English in the House

Email from Africa

2011-12-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Guess where I’m writing from - an internet cafe in Pretoria South Africa! Arrived here yesterday, and it seems to be an interesting place!. There are so many great places in here like the Zoos and Animal reserve park. You have to see the Animal reserve park! there are so many great animals in here like African Elephant and Black Rhinoceros(which is very agressive and dangerous even the lions are scared of it). The weather is really hot, advised to not use any jacket 'cause u'll be really sweaty. Seriously, I think it’s so sad you couldn’t come with me. I'm going to visit Mapungubwe Hill, the site of the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe tomorrow, gonna be really exciting!! I have had fun most of the time – only when i went to the Animal reserve park for the first time.A big Black rhinoceros attacked me!! fortunately the tour guide is ready with his rifle. Have to finish – like i said I'm going to visit Mapungubwe hill tomorrow, must save some energy and preparing up. i'm going to stay in here for a while, and im going to Angola next week. I'll write again from there.

See ya soon!

Ramzy

by: Ramzy Rayhan XB/30

Email

2011-11-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

Bounjour!

Guess where I’m writing from - Avenue des Champs-Élysées! Yeah I'm in Paris! Arrived here yesterday, and I already in love with this city! Well the weather here is really hot, but that's normal since it's summer, right? There are many interesting place in here! Like Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and many others, - how I wish you were here with me :( I'm sure you'd love all those places I mention.

I’ve been touring for 2 days. And it's kind of lonely traveling alone – but I still had a lot of fun. I was talking to some strangers next to me in the airplanes and guess what? One of the strangers was actually my friend in elementary school! I guess that's why I thought I saw him somewhere before, but still it's really shocking, since he had change so much!

Well I guess that's all - gonna visit The Louvre right now - hope my feet would be able to bear the burden for exploring every corner of Louvre! I'm going to stay here for another 5 days, then I I'm off to London, for traveling of course :D I'll write to you again there.

l'amour,

Melissa

by: Melissa Putri H.

XB/20

My Email to You

2011-11-13T04:32:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Guess where I am writing from - a coffee shop in Seoul, South Korea! Arrived here four days ago, and it seems to be an interesting place to spend a new year holiday. It is snowing here. The weather is so cold! We have to wear our sweater, jacket, or coat everywhere we go. But, the snow is so beautiful. We can play snow war, making a snow man, and learn how to play a ski. And yeah, it is my first time to see and touch snow! Seriously, I think you should come here with me and my family. I am sure you will love it.

We've been touring for 4 days now. We have had great fun most of the time. And yeah, my body started to feel a little bit tired. Because we have to walk everywhere. And we already visited many tourism sites here, in South Korea. And you know what? Yesterday when I went to the shopping mall in Seoul, I met one of my favorite idol! Wow! And I am sure the tiredness are paid off.

I am really glad to write and shared all things here with you, but we have to go to the Teddy bear museum now. I think we are going to stay here for another 2 days, then we are off to Indonesia to go home. I will write again when I already get home. Bye! :)

Your best pal,

Nadia

Medan

2011-11-06T06:20:00.000-08:00

Hi!

Guess where I’m writing from-a youth hangout in Medan, Merdeka Walk! Arrived here 2 days ago, and it seems to be a nice place. It’s so entertaining. There is a live music every night, and many café available in here. You should try Merdeka Walk’s durian pancake, it’s so creamy and delicious :9 – prepare more money, you must be addicted. The weather is warm, and the sun is shining all day. I’m sure the weather’s equally good at home! Seriously, Abby and I think it’s a real pity you couldn’t come with us. There are some historical buildings here-you’d love it.

We’ve been touring for three weeks now. We have had great fun most of the time – only the first day was a bit tired. I lost my luggage in the airport. The officers said that my luggage probably left in transit. Fortunately, I got it back.

Have to finish – we’re going to orange garden in Berastagi now. We’re going to stay in Medan for another three days, then we’re off to Palembang, to see the 26^th SEA Games. I'll write again from there.

Love

Nabila

by: Nabila Shaza/ 25

Will there be schools and teachers in the future? (Final Draft)

2011-10-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

Scientists claim that in 40 years‘probably will not be any schools or teachers. They will probably replaced by robots and computers. Student will be able to study from computer or taught by robot.

It is true that, there are many scientists have made intelligent robots and computers for this several years. Most computers today, contains many programs that support for the education. And also many robots are already sophisticated. But of all the robots are made, there has never been a perfect robot, let alone have the same with human intelligence.

If all this happens, perhaps our children and grandchildren will be lazy to move and go anywhere. They might stay all day at home and go to class without moving from their beds. If this occurs, then the child would be difficult to interact with the environment and it is difficult to have friends

Teachers and schools are necessary. Schools and teachers are very important, because the school is a place to interact with others, and teachers are very helpful in learning. The teacher can understand the desire, condition, and the nature of his students, because teachers are human, and humans have feelings.

To conclude, I would like to say that the invention of computers and robots are very useful for humans, but the school is an obligation and needs, is the most important social activity that the children have. So I prefer schools and teachers because they can not be replaced with a piece of metal without a real brain and feelings.

By: Nabila Shaza XB/26

IMAGE OF INDONESIA (Final Draft)

2011-10-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Introduction

The purpose of this of this report is to show what were happened in Indonesia. I started with interviewed ten of my friends, by Blackberry Messenger and in a person. The question concerned public transportation, teenager lifestyle, and Indonesian government.

Findings

Public Transportations

TransJakarta is the one of Indonesian public transportation

From ten people that I had interviewed , three-quarters from them said that the public transportations in Indonesia is in bad condition. Ten percent said that the cost was cheap, and the rest of the people that I interviewed told that Jakarta’s public transportations is well enough.

A half of them chose bus for their usually public transportations, twenty percent chose taxi, and ten percent chose hired motorcycle.

Eighty percent of them said that they had disappointed with the public transportation services. And the rest said that they had not disappointed with the public transportation services.

Teenager Lifestyle

Teenager

The majority of people said that the teenager lifestyle in Indonesia is not good yet. And the other said that is well enough.

A half of them said that they were just like the ordinary teenager , one of them said that he or she is diligent, and the rest said that they tried to adapted in their surroundings.

Most of them suggested that teenager should stay out of consuming drug and enjoy smoking. And twenty percent said that teenager should be religious.

Indonesian Government

Hundred percent of them told that the government in Indonesia is still very bad.

And also all of them said that governments have not implemented all obligations, because many of them are corrupt and do not think people with low economic. and sixty percent of them advised to the government to stop corruption, and the rest said that the government should be more selective in choosing new members in order to avoid mistakes in the future.

Conclusion

From all of this report I find out the most people said that the transportation in Indonesia is still not good enough to meet the needs of the Indonesian people, neither does the government.

Indonesian people are smart, but not consistent with what they said (especially in government). But Indonesia has a lot of people who are smart but spread, so it is a potential for Indonesia in the decade to come. Why ten years? Because I think the present government and the two future periods is still difficult to eradicate corruption and to organize the government for the better. If these reforms continue as expected, then this country will be the number one country in southeast Asia, because of the potential of human, nature and the many more. And the next 30 years I believe Indonesia can compete with developed countries like Japan and China.

By: Nabila Shaza (26)

Shoes and It's Style (Final Draft)

2011-10-11T04:18:00.000-07:00

1. Introduction

This report is about lifestyle. The benefits of this report is to tell the readers about what high school-ers choice about shoes. I interviewed 5 of my friend in person. The questions are about what kind of shoes do they prefer, why they choose that kind of shoes, where do they wear that kind of shoes, and what style do they use when they wear that shoes.

2. Findings

What kind of shoes do they prefer :
Most of the questioner (4 of 5) says they often wear sneakers because that is their favorite shoes. But the one left says she often wears crocs because it’s her favorite shoes. So, most of them prefer sneakers than any other type of shoes.

Why they choose that kind of shoes :
All the questioners who prefer wear sneakers said that’s because sneakers are comfortable to wear. It also has a nice design and not disturbing their activities. And the one who prefer wear crocs says that she prefer crocs because crocs is comfortable for her. Crocs also has a nice feminine design, so she really like it.

Where do they wear that kind of shoes :
The questioner who prefer wear sneakers wear it almost all of the time. They wear sneakers when they go to school, go for a walk in the mall, when they go to their friend’s house, except when they go to the formal event. And the one who prefer wear crocs, she wear them almost all of the time too. She wear them to go to school, when she hang out with her friend, when she visiting her family, and she also wears them to go to the formal event too because she can wears the formal style crocs.

What style do they use when they wear that shoes :
One of them who prefer to wears sneakers said that she likes to wear converse. She said that’s because she likes the design and the color. The other one who prefer wears sneakers said that he likes running type because it is so comfortable for him. He choose nike or adidas as his favorite. The other two people who prefers to wear sneakers said that they like sneakers that have a nice color and nice design. Such as vans, nike dunk, converse, etc. And the one who prefer wear crocs said that she choose the semi formal or feminine design than any other types of crocs. And she like black color for her crocs.

2. Conclusion

Most of high school-ers prefer wear sneakers because they said it’s comfortable and didn’t disturbing their activities. And most of them choose their shoes because of it’s design, brand, and color. Even that they prefer the same type of shoes, their style when wearing them are different to each other.

by Nadia Khairunnisa

(edited)

ps. I just edit the paragraph settings.

High School Students Think About Pets (Final Draft)

2011-10-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

1. Introduction

The aim of this report is to inform what are the high school students think about pets. I interviewed 5 of my friend in person. The questions are about whether pets are important and useful to human’s life, what is the aim of pets in their opinion, do they had they own pets at home and what is that, if yes, why do they keep them and why do they choose that kind of animal as their pets and why they said so, and if they don’t have animals at home, why is the reason and if they can choose what animals do they prefer to be their pet, what it would be? And etc.

2. Findings

Whether pets are important and useful to human’s life :
From 5 (five) questioner, 2 (two) of them said that the importance and use of pets is depend on who is that person and if that person is really need that animal as their pets, so pets for that people are really important. But one of them said that pets are important. And one of them said that pets are not important, it even be a burden to the owners. So, the majority vote is the importance and use of pets is depend on who the person who will own them.

What is the aim of pets in their opinion :
One of them said that pets can help people who needs them. Such as a blind man needs dog for guide him walking on the street, or dog to guard the house. But most of the questioner said that the aim of pets is to be their friends. It can play with us. And they said that if they learn to take care of their pets such as feeding them, cleaning their house, it can be teach them to take their responsibility.

Do they had they own pets at home and what is that :
Just 2 (two) of them have pets at home. They have more than one kind of pets, such as cat, dog, fishes, hamsters, and turtles. And the rest of questioner don’t.

Why do they keep them and why do they choose that kind of animal as their pets, why? :
The questioner who have any pets at their home keep that animal as their pets because in their opinion pets can be human’s friend. And they feel happier if their pets can overcome their boredom. They choose that kind of pets, such as cat; dog; fishes; hamsters; and turtles, because they think those are easy to keep and to take care.

Why don’t have animals at home? And if can choose, what animals they prefer as their pets? :
All of the one who don’t have pets at home said that is because of pets are disturbing and take their time. One of them said she doesn’t has pets because she allergic to pets. But if she can choose one to keep, she will choose cat because it is cute. Two of the one who don’t have pets said whether they can choose one animals to be their pets, they won’t choose and they don’t want to have pets.

3. Conclusion

High school student’s opinion of pets is most of them said the importance and use of pets are depend on who are the person who will own them. And most of them don’t have pets. But the one who have pets said that pets can be their friends and they can learn how to take the responsibilities by take care of their pet.

by Nadia Khairunnisa
(edited)

Future…, what will happened to school and teachers?

2011-08-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

A lot of people included myself think that schools and teacher will last forever. Teacher and student is like a bond that can never be broken. It’s because there always be who thought and who learn.

But, future is something that can’t be predict, even for the smartest. We see that many scientist these day have made some intelligent robot for better live, like translate robot. And maybe there will be security robot, etc. It’s not entirely impossible that learning activity will be supported by robot.

But, it think robot is just a machine, there never a time that a robot can be smartest then human brain. Because a human brain is something unique. Human can felt angry, sad, happy, etc, but robot can’t. And I think, when someone is learning something, they should be thought with feeling, not by a cold blooded robot.

So, we can conclude that there will be never a time that robot will take control of human. It will not like in many movies, its real life and its real deal. Because we are the creator of the robot, and we are the greatest creation of god ever made.

Alvian Putra Adhitama XB/3

Will it be possible to live forever?

2011-08-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

In many movies there are a lot of stories about someone who is immortal, or you could say live-forever. It’s an interesting subject, but I highly disagree it would happen in real life.

Many sicknesses could be healed nowadays with technology and doctors help. But it doesn’t change the fact that human couldn’t life forever since they will still age and gets old, and then they die.

Many had said that there are vampire and other mystical things that could live forever. That’s true, but it’s only a myth not a true living being, so it won’t change the fact that every living being would die.

About animal like cockroach that still exist from the dinosaurs era until now, it’s because of their surviving skill, not because they live forever, they died and had child that’s why it’s still exist even until now.

My conclusion is, it’s impossible for any living beings to live forever. Even if it’s the future, I still think that would be impossible.

Melissa Putri Hidayat

XB (20)

What could happen in the future: Schools and Teachers

2011-08-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

Future, is something that no one in this world, not even scientist could predict. But most likely in the future we are going to have a lot more advance technologies than we have now, and there will be so many inventions that could help our lives a lot more easier from something usual to robots that could teach our children.

It wouldn't be impossible in the future that there will be so many robots and machines that could teach our grandchildren. As the technologies grows and developed a lot more advance, in the future we might going to have robots that have built in modules or processor chip that could teach our grandchildren so they wont be necessary to go to school anymore.

But if we look to our past, teachers and schools have done lot for us. All the nowadays doctors, lawyers, presidents, used to go to school and had teachers who taught them. And like all our historian said, if the past is a good indicator then we are going to use it in the future. We have had schools and teachers for over thousand years of recorded history, and yes they have help us to be "someone" like us now. However like i said the first paragraph, we couldn't predict the future, perhaps something that has not been invented now could replace schools and teachers nowaday.

We can conclude that, there are so many possibilities in the future that we couldn't imagine right now. Probably in the future we are going to have robots that could teach our grandchildren, but are robots could teach some manners and feelings like our teachers done now? we dont know.

Ramzy Rayhan X-B/31

Will It Be Possible to Live Forever ?

2011-08-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Some people said that in a little more than 50 years people can live forever. This is a shocking statement because I, myself do not really think about this. If we live forever it means that we will not die and we cannot die.

It is true that many inventions now days can invent new technology and maybe they can make people to live forever in this world. Because of their smartness and creativity they invent something perfect and unusual to make people stay alive forever. Maybe they also make a technology that can help us if we nearly die or dying, they can make us alive again. So all people in this world can live forever.

But I do not think that people can live forever in this world. Because the cleverness of people cannot match the cleverness of god (if you believe in god). God create everything in this world. And He says that all things that have a soul will surely die. So clever as clever we are, we still cannot create something to make people live forever in this world.

And it will not be nice if all people in this world can live forever. Because if people can live forever in this world, the world would become a chaotic place. And people, they surely will have children and their children will grow up and have their own children. Because people can live forever in this world, so all people in this world stay alive forever, the world will get very crowded. So, we live forever but we cannot enjoy our life because of the disturbing environment around us. And of course more stress we had. That’s totally become a nightmare.

To conclude this essay, I would like to say that is impossible to live forever. In 50 years maybe we have many inventors that invent many new inventions that can be useful and can improve or simplify our lives. But it will not make us stay alive forever in this world and make us immortal.

By Nadia Khairunnisa XB

Will there be schools and teachers in the future?

2011-08-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

Scientist claim that in 40 years‘probably will not be any schools or teachers. They will probably replaced by robots and computers. Student will be able to study from computer or taught by robot.

By: Nabila Shaza XB/26

Culture & Lifestyle

2011-08-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

Western and Indonesian Culture

Introduction

The reason why I post this is because Indonesian culture has not been appreciated by most people, and I want to show in this article about how cool is Indonesian Culture. I have surveyed about 8 people in a person about what they think of Indonesian and Western Culture.

Findings

What western culture most visible in Indonesia?

Free Sex: We can see or heard that many Indonesian people have sex before age. It’s because many people have watched western movie that show us about teenagers having love and after that, having sex. Because of that, most teenagers want to try what it feel so they do many thing.

Clothing Style: When we go to mall and other favorite place we can see that most Indonesian people (adult and teenagers) wearing clothing western style. Rarely seen people who wear “batik”.

What Indonesian culture that we must maintained?

There are many Indonesian culture and cloth style that we can mention. Take a look on Indonesian art. “Batik” is a cloth that made with a very talented hand. Many of “batik” can reach a price of five million.

About music, Indonesia have many thing to show. Take a look on Gamelan. Gamelan is a musical ensemble from around Java, that show a variety of instruments such as mettalophones, xylophones, drums, and a bamboo flutes. That kind of instruments is rarely seen in other places.

Conclusion

From this article we can see that Indonesian also have many cool thing to see and we must maintained it.

Following western culture is not bad or wrong, but remember that we must not follow the bad part like free sex, etc. We must take the good part and try to make our beloved country better.

Alvian Putra Adhitama X-B/3

Indonesian People Thoughts: Movies and Games (Final Draft)

2011-08-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

Introduction

The purpose of this report is not only because it's my homework but also because my curiousity about what Indonesian people think about something. And this time it's about Movies and Games. i've interviewed a few of my friend through social networks.

Findings

Movies

Most of the Indonesian people i've interviewed prefer to watch foreign movies rather the local movies. The dont like local movies because most of them are about horror and ghost movies, even sometimes the movie is a bit too vulgar for children to watch. Also recently the Indonesian goverment has raised the tax for the foreign movies, which is caused there are no more foreign movies come to Indonesia anymore. Also since the policy come out no one seems to willingly come to the cinema anymore.

Games

Everyone loves playing games. And since the advance technology and easier access to the internet nowadays, Indonesian people loves to play online games. There are so many type of online games available, like First Person Shooter and Real Time Strategy game. And by playing online games people could make friends, and community through it. But sadly there's not much local online games now, hopefully Indonesian people could make their own online games that could

Conclusion

Most of the Indonesian people prefer "things" from foreign countries than the local ones, not only movies and games, there are other things too. And because of this problem, many Indonesian people are not creative.

Update
After a long wait, foreign movies are now can come again to Indonesia hopefully it won't stop the creativy of our own films and also its not going to be a cheap horror but something that are really worthwhile to watch

Ramzy Rayhan X-B/31

Indonesian Point of View: Education System and Music

2011-08-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

Introduction

The reason why I post this is not only because its a homework from my english teacher, that was due on 2nd of August 2011, but also because I want to share how is Indonesian point of view for their education system and music. That's why I asked my friends in person about their point of view.

Findings

Cheating in exam

Education system: All of the people that I interviewed said that Indonesia's education system isn't good enough and still need many improvement, they said that the people in Indonesia is actually smart, but they don't have enough opportunity to prove that, and it isn't firm. One of the people that I interviewed even told me that there is a student in Surabaya that wanted to tell the truth about how all of the student in his school cheated when national exam, but that only made him excommunicated, and some said that the government is the one that selling the answer for the national exam. From this we could see that Indonesia's education system isn't good enough, but this isn't the only bad point from Indonesia's education system, All of the people that I interviewed agreed that even though there is a free school, the facility is poor and only being centered in the city.

IHeartMusic

Music: More than half of the people I interviewed liked the music on the present day more than the past, because they said that the music have more variation and it fitted with the teenagers more than the music in the past, but that doesn't mean that only a little choose music on the past day almost half of the people I interviewed liked music on the past more, because it had more lyric and it's not repeated continuously, and one of the people that I interviewed said that she liked Indonesian music on the past more than the present day because it had more quality but if it's not from Indonesian, she liked the present more than the past. And most of the people I interviewed liked to hear the pop genre, and some liked RnB, Indie and Blues.

Conclusion

From this report, we could see that Indonesia education system isn't good enough from high schooler point of view, and I think that's true, and I hope it will improve from time to time.

What shocked me the most is teenagers still like the music on the past even though they don't show it, and I agree with person I interviewed who said that Indonesian music is better in the past, because of the difference in quality.

Melissa Putri Hidayat (20)

X-B

IMAGE OF INDONESIA

2011-08-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Findings

Public Transportations

TransJakarta is the one of Indonesian public transportation

From ten people that I had interviewed , three-quarters from them said that the public transportations in Indonesia was in bad condition. Ten percent said that the cost was cheap, and the rest of the people that I interviewed told that Jakarta’s public transportations was well enough.

A half of them chose bus for their usually public transportations, twenty percent chose taxi, and ten percent chose hired motorcycle.

Eighty percent of them said that they had disappointed with the public transportation services. And the rest said that they had not disappointed with the public transportation services.

Teenager Lifestyle

Teenager

The majority of people said that the teenager lifestyle in Indonesia was not good enough. And the other said that was well enough.

A half of them said that they were just like the ordinary teenager , one of them said that he or she is diligent, and the rest said that they were try to adapted in their surroundings.

Most of them suggested that teenager should stay out of consuming drug and enjoy smoking. And twenty percent said that teenager should be religious.

Indonesian Government

Hundred percent of them told that the government in Indonesia is still very bad.

And all of them said too that governments have not implemented all obligations, because many of them are corrupt and do not think people with low economic. and sixty percent of them advised to the government to stop corruption, and the rest said that the government should be more selective in choosing new members in order to avoid mistakes in the future.

Conclusion

From all of this report I find out the most people said that the transportation in Indonesia is still not good enough to meet the needs of the Indonesian people, neither does the government.

By: Nabila Shaza (26)

Shoes and It's Style

2011-07-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

1. Introduction

2. Findings

3. Conclusion

by Nadia Khairunnisa

High School Students Thinks About Pets

2011-07-31T06:33:00.000-07:00

1. Introduction

The aim of this report is to inform what are the high school students think about pets. I interviewed 5 of my friend in person. The questions are about whether pets are important and useful to human’s life, what is the aim of pets in their opinion, do they had they own pets at home and what is that, if yes, why do they keep them and why do they choose that kind of animal as their pets and why they said so, and if they don’t have animals at home, why is that and if they can choose, what animals do they prefer to be their pet, etc.

2. Findings

3. Conclusion

High school student’s opinion of pets is most of them said the importance and use of pets is depend on who the person who will own them. And most of them don’t have pets. But the one who have pets said that pets can be their friends and they can learn how to take the responsible by take care of their pets.

by Nadia Khairunnisa