Foundation in Natural and Built Environment (FNBE)
Teoh Hui Yu's e-Portfolio
Aims and Accomplishments
In this assignment, we were required to choose a tool that we were to observe over a period of a week. The tool may be a cooking implement, a specialized tool for some craft, a cosmetic too, or anything interesting item from your kitchen drawer or tool chest. After we chosen the tool, we need to receive confirmation from our lecturer, Mr. Nathaniel Woon on whether the selected tool is suitable. Once the tool is approved, we can start to observe and analyze the object chosen and write a descriptive essay. The tool that I had chosen was purse.
Here is my descriptive essay- My Purse:
Assignment 1: Observing the Unfamiliar- The Tool
Teoh Hui Yu
Foundation in Natural and Built Environment
January 2013 Intake
English 2
Reflection:
Through this assignment, first I had learnt to observe an object in detail. I need to collect all the information and details that I had observed and wrote into an essay. Next, I learnt that when we observe something, we need to be like a curious child or a dedicated scientist so that we can see a lot of thing that we did not observe in daily life. Like my purse, this was the first time I used my five senses to observe it. I see, I smelled, I listen, I touch and I taste it. It was ridiculous for me at first because I did not do this before. Besides, I had learnt to be patient when I observed an object. I need to observe my purse for a week and jot down all the observation that I had get. I spent at least fifteen minutes noting down the visual details of my object before exploring the other senses. Through this assignment, I learnt how to improve my descriptive writing as I deepen my capacity to observe. I learnt how to write a well-developed and well-organized descriptive essay.
Assignment 2: Compare or Contrast Essay
Aims and Accomplishments
For this assignment, we were required to produce a 6 paragraph 600-1000 word compare or contrast essay of the chosen movie genre based on any two movies from the chosen movie genre. The learning outcome of this assignment was to demonstrate the ability to ‘read’ a television series such as understand and interpret the chosen television series genre. Also, to demonstrate the ability to compare or contrast, analyze and synthesize information from two television series in an essay and explain them clearly and logically. Lastly, to communicate the relevant ideas in a clear, logical and appropriate academic English. First we need to decide on the television genre that we would like to attempt and looked through materials published on this genre to gain a better understanding of what it is all about, and produce a compare or contrast essay on any two types of English language movies on selected movie genres. We were required to involve the discussion of the genre that we had chosen in the introduction. I had chosen to do on romantic comedies and my movies were ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ and ‘Confession of a Shopaholic’.
Here is my compare or contrast essay:
Reflection:
Through this assignment, I learnt that movies have different kinds of genre, now I can differentiate few genres when I watched a movie. Besides, I learnt that we need to include ourselves in the story when we watched the movie so that we can understand the storyline more clearly. It had been a problem for me to start writing an essay because of the introduction. However, I had also learnt how to write the introduction which is suitable for compare and contrast essay. Next, I had learnt better on how to apply the APA citation style into my essay properly. Last but not least, I had learnt how to start writing a compare and contrast essay by brainstorming and working on my pre-writing as it will help me throughout the whole process of producing the essay.
Assignment 3: Class Debate
Aims and Accomplishments
Assignment 3 was a group work. In a group of three, we were required to work together and debate effectively based on the selected topic. Our topic chosen was topic 13: ‘The endless debate on the usage of English for the teaching of Science and Mathematics in schools is a total waste of time’. In this topic, our group was proposition. The learning outcomes of this assignment was to be able to explain the basic ideas of each chosen topic with reference to the related theories learned in this course and to prove mastery of the topic clearly and accurately in the form of a debate. Also, to demonstrate an ability to analyze and response to various issues including handling conflict as to build healthy and positive relationship. Lastly, the learning outcome was to be aware of the importance of cultural differenced and respect cultural differences as well as to build healthy and positive relationships. We need to understand the basic ideas in the chosen topic and relate it to the respective theories associated with the topic as taught in the class, and express this understanding clearly and accurately in the form of a debate to explain our side of the chosen topic. We were reminded to look at both sides of each issue so they will be able to do a more comprehensive explanation of the topic. The format for the debates was three speakers a side with teams in each debate. In my group, I’m the second the speaker.
Here is our debate script:
Reflection:
Through this assignment, I had learnt how to apply the principles of communication and behavior in analyzing interaction with others, both at individual and at group levels. Besides, I had learnt to do research on our topic especially to look for the latest examples and to see why our topic was being discussed. Moreover, I had learnt that I have to understand the points of the opposition group and how will my points be denied by them in order to make my own points more convinceable and undeniable. However, I will have to understand my point strongly by collecting data and information from various sources such as internet and research books to strengthen the points I will be using during the debate. This was the first time I have a debate and I had learnt that how a debate runs and end. In the debate, I had tried my best to act as a debator for the topic we given and I feel satisfied with my performance during the debate.
Research Assignment
Aims and Accomplishments
This assignment was focus on comparative research. For this assignment, we were required to apply the skills that we had learned last semester in comparing similarities and contrasting differences to a specific chosen trade. With a group of 4, we had chosen to do on tailor shops. Our task was to study on tailor shop in Klang Valley and Kota Kinabalu. The trade that we had chosen must have been around for at least 15-20 years. We need to use appropriate methodology in obtaining primary and secondary information related to the chosen topic. Lastly, we should understand the basis steps involved in preparing an academic research report and apply APA style citation accurately and effectively in the research report. The learning outcomes of this assignment are to identify the key issues in the question and explain them clearly and logically. Besides, demonstrate the ability to prepare questionnaires and interviews to obtain information about our topic. Next, we need to demonstrate the ability to analyze and synthesize information and compile them in the report. We need to communicate the relevant ideas and analysis in clear, logical and appropriate academic English. Lastly, we had to select and present information clearly and appropriately to one’s target audience.
Here is our research report:
Here are the photos that I had taken from Tai Sun Tailor:
Reflection:
Through this assignment, I had learnt that teamwork is very important. Everyone in the group need to be very cooperative and done our own part so that we can complete our task and achieve our goal. Next, I learnt how to interview a business. This was the first time I interview the tailor shops but it was easier than what I had expected. I had prepared well including printing out the interview questions before I went for the interview. Also, I had learnt that I need to be polite and patient when I interview a business. In my case, I had interview three tailor shops at Klang Valley and two of the tailor owners were the aged. Through this assignment, my communication skills had been improved as I had learnt how to interview a business. Besides, I had known that tailor shops were now started to get abandon by new generations. In my group’s speaking task, we had mentioned what are the importance of tailors and etc. For my speaking task, I had presented my points and stand confidently to my audience so that they can belief what I said and accept my view and change their mind set. My public speaking skill had been improved as I learnt how to frame my position as a claim and present the arguments by providing the basic reasons for my belief.
Task 2: Speaking Task
For the task 2, we were required to present our research on our chosen business in a formal presentation. In the same group as in task 1, we were required to produce a 10 minutes long video on the given task video on the given task question. For our group, we had chosen classical arguments to present in our video, which included introduction, background information, proposition, confirmation, refutation, concession and conclusion. Our task question: “You work for a department promoting lifelong learning in a local university. You have been asked to prepare a talk that explains how tailors have played an important role all though the years as well as the contemporary challenges faced by tailors. Your audience is comprised of people form missed backgrounds and ages. Most of them are very eager but some have come along to accompany a friend or spouse/relative. What strategy will you use and how will you convince them?”
Here is our speaking task video :
Task 1: Research Report
Aims and Accomplishments
In this English 2 module, I had learnt a lot of things and gain a lot of knowledge through all the assignments given by our lecturer, Mr. Nathaniel Woon. Thanks to Mr. Nathaniel Woon for teaching us patiently and full of responsibility. Through this module, my writing skill and communication skill had improved a lot. Compared to English 1, English 2 was tougher but the learning process was fun. We were required to use and speak English in his every class. Throughout this semester, my citation skill had been improved as now I am well in writing APA style citation in my academic writing. Through the class debate and speaking task, my communication skill had been improved. I am now more confident to speak and I had learnt how to capture the attention of my audience. Thanks to Mr. Nathaniel Woon again for his teaching. The skills and knowledge that I had learned from this English 2 module will no doubt help me a lot in my future.
Reflection :
ePortfolio.org (2012). Use ePortfolio to achieve your goals. Retrieved on 22nd September,2012. Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CDLC). Available at http://www.eportfolio.org/
Nadarajan,S. (2008). Undergraduate Language Teaching. The E-Portfolio Way. Paper presentation at the National Student’s Development and Educational Conference (Nasdec ‘ 08), at University TeknologiMalaysia on 22nd October,2008.Available at