Remembering the Memorable Times of our Life!

Exam Fever!!

2007-09-29T01:38:00.000+08:00

Hmm..just got back from MAC, helping my étudiant(French) to revise for Geography! Paper is on 1 Oct.

It's really a long day....tiresome week too....talk for the entire week!!

BUT my heart melted when SMSes kept flowing in just before I want to sleep.
"Cher, thanks for staying with us the whole day"
"Thanks, have a good rest. Good Night!"

I really appreciate that these tiny yet stimulating efforts.
My étudiant have finally realised the meaning of exams and had started to work hard and strive for their future. No matter what, they hold the key to their own future.

11th HOUR

2007-09-19T13:39:00.000+08:00

The 11th Hour is a new documentary from Leonardo DiCaprio about the state of humanity and the world.

THE 11th HOUR is the last moment when change is possible.
The film explores how we've arrived at this moment -- how we live, how we impact the earth's ecosystems, and what we can do to change our course.

Produced and hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film features ongoing dialogues with experts, over 50 leading scientists, visionaries and leaders, who discuss the most important issues that face our planet and people.

The film also explores solutions for creating a sustainable future. Now we're looking to you

Now, let's us also think through and ponder some of our very own actions that could affect the environment around us. WE can also do our PART to reduce human impact on the environment.

Gratitude and Appreciation!!! The BEST gift in life...

2007-09-19T00:05:00.000+08:00

Really feel *so glad and delighted* to have someone to come forward to show *gratitude and appreciation* towards what I have done for him/her.

Think that's the best *gift* I have received in the course of my work! It really energises me and give me **Hope and Light** in what I uphold in my passion of work.

Just a thought!!
Sometimes life can be tormentous if everyone is self-centred and think about himself.

Inter-dependence, NOT independence!
We are living in a community where our actions affect others directly and indirectly. We must develop that sense of general awareness to people around us. We have to be more sensitive to the surroundings (our environment) too.

How and Where can I gather Strength?

2007-09-12T13:16:00.001+08:00

Should strength come within us?

Yes...But there are other means of gathering strength too!
The various dimsension of Love?
Our Passion and Interest?
Our Love for something...hobby, activity, sport?
Our Value and Belief system?
Our Faith in ourselves?
Our Faith in our God that we place trust?

Lastly, strength must also come within ourselves.....
Like what Mahatma Gandhi once said, Patience and Perseverance, if you’ve them, overcome mountains of difficulties....

What's your take on the above???
_________________________________________________________________

Life as a penguin is obviously not easy if you have some knowledge about them.
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Penguins/home.html
http://www.penguin.net.nz/species/index.html
How do the penguins gather strength in their lives?

Terms explained!

2007-09-09T16:20:00.000+08:00

παιδαγωγέω comes from Ancient Greek (paidagōgeō; from παῖς (child) and ἄγω (lead)): literally, "to lead the child”.
For more reference -
www.eduqna.com/Words-Wordplay/1305-words-wordplay-5.html
http://futef.com/search?query=cats%3A%5BEducational%20psychology%5D

In many countries, the word "student" or a cognate equivalent (e.g., French "étudiant") is reserved for higher education or university students. However derived adjectives in such languages (e.g., "estudiantin" in French) may also, or even especially (e.g., Dutch "studentikoos"), be associated with the non-academic, fun-loving side of stereotyped "student life" (in part organised, such as hazing, "Greek life" in North American Fraternities and sororities), although not all students induldge in this lifestyle.

Hope one day all my students will become true étudiant. Good Luck to the new term!

A Brand New Skin and some Food for Thoughts

2007-09-05T14:13:00.001+08:00

It seems so interesting to blog and create new skin....a new found interest!!
However, you need lots of time to explore other people's blog to find out more.

Thanks to Fire....a talented individual who really knows how to use IT efficiently...guess it's the interest and passion that drive him to find out more about blogging and hence leverage on his interest to create numerous blog skins on his blog and many other interesting stuffs.

This also brings me to think about my encounter recently.....Guess what? I was really fortunate to be invited to attend a Flautist performance by the infamous Latin Grammy Award winner, Nestor Torres on last Sat night.

Before that, I hardly know who he is....
He is a real talented and passionate musician who really put his heart, soul and thought to work and brings out the best of his talent into life. He shared about his visions for world peace and a heightened level of human understanding, his reflections and experiences in life, his creative muse, interest and passion in music and last but not least his eagerness to help people realise their potential.

Guess he has seen much and really fully understand humanity...I admire his call for people everywhere to rise above the petty distractions that separate us and embrace the universal elements that unite us which is music.

It's really interesting to find out who he is and what meanings he has embedded in his music...www.nestortorres.com ....some food for thoughts!

Now I know beside interest, passion is an important element that drives people to do what they believe to hold dear value in their life. We must learn to ignite that real passion in us to perform at our best in life so that we will never regret living a single day.

Enjoy his pieces of work:

Good Luck Guys!!

2007-09-04T22:34:00.000+08:00

haha...since a long time I have updated my blog!
I was so busy for the past few weeks ever since semester begins.
Time really files, my graduating 4N3 is taking the N level now....hope they do their best, fulfill their dreams and stretch their potential.

Will You?

2007-07-31T01:16:00.001+08:00

There's No Place I'd Rather Be

2007-07-31T01:09:00.000+08:00

Colours Of Singapore

2007-07-31T01:07:00.000+08:00

"We live in Singapura" in MTV Version

2007-07-31T01:04:00.000+08:00

Very interesting animation on Singapore History!!

We Live in Singapura by Hossan Leong

2007-07-31T00:55:00.000+08:00

As Singaporeans, we sometimes think that life is so boring in this city-state. However, there is always something that we can ponder about!
Proud to be living here!!!

Welcome Video for Taiwanese Students in Aug 2007

2007-07-27T16:58:00.000+08:00

These videos are production of my heritage guides in action. Quite impromptu but was taken within a few NGs only!! Given a chance, they will rise up to the occasion. But without a chance, you don't even see a single thing to happen......TO BELIEVE IS TO ACTUALISE DREAMS!! Dreams will come true if we have faith and if we believe in it! Wonders of belief....

HELLO!!!
台湾的学生们,你们好!
欢迎!欢迎!
There are about 14 Heritage guides involved in the Taiwanese Immersion programme.

This video is some introduction about ourselves.
Including, the 4 different lauguages we have in Singapore.
ENJOY IT.

This is a short clip about 4 students singing 4 different types of National Songs.
From the Left to the Right: XueFang,KaiYing,ChooiTene and ShiXuan.
Hope this clip won't be too lousy for viewing.

等待你们的来临 ...

Angry NOT!!! What do u think?

2007-07-17T21:46:00.000+08:00

3N says I'm angry today?? Am NOT!! Absolutely NOT..Why would I be angry???

Nope....rather just feel sad, disappointed and feel for the students. Why?
To think, while the rest wants to or are trying to learn and discover....they can't due to the noise level and disruptions caused by others...Is this fair??? Nope I think....
In addition, what will outsiders think about our sch if students are behaving like this? Is this something we can be pride of? Nope I think...
Moreover, we are trying to help them to learn and discover their strengths and weaknesses, how the brain works and how to optimise learning styles......but they refused...what do u think?? How can we learn if both ends fail to meet?? Can we clap if we use only one hand?? Perhaps can still clap but has to clap against something e.g. wall or your own thigh....painful isn't it??

Like what I said, while trying to give everyone the basic respect and dignity, all must understand and follow....if not then why give face....rather shout, scold and punish...but is this what we want?? I doubt so......everyone needs to be well-respected....from cleaners to someone great, right? So, to respect each other, it takes both hands to clap......two hands to form that BRIDGE that links people....
I always believe and stand firm that conflicts and communication, on contrary belief can be beneficial in people relationship.....they enhance understanding and awareness of both ends....NOT damage relationship! Do you agree?

Something for all to ponder!!! Me as well.....stop, think and reflect!!

RE: Positivity versus Negativity in life

2007-07-15T16:33:00.000+08:00

Few weeks back, I'm defining and reflecting an attitude in life, as aspect of living....a powerful symbol that guided my principles and values of living! Eureka....profounded something powerful...a simple yet mystifying and perplexing attitude, termed POSITIVITY...a simple word from positive ...and came out with something, "Positivity..no journey too tough!!"

This afternoon, I was msning with Shawn and we happened to talk about attitudes in schools...I concurred with him that we always see and hear students sighing..."so boring, sian and what's the point?"...to think of that....yup..."siansation" as termed by Shawn.

But to Shawn, his life is different and he sounded like what I always believed....to be positive in whatever we do....so life has to be interesting always....

To quote his words (very meaningful):

"at least my life isn't filled with "Siansation"!"

":yup! what is the point in seeing negativity when it will just sink your mood down"

This is somehow challenging me to think further....when there are ups, there are always downs, just like the Keynesian' business cycle, recession, booms in the stock market.....so when there is positivity, there is negativity......got to battle this in our life......dedicated to all my students and wish them well for their tests and exams...

3rd Combined Full Dress Rehearsal - National Day Parade 2007

2007-07-08T23:09:00.000+08:00

Save the Earth!! 070707

2007-07-06T23:32:00.000+08:00

'The future is not completely beyond our control. It is the work of our own hands.''

- Robert F. Kennedy

Each year, the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, and our natural resources are carelessly exploited. Everyone has a responsibility to act now. We can play a part in helping the climate, preserve and care for Mother Earth.

A simple change can create a huge impact to the environment: Slow down climate change and conserve our natural resources.

There are many things we can do by practicing the 3Rs:-

1. Reduce. Just use less!

Reduce plastic bags – they deplete our natural resources. Bring a cloth bag instead at your next shopping trip.

2. Reuse. Don't just bin it!

Reuse old envelopes by pasting an address label on or striking out the previous addressee.

3. Recycle. Make it useful again!

Collect rain water to water the plants, or laundry water to wash the floors or to flush the toilets.

Saving Gaia begins with each one of us.

I pledge to… www.savinggaia.sg/pledge.htm

Photos from MILK's photographer..

2007-07-04T22:12:00.000+08:00

Amazing cans of 100 Plus

Creative marketing for the boys....kinda of like attracting attention....

The photographer from MILK run has kindly emailed our photos....really a nice person....thanks

Do U believe in this???

2007-07-04T02:47:00.000+08:00

"Dont Waste My Time!!!"Culled from The Stapler Maniac. (Text in italics my own.)

Food for Thought:
People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did.
But people will never forget how you made them feel.

Especially after you shouted at them and the whole school heard.
So are they going to learn a lesson??? Perhaps not.....what can I do then??
Reflecting...

RE: July 1st MILK run

2007-07-02T22:27:00.000+08:00

This is the first time I brought my boys to participate in the annual MILK community run....What's MILK?? Oh...Mainly I Love Kids organised by Beyond Social Services to raise fund ($1,000,000) for anti-deliqeuency programmes....a charitable cause!!!

1st July..at 3pm....bus failed to turn up....got no choice but to take mrt, then a bus to Zouk carpark....

though we were supposed to run 4 km....many of the boys, esp the Sec 3 took short cut....they though they could outsmart, but it's really that obvious ....how can they run 4km within 29 mins with so many ppl around....

Nevertheless, the boys had fun.....drinking lots of 100 plus and munching bananas..heee

The boys also managed to draw crowds...with their spectacular feat!

The boys in action..

An Effiel Tower in Singapore??

The mischievious boys...

When the cans fall, the boys took intitaive to pick up the cans and disposed them properly..

Falling in to check strength before we leave the place...

Randy's birthday coincides with SAF And NCC Day!!

Celebrating Randy's Birthday together..

A group's photo of those who were there.....see you in MILK run 2008!!

3rd Day passed...

2007-06-28T00:59:00.001+08:00

Time flies.....monday was ok...not really tired....in fact, was excited to go back to school.
Monday was the 2nd time I workout in the newly renovated gym, run on the treadmill, went on to play street soccer for an hour, then back to the hall for some badminton action....since a long long time....

Tuesday was good...met a parent and get to know her problem better...wanted to help...but it's not an easy task! Sometimes, I lend my hand, but if the other side does not respond, it is very really an ardous task! But still will try my best...as I have always done....later was late for the dcom meeting....peace prevails the second day...keep it up

Everyday I'm getting more tired...Wednesday....had to do rehearsal with my boys....dishing out their hard-earned well-deserved badges so that they look good on Friday morning......was lucky today....managed to squeeze out half an hour for run.....ran non-stop 6 rounds, almost 5km...did about 50 push-ups....no sweat, chicken feet all the way!!!

I'm sure the students also get tired day by day...so the question is how can I make good use of time to engage them so that they don't feel bored and tired...It's a real tough job!
Ultimately....learning must take place...quality is more important than quantity no matter what...they must learn something!!

My reflection.........
Now thinking how to ensure more learning takes place, despite using less time and talking.....
Also thinking why they always say we aim at them???? just wana them to learn something and not waste time.......real discouraging to know that! Nevertheless, I am clear in my intention for them. LEARN SOMETHING and DUN WASTE TIME! The world is getting more competitive each day.......education is utmost an essential tool for them to earn a living and make full use of their precious life......hope they understand!

Welcome Back to Sem 2!

2007-06-24T15:05:00.001+08:00

Term starting soon...hope all of you have a good rest!
See you guys tomorrow :)

Quick Reflection @ Staff Retreat Jun 2007

2007-06-22T23:15:00.000+08:00

Just came back from 2D1N Staff Retreat at Bintan....
I had lots of fun facilitating new games and cohesiveness activities for staff (think sort of some improvement seen over the past 3 years), gained quite a few golden tips from Arrows with Soul on how I can improve my work-life integration (prioritizing events, strengthening core values, fostering my four quadrants of life, creating an integrated work-life plan, classifying value-added actvities and managing my Go Green bottle...thinking how to squeeze in the wooden thingie into my bottle...haha), sank into the mud and replanted many young mangrove saplings (shld be from the rhizophora family), had a relaxed swim in the beach pool at Nirwana Gardens...what a good break from work :) now gonna rest soon...really super tired! ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........

Message from Vietnam

2007-06-05T03:16:00.000+08:00

Dedicated to Mr Tommy from Singapore...

Tommy is explaining the war strategy of the Vietcong at Cu Chi Village.

What a fierce-looking Tommy! HAHA:)

From Mr Tommy in Ho Chi Minh City...thru MSN

tranquyen2001@yahoo.com sent 6/5/2007 12:05 AM:
hi, Mr Lim

tranquyen2001@yahoo.com sent 6/5/2007 12:07 AM:
how are you? please regard me to another teachers and your students. I miss them

tranquyen2001@yahoo.com sent 6/5/2007 12:25 AM:
your students are very nice, and some of them made a strong impression with me, specially, the little boy who said to good bye on the bus, he spent alot of time for study, a deep thinker with a mind of great depth. I hope the vietnamese young generation has the method of studying the same to him.

__________________________________________________________________

wow..bendemeerians had made a deep impression on others...Check out who's that little boy, a deep thinker with depth???

Guess that's how we can play a part as ambassador of Singapore! An active citizenry. Well done, good job, bendemeerians! O)

HUMANITIES FIELDTRIP MAY 2007 TO HO CHI MINH CITY

2007-06-05T01:21:00.000+08:00

The Vietnamese Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Hey everyone,

Recently, I went on a humanities fieldtrip with 29 other Sec 3 students and 3 colleagues (Ms Kam, Mrs Agnes Tan and Mdm Kaur) to Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon before 1975) in Vietnam from 26 to 29 May 2007.

Group Photo @ Notre Dome Church at Ho Chi Minh City

It was my maiden trip to Vietnam and I had always wanted to visit the country. During the 4-day trip, I immersed myself with plentiful of authentic Vietnamese culture and experiences on the local streets and from the environment (Saigon river, mangrove forest and so on). I also noted the infusion of Chinese-French traditions and architectural designs into the unique local culture which took many years to develop. The churches, temples, traditional practices, shophouses and buildings. It’s amazing to witness how a local culture changes with external influences over time.

Notre Dome Church

General Post Office

A Catholic Church in the City

A Buddhist Temple

Australasia Secondary Academy

The City Hall with Founder Ho Chi Minh

The Famous Ben Thanh Central Market

Furthermore, the country had lots of genuine war stories of the past which begins from the conquest by France in 1858. Vietnam later became part of French Indochina in 1887. After World War II, Vietnam declared independence but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and anti-Communist South.

We are at the jungle of Cu Chi (Viet=Thong Bao) Village.

Watching and listening attentively to the Video on Vietnam War

I'm giving OPS order at the Command Post of the VietCong in the Guerilla Base.

Benjamin pledging allegiance to the VietCong at the Guerilla Base in a mangrove swamp.

Vietcong in actions.

In 1959, the Vietnam War (also known as the Second Indochina War, the American War in Vietnam and the Vietnam Conflict) occurred. The Vietnam War concluded on 30 April 1975, with the Fall of Saigon. The war claimed 58,000 U.S. combat dead and the lives of between 2 and 5.1 million Vietnamese, a large number of whom were civilians. Although exact numbers are difficult to verify, the disparity in deaths illustrated the overwhelming superiority of U.S. firepower.

Vietcong getting ready to ambush American boats.

US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies.

However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries.

The tormentful events of the past wars and the necessary attempts for economic reforms to develop the country had indeed given me a deep and lingering impression of Vietnam and had ignited my curiosity to want to find out more about the country. I promised I will definitely go back to visit the place again one fine day.
__________________________________________________________________
Just imagine ourselves like Vietnam, a country which can withstand the ups and downs of life and always remain tough and sturdy, resistance and resilience to problems and challenges, we will always live a better life each day and excel in whatever we do. Have faith in ourselves always and we will live better each day!

Wow....what a long posting....hope u guys enjoy the readings! Good Luck!

by daniel

Some light-hearted facts about Vietnam:

Geography of Vietnam:

Southeastern Asia - Bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside with three countries China, Laos, and Cambodia

NEW GIRLFREN FROM HO CHI MIN CITY [:

2007-06-04T22:34:00.000+08:00

NEW GIRLFRIENDS FROM VIETNAM. [GREEDY MR LIM]

by XUefANG

My First Posting...

2007-06-02T15:00:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone,

This is my very first posting in this blog of mine...memorable times@ BS, done with the help from my little crazy student, XueFang...a talented and creative blogger who sometimes behave abnormally weird, laughing and sniggering loudly for no reasons when she is put together with Chooi Tene, another of my notti but fun-loving pupil...

Of course...they are all NICE people...hee hee

This blog is dedicated to all my students who went on or will be going on field trips and learning journeys with me to places everywhere...

Learning takes place BEST when we are put in a different environment!

Hooray^^ Feel free to add comments...but ps watch your language :) Thank You

:P

hiis`

2007-05-31T23:24:00.000+08:00

HELLO EVERIONE~
diis iis Mr Lim's blog!kindly link him...ThxuuE! [:
currentlii no tagboard soo ue may kindly leave a c0mment.
by XUEFANG xP