My English Journal

The picture I have inserted at the top of this post, is the front cover of the present book I am reading.

This book was a present given to me by Mrs Janet Koh in 2007. It was a reward for my hard-work in Secondary two. I did start reading the first few chapters of that book during the holidays. However, it was difficult to maintain that reading spirit alive when school re-opened. Now, with the ‘vow’ i have taken, i have to find time and discipline myself to sit down, and read it. Presently, I have finished part 1, out of the 3 parts, of the story.

This story takes place in Singapore during the 1950s, just after the Japanese Occupation. The first few Chapters start describe two families – a poor family, and rich family. Silver Frond (15 years old) comes from the poor family, she is being adorned by the public for her beauty. The Man of the rich family is known by the village as The Venerable One. However, the village is overflows with gossips about The Venerable One and his three wives.

As Silver Fond grows up, she starts to open herself to all these gossips. One day, Silver Frond goes to the cemetery alone with a cloth-puppets. She starts to re-act the scenes she had overheard about The Venerable One.

The Venerable One decides to go for a walk in the cemetery. She sees Silver Frond playing and he goes closer to take a look. Behind a rock, The Venerable listens intently and finds Silver Frond play familiar.

Silver Frond gets into trouble, her family receives threats from an unknown person. After some time, things take a turn, instead of threats, they start to receive money, food, clothes, a doll. Silver Frond is puzzled and worried.

That’s the end of part one.

Instead of a review, i shall guess what would happen the the next two parts.

Part 2: Silver Frond goes to the Great House to see The Venerable One. They apologise to each other. A week after, Silver Frond recieves a love letter from The Venerable One. Somehow, The 50 year Venerable One has fallen for Silver Frond. They get persecuted by the public. They do not see each other for weeks.

Part 3: The Venerable One holds a singing contest in the village. Silver Frond participates and wins. The Venerable Ones snatches a word with Silver Frond. The Venerable One says, ‘Love’, ‘Song’, ‘Everyone’. The Venerable One goes  up on stage and announces that the winner of the contest would want to sing a song for the public. Silver Fond realises what The Venerable One wants – ‘Sing a Love Song for Everyone to hear’. Silver Frond quickly put some words together and sings their love song to the tune of ke ren lai. Some in the public hears and get touched.

The village understands. They live happily ever after. The End.

That is how i think the story would end.

I would be focusing on the factors that lead a group towards success, as i want to apply them in my group activities.

 Firstly, there must be appointment of duties and responsibilities to every member of the group. If one were to be the group leader, design manger and writer, he would be very burdened with all those responsibilities and thus, reducing the productivity rate and the quality of the job. I feel that everyone must play a part in an activity. For example, if there is a research to be done on William Shakespeare, one could research on his profile and background, one on his contribution to the society, and the others in charge of the compilation of the materials. In this way, an efficient system is produced, where each member can put his heart into their individual small jobs.

Secondly, there must be understanding and patience in every member. Everyone is bound to make mistakes in one way or another. If the other is not satisfied and flares up, the group has to concentrate on bringing the peace back, rather than completing the assignment. I feel that we should accept the fact that all of us have flaws and learn to be forgiving, rather than spending the whole picking and nagging over someone’s weaknesses. We should divert our criticism to an encouragement or an advice. For example, if one were too submit his unsummarized research to the one who compiles, the compiler should not start a dispute over it, but rather advice the other that summarizing it would make life easier for him.

 Thirdly, there must be a spirit of diligence and perseverance towards our assignments. I feel that this point is quite straight forward – everyone must put in their whole effort into their roles. Slip-shot work never wins. If a group can even do well in small assignments, what for talk about success?

What can i do as a member? As a member, i can … (I shall quote Katrina Costa)….

Concentrate 10% on lack of communication…
And 90% in being PART OF ESTABLISHING IT.