Very Amazing YearS

Very Amazing YearS

For the very amazing years;

I have passed the roads of life;

Sometimes I passed smooth roads;

Some other time I passed stony sandy roads;

And even I had to climb up and walk through desert

And fell down several times.
Some other travelers did not care;

But there were still some others who gave their hands;

Pulling me up to walk again.

Many things happened along the trip of life;

But one thing for sure;

The more I walked, the stronger I became, and the more experiences I got.

I feel very grateful;

For having been in this very amazing years of life;

For having been together with kind travelers.

Indeed, this trip has not finished yet;

The very amazing years of life keep going on;

Walking through good and bad roads of life;

Facing, getting in touch with kinds of other travelers of life;

Doing and sharing good things as the mission of life;

Feeling grateful to God Who controls this trip of life;

Being thankful to other travelers;

And of course preparing myself to be ready to finish this trip of life.

  

(Subhan Shabri: February 25, 2020)

The Lion and the Rabbit

A cruel lion lived in the forest. Every day, he killed and ate a lot of animals. The other animals were afraid the lion would kill them all.

The animals told the lion, “Let’s make a deal. If you promise to eat only one animal each day, then one of us will come to you every day. Then you don’t have to hunt and kill us.”

The plan sounded well thought-out to the lion, so he agreed, but he also said, “If you don’t come every day,

I promise to kill all of you the next day!”

Each day after that, one animal went to the lion so that the lion could eat it. Then, all the other animals were safe.

Finally, it was the rabbit’s turn to go to the lion. The rabbit went very slowly that day, so the lion was angry when the rabbit finally arrived.

The lion angrily asked the rabbit, “Why are you late?”

“I was hiding from another lion in the forest. That lion said he was the king, so I was afraid.”

The lion told the rabbit, “I am the only king here! Take me to that other lion, and I will kill him.

The rabbit replied, “I will be happy to show you where he lives.”

The rabbit led the lion to an old well in the middle of the forest. The well was very deep with water at the bottom. The rabbit told the lion, “Look in there. The lion lives at the bottom.”

When the lion looked in the well, he could see his own face in-the water. He thought that was the other lion.

Without waiting another moment, the lion jumped into the well to attack the other lion. He never came out.

All of the other animals the forest were very pleased with the rabbit’s clever trick.

(Source: Paul Nation, 4000 Essential English Words 1, 2009)

How useful are comprehension questions?

 

Submitted by Mario Rinvolucri on 2 November, 2008 - 21:03

 

You may well ask me “How useful is the question in this title?” After all to check what a student has understood after listening to or reading an L2 text seems plain common sense. If it were not felt to be a sensible procedure why would course book writers supply comprehension questions in large quantities?

Teachers’ comprehension questions
Comprehension questions are a part of an EFL teacher’s arsenal that few people would regard as controversial. In ordinary conversation, in L1, it is quite normal to ask a comprehension question if you are unsure about what the other person has said. You might break into what they are saying and hypothesise: “Oh, so, do you mean that……?”
So, clearly, comprehension questions are a normal part of discourse. The difference is that, in normal conversation, it is the listener who decides to ask the speaker for clarification when he fails to follow what the other is saying. In the EFL class it is an external authority (course book/teacher) that initiates the comprehension checking.
When you come to think of it this is a very bizarre procedure: How on earth does a course book writer in North Oxford know where the linguistic difficulties in a reading passage will lie for a 16 year old in Cairo? Or a university student in Bangkok or a senior citizen in Hamburg?
One might reasonably expect that the undertow of Egyptian Arabic, Thai and German might affect the three learners differently in terms of their ability to comprehend the same passage.

Student comprehension
My first suggestion is that comprehension questions are the business of the students and no one else. One good way of dealing with a reading passage in class is to ask the students to read the text twice and then write 7 questions, each one aimed at a different, named classmate. The students themselves know, better than the teacher does, which classmate is likely to be able to give them an adequate answer. Once each student has written at least four questions, ask them to move around the room asking their questions and listening to the answers.

• This procedure is respectful of the students’ right to find out what they feel they have not yet grasped.
• This procedure links the course book passage to real people in the room.
• This procedure reduces the teachers’ preparation time (if she is in the habit of creating her own comprehension questions.)

Deletion, elaboration and transformation
Yet there are other deeper reasons for doubting the usefulness of the comprehension question in second language reading and listening. The comprehension question is based on the notion that a listener or reader is a sort of CD-ROM that accurately holds the entire in-coming message. This can never be the case. The normal act of listening or reading is always one of deletion, elaboration and transformation.

• The listener/reader will defocus from details that strike them as insignificant. These details will be deleted from the listener/reader’s memory.
• The listener/reader will elaborate the text as it hits the auditory circuits of her brain - if she is listening to a story the elaboration will often be visual and the listener will create her own ‘inner film’.
• In some cases the listener/reader will transform the text by framing it within previous experiences.

For example, I once told a group a tale about a wall girdling a town and the theme of the story was ‘fear’. One listener perceived the whole story in the political framework of the Berlin Wall and its breaching. This person ‘heard’ a much bigger story than I think I told.
Such deletion, elaboration and transformation are a part of the normal, everyday creativity of listening and reading. When I tell a story to 25 students my auditory text is replaced by 25 new texts in the students’ minds. It seems to me very bizarre to go back in time and ask my students language questions about the now ‘dead’ Mario text. Actually I would suggest that such questions are an insult to the students’ inevitable creative elaboration of the original text.

Alternatives to comprehension checking
So what can I do after telling the class a story? I can offer the students questions that help them explore each others’ elaboration. I ask the students to go through the questions below and cross out the ones they do not relate to. Once this deletion is effected I pair them and ask them to use the questions they have retained to get an idea of their partner’s elaboration. Here is a set of such questions:

• In which sort of country did you imagine the story?
• What kind of pictures did you get as you listened.
• Did you create a sort of film from the story?
• Were you ever actually in the same space as the character in the story?
• What feelings did you have during the telling?
• Did you become any of the characters?
• What, for you, is the moral of the story?
• Did this story remind you of other stories you know?
• Did any of the characters seem like people you know?
• Can you think of someone in this group who may have disliked the story?
• Would your brother/mother/daughter/father like this story? Why would they like it?
• At which point in the story did you really start listening?
• Which was the most vivid bit for you?
• At which points in the story did you drift off and think of other things?

The list of questions could be much longer and more detailed, but you will notice they all focus on the students’ elaborated text and on their reactions to the text. None are about details of the original text.
“Very nice” I can hear some readers saying” but what if the students did not understand the language during the telling?”
My answer to this is that the teacher/teller needs to make sure she gets her meaning across by using mime, drawing and L1 glosses on words or phrases that may be hard for students. It is the teller’s job to ensure language comprehension as she tells, and I believe minimal, disciplined recourse to L1 is natural in this situation.

Conclusion
By the time you get to this point in your reading, the lines you have read will have undergone deletion, elaboration and transformation in your mind. As you get up to get yourself a coffee and think back over these lines, you carry in your head your own unique reading of this text. Thank God you are a normally creative reader and not a tape-recorder with the ‘Record’ button down. Do I really need to write comprehension questions on your behalf?

TWIN PRINCES (A STORY TELLING)

TWIN PRINCES

A Story by Subhan Shabri

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom which was led by a wise king. He was very well-known with his justice. He had twin sons, Prince Habil and Prince Qabil. Even though they were twins, they had different behaviours. Prince Habil was kind and diligent while Prince Qabil was lazy and evil. Prince Qabil always asked his twin to do many things for him.

“Hey, Habil, bring me my shoes here! Hey, Habil, help me lifting this bag! And bla bla bla..!”

“Don’t worry, brother, I’ll do it for you.” Prince Habil always did what his twin asked.

It happened day by day with no change in their behaviours. Prince Habil kept being diligent and kind, Prince Qabil was still lazy and evil. As they were growing up, their father, the king was getting older.

“One day, one of them will be a king replacing me.” The king said to himself. “I want Habil become the king, but I know although Qabil was lazy and evil, he has the same rights to be the king. I don’t want something bad happens later when I die. Qabil will feel offended if I choose Habil. I have to be fair. Let me think, what I should do.”

Then the wise king asked someone to put two very big buffaloes in a very distant place. After that he asked his sons to meet him. “My sons, you see, I’m getting older. One of you will be the next king of this kingdom. And I know both of you have the same rights. Therefore, I give a challenge for both of you. The winner will be the future king of this kingdom.” The king said. “I have asked someone to place two big buffaloes in a distant place. Tomorrow morning, leave this palace; never come back here until you bring your own buffalo on your shoulders.”

The next morning Prince Habil and Prince Qabil left the palace. They began their trip finding their buffaloes. Prince Qabil said, “Habil, help me to bring my bag, will you?”

“Okay brother, no problem,” prince Habil said. He brought Prince Qabil's bag.

On their way, they met an old woman who was bringing a very heavy burden. “Wait a minute Qabil, let’s help the old woman first." Said Prince Habil.

“What!!?, Are you kidding? We are in a hurry, you know? No time to help her. Anyway, I don’t care about her. Come on. Let’s go!”

“No, Qabil. This is our duty. We have to help each other. How do you thing is she were our grand mother?”

“We are princes, you know. And I will be a king. I don’t have to do it. I can ask my guard to do it for me.” Prince Qabil said.

“It is your choice, Qabil. I will help her first. Up to you if you will go now. For me, helping other people is more important than being a king. Old lady, let me help you, show me the way to your house.” Prince Habil put the burden on his shoulders.

Prince Qabil kept going on finding his buffalo. When he saw the buffalo, he was very shock.

“Oh my God, it is very big! No, impossible I can lift it. It will break my shoulders if I put it on my shoulders. Ha.. there is a rope, I will pull the buffalo with the rope. Come on stupid big buffalo. I want to be a king you. Good bye Habil, haa  ha haaaa...!”

In another place, Prince Habil along his way finding the buffalo, he always helped many people. All he did made his shoulders stronger and stronger. And, when he reached the place of the buffalo, he had been a very strong person. That’s why he could lift and put the buffalo on his shoulders easily. He didn’t feel the big buffalo heavy.

Arriving in front of the palace, Prince Qabil had been waiting. “How can you lift such a big buffalo? You know, I just pulled it. Too heavy, you know? Hey! Where did you get this muscles? Strong body.”

When they were talking, their father came, “Well, well, well, finally I find the next real king for this kingdom. Congratulation, Habil. Everything you did along your way made you ready more and more and finally you found that the big buffalo was not heavy for you.”

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the end of my story. Everything you do in your life will make you get more experiences and you will find the way out for every problem you face in your life.

ROLE PLAY

ROLE PLAY

(Choose your own title)

1.       Shabri Abdullah

2.       Professor Abdullah

3.       Syafri

4.       Poltak

5.       Mother

6.       Reisha

7.       Annisa

8.       Mrs Lecturer

9.       Clerk

10.   Guard

11.   Guard Chief

12.   Prisoners

13.   Demonstrators

14.   Narrator

15.   Music

Written by MR SUBHAN SHABRI

Shabri was smart diligent university student. He was in the second semester in his university level in Indonesia.

One day, in a lecturer about politics.

Lecturer: Shabri: Lecturer: Shabri: Lecturer: Shabri: Lecturer: Shabri: Poltak: Shabri: Poltak: Lecturer: Staff: Class: Lecturer: Staff: Lecturer: Poltak: Lecturer:

“Politics is the art in controlling something, related to state, politics is the art to control the progress of the state in choosing or taking which kind of policies will be applied in the country. How do the government and the legislators plan the policies, how is the action of the plan, and of course also the reflection after the policies have been applied.”  “Madam!” “Yes, Shabri?” “It seems that the mentality of the government and legislators will affect the typical of the political colour of the country.” “What’s your reason for that one?” “If the persons in the government and the legislators are good ones, the policies of the country will lead to the right way; instead, if the persons in the government and the legislators are bad ones, the policies of the country will lead to the wrong way. This is about mentality.” “You’re right, Shabri.” “And that’s the role of religion as the way of life, Mum.” “There’s no relationship between politics and religion, you know!” “Religion controls everything in our life,” “Just bring your religion to your mosque! And don’t...!” “Hey stop! Poltak, it’s okay if you have different idea, but you have to appreciate other’s opinion. Well, everybody it’s the end of our lecturer today.” “Assalamu’alaikum!” “Wa alaikum salaam.” “Madam, a letter.” “Oh ya. Thank you.” “Welcome. Assalamu’alaikum.” “Wa alaikum salaam. Well, this is about the students’ exchange program. One of you is admitted to have a short course for four months in Arizona State University, United State. Do you know who the lucky person is?” “It must be me. Poltak!” “Shabri will go to America for four months. Congratulation, Shabri. Everyone may congratulate Shabri.”

One by one his classmates congratulated him, except Poltak, he left the classroom. Outside he saw many students were doing demonstration against the government.

Poltak:

“Aha! I know how to make me go to America, not him!”

Poltak called someone to make an appointment to meet. Shabri went back to his village to meet his mother and two sisters and also to visit the grave of his late father.

Shabri: Mother: Shabri: Mother: Shabri: Reisha: Shabri: Reisha: Shabri: Reisha: Mother: Shabri: Mother: Shabri: Reisha:

“Assalamu’alaikum, mother.” “Wa alaikum salaam. What news makes you come back, Son?” “Mother, I will go to America!” “What?! How can! Do you think that we have money? Oh come on Son, wake up! You must be dreaming.” “I’m not, Mother. I get scholarship. Here’s the letter from the university.” “Are sure, Bang? We will go to America?” “Not we, but I. “No, I want to go with you. Please....... Bang........” “Look, my beloved sister. I go to America with my achievements, not because of money. That’s why you can’t go with me. So, if you want to go there, you have to study seriously. Who knows you will go there one day. You get it?” “I see. Okay Bang, I will study seriously and I will go to America too, and ...... I will bring mother there.” “How long will you be there, Son?” “Only for four months, mother.” “Be careful Son. Don’t forget to always pray.” “Okay, Mother. I will always remember your suggestion. I will always pray. Come on, Reisha, accompany me to father’s grave. “Okay, let’s go.”

At their father’s grave.

Reisha: Shabri: Reisha: Shabri: Reisha:

“Father! We’re coming!” “Father. I will go to America. I’m sure you can hear me from there. I want to make you proud of me. I want to make mother proud of me. I promise I will look after mother and Reisha.” “But he doesn’t want to bring me, father.” “Shhhhhh. Allaahumaghfirlahu warhamhu wa a fihi wa’fuanhu.” “Aamiin.”

Shabri came back to his campus to prepare his leaving to America. In his campus, there was a demonstration against the government.

Friends: Shabri: Syafri: Shabri: Syafri: Shabri: Annisa: Shabri: Annisa: Shabri: Annisa: Shabri: Annisa: Shabri: Annisa: Shabri: Annisa: Shabri: Annisa: Shabri:

“Hi, Shabri, come with us.” “What is happening?” “We’re doing demonstration against the government. Will you join us?” “Sorry, I’m busy now preparing my leaving for America.” “Dont you join us for the last time?” “Sorry, I can’t, Bro.” (Annisa passed) “Hi Annisa!” “Hi!” “You know, I’m leaving for America.” “Ya, I know.” “But......” “But what?” “I mean, I will leave you....” “Ya. I know that, but, what can I do?” “Will you wait for me?” “I will, but I believe that God gives the best for us.” “What do you mean?” “Although we have planned to be together, who knows Allah says different.” “But I just to be with you, Nisa.” “I do too, but never forget to always pray for everything that we want, akhi.” “Okay.”

Shabri was busy with his preparation for the course. Coming back from Immigration Office,

Policeman: Shabri: Policeman: Shabri: Policeman: Shabri: Policeman: Shabri:

“Excuse me.” “Ya? What can I do for you, Sir?” “Is your name Shabri?” “Yes?” “You are suspected getting involved in a demonstration. You are under arrested.” “What? Are you kidding? I didn’t do it.” “You can explain it in the police station. Come on. Come with us.” “No, no, nooo!”

Shabri did not believe it. He would go to United States, but he was sent to the jail for something he did not do.

Shabri:

“Nooo! It is not fair! God, how can You give it to me? I don’t believe it. Huu hu huu. Noo! ”

When he was crying, Poltak came to visit him.

Poltak:

“Haa ha haa. Shabri, you see? Who wins finally? Who is going to United States? Haa ha ha. United States, Arizona, I’m coming! Haa ha ha, Boy, Will you send your regard to Barrack Obama? See you....... Haa ha ha!!!!!”

Poltak left the jail while laughing. Shabri could do nothing but crying. He wanted to kill himself.

Shabri:

“It’s too heavy for me. I’m very embarrassed to my mother and sister. Now, I just want to die! God, where is your justice? What is my life for? Nothing!!!”

When he would just do suicide, when a hand stopped it.

Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Prisoner: Professor: Prisoner: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor:

“Stop it, young man! “Nooo! I just want to end my life! God doesn’t love me. He doesn’t give me the chance to make my dreams come true. I’m supposed to be in United States, in Arizona University now, you know!” “Wait! Arizona State University, is it what you say just now?” “Ya. Why? You know nothing about it old man.” “Excuse me, Prof. I just want ask your opinion about my article. Is it okay?” “Okay. II will check it later.” “Thank you, Prof.” “Prof? Are you a professor?” “Come with me.” “Where?” “Come on. Take the books.” “For what?” “Just take them” (went to the shelf of the books) “Are they your books? You write the books? Professor Abdullah Jalal, Arizona State University Press. Oh! I don’t believe it! How can you be here? “Long story, young man. Oh ya, what’s your name?” “Shabri, Sir eh Prof. My full name is Shabri Abdullah.” “Hah! You use my name. Is Abdullah your father’s name?” “Yes, he passed away when I was still six.” “Sorry to hear that.” “Thank you, Prof. By the way, can you explain about these books?” “Well, three years ago I was still a professor at the campus, Arizona State University, as a professor didn’t only give lecturer, but also expressed my idea in many books and articles.” “Ow, I like that, Prof.” “But, it was the problem, Shabri. Some of my books and articles were accused as the idea of terrorism because many scholars and university students used my books and articles as their references to set their Islamic foundation for their actions.” “You mean like Hamas, Al Fatah, Taliban, and Ikhwanul Muslimin?” “Yes. You know about it. Well, Shabri, in this jail I just feel like in heaven.” “How can?” “I have much more time to do pray to Allah SWT. You know Sayid Quthub and Hamka wrote their bokks in jails, and the books in your hand now are my writing along my time here.” “But they are produced by State Arizona University Press.” “Internet, you know. I sent them via email to my friend, Professor Ibraheem, who is still teaching there.” “How can you get the facility in this jail?” “I teach all Muslim prisoners about Islam here. How to make them know their religion more. You see, many prisoners do prayers and learn reciting al-Qur’an. The head of this jail is very thankful, that’s why when I asked internet, he gave it.” “I see. Prof, would you mind to teach me how to make good writing, please?” “No problem, son. I’m your father, aren’t I? “Ha ha ha. Yes,..... father, thank you.” (Adzan came, Allaahu akbarullaahu akbar.......) “Come on, let’s pray together.”

Since that time, Shabri was not sad anymore. He realized that it was a fate from Allah SWT. He spent his time in the jail by learning writing to Professor Abdullah Jalal and also helping him guiding other prisoners in learning reciting al-Qur’an.

While, out of the jail, Shabri’s friends were fighting to prove that he was not guilty.

Guard: Shabri: Guard: Shabri: Guard Chief: Shabri: Guard Chief: Shabri: Guard Chief: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Professor: Shabri: Mother: Shabri: Friends:

“Mr Shabri.” “Yes?” “Come with me to the office.” “Okay.” “Well, Mr Shabri, this is a letter from Police Department that explains that you were not involved in the demonstration. It was not you, Shabri, but Syafri. Poltak did it. He reported you as the actor of the demonstration. And police will ask U.S. Police Department to send him back to Indonesia soon.” “Really?” “Yes. You are free today. Congratulation and thank you for your help here.” “You are welcome, Sir. I just want to see Professor Abdullah for a minute.” “Okay. No problem.” “Prof, I’m leaving, but I also want to be with you.” “Look, Son, many things are waiting for you outside there. Face them, take them.” “Okay, Prof. See you. Assalamu’alaikum.” “Wa alaikum salaam warohmatullaah.......... Wait, Shabri, I have a little gift for you, Son.” “What is it?” “Just open it.” “State Arizona University? Dear Mr Shabri Abdullah, after reading your articles and with the recommendation from Professor Ibraheem Al-Haneef, you are admitted as the new student at our campus in under graduate program with scholarship for eight semesters........ Is it true?” “Ya. I sent your articles to my friend Professor Ibraheem. I told him what happened to you. I asked him to help you.” “Thank you, Professor, thank you, father.” “Say Thank you to Allah. He makes this rule. I just play my role from Him.” “Astaghfirullahal aziim. God, forgive me. I was wrong. I have a bad putative about you. I’m so sorry. Thank you yaa Allah.” “You see. Allah doesn’t give what we want, He gives what we need. Don’t be prejudiced against the destiny of Allah.” (Shabri hugged Professor Abdullah.) “Yes, father. ” (Shabri left the jail. In front of the jail, his family, Annisa and friends had been waiting.) “Mother, Reisha forgive me.” “Allah give you the best, Son.” “Hi Nisa. Buddies, thank you.” “We believe you are right, bro.” “America, I’m Coming.............!”