ALL ABOUT CRITICAL LITERACY

“Critical Literacy” is one of the subjects that Diploma in English Communication should take during semester four in Kolej Profesional Mara in order to pass the Diploma. According to the Heather Coffey, critical literacy is the ability to read texts in an active, reflective manner in order to better understand power, inequality, and injustice in human relationships. This means that critical literacy subject is really helpful for the students to have more efficient skills in reading, analyzing and make their own stand in the future. During semester two, I am closed with seniors in semester four, Mohd Wafiey. During the DECOM dinner, we had sat together and talked about the subject that he take in semester four. He started to tell about their final project and when it’s come to the Critical Literacy subject or mostly known as CL, he had said that this subject is quite difficult to carry on. Most of the seniors on that time claimed that Critical Literacy is one of the killer subjects in semester four. They had advice to us that we need to read more often in order to expand our knowledge and to make it easy to us to work on this subject. 

After he had told us about this subject, I feel quite stressed because I am afraid I cannot pass the subject with flying color. Seniors also said the keyword for this subject is thinking out of box and make more reading. At that time, I expect that this subject will be a most boring subject because it involves reading and thinking. I also expect that this subject will just be same like Historical subject and we need to memorize everything, sit quietly and think about the problem that will be given. It is my perception during in semester two. When the new semester began, I remembered what had been told by Wafiey and other seniors about this subject. When I take a look at the timetable for our new class, we had decided to choose Madam Zariati Radzali as our lecturer for this subject. It is because she really good in reading and we assume that she can help us in this subject. From the first sight, I assume that I cannot carry this kind of subject. I hope that this subject is not difficult as it had been said by the senior. 

Now, it is almost three month I had learnt this subject and so far, I feel enjoyed with this subject because it involves research and research. I do love research, but I do not have a sharpen mind to think critically and deeper for the problem or topic. It is quite interesting but it is quite challenging because of the loyal assignments and reading. Critical Literacy does help us to have a better thinking and make us do more reading for our future. Do not put 100% your trust to other person assumption on something before you try it by your own. Every person has their own point of view that is different from others. 

Remember. Always believe in yourself, take it or leave it.

ADIOS AMIGOS.! :D

HOLLYWOOD - GREAT MOVIES

Hollywood. Everybody knows about each story that had been produce by Hollywood country especially America. Horror, adventure, war, futuristic, real. This element is the main products that make their film achieve a very high rating in the whole world. They also produce a film that base on the ‘true story’. Question here, is that all of their films are really based on the true story same like what they had claimed? Based on the columnist column in New Straits Times on March 3, 2013, there has an issue about “Great movies, but they don’t always tell the truth. POETIC LICENCE: Hollywood movies on ‘true stories’ don’t necessarily mean they’re true.” This statement will make many people may questioning about the issue. Every audience want the best impact from the story but if they believe that the story that they watch is based on the true story but in reality the story is not truly based on the true story like what they claimed will make they spread a negative word of mouth about Hollywood movies.“True story”.  I agree with that statement which is Hollywood produces a great movie, but they do not always tell the truth even they claimed that it is based on the true story. Based on this proposition, Leslie Andres, New Straits Times editor had published an article that tells the whole world about the “true story” of Hollywood movies.

"Affleck's flick was torn apart because of one short sentence in the movie, where an American Central Intelligence Agency officer said British diplomats had turned away the US embassy staffers. The truth of the matter was that the Americans were told not to enter the British embassy as it, too, was surrounded by an angry mob."

This is one of the true stories that had been changing its fact by Ben Affleck. I agree with the proposition. First, sometimes, maybe there has hidden agenda that we do not know the reason why the producer make a changes on that story. Maybe he wants to hide or do not want to expose the real situation to the audience. “When the legend becomes fact print the legend. It’s a movie. Relax. Not every single detail has to be historically accurate.” The USC Film Students has stated that it’s a movie not a documentary. The story happened and it’s fairly factual. Movies are entertainment! And the audiences obviously loved it. Other than that, the producer also make a bit changes because to attract the audience's attention. They may put some additional "taste" to make it successful. Not the entire scene we can make as same as the real one. Adam Rosen, loyal fans of Hollywood story had stated that “Argo was a great movie, but it was definitely NOT the real story. The real story was pretty dull, actually. The CIA plan worked absolutely perfectly and was never in any jeopardy at all. Basically the entire second half of the movie was dramatized and fiction. That said, it was brilliant film-making and highly deserving of success, critical praise and awards.” So, sometimes it is a need to produced a movie that is apart from reality.


ADIOS AMIGOS.! :D

PRISONERS AND OPPORTUNITIES

“Prisoner to get varsity-level courses”. I am sure that for those who are read this title will make many assumption about this program because I do believe that some of us will said that it is not worth to give education to the prisoner because of their past history. Everybody has their right to change and to have their own future. We cannot simply judge the person based on their attitude, but we need to look deep in their heart. Just imagine if we are in their shoes. Based on my opinion after I had read the article “Prisoners to get varsity-level courses” on New Strait Times that had been published on 3 March, 2013, it is one of a good program that can enhance the skills and educational level of prisoners. Maybe before this they do not have any chances to study and that’s way it leads them to involve in crime. Who knows? Every people have their own hidden talents. This is the times for prisoner to prove to community that they also can improve themselves and can have their own future. This program will give a good impact not only for the prisoners but also for our country development. 

Home Affairs Ministry’s deputy secretary-general, Datuk Wahab Mohd Yasin has said that since July last year, there are about 1,764 prisoners had received certificates in skills training and 703 obtained certificates for other achievements. This statistic truly showed that they also have their own credibility that can change their life and give contribution for country’s development as well. Other than that, this program also had made the per cent of the prisoners to return to the jail decrease which is lower than 10 per cent. Only 36 people out of 8,269 prisoners returned to the prisons again. This shows that the program really make the prisoners change and give a big opportunity for them to have a better life. Money. Every single in this world needs money. Who knows the prisoner had become a criminal before because of their life’s hardship and this program will changed them into a better person. Maybe, outside there, there is no education center that willing to accept prisoner as one of their students, but actually they have their own specialty, maybe not in professional field but in skill area. This can be proved by the sales of handicraft made by prisoner last year where they had earned about RM17 million. 

From my opinion, this program has its own benefit that can help to change the prisoner’s life and attitudes. It is very important for this country to take opportunity on this program in order to decrease unemployment rate  because after they had been given a certificate based on their talent ad ability, there maybe have some firms or company dare to hire prisoners to work with them. Every people have their right to change. So, open up our mind, hearts and do give support for them to have spirit to change. Imagine that one of successful prisoner is one of your family members.

“Do not judge people by who they are in the past, but judge them by who they are now”

ADIOS AMIGOS.! :D