.

Here in the Philippines, most students focus on their studies. However, opportunities also abound for the student to find some extra money, and some college students, have in fact taken advantage of them.

There are many ways you can do to make some extra money. The best thing to do is to start first by assessing your talents and gifts. What are you good at? Below are some ideas:

1. Emceeing: If you have the gift of gab, you may emcee at events (even wedding programs) for a fee.
2. Singing/Dancing: If you sing/dance well, you can gather a group of friends and sing/dance at parties, again for a fee.
3. Cooking: Are you good in cooking? Then whip up some food specialty, package it well, and sell it as a gift item...
4. Trading: Buy stuff you like from wholesale suppliers (examples: clothes, accessories, etc.) and sell these in bazaars or even through websites. Many enterprising students do business online through sites like Multiply, and they do well.
5. Coaching: If you excel in one sport, you might be interested in coaching sports teams for grade school kids. Sports programs that need coaches include soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
6. Writing: Think you have a knack for words? Consider contributing to the youth section of your favorite newspaper, where you will get paid for every article that gets published.
7. Scrapbooking: Some people want to have scrapbooks but do not have time to make them. Network with scrapbooking clubs as they offer this service to interested people.
8. Editing: Edit other students' papers for a fee, but don't make the mistake of doing the writing for them.
9. Dog breeding: If you like pets, consider breeding dogs with the help of your family.
10. Modeling. People with the look, flair and style can earn much by modeling for print and TV ads. Check out legitimate modeling agencies for more info.

These are just some of the things a college student may do. The possibilities are endless; just look at what you have. It's important to bank on your talents and gifts so working will not be a chore. It will instead be something you enjoy and look forward to doing outside class hours. But be sure your work will not affect your studies.

So you're earning; now what?
Let's say you have zeroed in on a way to earn more income. There are some things you should keep in mind if you want your earnings to be maximized.

1. Save. Because times are hard, and because you want to be financially secure someday, make it a habit to save at least 10 percent of your extra income. If you can commit to save more, so much the better. Deposit this in a savings account under your name, and don't touch it as much as possible.

2. Invest. Savings accounts give only a small amount of interest as compared to other forms of investment. When you have enough in your savings account to make the minimum investment required, move some of your money to a time deposit which will give you a higher rate of interest in return for you keeping your money in the bank for an agreed term (30 days, 90 days, 1 year, 5 years - it's up to you).

There's also another way to let this money earn more: by investing in pooled funds like a mutual fund or a unit investment trust fund. There's some risk involved as market values of investments go down, but with it comes the possibility of earning more. Study this option and talk to a bank officer, financial adviser, and your parents about it.

3. Limit your spending. It's nice to spend what one has earned, but if you spend for unnecessary stuff, you may end up with hardly nothing at all. Use your money wisely by prioritizing your needs. Steer clear of buying branded goods and expensive gadgets. If you can live with simpler stuff, do so. Your friends love you for who you are, not for what you own.

INQUIRER.net and Citibank invite readers to ask questions regarding financial matters. Send your questions to personal_finance@inquirer.net or comment through our personal finance blog called MoneySmarts: The Value of $8.00)

*Disclaimer: Readers are solely responsible for their own investment decisions and should thus conduct their own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice. INQUIRER.net will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a reader's reliance on information obtained from our web site. INQUIRER.net receives no compensation of any kind from companies or industries or funds that are mentioned here.

(This is part of Take Charge of Your Money, a partnership between INQUIRER.net and Citibank to help readers handle their personal finances well.)

"Nothing endures but personal qualities." Walt Whitman

Climbing the world's biggest trees

Science writer Richard Preston talks about some of the most enormous living beings on the planet, the giant trees of the US Pacific Northwest. Growing from a tiny seed, they support vast ecosystems -- and are still, largely, a mystery.

"One hesitates because he feels inferior, another is busy making mistakes and becoming superior."

"Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf." Native American

"What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite." Bertrand Russell

"We make ourselves rich by making our wants few." Henry David Thoreau

Measures

MEASURES keys to success in place-based learning by James Lewicki (Adapted)

Measurable lifelong-learning skills are embedded in an academic core. These include the skills to:

- follow an interest with a passion
- be able to precisely observe, record, and analyze data
- be a tenacious learner
- demonstrate effective collaborative skills
- recognize and utilize dynamic systems
- develop an intellectual balance of skepticism and openness
- use the power of intuition along with the discipline of deduction
- be able to cooperate through a shared dilemma
- draw conclusions independent of authority
- tolerate ambiguity
- select problem-solving strategies appropriate to a complex task

Effort is obvious and public.
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." Mark Twain

Aligned with clear academic standards.
Open inquiry is active learning, and clear academic standards can keep a student focused.

Student opportunity for initiative, simply put, is endless.
"Practice precedes the possibility of observation and formulation; the results of practice must accumulate before mind has anything to observe." John Dewey

Understood by parents and the community.
Constantly bridging the gaps between school, home, and community is an active ingredient of a worthy place-based project. Parents, besides wanting to know what is learned, will often contribute to the learning itself.

Reflection time for establishment of meaning is built-in; preparatory project understanding is critical. Hands-on learning is only as powerful as the meaningfulness derived from all that activity. To be able to step back and ask, "What worked?" and "What didn't work?" can make all the difference.

Evidence is clear, credible, and compelling, leading to future endeavors. How can you prove to me that you know something? Show me, demonstrate, explain so that I can learn, and -- above all -- convince me that what you accomplished with that place-based project moved you forward in your understanding of the world. Finally, a completed project, in the end, will bring up more questions than it answers.

Sustainable learning beyond the expectations of adults, for learning's sake itself.
Sandi's poem ->
Have You Ever . . . ?
Have you ever stopped to look
to see what you could see?
Have you ever really wondered,
what maybe could be?
Have you ever sneaked a glance,
at wild birds in the sky?
Have you ever seen a stand of oaks
and stopped to wonder why?
Have you ever seen a river,
a-winding off afar?
Have you ever walked upon a ridge,
and wondered where you are?
Have you ever counted colors,
as you strolled along the way?
Have you ever witnessed fall,
and its colorful array?
Have you ever stopped to look,
to see what you could see?
Have you ever really wondered,
how it changes you and me?

"Desire is creation, is the magical element in that process. If there were an instrument by which to measure desire, one could foretell achievement." Willa Cather

Naughtiness at school; failure in life

They are likelier to end up with dud jobs and poor health. - AFP

PARIS - CHILDREN who badly misbehave in school are likelier to end up with a dud job, poor mental health, teen pregnancy or divorce, according to a British study published on Friday.

The paper, published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), provides statistical backing for teachers who sound warnings about anti-social behaviour, its authors say.

It draws on an exceptionally long-term investigation, launched among 3,652 Britons who were born in 1946. With their consent, these volunteers have been monitored at occasional intervals since their birth, filling in questionnaires about their health, family and professional life.

At the ages of 13 and 15, this group was assessed by their teachers, who were asked to grade their behaviour as having severe, mild or no conduct problems.

A total of 9.5 per cent of the teenagers were identified as having severe problems; 28.8 per cent had mild problems; and 61.7 per cent no problems.

Forty years later, the follow up inquiry found a clear link between misbehaviour at school and difficulties in adult life.

"Adolescent misconduct might adversely affect developing social behaviours and result in pervasive social and mental health difficulties throughout adult life." the paper suggests.

"青年期不端行将会有威力不利地影响在成人生活中弥漫的社会行为和精神健康困难结果。"

"Thanh niên vi sai trái có thể ảnh hưởng bất lợi đến phát triển xã hội và hành vi kết quả pervasive trong xã hội và sức khỏe tâm thần dành cho người lớn những khó khăn trong suốt cuộc đời."

Compared with those with no conduct problems at school, those who severely misbehaved were twice as likely to become a parent before the age of 20; likelier to get divorced or have relationship problems with spouses, children or friends; four times likelier to leave school with no qualifications, and twice as likely to be in a manual job or unemployed.

Problems in life also extended, but to a lesser degree, to those with milder forms of misbehaviour.

Males accounted for 62.6 per cent of those with severe behavioural problems at school and 54.8 per cent of those with mild problems. If the father had a manual job, this too was a major factor among teenagers in these categories.

The study is led by Ian Colman, an assistant professor of public health at the University of Alberta, Canada.

Prof Colman says the study provides a useful guide for focusing resources to help teenagers whose behaviour could prove costly both to themselves in adulthood, and to society.

He admits that the study has some limitations - there are no data to explain why children misbehaved, for instance.

On the other hand, the teachers' assessment was a good indicator of a child's risk of delinquency, and a better guide than the parents' own assessment, he argues.


FIVE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Dolores Mirabella (Adapted)
1. Communication:
a) Read and listen actively to learn and communicate.
b) Speak and write effectively for personal, academic and workplace purposes.
2) Human Relations:
a) Use social interactive skills to work in groups effectively.
3) Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving:
a) Think critically in evaluating information, solving problems, and making decisions.
4) Technology:
a) Select the appropriate use of technological tools for personal, academic, and career tasks.
5) Personal Responsibility:
a) Be motivated and able to continue learning and adapt to change.
b) Value one's own skills, abilities, ideas, and art.
c) Take pride in one's work.
d) Manage personal health and safety.


"I tend to be attracted to characters who are up against a wall with very few alternatives. And the film then becomes an examination of how they cope with very few options. And that's, I guess, what interests me in terms of human behavior." William Friedkin

Young & Jobless

College Relationship

"Every year, a diverse mix of students from all over the world make their way to Singapore. Singapore offers world-class education, which is industry-relevant and prepares students for an international career. With more than 7,000 multinational corporations (MNCs) alongside 100,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) having set up their base in Singapore, students can look forward to excellent professional networking as well as job opportunities in one of the best business environments in Asia. Today, there are over 86,000 international students from 120 nationalities studying in Singapore... " Ms. Rebecca Lim, Area Director, West India, Singapore Tourism Board.


"ATTiTUdE: BELiEVE it, you will sEE it."

"You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going."

10, 000 hours

There are several myths about success:

1. Hard working entrepreneur pulls himself up by his bootstraps, works hard at an original idea for a few years, and becomes a hugely successful businessman. But there are many hard working entrepreneurs who never make it.

2. Born into the right family with the right connections and a fancy college education, an heir or heiress parlays their grandfather’s business into a huge multi-billion dollar company. But there are many people born into money that lose or squander it all.

3. Lucky all her life, she got all the right breaks, and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. But not everyone is lucky 100 percent of the time.

"To truly master any skill, he suggests, leaning on various pieces of research, requires about 10,000 concentrated hours. If you can get those hours in early, and be in a position to exploit them, then you are an outlier." Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, has a new book coming out called Outliers: The Story of Success.

"If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut." Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

"My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that 'achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that's nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.'" Helen Hayes (1900 - 1993)

"People can be divided into two classes: those who go ahead and do something, and those who sit still and inquire, 'Why wasn't it done the other way?'" Oliver Wendell Holmes

Why I dropped out of school

KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - Thirteen-year-old Michael Losion works as a greasing-boy for a contractor. The mild-mannered Kadazandusun packs a solid handshake and was proud of the job he got a month ago.

"I help to grease the 'Case' and 'Hitachi'. I hope to become a driver," said Michael, pointing to the bulldozer and excavator that he helps to service as an apprentice to his uncle, the mechanic.

He doesn't want to talk about school. After finishing Year Six at SK Rompon in Tambunan, Michael left school.

"I don't know," when pressed on why he quit, but he pledges to ensure his four younger siblings continue schooling.

Pinda Dula, the village chief of Saliku Sumatalun, a remote Murut village in Pensiangan that takes two days to reach by road, river and footpath from here, offers a reason why rural children in Sabah quit school.

"They tell me they cannot catch up with the other children and feel sidelined."

Majunjum Ambiloh of Lumpagas, also in Pensiangan, said most villages did not have schools.

"We have to leave our children in makeshift hostels looked after by teachers, friends or relatives. Some can go through it but others might not.

"I had to stay with my child for over a month when she started school.

"The school is four hours by boat from our home," he said.

Living in hostels far from home also makes these rural children easy prey for bullies.

Anthony Simon, 19, recalls being bullied when he was at the SM Datuk Peter Mojuntin hostel in Penampang. After Form One, he decided to quit.

"I was beaten up for no reason, mocked by others and did terribly in my studies. I did not have anyone to turn to," he said.

Social worker Henry Kassim, a Murut from Saliku Sumatalun, said he was fortunate to have been "rescued" by a teacher at SM Nabawan, Penampang.

"Bullies forced me to flee the school but a teacher caught me as I was escaping from the hostel and took me to his home.

"Things could have been different if the teacher did not take me in."

New Straits Times

"Respect yourself, respect your time, your resources, your knowledge and your company."

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement." Anatole France

"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." Anne Frank

"Your ability to learn faster than your competition is your only sustainable competitive advantage." "快速学习能力会是你竞争所能承受的优势。" "Khả năng của bạn để tìm hiểu nhanh hơn của bạn cạnh tranh của bạn là chỉ có lợi thế cạnh tranh bền vững." Arie de Gues

No Pain, No Gain

Ever wonder why you aren't getting anywhere? Then, have your attitude redefined playfully... by JK.

1) Work Smart 爭氣 Làm việc khó khăn
Hard on the effort NOT on yourself

2) Just Do It 索性 chỉ Làm
Wanna do, Stoppa doubt

3) Go for the Kill 一乘势意 Về cho giết
Focus, focus, focus.

4) Up Your Stake 桩注 trên của bạn stake
Seize the moment; grab the break

5) Never Say Die 天無絕人之路 Không bao giờ nói chết
Your thoughts; your destiny

6) Go Deep 深入 Về sâu
A 100ft tree’s not shy.

7) Fear and Pride 恐惧与傲慢 Sợ hãi và Pride
Lose them.

8) Avoid Mental Games 避玩手腕 Tránh tâm thần trò chơi
You won’t have time, anyway.

"You can't 'try' to do things. You simply 'must' do things."

The Practice of Leadership 成功人士的秘密 US $ 1 triệu jackpot

"You cannot escape the results of your thoughts. Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain or rise with your thoughts, your vision, your ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration." James Allen

"If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought for yourself, I have indeed added to your stature." Elbert Hubbard

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin

Your Worth in $