Does Re-training Help Jobless Graduates?

Wahlau, Such English!

As usual, the government claims that almost all their students in the SL1M programme got a job on leaving it.

Pray tell, what jobs?

We don't want any mickey mousing? Comprede?

Also, do a transparent tracker study and see how many were retained by their employers.

Wahlau! Such Spelling!

While the government trumpets in cacophony , the private sector are more muted in their responses.

A Malay legal firm tells about poor communication skills, particularly in English, among these graduates and once they do not contribute effectively to the firm, they will be given the walking papers.

How man? No Speak English;No Job!

Again, how many of them will be underemployed, using their lesser certificates to get jobs at fast food joints and 24-hour convenient stores?

Yes, also GLCs may be forced to accept them as national or social service.

I see almost a whole generation who will be English-deficient. Many thanks to the myopic politicians we have.

So,who are we kidding?

SL1M is so slim! So are its possible chances of success.

Verdict: Shockingly sickening!

Home Tuition-Early Signs of Progress

Tuition for Students

I must be having bad to mediocre students.

I could be having undisciplined learners who are difficult to teach.

Or may I am just unlucky to be saddled with lazy bums as my students.

Looking back at my teaching history, there was some joy when I taught voluntarily for the church.

During my Berjaya University College days, I like most of the students because they do try hard.

The Form Four student was an uninterested and disinterested student. She left on her own accord.

My stint at the tuition center at Section 14 was just bad luck since I was saddled with a class more than 40 students which was pretty hard to control.

At Aman Suria, I felt the students being rich spoiled brats, were not there to learn but to socialise.

For my students at home, the first brother and sister pair was just incorrigible as they were rich kids and think that it was the job of their parents to leave them a legacy even if they are poor in their studies. Thankfully they got out on their own.

The second brother and sister pair were again rich kids from an international school and the brother was from a  private school. They possibly wanted me to go to their house to teach. Failing which they got another teacher. Que sera sera.

My current stint with a tuition center is manageable as the classes are small. Only issue-they pay a paltry sum and waste my week-ends.

I had this two sisters who also came to the house for tuition. The first is now in college while the second is still under my tutelage.

I see improvement particularly in her writing skills though she has still  has to improve on her vocabulary.

Abracadabra!

Tender mercies.

Some good feelings at last.

Patent Drafting-Not Everyone's Cup of Tea

Patent Drafting Do's and Don'ts

Once there is novelty in an invention or innovation, protection will be required if it has commercial value.

It is mostly a time-consuming and costly affair if the government or institution does not lend a hand.

While in the past, this will drain an inventor's savings, today the government and institution, understanding the need to protect such R&D outputs for the national good, have started to contribute to its protection not only in the home country but abroad as well.

This year, I was indirectly and inadvertently roped into this business of patent drafting. Not the virgin drafting per se but in the editing of the English to ensure its precision and specificity of claims.

Patent drawing

Patenting could be seen as easy on the outset. However, not everybody can draft.

Two ingredients are required. The scientific knowledge behind the invention and innovation; and two-the command of English to ensure precision of drafting in an expressive manner to ensure no ambiguity of claims.

My experience has shown that though the drafters may have knowledge on the invention or innovation, they stumbled in drafting the patent with precision as they lack  good command of  written English. Poor vocabulary led to the choice of wrong words and poor structuring can cause ambiguity both in description and claims.

My difficulty is not in the English language but more so to appreciate the invention and innovation as the original inventors see it for most unskilled drafters may be describing it too loosely or may even be off the message that the patent intends to carry for the purpose of registration and protection.

No easy thing, this patenting business.

A Evening Walk in Setia Mall

Dimmed Lighting by Green energy

As we happened to be in Setia Alam, we visited the Setia Mall.

This mall is a green mall powered by solar energy.

After all, it had begun to rain and we need shelter and some good dinner.

Pulling in the crowd

There was some good shopping at the mall especially with the newly opened H&M and its competition Uniqlo.

Drawing in the younger set

Interesting, the crowd was not too bad for a Saturday night and they seems to have purchasing power too.

Still packing them in

Walked around at the food outlets and finally settled for Manhattan Fish Market.

We ordered a Seafood special pasta, a dory in Mediterranean style with rice and a platter of their fried dory with fries.

Seafood

The pasta was great but the other dish were so-so.

Cost us RM 63.00. Not too bad.

Went to Starbucks for a Java chip and a black coffee before leaving for home.

One of those rare days when we got back to PJ at 11 pm.