Hands on activity for the first poem- In The Midst Of Hardship - Form 4

Students get into groups and discuss.  They need to arrange the meanings given for each of the line in the poem.

The meanings are arranged in jumble up order.

                                 Each group will have one presenter to read out on what they have discussed.

This activity helps students to understand the poem easier as the meaning given is in simple language and it also helps students to understand word by word in each line.

Say It Right!

Check this out! 'Say It Right' column. Just English Magazine has created this column to assist you in your pronunciation. You will be able to hear the correct pronunciation for various words on this website. Soon, you will be able to pronounce these words and speak confidently.
http://magazine.justenglish.com/say-it-right/

My one, My two, My three

What is wrong with this sentence? “This computer is my one.”

The right sentence should be: This computer is mine.

“My one”  seems to be a translation from local languages. They have two words to show possession and maybe that is why they feel uncomfortable to say one word (mine) and they use two words g.

Bahasa Malaysia – saya punya (my possession)

Chinese – gua ei/ngor ke   – my one

Spell Right Game

Test your knowledge here!
http://magazine.justenglish.com/

NIE handled by Afternoon Teachers

He Had Such Quiet Eyes by Bibsy Soenharjo

He had such quiet eyes

She did not realise

They were two pools of lies

Layered with thinnest ice

To her, those wuiet eyes

Were breathing desolate sighs

Imploring her to be nice

And to render him paradise

If only she’d been wise

And had listened to the advice

Never to compromise

With pleasure-seeking guys

She’d be free from ‘the hows and whys’

Now here’s a bit of advice

Be sure that nice really nice

Then you’ll never be losing at dice

Though you lose your heart once or twice

SYNOPSIS

In this poem, the poet talks about the betrayal of a young girl’s feelings for a man. She believes in his sincerity to her as he had pleaded to her to surrender to him. She is taken in by his quiet eyes. If she had listened to advice about men who seek  pleasure, she would not be in this situation. The poet advises all young girls to be careful and not be betrayed by men.

THEME

• Betrayal of love
• Personal experiences
• Relationships that are meaningful

MORAL VALUES

• Don’t be naive and believe everything we are told especially in matters of the heart.
• We must be careful when choosing friends.
• Falling in love is normal but one should be careful.
• We must learn from the experience of other people.

TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHERE

• Refelective
• Sad and happy
• Sympathetic

POINT OF VIEW

• Second and third person points of view

LANGUAGE & STYLE

• Simple and easy to understand
• Simple style with rhyming scheme

POETIC DEVICES

• Imagery – e.g. ‘pools of lies’, ‘layered in thinnest ice’
• Symbol – e.g ‘quiet eyes’, ‘dice’
• Alliteration – e.g ‘lies layered’
• Personafication – e.g The eyes were ‘breathing the desolate sighs’ as though he was talking charmingly to her.

Are You Still Playing Flute?

The Original Version of the Poem

Masihkah Kau Bermain Seruling oleh Zurinah Hassan

Masihkah kau bermain seruling
walau waktu telah terlewat untuk kita bercinta
aku semakin terasa bersalah
melayani godaan irama
lagu yang tersimpan pada lorong halus buluh
dikeluarkan oleh nafas seniman
diukir oleh bibir
diatur oleh jari
dilayangkan oleh alun angin
menolak ke dasar rasa.

Masihkah kau bermain seruling
ketika kampung semakin sunyi
sawah telah uzur
waktu jadi terlalu mahal
untuk memerhatikan hujan turun
merenung jalur senja
mengutip manik embun
menghidu harum bunga.

Masihkah kau bermain seruling
ketika aku terasa mata bersalah
untuk melayani rasa rindu padamu
di kota yang semakin kusut dan tenat
adik-adikku menganggur dan sakit jiwa
bangsaku dipecahkan oleh politik
saudara diserang bom-bom ganas
dunia sudah terlalu tua dan parah.

Di sinilah berakhirnya percintaan kita
kerana zaman sedang menuntut para seniman
hidup di luar dirinya.

BIODATA OF ZURINAH HASSAN

• Date / Place of birth : 13 June 1949, Alor Setar Kedah.
• Permanent address : No.2, Jalan Pinggir, 8/1L, Seksyen 8, 40000 Shah Alam since 1974.
• Academic Qualifications : B.A.Hons (Universiti Sains Malaysia), M.A. (Universiti Putra Malaysia). Doktor Falsafah, Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya.
• Awards :
• 1. Anugerah Penulisan Asia Tenggara (S.E.A. Write Award) 2004
  2. Book Category Award
  i- Pujangga Tidak Bernama, Hadiah Sastera Perdana(1994/1995)
• ii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi, Hadiah Buku Perpustakaan Negara 2002/2004)
• iii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi , Hadiah Sastera Perdana 2002/2003.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute? by Zurinah Hassan

Are you still playing your flute?

When there is hardly time for our love

I am feeling guilty

To be longing for your song

The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo

Uncovered by the breath of an artist

Composed by his fingers

Blown by the wind

To the depth of my heart.

Are you still playing your flute?

In the village so quiet and deserted

Amidst the sick rice fields

While here it has become a luxury

To spend time watching the rain

Gazing at the evening rays

Collecting dew drops

Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

Are you still playing your flute?

The more it disturbs my conscience

to be thinking of you

in the hazard of you

my younger brothers unemployed and desperate

my people disunited by politics

my friend slaughtered mercilessly

this world is too old and bleeding.

SYNOPSIS

The poet is about a lady’s feelings concerning her partner who looks more interested in playing the flute which seems to be his passion. He is seemingly oblivious to what is happening to his family, relatives and friends. The lady feels guilty about imposing on him.

THEMES

• Family commitments
• Priorities in life
• Neglect of one’s duties

MORAL VALUES

• We should be aware of our family commitments and carry them out properly.
• Everyone has priorities in, life and we should know what is important and what is not.
• Following a hobby is good but there is a time for work and a time for play.

POINT OF VIEW

• The poem is the first point of view.
• The person is addressing another person and describing a situation to him.

LANGUAGE AND STLYE

• Rhetorical question
• Descriptive and questioning
• Simple style and no rhyme

TONE, MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE

• Sombre and regretful
• Serious atmosphere

POETIC DEVICES

• Imagery – e.g. ‘blown by the wind’, ‘depth of my heart’
• Alliteration – e.g. ‘fragrance of flowers’
• Symbol – e.g. ‘flute’, ‘song’
• Repetition – e.g. ‘Are you still playing your flute?’
• Figurative Language – Metaphor e.g. ‘The melody concealed in the slime hollow of bamboo – Personification e.g. ‘sick rice field’