My Reading Habits

Hmmmmm...... My READING HABITS?..... let me think...
I think I like to read fiction books more than non-fiction ones. Why?? It is because fiction ones are more interesting and not boring. In non-fiction books, they just give you the scientific facts which are rather boring. And, I can learn new vocabulary from fiction ones, thus helping me in my literature essays. Lastly, it is because there is a story in fiction books, which can make me 'go into their world', but not non-fiction books. How nice it would be to have a story in non-fiction books so that I could learn new vocabulary and scientific facts!
Recently, I read a book called Holes, which is rather interesting and uncommon. It is a story about an unusal Boys' home, where rebellious boys stay. The main character(I forgot his name) was sent to there because he was a theft. The master of the Boys' Home told the boys to dig holes because there was a rumour that there was a valuble treasure near the Boys' Home. Then, one day, the main character found that treasure, which was a gold gun. Rather angry with the master, he decided to keep it to himself. However, his 'best' friend betrayed him and went to tell on him. Knowing that, the main character escaped with the gold gun. His adventure began...

Ways to save the environment

Some people might think it is ironic to save the environment because they think that their efforts are not enough to save it. We need the whole world’s effort to save the environment. Here, these are some of my suggestions to save the environment:
First, in homes, we can use energy-saving bulbs instead of normal light bulb to save energy. We can also use fans instead of air-conditioners. And, switching off electrical appliances when not in use. These can not only save the Earth, we can also save money on electrical bills!
Secondly, we can choose to sell our cars and use public transport like buses and MRT. If not, we can also save car fuel by not using cars if the distance is near.
Thirdly, we can reduce things like plastic bags, clothes and paper. Instead of using plastic bags for groceries, we can use environmentally- friendly bags. For the use of paper, we can use both sides of it. By saving paper, less trees will be cut down and global warming will not take place.
Fourthly, we can recycle stuff like aluminum cans and paper. Dumping these stuff into the recycling bins is a contribution to our society. Of course, recycling is not the best way. If we recycle, but we consume a lot, it is useless.
In conclusion, by contributing to save the environment, we can make the Earth a better place to live in.

What is the difference from Singapore's education system from other countries?

I think that the main difference in the education system between Singapore and other countries is that Singapore has a lot of major exams like PSLE, ’O’ Levels, ’A’ Levels, which can decide on which school you will study in. We also have the IP Programme, which last for six years . The bad point of having so many exams is that the students will have lots of stress. In most other countries, they only have the ‘O’ Levels exams. The bad point of having a few exams is that the students will ‘slack’ and become lazy. Well, in my opinion, I prefer Singapore to other countries. Because, by having more exams, we can know what our weaknesses through the mistakes made in exams are and to improve on them.
Another difference is that, in Singapore, there are various ways to enter a good school like your grades or your sports talent. However, in other countries like Malaysia, the students’ parents can pay a sum of money to the school such that the principal of that school let their children enter it.
I think that no matter what country you are in, the education system will do good for us and not ‘harm’ us.

Chinese New Year

My Chinese New Year resolution is to have lots of hongbaos and my target for this year is $250!
On Sunday, which is the CNY Eve, my family and I had our reunion dinner in a Chinese restaurant. We had chili crabs, steamed fish, cereal prawns and of course, shark fin’s soup. After the sumptuous dinner, we took a walk in Labrador Park, to aid our digestion. My grandparents started their long-grandmother-story while we walked. We had heard this almost every year! Then, we went home, though tired but jubilant, to watch the New Year’s countdown show.
On Monday and Tuesday, we went to our relatives’ houses to pay them a visit. I gave them two mandarin oranges and said some CNY greetings in exchange for a hongbao. The feeling of counting the hongbaos at night was truly thrilling. On Tuesday, we went to Johor Baru (JB) as most of my mother’s relatives were there. Luckily, there is no school for me on Wednesday so I can do my homework the next day.
On Wednesday, we mostly spend our time at home, thus, I used this time to do my homework.
Happy Chinese New Year to one and all!

What caused Adeline(Based on Little Ironies) to commit suicide?

What really caused Adeline to commit suicide? Was it because that one mark which her teacher did not give her, even though Adeline pleaded her? Or was it because she did not want her demanding parents to ‘lose face’ in front of their friends?
Well, in my opinion, she died because her parents were too demanding and unreasonable. Imagine, if Adeline’s parents had not been so demanding, would all these had happened? No, it would not. Her parents had to take the blame for losing her daughter. If all the parents in the world were as demanding as Adeline’s parents, all the children would have commit suicide!
Some people say that her teacher was partly to blame. I somehow do not agree with that. When Adeline went to her teacher for a mark, just to pass her grades, she rejected Adeline, without asking for the reason why she wanted it so badly. However, her teacher would not know that Adeline would kill herself because of this. And, if her teacher had known earlier, I believed she would give her that one mark.
From this touching story, I learnt that parents should not force their children to get high grades if they are not clever or so-called ‘study-type’. Dear Parents, try putting yourselves in their shoes, and how would YOU feel?

What is the difference from Singapore's education system from other countries?

Please give your comments regarding the question above. I will give mine someday. Thank you :)

What is Education?

The meaning of the word ‘education’ found in the dictionary is the process of teaching and learning, usually at schools, colleges and universities. But I think that its meaning is to impart knowledge to someone anywhere, anytime. Normally, this word is associated with ‘teaching’ and 'learning’. Every time the word ‘education’ comes to people’s minds, they will think of schools and other education centres. However, they never think that education can come from homes.
Well, in my view, learning can come from anywhere you can think of. Learning from homes such as parents teaching their children how to use the computer or telling them what is right and what is wrong. It can also be during school outings to zoos and the teachers teaching them the characteristics of animals. There are a lot of examples of education. Teachers in schools teach more on studies and not on moral education whereas parents in homes are more on moral education.
But together, teachers and parents play an essential role in making the child’ future brighter.