Goodbye EDU 3217…

All of a sudden, now it is week 14. This will be my last entry in this blog regarding this topic. For the past 14 weeks, I had learn many new thing, in this class, I had learn 3 major play and many minor plays. Plays such as Oedipus Res, King Lear, and The Swordfish, Then the Concubine in some way make me realize the power of the character. Although this plays maybe different when we come to see for their time, it still has the power to affect us. Oedipus was written thousands of years ago, and yet, in modern time, we still appreciate it. This goes the same to King Lear. However, The Swordfish, Then the Concubine is a play that is written not so long ago. And the issues are related to us. In my own opinion, I can say that a play has the power to spread the ideas of the script writers. As Mr. Kee said earlier, it is up to us to accept it or not. This class also teaches me to appreciate literature even more. The ideas that Dr Edwin had instill to me about drama, are meaning full. But nothing last forever, at the end of the day, I must say goodbye to this subject and even heart breaking, to Dr. Edwin, who had decided to retire. Best wishes to you, Dr, Edwin and thanks for the ideas and also knowledge that you have provided me for the subjects that you had taught me.

An afternoon with Kee Thuan Chye

Last Monday, I have the opportunity of a life time. Dr Edwin had personally called Mr Kee Thuan Chye to give us a lecture about his work. This is something new for me as I had never attended a lecture by one of Malaysian writers. Well the lecture was unlike any other lecture. Here, we are able to speak our mind freely. He is a play writer, who does not hide what he has to say. He is the author of March 8 that is about the revelation of the government. And he’s style of writing, I really admire. His hilarious ideas that he had incorporated in his play such as ‘The Swordfish, Then the Concubine’ makes the play spark to life. However, as he discusses about the play the issues, he had mentioned that the edition of the play that we had examined is different from his latest edition. He had mentioned also that a play is like a living organism, always evolved in time. And he said the issues that he had mentioned ten years ago are not relevant anymore now. Although I felt quite disappointed that the play might not come to Malaysia due to the economic crisis, he still gives us some hope that it will come. Just give it time. Overall, that session was very interesting and also an eye opener for me, who never takes plays serious

Simulated Teaching (Part 2)

Today, I have finally have presented my simulated teaching. It is a major relief for me as before the presentation, I was getting pretty nervous. However, I gather all my strength, and decided to go early instead waiting for the last one to present. As for this time, I have to give a lesson on pre and while reading based on the story ‘The Ring Doesn’t Fit’ by Tan Kee Aun. Prior for this lesson, I had prepared chosen an extract and also set some questions that I think that the students could handle them. However, in the middle of my lesson, I had gone slightly different from my teacher’s guide that I had given to our tutor, Mr. Harold. I think that he had realized it. And he say ‘Ok, conclude your lesson’. Actually, the main idea that I am trying to say here is that do not take easily on your simulated teaching. Maybe it is called ‘simulated’, it is a practice for us, future teachers to be good at what we are at, that is teaching. as a whole, I had gain more experience from this activity. Teaching drama in classroom!

Simulated Teaching (Part 1)

I always wonder why lectures always stress the importance of set induction. Then it’s my turn to become a teacher. During simulated teaching, I have the opportunity to conduct my own lesson. During this time, now I know why set induction is important in teaching. Set induction is like an eye opener for students to understand the content of the lesson. It is to open their schemata. In order to do this, as teachers, we must carefully plan how to create a good set induction. For this class, I had chosen to use questions to start my class. These questions are related to the play that I am going to teach for that day. It is important to get the whole class participation so that they will want to keep on learning. So, I had asked the whole class questions. And they had response. Here, I would like to say thank you to my classmates because they had been supportive during my simulated teaching session.

From hero to zero.

From hero to zero, that is the only term that I can come up when I come to think of Oedipus. The reason is that he had signs that not to know of his history. Tiresias had warned him that not to know of his history. But due to his ignorance, he had found out the truth. The literary element in the story is different from the other drama that I had learnt before. Maybe it is because this was among the earliest drama in the world. Greek tragedy. But, in a way, this drama can be considered interesting. The idea that Sophocles uses for this drama is very appealing. The idea of the sighted is blind in knowledge and the blind is full of knowledge really makes me think. It makes me think that have I have the knowledge more than the blind or the blind can ‘see’ better than me. This issues makes readers think and also makes the story more interesting. At the end of the story, Oedipus had blind himself and was exile. His wishes came true! From a King to a peasant, from a hero to zero.

1 act play for 15 minutes...

My first experience writing a play is not a pleasant one. The reason is that I struggle to come out with an idea to write the play. But, fortunately, I have a partner who I can brainstorm for ideas. Although we had combined our idea into a play, it is still hard for me to come out with the play. Our first draft that we had submitted to Dr. Edwin was a disaster! The comment that we got back was somehow heartbreaking and demoralizing. However, we had come up with a slightly different idea to the play. This time, we had a better understanding of how to write a play and it was slightly easier. We have the power to create the character, to come up with the plot and also the theme of the story. At the end of the day, writing a play is fun, but is not for the faint hearted!

Elizabeth, the virgin Queen of England.

A few weeks ago, Dr Edwin had asked us to watch a movie called Elizabeth, The Golden Age. It was quite interesting because I finally see how a Queen of Victorian age rules. Furthermore, I also could see how the society at that period of time. The term of ‘Virgin’ is because Queen Elizabeth remain unmarried until to her death. One of her move of becoming a Queen is that she supported the upbringing of protestant church in England. Now it is known as the church of England. Her charisma as a ruler in a country had made me to admire her. The war she faught with Spain was one of her major accomplishment. This shows how woman could also lead a country. Not any woman, a single and ‘virgin’. She had leaded her country for so many years until she had died. During her time, the emergence of literature shows that she was a clever Queen who accepts changes. Shakespeare, is one of the famous name that we still admire!

Tiresias, The Blind Prophet!

There are many version of Tiresias if we google it on the internet. However, one of the most interesting versions of Tiresias that I had encounter is that Tiresias had the pleasure of being man and also woman. The story begins as Tiresias was walking in the woods. As he was walking, he saw two giant serpents were mating. He struck it with his staff. And he was transform into a woman. A few years later, he encounters the same incident in the woods. He or it was she at that time did the same thing as before, she struck her staff and she becomes a man one again. He becomes a prophet for Zeus also. It was an incident where Zeus of Hera was arguing about their sex. However, Tiresias sides Zeus and made Hera angry, and blinded him. Zeus had made him his prophet after that incident. Tiresias is an important character in Oedipus Rex is because that he represent knowledge although he is blind. He is also the one who told Oedipus that he was his father’s murderer.

Cultural dance.

To tell you the truth, I do not have that much of experience of dancing. However, I do have little experience about it. When I was in school, I was active with scouts. Well during one camping I have to perform a cultural dance. So I have chosen a Malay cultural dance which is the ‘Joget’. Well, my experience is that is hard to perform the dance. Because I can’t dance. But, I managed to do it. During that time also, I was exposed to other form of Malay cultural dance such as the ‘Dabus’ which originated from the Jawa Island. And when I was in IPTI, I was exposed to other cultural dance such as the Indian dance, the Chinese fan dance, and others. And during that time also, I was exposed to ‘Zapin’ which is another form of Malay cultural dance. And we have to perform in front of thousands of people in Johor Bahru during our independent celebration. In my opinion, cultural dance affects us as a nation. The reason is that, cultural dance is a heritage that our forefather has passed down to us to inherit. This is a symbol that we are, what culture, and the place where we come from. To tell the truth, I was fortunate to learn this dance and I appreciate the form of the dance. The movement, the graceful steps which mesmerizes me.

A new beginning!!

A new semester and a new subject. For this semester, I have the opportunity to learn the art of drama. It is not easy to learn a new subject as hard as drama. However, I hope with the guidance from Dr Edwin, I would be able to understand the art of drama. This semester also, I will have the chance to learn and examine some of the greatest drama writers such as Shakespeare and also some of our local drama writers. Not only I will learn the art of drama, I will also learn the art of language that the writers use in their plays. And language is one the most important element in a play. Setting, character trait, plot, also will have a difference from last semester which I had learn short stories. I really hope this semester will be a fun semester.