Singposium II - Closing the chapter

Today is the last day of Singposium II. At the end of the second session, 4 of us - the twins, K Khaing, myself and our guest member Ko Tun Tun Win remained as Singposiasts. We humbly closed the chapter "Singposium II" this evening.

Since we have left a room, we need to think what is the next room we want to enter. Through out Singposium I and II, we managed to exposed ourselves to Toastmasters' movements. For us having years of experience in U Wynn Naing's tuition, giving "talks" is nothing new. We just need some warm up sessions to bring back the "fever" of public speaking and getting ourselves familiar with the rules of Toastmasters. Now that we are dared enough to get in touch with Toastmasters, we decided to take a break from Singposium and spend more time in Toastmasters activities.

Friends, it has been my pleasure and I am privileged to have shared learning experience together with all of you. Hope to have more chances to learn together again.

Singposium II - WEEK 7

Words of the day
gumption - intelligence needed to handle a particular situation; courage, guts
verdant - green because all the trees and plants grow there
assimilate - to help someone feel that they are part of the circle, community or culture; to take in information and make it part of your knowledge
concession - a contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business
imminent - likely to happen very soon especially something unpleasant

Phrasal Verb
roll up - to accumulate; to collect
flip for - to immediately like something or someone very much
buckle down - to start working hard and serious
angle for - to try to get something especially by praising a person
put round - put about - to keep telling someone what to do in an unfair and unpleasant way

Quote
The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
Life challenges are not supposed to paralyze you. They are supposed to help you discover who you are.
You are as old as you feel.
Good better best, never let it rest until your good is better and better is best.

Talk Show - Purpose of life
Refer to the comment for essay.

Singposium II - Week 6

Words of the day
extricate - to remove or set free something with difficulty
assilant - someone who attack another person
nibble - to eat something by taking a lot of small bites
palate - the sense of taste/ intellectual or aesthetic taste; mental appreciation

Phrasal verb
strike out - to start to play or sing something
palm off - persuade others to take something in order to get rid of someone or something you don't want
nibble away at - to reduce the total amount of something by gradually using small amount of it
heave up - to push, pull or lift heavy object

Quote of the day
Better aslip on the pavement than aslip off the tongue.
Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.
There are no shortcut to any place worth going.
We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own.

Talk Show: Pros and cons of being a mother
- someone who will care for me (expectation of a parent)
- happiness and pleasure (a new toy at home) - the satisfactory
- Huge responsibility to nurture a child -
- Interesting life-long project
- need a big heart to bare a child

Disadvantages
- need great care to take care of the fetus even while it's in the womb
- thinking for his/her future and life

Topic for Journal
"Unconditional love of a mother"

Singposium II - WEEK 5

Words of the Day
Tantalize ( V ) – to make a person or an animal wants something that they cannot have or do
Jape ( N ) A trick or joke that plays on somebody
Cynic ( N ) A person who believes that people are only interested in themselves and not sincere
Spate ( N ) a large number or amount
Inhibition ( N ) a feeling of embarrassment or worry that prevents you doing or saying what you want

Phrasal verb
kill off – to make a lot of plants or animals die
look out on – to face or to overlook
hand down – pass along
see off - to defeat some threat or challenge or person
egg someone on - to encourage someone to do something that is not good

Quote/ Proverb
A chip off the old block
Yawning is a silent shout
History repeats itself
A fault confessed is half redressed
A perfect match can only be found between blind wife and a deft husband

Talk Show by Ah Kyi Ma: IDENTITY - Personal Identity
• Self-awareness
• What you have done reflects as your personal Identity
• Problems – loss logical necessities

Week 5 Journal Entry ( 300 by Wednesday mid night or 500 words by Friday)
Who I am? What I am? How could I have been?

Listening program: Father of South Korean warship victim

Singposium II - Week 4

Words of the day
vulnerable (adj) open to assault; prone to
idiosyncrasy (N) someone's particular way of behavior or thinking/ eccentric
haggard (adj) look sick/ill
exquisite (adj) extremely beautiful and pleasing
scourge (N) something or someone that causes great suffering or a lot of trouble
chapfallen (adj) down-hearted, being in low spirit

Phrasal Verbs
shop around - to look around for the best products, services or prices
bottle up - to keep feelings inside
drum out - to force someone to leave the organization
get out - to leave
face up to - acknowledge something difficult or embarrassing
get something across - cause to be understood

Quote/Proverb
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Memory is more indelible than ink.
Like father, like son.
Knowing others is intelligence, knowing yourself is true wisdom, mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power-tao te ching
The main purpose of acquiring knowledge is to share.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Talk show - A Strong Lady

Singposium II - Week 3

Words of the day
take (N) filming of the scene
eclat (N) enthusiastic approval
parapet (N) a defensive war or elevation
equanimity (N) steadiness of mind under stress
juggernaut (N) over powering
resilience (N) recovery, getting back to the original position after being bent or compressed

Phrasal Verbs
Hold out against - not give in; resist
run down - tired or unhealthy
flirt with something - we think about something (not seriously)
zero in on - discover; pinpoint
tuck in - eat
bounce back - getting back to original position after being bent or compressed

Quote/Proverb
Excellence is achieved through consistency, innovation and daring.
One man's meat is another man's poison.
First impressions are most lasting.
The nail that sticks out must be pounded down.
Saying is one thing, doing is another.
Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.

Talk Show by Ma Saint: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Habit 1: Be proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 3: Put first things first
Habit 4: Think win/win
Habit 5: Seek first to understand then to be understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the saw

Question for Journal Entry
What do you want to be? Describe an image of you in a situation you really want to be. Paint the picture as detail as possible with the power of words.

Listening program: to listen to "UK body donation"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/outlook (Somali doctor survives attack; UK body donation; Namibia's disco dancing First Lady)

Singposium II - Week 2

This week, we do not have full strength as the twins are busy. We decided to have this week program differently. We decided to watch a movie and write the journal entry. We chose the move I am Sam (2001)

The story is

Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a man with a developmental disability, lives in Los Angeles, works at Starbucks, and is the sole guardian of his six-year-old daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning), after her mother abandoned them. Despite his limitations, Sam is well-adjusted and has a supportive group of friends with developmental disabilities, as well as a kind neighbor Annie (Dianne Wiest) who takes care of Lucy when Sam cannot. Though Sam provides a loving and caring environment for precocious Lucy, she soon surpasses his mental ability. Other children tease her for having a "retard" as a father, and she becomes too embarrassed to accept that she is more intellectually advanced than Sam. In preparation for a custody case, a social worker turns up at Lucy's birthday party and takes her away, allowing Sam two supervised visits per week.

On the advice of his friends, Sam approaches a high-powered lawyer, Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), whose brusque manner, fast-paced schedule and difficult personal life have earned her a reputation as cold and unfeeling. In an attempt to prove to others that she isn't heartless, Rita surprisingly agrees to take on Sam's case for free (pro bono). As they work together to secure Sam's parental rights, Sam unwittingly helps Rita with her family problems, including encouraging her to leave her philandering husband and repairing her fractious relationship with her son.

During the trial period, Lucy is living in a foster home with Randy Carpenter (Laura Dern), but tries to convince Sam to help her run away, and continually escapes in the middle of the night to go to Sam's apartment, whereupon he immediately returns her. At the trial, Sam breaks down after opposing counsel convinces him that he is not capable of being a father. Ultimately, the foster family who planned to adopt Lucy decide to return her to Sam, with an arrangement that Randy will help him raise her.

The final scene depicts a soccer game, refereed by Sam, in which Lucy participates as a player. In attendance are the foster family, Sam's friendship group, Annie, and a newly-single Rita with her son...


It was a story about the father whose IQ is equivalent to a 7-year old. It really worries me that how Lucy is going to continue with her life as she grows up. In addition to the father and daughter, there are some other highlights on importance of parenting. The relation between the lawyer and her son, Annie who seems to have heavy emotional baggage with regards to her father and one of the witnesses who had a mother of low IQ but fortunate to be taken care by her grand parents.

Question for Week 2 Journal Entry
We saw the relation "What do you think is the role of parents?"

Singposium II - Week 1

Today, we resume Singposium part II with the twins, K Khaing, Myint Naing, Aung Myat Kyaw and the new member Min Ko Ko.

Saturday @6:30pm - 9:30pm
For 2 months

Changes: Listening to be done from home

Word of the day:
mortality - death rate
revamp - to change or arrange something again in order to improve
pupa -the form that an insect takes when it is changing from larva
morality - moral quality or character
crosstie - the section between the two rails
artificial - not natural

Phrasal Verbs
figure on - expect/ count on
open up - share feeling
let up - become less intense or slower
keel over - to fall over side way
figure in - add in
figure out - to understand
watch over - to guard for protection or safe keeping

Proverbs/ Quote
Diligence is the mother of good fortune.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
A good plan today is the perfect plan tomorrow.
Actions is louder than speak.
The shortest way to do many things is to do one thing at a time.
Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today.

Talk Show: UN Mellenium Development Goals
- Poverty
- Universal Education
- Gender Equality
- Child Mortality Rate
- Maternal Health
- Combat HIV
- Environmental sustainability
- Global Partnership

Writing: Journal Entry / Essay on the following topic
300 words for the submission by Wednesday 23:59hr (or)
500 words for the submission by Friday 23:59hr

What do you think about UN Mellenium Development Goals? Do you think these goals can be achieved in most of the developing countries? Do you think UN have the strength to achieve the goals?

Listening program: to listen to "UK body donation"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/outlook (Somali doctor survives attack; UK body donation; Namibia's disco dancing First Lady)

Week 8 - The Rich and The Poor

Words of the day
premediated - planned in advance; well arranged
squlid - dirty
painstaking - careful and diligent effort
mirage - image produced by hot air (illusion)
empower - to give power or authority
polytheism - the believe that there is more than one god
accentuate - emphasize or stress

phrasal verbs
revuke (someone) for (something) - criticize someone for doing something bad
goof off - being lazy
jump all over - severely scold someone
chew over - consider or think about
pshych someone out - to behave in a confident way and try to find out someone's mental and emotional state
iron out - mutually reach agreement
pitch in - join together to accomplish something

Proverbs/Quotes
A penny saved is a penny on.
Something is better than nothing.
There is one law for the rich and one law for the poor.
Never put off till tomorrow which can be done today.
Out of the frying pan into the fire.
Penny wise; pound foolish.
Make hays while the sun shines.

Talk Show: The Rich and The Poor by Aung Mrat Kyaw & K Khaing (8:08 - 8:28)
different country - different perspective on ----
Some people getting richer and some getting poorer
"freedom" is the key for escaping vicious circle of poverty
human rights
E.g. the poor in Myanmar - low % of middle class
high % of middle class --> high poverty rate and it will get higher
can't go for strike cos it is for survival
capitalism - market - governance (Economy)
Narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor --> middle class (because they can stand to a certain time)
My opinion: empower them --> business --> education (raised their standard of living/ability to lead others)

Listening: Living with tourists
It was about different attitudes towards tourists in different tourist attraction places - some people hate having too much tourists, some happy to host them and some just ignore them.

Journal Entry:
Who do you think are responsible for poverty from a family to the society? Which class do you think you belong to? Currently in which way are you contributing to Myanmar society - maybe in Singapore or back in Myanmar? How do you think you can contribute better for our community in the next 5 years?

Week 7 - Red shirts in Thailand

Words of the day
In`trepid (adj) – willing to do adventurous thing
In`fringe – to break or interfere with a person’s freedom or right
Insomnia – inability to obtain sufficient sleep; sleeplessness
Yankee – A native of the US or New England (Northern soldier)
Coup – master stroke/ take over illegally or by force
Jeopardy – risk

Phrasal Verb
Sandwich between – put something between two layers of other materials
Wrapped up – to conclude
Make out – pretend
Set back – cause a delay in schedule; cost
Round off – to make a number from a decimal
Put up with – tolerate

Quote/Proverb
Action speaks louder than words.
Never let you feet walk faster than your shoes.
Safety lies in the middle course.
Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of the happiness.
Revenge is sweet.
Deny self for self sake.


Talk show (Red Vs Yellow Shirts – are they leading to Civil War?)
- What does Civil war mean to you?
- Do you think Thailand's situation will lead them to a civil war?
- The political landscape, the nature of competition and type of wars had been changed. How do you think a civil war in 21st century would look like?

Listening: Children of Revolution

Week 6: Climate Change

Aung Myat Kyaw joined us as a member. Let's us remain the Symposium spirit till 15 May 2010. We will celebrate our accomplishment on the last day of this 2-month shared learning journey. How? I'll keep it confidential, but I am sure you will enjoy the moment of celebration!

Words of the day
Relegate – to send to an inferior position
Abhorrent – hateful; offensive
Pain point – driving force to do something
Carbon date – to estimate the age of an object of plant or animal original by radio carbon dating
Bequeath – to leave personal belongings by will
Resurrection – Jesus returns to life again after 3 days of his death
Precarious – can get back to the ill situation any time

Phrasal verb
Bring off – succeed
Shove off – go away
Rip off – cheat
See off – send off
Get off with – elope
Tip off – give information
Mingle with – socialize with

Quote/ Proverb
The more we learn to know, the more we come to know is we don’t know.
Haste makes waste.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.
Learn to walk before you run.
Empty vessel makes more sound
A drop in the ocean
To be in love is the best way of living the life

Talk by Ko Myint Naing “Climate Change”
Kyoto protocol
– To control green house gases not more than (level as of1990 + 5%)
– Carbon trading (not counting the emission from the planes and ships)
– Maldives, Nepal
– Who is going to bare the costs
– To go green, what do you do?

What is your personal opinion on the importance of Climate Change? Do you think everyone must play their role to reduce impact on the ecological system? What actions do you take in order to protect the mother earth?

Week 5 - Importance of Culture

This Saturday, some of us went to Swe Daw Yeik Thingyan. It was a mixture of cultural and modern performances. Although the timing was way out of the schedule mentioned on the ticket and in my opinion it is becoming more commercial, the performances still carry the essence of Myanmar Culture. Yes, I said Myanmar Culture not Myanmar New Year. This year, although Myanmar songs and dances are presented, I found it bare cultural values but not much of water festival. The performance of Pa Dauk Chit Thu and Thingyan group dance are the only things impressed in my mind as Thingyan performance. What I like were
1) the jokes during traditional duet dance
2) Pan Dauk Chit Thu song, Shwe Pyi Gyi,
3) The short story (Opera)
3) The dance by a group of youth (I think it is hip hop)

What I didn't like are
1) Wrong information of timing (on the ticket) - it was completely wrong to mention 4:45-9pm and the actual performance was 5:30-11:30pm.
2) Too many songs by the band
3) Poor audio system and equipment

Like Thingyan and Tasaungtaing performances in my younger days, the slogans (Than chat) are the highlight of the whole show. They reflect what the ordinary people think and it was proved by the thunderous applause. They also highlight the history-making facts of life (both in Myanmar and Singapore).

Not forgetting the fact that the performers are the armatures, I would say it was a big success to showcase some facets of Myanmar Culture and tradition. Thank you very much for the RIT alumni and the youth who put so much effort to make it happen for (if I remember correctly) 10 consecutive years.

Since there are more and more Myanmar settling in Singapore, we have opportunity to enjoy more cultural occasions such as Thingyan, Kahtein, Saya PuZaw Pwe and even a literature talk last year. Do you think such events are important to you? Why is that so? How about the significant contribution to the community, do you think these events are important to the community?

Week 4 - Ego

Words of the day
Conscience – the voice within you that judge your actions
Egocentric – self-centered
Black tie – formal dress code
Match fixing – dishonest activity to make sure that one team wins a particular sport
Reminiscence – the act or process of recollecting past experience

Phrasal Verbs
Screw (sb) up – damage (sb) personality
Zonk out – to collapse from exhaustion
Off hands – without needing references
Zone out – to completely relax one’s mind
Make out with – kiss someone passionately
Freak out – lose emotional control from extreme excitement

Proverbs/Quote
I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly (Oscar Wilde)
The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.
Blood is thicker than water.
Variety is the spice of life.
Do not judge a book by its cover.
Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

Sponsored Program “Ego” by Ah Kyi Ma & Khant Khant
Ego = I (Latin)
It is a profound topic for discussion. Yet, we had an 1-hr long engaging conversation as ego is inside all of us. We have been having too abstract topics two weeks in a row and it lead us to spend more time for writing. I promise to select a simple topic for Week5.

Some guidelines for this week's journal entry:
Do you believe in helping others especially those who are close to your heart like family members and close friends? What do you think drive you to help them - your satisfaction for being a good daughter/sister/friend or the fact that they are relieved from the problem/need. On the other hand, how do you feel when you are helped by others? What do you do to acknowledge their kindness, help, etc? How do you return their gratitude?


Here are some good use of language from BBC documentaries: 10 days in Haiti
Blame game of the failure
Started work in earnest
Pockets of people; lines and lines of people
Cruel destruction
Pan-caked down
Rubbish tipping
parents just abandoned the body
We are alone
Epicenter
Dramatic and dreadful
Nightmare of falling buildings
Haitian
Trashed/ scrap
Slam area
Patch of filthy open ground
Resilient
Slowly some emergency medical care was established
Psychological trauma – keep hearing the noises
Creole language
Displaced people
Fleetly? glimpse of normality
Bleak and dusty plane

Week 3 - Courtesy

This week, we welcome Tun Tun Win as a new member.

Words of the week
- Refinement: politeness/ change which improve something
- Ethos: moral ideas and attitude that belong to a society
- Bigotry: the state of feeling or act of expressing strong and unreasonable belief or opinions
- Zephyr: a gentle, mild breeze
- Illicit: illegal
- Clairvoyance: the supernatural power
- Zealot: enthusiast, fanatic
- Courteous: having or showing good manners
- Shroud: cover or hide

Phrasal Verbs:
- Stand up for: defend something one believe in
- turn out: end up being
- chip in: contribute or donate
- run into: meet by chance
- fizzle out: enthusiasm fading away
- beef (smth) up: spice up (e.g. you need to beef your presentation up)
- pan out: happen as expected
- fork over/up/out: hand over/deliver/pay
- kick in: to begin to have an effect

Quote/Proverb
- “Life is short but there is always time for courtesy.”
- “Death makes everyone equal” “Death is a great leveler”
- “All’s well that ends well”
- “Stolen fruit is the sweetest”
- Barking dog seldom bites.
- Discretion is the better part of valor
- Love is blind.
- You never know what you can do until you try.
- “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."

Sponsored Program: Courtesy by Ah Nge Ma and Ma Saint (7:35 – 7:55/8 pm)
- Definition and explanation of courtesy
- Examples of courteousness
- What is behind Courtesy and what can challenge one’s courteousness?

Some example of people losing courteousness was also given:
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/24/pap-mp-grace-fu-organizing-water-festival-is-a-way-of-telling-foreigners-that-we-respect-them/
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/23/netizens-up-in-arms-over-bukit-batok-grassroots-organizations-plan-to-organize-water-festival-for-foreigners/
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/04/02/pub-water-festival-is-similar-to-charity-car-wash-events-and-does-not-require-its-prior-approval/
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/29/unhappy-singaporean-writes-in-to-st-forum-to-complain-about-water-festival-organized-by-bukit-batok-grassroots-organizations/


Listening: The Road to Rwanda
It was about the Rwandans going home years after the genocide. What amazed me was the ability to stay together (again) after the massive man slaughter. I wonder this comes from the real RESPECT to each other or simple mindedness.

Journey Entry for Week 3
What does Courtesy mean to you. Is it important to be courteous or just get the job done? Tell us about your own act(s) of Courtesy or lack of Courtesy or shift of pattern in response to the people's behaviors.


For the next week, we need to make some changes to fit into 2 and 1/2 hr. We will do listening exercise only half of a podcast i.e. 12 min.

Week 2 - Online Dating

Words of the day

1. Stalking – is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted attention by individuals (and sometimes groups of people) to others. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation.
2. Internet fraud – a person who makes deceitful pretenses
3. Couch potato – the one who sit for long time on the coach and watch TV or play on computer
4. Man hunt – a gay who is trying to get a partner on the internet
5. Serendipity – an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident
6. Con artist – con man

Phrasal Verbs
1. pick up – try to initiate a relationship with someone
2. stick around – try to stay around
3. get around – try to avoid
4. put out – extinguish fire
5. cut and dried – predictable
6. take back – accept

Quotations
1. All days are short to Industry and long to Idleness.
2. Word’s easier said than done.
3. A fool and his money are soon parted.
4. Save me from my friends.
5. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
6. Beauty is in the eye of beholder.

Sponsors for the day – K Khaing and Cherry
“Online dating”
- Virtual venues to date developed in 20th century
- 1990s – become more popular
- Advantage:
o common interest (everyone has interest to look for relationship)
o opportunity to look for info about someone
o opportunity to meet people you would never meet in day-to-day life
- Disadvantage:
o False information
- Tips: do not keep yourself only online; try to mingle with friends in the real world
Don’ts
- be too excited
- put contact information; you can give it anytime if you are comfortable with someone
- talk to people without photo in the profile
- meet just after a short while after knowing him
Some questions in my mind
“Online dating makes you speak more openly” do you agree with this statement. Why/ why not?
Will you reveal all your information online?
How can the dating websites do background check?
“Culture plays an important part in online dating” do you agree with this statement? Give some examples.

Listening Exercise:

To listen to the podcast and write down
first 8 min: Ah Kyi Ma & Cherry
second 8 min: A Nge Ma & IE
third 8 min: K Khaing & Saint

Journal Entry:
"My learning experience _ Week 2"
Note: try to use the words of the day.


Next Week Sponsored Program: "Courtesy" by Ah Nge Ma & Ma Saint

Founding The "Singapore Symposium"

Today is a special day for eight of us as we started our learning class. In hornor of Sayagyi U Wynn Naing, we name the group "Singapore Symposium". Here are some ground rules for the group.
- starting from today, we will study together for 2 months
- we will meet at least 80% attendance
- we will pay SGD 5 if we are absent from the class with notice, SGE 10 without notice
- Reflective learning journal (writing journal) of three hundred words will be submitted by Wednesday midnight; those who miss the first deadline will submit 500 words by Friday midnight; we will try to use the words we shared in the journal
- two of us will sponsor a program (a talk for 20-25 mine and Q&A 20-25 min) on each Saturday
- one of us will take the role of class leader to ensure the group's learning agenda is met
- we will share 1 word, 1 phrasal verb and 1 quotation/proverb each at each session
- we will have listening (20-25 min) and discuss about the subject
- we will pay fine 10cent/ use of Singlish and Myanmar

20 Mar 10
Words we shared today
susurration; presumptious, mezzanine; solitude; tweak; scout; swastika; sleaze

Quotes we shared today
- Pen is mightier than swad.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
- Home is where your heart is.
- Everything will be alright in the end; if everything is not alright, then it is not the end.
- April showers bring May flowers.
- Birds of the same feather flock together.
- Time and tide wait for no men.
- Like a water off from the duck's back.

Listening for today
Netrimony: Online dating in India
Next week's sponsors are K Khaing and Cherry