Japanese class

N.B. This post was supposed to be uploaded on 29 January, but due to technical issues, I thought I lost the post, lazy to type all over again... It was until today that I discovered the unfinished post was saved by the system.

It's my second post this month. For those who visit here often might notice that I usually post twice a month, because, erm... happy people don't blog??

It had been 3 weeks into the semester, well, I've been slacking for the 3 weeks: daydreaming in lectures, not doing tutorials... Perhaps the only class that I really learn something is Japanese language class on Tuesdays and Fridays. The sensei is a Japanese, and he is... cute!! Attending his class is fun, and I enjoy the lesson very much.

Today, as usual, I went to attend the class with high expectations. I'd been interested in learning Japanese since I was in Senior Middle One. Finally I got the chance: I can learn Japanese without paying any other than the university tution fees! I'd been feeling lucky in getting a place in the class because it is one of the most popular courses in NTU.

Today class was fine at the beginning. The sensei taught us some new words and grammar (これ.../それ... (This is.../That is...)). As usual, the sensei passed down some cards with pictures of things we just learn for us to practice among ourself. Usually we practice it in groups of two, pairing up with the person beside one.

(story paused)

I paused the story to give some background information about the class (this is crucial for the continuity of the story). Of Malaysians in the class, most, if not all, are Amcisans (save for me, despite being eligible for Amcisa membership, I didn't join Amcisa FOA, therefore, I am not a member of Amcisa). Of the Amcisans, 5 of them (2 guys and 3 girls, and 1 of the guys was my sec schoolmate) are coursemates, always come into the class together (according to a friend, Amcisans always do that), and they always sit in the first row next to the window. There are about 8 chairs in the first row, 4 of the chairs are usually occupied before they came in, so they usually shift one of the chairs (the chair beside me; I usually sit in the 2nd chair from the window) in the second row to the front. So, that in fact leaves me without a practicing partner, so I am "forced" to pratice with the 2 persons on my right.

Today, they came into the class late, so they didn't shift the chair to the front, so one of the girls sat beside me.

(story continued)

When the practice session began, I am supposed to pair up with the girl beside me. This was the dialogue between her and me. For simplicity and those who can't read Japanese, it had been translated into English.

Me: (lifting up a card, she was looking at her textbook) What is this?
She: (reading her textbook, slowly raises her head and look at the card) That is a book. (reading her book again)
Me: (lifting another card) Is this a table?
She: (reading her textbook, slowly raises her head and look at the card) No, it isn't. It is a chair. (reading her book again)

(This repeat again and again...)

I was fed up with her uncooperative and unenthusiastic behavior. After the practice session is over, she moved her chair to the front row and chat with her friends. It seems that I had did something wrong or offended her.

After class, I was thinking: is this the product of six-year Chinese independent school education? Is it students with Chinese independent school background don't mix with others or what? (Myself included; I sometimes feel that I prefer to mix with fellow Malaysians than other people e.g. Singaporeans, Vietnamese ,Chinese from China...) I must be stereotyping again... (HW111A Mastering Communication)

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(the contents below is completed today)

I chatted for veeeeerry long with Tammy on Saturday while she was trying to study accounting (sorry Tammy! I will talk for very long whenever I feel to). Somehow we talk about Amcisa, she pointed out that "Amcisa people they only participate in Amcisa activities, because they very semangat ke-amcisa-an". I could only agree that this is true, to an extent. I remembered that when our school chose some of us Malaysians (MSA and Amcisa included) to take our photos, only people from MSA (including me) came to have our photo taken. The only Malaysians that didn't show up (actually only two) are from Amcisa. They seemed not interested to have their photos taken.

I know this MSA-Amcisa problem may be sensitive to some people; though we are all Malaysians, but have distinct educational, cultural and language background. Personally, I feel that students from Chinese independent schools lack the communication skills that national school students possess (refer to this post), and despite being independent school students, I feel that national school students are more independent than we are. We may have better academic results, but that is the result of 6 (or 12) years of spoonfeeding. (Stereotyping again...)

What to do? Sigh.