I have been exposed to British things since I was born. I moved to Serangoon Gardens, a suburb whose street names are British. I remember having learnt to bake Queen Cakes, Butterfly Cakes, Sardine Sandwiches and Victoria Sandwich Cake during Home Economics class in secondary school. These are essentially British food. I remember seeing one of the Art teachers wearing a hat to school. It made her unique from the rest of the school teachers, and she did it with such finesse. She was not conscious of being the only one to do so. Somehow it seemed to fit her hairdo too :) Since Singapore was a British colony, my first language is English, whose written version follows that of British English.
My exposure escalated as I embarked on my English Literature degree. The works I studied had British texts and where more suitable to get the degree from than the University of London? My favourite authors were Alexander Pope, Richard Sheridan, William Blake, John Keats, Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Tennyson. I also got to study the history of England, which still fascinates me even till today.
Graduating was not the end of English Literature for me. The degree only served to boost my love for the English authors. I have a nostalgic feeling for the English poets and have developed a fanaticism for Jane Austen, especially her characters of the Darcys. Agatha Christie and her detectives is also a favourite of mine. I love even more British television programmes, both in quantity and quality. My favourite accent is definitely the British accent. It sounds very cultured to me.
I have gone to England four times now but it was the most recent trip that caused my passion to overflow. I got to finally go to Bath which is associated with Austen. As a result of this trip, I have cultivated a love for English country cottage decor, my latest craze. I have also relished in the delights of English fashion and food. In my journey of appreciation, I have discovered that my exposure to the latter is far greater than I thought. I remember having eaten Quality Sweets, Butterscotch sauce and Peach Melba with ecstasy as a young girl.My second trip was a catalyst for tennis as one of my favourite sport to watch. I had been a spectator at The Queen's Club for a Stella Artois Tennis tournament. Watching it 'live' had me blown away, as I soaked in the atmosphere.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Reading - convenience versus real pleasure
This is my second entry on e-books versus real books, but the former has become so dominant in people's lives that it brings a fear to my loyalist heart that beats for the latter.
Parents nowadays are already exposing their young kids to the former. Granted, the kids are still enjoying the reading and learning process. However, they don't have the opportunity to fully do so.
I agree with the article by Huang Huifen. The e-book may make it easier for parents to ensure their kids are occupied but the reader of the e-book is not the parent. As a result, there is not enough bonding between the family members. It is as if the kids are merely watching a movie. I do acknowledge the benefit of the interactive games that will help the kids better understand the story though. At the same time, there are other ways to occupy the kids. Parents can give them colouring/activity books, jigsaw puzzles or building blocks/playdough. These toys enhance the creative and mental aspects of the kids' development, far better alternatives to a technological option.
Indeed, real books spark the kids' sensory development through the accompanying features of sound and touch complementing their understanding of the world around them. This form of development is more important to their growth, since it is the most basic one. Also, it is chilling to note that older kids' imaginative skills are compromised due to e-books. The novel and poetry industries will have fewer outstanding writers to come as a result. How will traditional literature continue to survive through the ages? On a note which is closer to home, it is no wonder that the essay content of kids in school suffer. The plots they come up with are too simple, since e-books unfold the plots for them with the interactive features.
I am impressed by a parent who uses both tools to teach her kids the English language. Most parents nowadays use just the e-book. Another parent really hit the nail on its head by saying that reading real books teaches patience. To add on, it enhances the real pleasure of reading via increasing the anticipation of how the plot will proceed. For this to occur though, the power of the language used must be potent enough; the descriptions of the settings and the emotions of the characters must 'speak' so convincingly to the reader that he becomes part of the story and can't wait to live it out.
Parents nowadays are already exposing their young kids to the former. Granted, the kids are still enjoying the reading and learning process. However, they don't have the opportunity to fully do so.
I agree with the article by Huang Huifen. The e-book may make it easier for parents to ensure their kids are occupied but the reader of the e-book is not the parent. As a result, there is not enough bonding between the family members. It is as if the kids are merely watching a movie. I do acknowledge the benefit of the interactive games that will help the kids better understand the story though. At the same time, there are other ways to occupy the kids. Parents can give them colouring/activity books, jigsaw puzzles or building blocks/playdough. These toys enhance the creative and mental aspects of the kids' development, far better alternatives to a technological option.
Indeed, real books spark the kids' sensory development through the accompanying features of sound and touch complementing their understanding of the world around them. This form of development is more important to their growth, since it is the most basic one. Also, it is chilling to note that older kids' imaginative skills are compromised due to e-books. The novel and poetry industries will have fewer outstanding writers to come as a result. How will traditional literature continue to survive through the ages? On a note which is closer to home, it is no wonder that the essay content of kids in school suffer. The plots they come up with are too simple, since e-books unfold the plots for them with the interactive features.
I am impressed by a parent who uses both tools to teach her kids the English language. Most parents nowadays use just the e-book. Another parent really hit the nail on its head by saying that reading real books teaches patience. To add on, it enhances the real pleasure of reading via increasing the anticipation of how the plot will proceed. For this to occur though, the power of the language used must be potent enough; the descriptions of the settings and the emotions of the characters must 'speak' so convincingly to the reader that he becomes part of the story and can't wait to live it out.
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