Happy belated new year 1431H

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

UK was a great trip and the graduation went well alhamdulillah. After I was back in Malaysia, there were just too much things to catch up with because the week after my arrival back in Malaysia is the beginning of the new semester. I was given three new subjects and I have taken some times in Cambridge to look for some materials. Yet, when I came back, it wasn't preparing for the lectures that I was assigned to do but other administrative stuff like quality assurance, accreditation, auditing, bla, bla, bla. It actually wasted like a week of my time while combating with the awful jet lag (I literally sat on my office chair and started to snor away in that upright sitting position without any support!).

Anyway, this is the end of the second week of the new semester, so things have begun to get a bit more stable. And it was Christmas holiday yesterday, so took a bit of time off and remembered that I still have a blog to update, after leaving it behind my mind for a long time.

A brief reflection of my visit to the UK. GREAT! No other words can describe it. Though I didn't get to meet everyone I want to but I have met more people than I would have ever imagined in a very short visit. Alhamdulillah. Really appreciate those friends who kindly let me stay at theirs, use their space, eat their food, take their time, etc. May ALLAH reward them abundantly and may they make all these halal for me.

Taking on new subjects is a big challenge for a new lecturer like me. More so, if it is a master subject because I have to prepare for 42 hour of intellectual and academical lectures for the level of a master degree. I have to prepare and deliver more than what I know and read. This can only mean that I won't be able to sleep the night that I am preparing the lecture because I feel like doing an assignment that dues every week! And there are four assignments (four subjects this semester - two undergraduate's and two postgraduate's) with four different datelines every week! Do you still want to be a lecturer?

Anyway, as time passes, we are now already in the new year of 1431H. So, happy belated new year! Today is 9th Muharram and tomorrow is 10th Muharram or the Ashura Day. Don't forget to fast today (if not, take the 11th) and tomorrow because the Prophet Muhammad (saw) had asked us to do so though it is not compulsory. Why 9th or 11th? Well, the explanation should start with why 10th?

10th of Muharram in the Abrahamic faith has a significant history. It is on this day that ALLAH saved Prophet Musa or Moses (as) and his people (most of them are what we known today as the Jews or actually they are the children of Prophet Ya'akub or Jacob (as) or the Israelites). So, when the muslims immigrated to Madinah from Makkah, they saw that many Jews fasted on this day to remember the day that their ancestors were saved. This marks the day they called Yom Kippur - which literally means the day of attonment. The Jews fast for 25 hours on this day. When this news came to the Prophet Muhammad (saw), he said that the muslims are more deserving to fast on this day because Musa is more deserving to the muslims than the Jews.

And it was actually made compulsory to fast on this day before the commandment of obligatory fast for the muslims in the month of Ramadhan in the year 624. So the fast on this day is highly recommended although not compulsory. Later, the Jews started to mock the muslims for following them to fast on the day of Ashura, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) made the determination by saying "inshaALLAH" that he will fast another day together with the day of Ashura in the coming year to differentiate the fast of the muslims from the Jews. But ALLAH took his life away before he met the next Muharram. So, fasting on 9th or 11th of Muharram is recommended as well because it is like a will of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) to his ummah.

If this doesn't get you to want to do some voluntary fast, what about this hadith:

Muslim reported from Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said , "The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer." [Muslim, 1163]

So, it is good to fast anyway in this month. Pick any days that you are convenient to do so. Only that Ashura Day has more signficance than the other days in this month:

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura' (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year”(Muslim)

It is mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he was asked about fasting the Day of `Ashura [10<sup>th</sup> of Muharram]. He said, "I did not see the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) fast a day while more avid to seek its virtue than this day, (meaning the Day of `Ashura)." [Bukhari (2006), and Muslim (1132)]

It has been reported from Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As (Allah be pleased with him), that "Whoever fasts `Ashura it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year."

So, happy new year and may your fast be accepted by ALLAH, that your fast is counted as like fasting for an entire year and all you sins of the previous year will be expiated. Amin.

ALLAHU'alam.

Wassalam.

Kursus Kepimpinan Pensyarah Muda 1/09

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

I have attended a great course over the past week or less. It is a course designed for young lecturers from government universities across the country. So far, there are 20 such universities in Malaysia and each of them have to nominate 5 lecturers below 35 years old to attend the course. I was hesitated to attend because previously the course was held at BTN, which is like in the remote area of nowhere and the training was like semi-military, living in a big dome with poor facilities and so on.

However, this time, for the first time, the course was organised at INTAN, a venue that usually is used for executive government servants like the school principals, professors, senior officers, etc. We were lucky to be placed here where we each were given a room with another room-mate. The room is en-suite and air-conditioned. Really, we have no complain on the accommodation and food here. The facilitators were very friendly, supportive and helpful. Not like the BTN's facilitators that are trained to pressure the participants.

There were a few sessions of talks by various senior government officers from the departments of anti-corruption, national security, diplomat, protocols, islamic affairs and leadership training. We also had a few physical training in groups and daily exercises. The most exciting part is the adventure in the jungle where we did some hiking, crossed some rivers and walked into two caves with the water level went up to 6 feet deep and filled with lime stones. There is also no examination for this course. I really enjoyed it and would like to recommend it to other young lecturers who have not attended this course before.

The most valuable experience in this course is the friendships built throughout the course with all the young lecturers across the country. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other, exchange opinions and update each other about stuff happening around the country. Even a facebook group is set up for all the participants in this course.

ALLAHU'alam.

Wassalam.

Faculty's Family Day

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

For the past two days, I stayed at a resort about an hour away from my house for our faculty's family day. I didn't expect that much from this event because I thought that it really is a waste of time, energy and money. All I can see from an event like this is just to strengthen the bonds between the members of the faculty. We work at the same place everyday and probably see each other like nearly everyday. Although there are more than 150 of us in a faculty, both academic and administrative staffs, it's not like I don't know them. Of course, not that close, that's why I thought that the ultimate goal for a family day like this is to make the relationships between us closer.

Anyway, it was a packed event. We started on Saturday morning with telematch. Before that, I have arranged a few other female staffs to go there in my car to save money and environment! It was a pleasant journey. After the fun of telematch, we went for bowling. This was my second time and my first time was like 8 years ago. I have never been a good bowler and I obviously sent the ball into the gutter a few times and hit a strike randomly, I think that has nothing to do with my skill.

We checked in a big villa together with another 10 bacheloresses (or more precise, single ladies). It was fun staying with just girls because in other 14 villas, each room was occupied by a family, so it's like 5 families in a villa, not that fun. Anyway, in the afternoon, it's the Quality Day of the faculty - a formal function to celebrate the success of the faculty in various fields of academia and non-academic matters. In the evening, it's the Eid Dinner (though it's the end of Shawal, people still are celebrating Eid in Malaysia - it's a month of celebration here, funny Malaysians. Also, Saturday was Deepavali Day or Diwali). I really enjoyed the night cause those in my table were a bunch of happy young tutors and lecturers. We had a big roasted whole sheep! This is the first time I saw a big roast sheep on the table.

The next morning, we played futsal while the guys played netball. My team won the match and now my body is aching and soar all over, after like a few good month not having any proper exercise. On the way back, we dropped by a fishing village to buy fresh crabs. When we arrived, the fisherman just brought in two baskets of freshly-off-the-boat sea crabs. Later, we dropped by Nando's for lunch before we headed back.

This Wednesday until next Monday, I'll be at Sungai Petani, Kedah for a boring and purposeless (or for useless purpose) training - BTN - basically to make you more patriotic to the country by going for a week of camping. It's really a stupid idea, a product of the governing party who think that people can be brain-washed and fixed in just a few days of camping, who think that people will not vote for them if they don't play racial issues, who think that by not voting them means that they don't love the country, who think that they are the only legitimate party to govern this country and plunge the money of the people of this land. Really, I think I just want to fail this camp (yes, they test you at the end) and they can tell my employer about my performance there, so they will never want to send me to this kind of camp anymore. See, by sending me means that I represent this institution. If I failed, and this camp has nothing to do with my job as a lecturer, they will not want the name of UTM shamed. Why not just fail it?

ALLAHU'alam.

Wassalam.

Outstation

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

It was a busy week. With only 3 weeks left before the final exams and a close to this semester (14 weeks!), everything was packed right at the end of the semester. I have to finish the trainee teachers supervisions who were placed far from UTM. It is in Muar, about 2 hour drive from UTM. I used to drove there in the morning and came back late in the afternoon. But seeing that I need to finish the supervision and many of the classes are scheduled at 7.30am, I decided to stay at Muar for 2 nights.

I have been at Muar and stayed there before but that was at my friend's house while I was doing the same thing like now. But then my friend was still living and working in Muar. Now that she has moved to somewhere at Gelang Patah, I don't seem to have any choice but stay at a hotel. It wasn't a pleasant thing for a single woman to stay at a hotel by herself! That was what I have been avoiding but since I had to supervise classes at 7.30am, meaning that if I had to drive from UTM, I will have to start my journey at 5am, which is one hour before Fajr! So, no because it is worse to travel alone at night and stop at any random R & R to pray Fajr.

After surveying with my colleagues who have been staying at Muar for a few times, they recommended Muar Traders Hotel is the best for me because of the location, safety of parking and convenient in looking for food and stuff. When I walked into the hotel, a staff member asked me if I'm a school student! You see, people working in the hotel always think that a young woman (looks young) only stay at a hotel because she has a sugar daddy or what. I had to prove that I'm a government officer to avoid such a fitnah.

Anyway, other than that unpleasant first impression, it was not a too bad experience staying there. The utmost reason is that it has free wireless service inside every room! Alhamdulillah, I still can work while away from my office and chat with friends. The view from my room was quite nice because the hotel is just next to the Muar River. I came back every evening after the supervision and bought some food for dinner. After that, I didn't go out until 7am to the school again.




On 30th September, it was raining and I was driving in the busy town. A car in front of me was reversing from the side street (where it is illegal to park cars) and I had to brake but I didn't make such an abrupt brake, it was a slow brake. And then a loud bang behind me, I didn't feel anything so just moved on as usual. When I looked at my back mirror, I saw a motorcycle and a girl on the street. I stopped my car and parked it aside and quickly walked to the motorcycle. She was sitting on the street with her helmet still attached on her head but the motorcycle's side mirror was broken and the battery was sticking out of the body. I quickly helped her to get up while 2 passer-bys offered to help as well. They picked up her motorcycle and parked it in a building's ally way. I tried to talk to her by asking her name but she was too dizzy or shocked maybe to reply. I asked if any part of her body was hurting, she said her shoulder. So I offered to bring her to the hospital.

While in the car, I asked her name and age. She was only 19 years old and so I asked her to phone her elder brother or sister or father. She refused, maybe too scared, so I drove her to a clinic but they advised us to go to a government hospital. Upon hearing that, she asked me just dropped her at her work place not far from the place of accident. I insisted to go to the hospital and asked her to phone her father. She said she was fine and her shoulder was not hurting anymore. I insisted to bring her to the hospital but she refused and so she phoned her father but he didn't pick up the phone. I asked if her motorcycle is insured, she replied no. So upon her request I sent her to her work place where her father can come and pick her up later.

I didn't take her contact number because I don't think it is a good idea to ask her to pay for my car. According to the law, if you hit a vehicle in front of you, it is your fault even though you may say that the vehicle in front of you made the mistake first. It happened to me once when a lorry came out of no where from a junction and the car in front of me made a sudden brake, I hit it right at the back and I was the one who had to pay. Anyway, in this case, I had to let her go because her motorcycle was in a bad shape and there was no insurance coverage for that, and she is only 19 years old.

There was a significant damage on the body of the back of my 3-month old car. I think that must be where her head hit. That's why she was so shocked. Alhamdulillah, no one was injured in this little accident and I hope she fixed her motorcycle. I travelled back to UTM again on Thursday afternoon in time to prepare for my Eid Open House - a tradition that many muslims in Malaysia do for a whole month of Shawal - which was scheduled on Friday. More than 150 guests (colleagues and students) were invited not just as a celebration for Eid but also to give thank on my PhD completion. Not much were prepared, only normal Malay Eid food like rice, ketupat, beef rendang, lodeh (lontong), nut sambal, watermelon and sirap juice, and of course kuih raya.

Eid Mubarak - still.

Wassalam.

Academic Discussion - Report

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

On Ayien's request, here is the result of the discussion:

Attendance: 60++ (some who came late didn't sign the attendance), including the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International Affairs) of UTM

The report is in Malay and I'm sorry for not being able to provide a translation of the report. However, the conclusion is that Malay Language should be used as the main language for teaching and learning at the university but English Language should be improved to enhance student learning and to prepare them for their future endeavour, either in their career or further study.

Wassalam.

p/s: the report below could be looked better in .pdf format but I don't know how to upload it here or attach it here.

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Laporan ringkas hasil perbincangan “Diskusi Khas: Implikasi Pemansuhan PPSMI Terhadap P & P di IPTA” pada 9hb September 2009 di Dewan Senat, UTM Skudai.

Diskusi ini dihadiri oleh lebih kurang 60 orang staf akademik, staf sokongan dan pelajar yang berminat tentang isu ini. Turut hadir dalam diskusi ini adalah Yang Berbahagia Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd. Azraai bin Kassim, Timbalan Naib Canselor (Akademik & Antarabangsa) dan Prof. Dr. Mohd Salleh bin Abu, Dekan Fakulti Pendidikan. Diskusi dimulakan tepat pada jam 2.20pm dengan ucapan aluan Pengerusi Majlis, Prof. Madya Aziz bin Nordin, pensyarah Fakulti Pendidikan dan diikuti oleh ucap utama oleh Prof. Dr. Noor Azlan bin Ahmad Zanzali, Ketua Jabatan Pendidikan Sains & Matematik, Fakulti Pendidikan berkaitan hasil kajian pelaksanaan PPSMI di 160 sekolah di seluruh negara yang dianjurkan oleh Pembina. Menerusi kajian yang menggunakan kaedah tinjauan interaktif, didapati tahap penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris (BI) dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran (P & P) di sekolah adalah pada tahap yang rendah khususnya di sekolah-sekolah luar bandar (Pembina, 2009). Kini isu pengajaran dan pembelajaran sains dan matematik bukan lagi tertumpu kepada pengajaran untuk meningkatkan kemahiran BI tetapi apakah bahasa yang
paling sesuai atau kaedah P & P yang paling efektif untuk menyampaikan ilmu sains, matematik dan teknologi.

Pada jam 3.00pm, Diskusi I yang bertajuk “Pro dan Kon Pemansuhan PPSMI” dimulakan oleh Prof. Madya Dr. Md. Nor bin Bakar, pensyarah Fakulti Pendidikan. Ini diikuti oleh Diskusi II yang bertajuk “Arah Tuju P & P di UTM” pada jam 3.45pm yang diketuai oleh Prof. Madya Dr. Mohammad Yusof bin Arshad, pensyarah Fakulti Pendidikan. Akhirnya, program ini ditutup dengan Sesi Pergulungan yang ringkas oleh Prof. Dr. Noor Azlan bin Ahmad Zanzali. Berikut merupakan ringkasan daripada perbincangan yang dibahagikan mengikut kategori.

1. Kebanyakan peserta bersetuju bahawa Bahasa Melayu (BM) dan Bahasa Inggeris (BI) adalah penting untuk pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam sains, matematik dan teknologi:

Mendaulatkan Bahasa Melayu dan pada masa yang sama Bahasa Inggeris dipentingkan

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Termizi bin Ramli (FS)

BI perlu dikuasai tetapi BM perlu menjadi asas kepada kita dalam mendapatkan ilmu

Prof. Madya Ainullotfi bin Abdul Latif (FKM)

BM penting untuk negara, tetapi BI tidak boleh diabaikan

En. Johari bin Hassan (FP)

Graduan UTM diharap dapat menguasai kedua-dua BM dan BI serta ilmu sains dan teknologi. BM didaulatkan tetapi BI juga dikuasai pelajar.

Prof. Dr. Noor Azlan bin Ahamd Zanzali (FP)

2. Kebanyakan peserta bersetuju dengan penggunaan dwibahasa dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran di UTM:

Penggunaan dwibahasa – BM bahasa rasmi, BI digunakan juga dalam P & P bila perlu

Prof. Madya Ainullotfi bin Abdul Latif (FKM)

40:60 BI:BM untuk semua mata pelajaran termasuk pengajian Islam, BM 100% adalah ditolak.

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Termizi bin Ramli (FS)

Mengajar sebahagian dalam BM dan BI

En. Hassan bin Hushin (FP)

3. Tetapi ada yang mencadangkan BI sepenuhnya:

Subjek sains & teknologi 100% dalam BI – IPT ke atas (Tingkatan 3 ke bawah gunakan BM manakala Tingkatan 4 ke atas mula gunakan BI untuk mata pelajaran sains tulen dan matematik)

Prof. Madya Dr. Seth bin Sulaiman (FP)

4. Ada juga yang berpendapat bahawa P & P mestilah dalam BM:

BM adalah bahasa perpaduan dan termaktub dalam Perlembagaan penggunaannya dalam sistem pendidikan di Malaysia.

En. Kassim bin Thukiman (FPPSM)

5. Jadual 1 menunjukkan sebab-sebab bagi perbezaan pendapat di atas.

Jadual 1: Sebab-sebab bagi perbezaan pendapat tentang penggunaan bahasa dalam P & P di UTM

Bantahan ke atas penggunaan BI sepenuhnya
• Termaktub dalam Perlembagaan penggunaan BM dalam sistem pendidikan Negara (En. Kassim)
• Tujuan pendidikan dan bahasa kebangsaan adalah untuk perpaduan, jadi BM adalah medium untuk mencapai perpaduan (En. Kassim)
• Ahli politik menggunakan BM (En. Kassim)
• Kemasukan pelajar ke IPTA khususnya UTM yang berasaskan S & T akan dikuasai oleh mereka yang mahir BI dan biasanya bukan dari kalangan Melayu – buktinya adalah UTM sebelum 1973 hanya terdapat 10% pelajar Melayu tetapi menjadi 90% pada tahun 1974 apabila dasar bahasa ditukar (En. Kassim & Prof. Termizi)
• Aliran sains tulen akan dikuasai pelajar yang pandai BI manakala aliran sastera akan dipenuhi pelajar Melayu yang lemah BI (Prof. Termizi)
• Wujud ‘simpton malu bertanya’ di kalangan pelajar dalam P & P BI, pelajar tidak faham apa yang diajar dan tidak tahu apa yang hendak ditanya (Ismail, pelajar)
• BM lebih mudah difahami, kenapa perlu ditukar ke BI sedangkan pembelajaran S & T melibatkan otak kiri manakala bahasa otak kanan (Ismail, pelajar)
• Akan wujud jurang yang lebih jauh antara pelajar bandar dan luar bandar, pelajar aliran sains tulen dan sastera (Prof. Termizi)
• Bimbang BM akan pupus (Prof. Termizi)
• Akta IPTA tidak menyebut penggunaan BI di IPTA (En. Hassan)

BM & BI
• Win-win situation (Prof. Termizi)
• BM perlu dimartabatkan manakala BI perlu dikuasai (Prof. Termizi, PM Ainul, En. Hassan, En. Johari)
• Dilaksanakan secara bertahap-tahap (Prof. Termizi)
• Pelajar tetap boleh mencapai kecemerlangan di luar negara walaupun diajar dalam BM (PM Ainul)
• Perbendaharaan kata BM bagi bidang aeronautik telah dibina selama 20 tahun (PM Ainul)
• Belajar dalam BM dan berfikir dalam BI (PM Ainul)
• Bimbang BM akan pupus sekiranya menggunakan BI 100% di IPT (Prof. Termizi)
• BI perlu dikuasai, jati diri negara sendiri juga perlu dipertahankan (Prof. Termizi)
• BM terbukti berjaya dalam ilmu sains & teknologi (Prof. Termizi)
• BM digunakan bukan kerana tidak pandai BI (Prof. Termizi)
• Pelajar sukar memahami dalam BI sahaja (Prof. Termizi, En. Hassan)
• 70% pelajar UTM Tahun 1 mendapat MUET Band 1 sahaja (En. Hassan)
• Negara Scandinavian boleh dijadikan contoh untuk Malaysia (PM Ainul)
• Iceland mempertahankan bahasanya (Prof. Termizi)

Sokongan ke atas pengguanaan BI sepenuhnya
• UTM bergerak ke arah pengantarabangsaan dan pengaruh BI dalam ilmu S & T tidak dapat ditolak (PM Dr. Seth)
• Kertas kerja Impact Factor yang tinggi adalah dalam BI, maka pelajar dan pensyarah perlu menguasai BI untuk penerbitan (PM Dr. Seth)
• Bahan-bahan ilmiah terkini online dalam BI, kecuali kita dapat meningkatkan aktiviti penterjemahan dengan pantas, kita tidak dapat kejar ilmu terkini seperti mana Jepun yang mampu menghasilkan penterjemahan ilmu terkini dalam masa 2 minggu ke dalam Bahasa Jepun (PM Dr. Seth)
• Bahasa hanyalah kod, yang penting adalah ilmu. Ilmu sekarang banyak menggunakan kod dalam bentuk BI (PM Dr. Seth)
• Hanya mata pelajaran sains & teknologi dalam BI manakala yang lain kekal dalam BM (PM Dr. Seth)
• Setuju pasca ijazah diajar dalam BI (En. Hassan)
• Perlu melihat keperluan semasa (PM Dr. Baharin)

6. Pengalaman mengajar dalam BM dan BI:

Pelajar mengalami masalah pemahaman konsep dalam BI.

Prof. Madya Ainullotfi bin Abdul Latif (FKM)

Pengajaran Fizik sukar sampai kepada pelajar dalam BI

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Termizi bin Ramli (FS)

Dalam kelas Tahun 1, bagi pelajar SPI (Kursus Pendidikan Pengajian Islam), pensyarah lebih menggunakan BM; tetapi bagi pelajar SPL (Kursus Pendidikan TESL) pensyarah menggunakan BI. Guru-guru pelatih di sekolah melaksanakan PPSMI tetapi pelajar tidak faham pengajaran guru pelatih dan memaksa guru pelatih menggunakan BM.

En. Johari bin Hassan (FP)

Pelajar mengalami kesukaran belajar falsafah dalam BM tetapi lagi sukar dalam BI

En. Hassan bin Hushin (FP)

7. Isu bahan pengajaran dan pembelajaran:

Tiada bahan dalam BM kalau tidak mula mengetengahkan penggunaan BM dalam pembelajaran sains & teknologi.

En. Johari bin Hassan (FP)

Perlu cepat menterjemahkan bahan ilmiah terkini ke dalam BM.

Prof. Madya Dr. Seth bin Sulaiman (FP)

8. Isu Pengantarabangsaan:

UTM menuju pengantarabangsaan, oleh itu, BI harus menjadi medium dalam kuliah.

Prof. Madya Dr. Seth bin Sulaiman (FP)

UTM mengambil pensyarah antarabangsa

Prof. Madya Dr. Mohammad Yusof bin Arshad (FP)

Pelajar antarabangsa pun perlu berbahasa Melayu.

En. Hassan bin Hushin (FP)

Pelajar asing menggunakan kamus elektronik dalam kuliah

En. Johari bin Hassan (FP)

Pelajar antarabangsa bukan isu kerana pelajar antarabangsa kebanyakannya pasca ijazah. UTM tidak perlu ubah bahasa demi sebilangan kecil pelajar antarabangsa keran UTM perlu memberikan keutamaan kepada pelajar sendiri bukan pelajar antarabangsa khususnya di peringkat pra ijazah. Oleh itu, tidak wujud isu pensyarah perlu menggunakan BI di dalam kuliah kerana isu pengantarabangsaan.

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Termizi bin Ramli (FS)

9. Isu-isu lain:

Ada yang berpendapat bahawa isunya bukanlah bahasa yang digunakan tetapi bagaimana bahasa tersebut digunakan untuk mengajar. Isunya bukan bahasa tetapi strategi bahasa digunakan kerana guru tidak diajar kaedah mengajar menggunakan BI dan kadang kala pelajar tidak tahu guru sedang membetulkan bahasanya dan memberikan maklumat yang tidak benar kepada pelajar, contohnya perkataan ‘Okay’ sering menimbulkan salah faham.

Pn. Azian binti Abd Aziz @ Ahmad (FPPSM)

12 tahun persekolahan tidak dapat menguasai BI tetapi kursus 3-6 bulan BI ke luar negara mampu menguasai BI. Ini menunjukkan bahawa kurikulum BI di sekolah tidak sesuai untuk membantu pelajar menguasai BI – KPM perlu meneliti isu ini.

Prof. Madya Dr. Baharin bin Abu (FP)

Cadangan:

a. Wujudkan dua sistem:
UTM boleh mewujudkan dua dasar:
1. menggunakan BM sebagai asas, pelajar antarabangsa perlu belajar BM
2. Pelajar boleh graduate apabila cukup kredit seperti di US

Prof. Madya Dr. Baharin bin Abu (FP)

b. Polisi bahasa
Akta IPTA tidak menyebut penggunaan BI di IPTA.

En. Hassan bin Hushin (FP)

IPTA tidak mempunyai polisi bahasa yang jelas. kajian akademik diperlukan sebelum dasar bahasa ditetapkan, gunakan diskusi ini untuk membuat kajian.

Prof. Madya Dr. Md. Nor bin Bakar

c. Kajian akademik & diskusi lanjutan
Analisis semua isu yang dibangkitkan dan bahan ilmiah yang ada dengan rasional dan saintifik.

Prof. Madya Ainullotfi bin Abdul Latif (FKM)

Mencadangkan siri diskusi ke setiap fakulti – Road Show untuk mendapatkan pandangan yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan pentadbir dan pelajar dalam diskusi ini.

En. Hassan bin Hushin (FP)

Academic Discussion

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

Today, I'll be organising a special discussion or rather an academic colloquium that involves all the academic staff at UTM. It is a simple organisation but the topic is a very hot one.

See, Malaysian started to teach Science & Mathematics at schools using English in 2003 in the hope that the students' English will be improved since most of the science and mathematics learning materials online and worldwide are in English. This implicated the teaching and learning from the lowest to the highest educational institution. Now that the government has called it off because it is not helping the learning of Science and Mathematics, plus the English is not improving as well (according to some studies), so what is UTM suppose to do now?

This is why the discussion is organised and will be documented rather than all these academicians keep bringing it up through the emailing list. Surely no actions will be taken when people just randomly throw out their ideas on emailing list.

I don't know how many people will turn up today but I hope it is a successful one - that the objectives of the programme is achieved.

Wassalam.

NVivo

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

We are now having a short course on the use of NVivo - a software or tool to analyse qualitative data. I have learnt this when I was in Cambridge but that was like 3 years ago and at that time, the NVivo was still in version 5. Now it's version 8 and a lot have changed, plus a lot have been forgotten.

I did my PhD qualitatively but I did not use NVivo to analyse my qualitative data because I prefer analysing my data manually. Indeed it is adequate only that I need a big space to have all my data stuck up on the wall for me to refer.

It's quite a fun course cause there are not just me but also colleaugues. The facilitators are also our colleauges, a pair of husband and wife. Sitting next to me now is their daughter. She is ill hence not going to school. Instead, she is now searching for games online to play with me. We are going to play some games now. While waiting for her to download the game, I blog.

The one thing that I like about NVivo 8 is the Chart Wizard. It can produce a chart easily using the wizard. Sounds like Excel? Yes, but on top of that, the NVivo chart can be made in a 3-D format and it's very easy to read the data from the chart by just rolling over the mouse cursor on the part that we want to read. The photos below are just an example but it's not that clear. You can actually turn the chart 360 degrees wherever you like.

Anathor feature in NVivo that attracts quite a lot of people is model making. For example the model bottom.

That's far for today. The class has started.


Wassalam.

Blackout

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

Two weeks ago, there was a notice circulated around UTM that there will be disruption of electricity starting midnight until 7am this morning. Everyone was prepared for it and announcement has been made all over the whole campus. Two weeks ago, when I read the notice I phone the person in-charged to inquire further so that I can plan what actions can be made from our college to prevent unwanted incidents like break-in, theft, etc. because this is a female-only college. The officer explained that at midnight, the electricity will be cut off from the power station for maintenance and UTM will generate its own electricity and supply it stage by stage to the whole campus. He offered to supply the first generation of electricity to our college to answer my worry. Alhamdulillah.

That is what the officer has promised and alhamdulillah, he delivered his promise. There was actually no electricity disruption at all the whole night at our college. The rest of the campus didn't have any electricity for a short while. Really have to thank the officer for his kind co-operation. I slept before midnight and woke up for suhur. The light is still on, alhamdulillah. A simple test of blackout can actually teach everyone a lesson to be thankful of what we have. InshaALLAH a month of fasting will teach us a lesson to be thankful of what we have our dining table everyday.

Wassalam.

International students

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

Last night, after the terawih, one of our assistant fellow called for a meeting with all the international students at the college. There are basically 20-ish of them. Some have just moved here at the beginning of this semester and some have been here for at least 2 semesters. The point of the meeting is to let them know the rules and regulations of the college because at most of the time, all the announcements and booklets are in Malay. They don't really know what is happening in the college. They only live here because they have no choice. The worst is that they are paying more than the local students but aren't getting extra facilities.

There are a few from Iran and Turkey and one each from Sri Lanka, Iraq, Bangladesh and China. They are all muslim students who are doing various kinds of degree. While we were discussing the rules and regulations, they raised complains and issues that we cannot answered them. So we had to call the Principal (who is supposed to come to the meeting) to answer their questions. Alhamdulillah, they get to make their complains to the Principal and I really hope that the Principal is not just giving empty promises to them but to try and improve their situation here.

Finally, we appointed a representative among them and informed them the facilities that they can actually asked from the college if they want to organise some kind of activities among themselves. Hopefully this will increase their participation at the college and take away some benefits or sweet memories from this college.

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair of a) male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of ALLAH is (one who is) the most righteous of you...

~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah al-Hujurat
(Chapter 49, The Room) verse 13

Wassalam.

Blood Donation

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

Blood donation in Ramadhan - sounds odd? It is actually happening here at UTM, my workplace. Yesterday and today there is a blood donation session at the mosque. Of course, it is at night time after isha' prayer - 9.00pm-11.00pm. You don't release blood when you are fasting. Anyway, it was well received.

I went there last night after terawih prayer. The queue for registration was quite long. Alhamdulillah it's not too long of a wait. My blood count was at a good level for donation but my blood pressure initially was quite low when measured using an electronic device. When a manual machine was used, my blood pressure was at a normal level. Maybe they need to calibrate the electronic one. After fasting for 4 days, alhamdulillah, I still maintain my normal body weight. There are a few criteria for blood donation in Malaysia beside the blood count, being healthy and has the minimum body weight of 45 kg. One has to have at least 5 hours sleep before the donation, not donating because one wants to check if he/she is HIV positive and a woman donor cannot donate if she is in between 7 days before her normal period and 7 days after that.

In Malaysia, this is my third blood donation since 2005. The nurse was surprise that there was a big gap between my last donation in Malaysia and now. I explained to her my time in the UK and was going to ask if I can convert the several times of donation in the UK to be counted here but didn't. Felt like I was asking for rewards if I requested that. Basically, to encourage people donate blood, the Ministry of Health has promised certain medical benefits for the frequency of donation. For example getting free Hepatitis B immune injection after 2 times of donation.

After I have passed all the tests, the nurse gave me a packed meal (didn't expect that) - for suhur - and I waited for an empty bed. There were only six beds and I think that they did not expect such a good turn out at the blood donation session. I think cause this is a month for generosity, even donating blood is considered as a form of sadaqah, especially for poor students who can't afford to give sadaqah in the form of money. Moreover, giving blood can save life and in the Qur'an ALLAH says saving a life is like saving the whole humanity (Chapter 5, verse 32).

Finally, there was an empty bed for those who prefer to be jabbed at the right hand (I'm left-handed). The first thing the nurse did was jabbing my vein for needle insertion with a local anesthetic. I asked what was that injection for and she immediately showed me a very big needle. Unlike my experience in the UK, there is no such anesthetic jab prior to the needle because the needle was relatively smaller than the one here. This one was somehow bigger than my vein.

It didn't take long to get 300 ml of blood from me but it took a very long time for the blood to stop. Usually 3-5 minute of pressurising the cut area is enough to stop the blood, but after 3 times, mine was still bleeding. It took probably half an hour to stop. I have never experienced such a problem when I donated blood in the UK. Could it be the size of the needle?

While I was sitting there folding my arm to stop the bleeding, a reporter came and started to ask me for details. He was surprise that I am an academic staff because usually, those who come for blood donation are either students or non-academic staff. I was equally surprise to know that academic staff aren't keen to give blood or they might just go straight to the hospital to donate blood rather than waiting for a campaign like this?

By the time I got home, it was near to midnight. I pray that ALLAH accept my deed and may this little that I gave can bring happiness for anyone who receives it.

ALLAHU'alam.

Wassalam.