WHEN YOU BELIEVE (Mariah Carey & Whithney Houston)

Many nights we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could
Chorus:
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will, (Now you will (3rd Chorus through))
You will when you believe
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
My heart's so full, I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say
Chorus
So in times when all your hope is gone
And you go through life afraid
In your heart there lies a hopeful song
That is there to guide the way
And all the hurt and all the pain
You soon will learn was not in vain
For all your prayers, they will be heard
They'll come to pass through faith
Chorus

Tommy Page's "Shoulder To Cry On"

Life is full of lots of up and downs,
And the distance feels further when you're headed for the ground,
And there is nothing more painful than to let you're feelings take
you down,
It's so hard to know the way you feel inside,
When there's many thoughts and feelings that you hide,
But you might feel better if you let me walk with you
by your side,

And when you need a shoulder to cry on,
When you need a friend to rely on,
When the whole world is gone,
You won't be alone, cause I'll be there,
I'll be your shoulder to cry on,
I'll be there,
I'll be a friend to rely on,
When the whole world is gone,
you won't be alone, cause I'll be there.

All of the times when everything is wrong
And you're feeling like
There's no use going on
You can't give it up
I hope you work it out and carry on
Side by side,
With you till the end
I'll always be the one to firmly hold your hand
no matter what is said or done
our love will always continue on

Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on
everyone needs a friend to rely on
When the whole world is gone
you won't be alone cause I'll be there
I'll be your shoulder to cry on
I'll be there
I'll be the one you rely on
when the whole world's gone
you won't be alone
cause I'll be there!

And when the whole world is gone
You'll always have my shoulder to cry on...

The Climb ,Miley Cyrus

The Climb lyrics
Songwriters: Alexander, J; Mabe, J;

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/miley-cyrus-lyrics/the-climb-lyrics.html ]

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Question: The song “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus, tells us that everyone can achieve their dream. It also teaches us that in our quest to success, we have to face a lot of obstacles but we must not give up. We must work hard persistently to achieve our goal. We need to move the mountain that is obstructing our path to success!

So boys and girls out there, based on the song, write one of the compositions below:

1. Sweet Success
2. My Dream Occupation
3. An Admirable Personality
4. There Is No Pain Without Gain.
5. Begin your composition with “I wish I had worked a bit harder and believed ....”

Who is Lee Su Ann?

Lee Su Ann is the author of the novel "The Curse", which is currently taught in secondary schools as part of the literature component. She was born in Penang and has grown up there. She is married to a local lad. At present, she writes medical books for doctors. In the past, she used to work as an embryo scientist.It must have been a surprise to many people to discover that this young writer is actually a scientist. She wrote "The Curse" when she was still a student at University Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Theme; Love in "The Curse"

Question: Write about the theme “Love” in the novel you have read.
Skeleton of ideas
1. 3 types of love
a) Love between family members
b) Love between friends
c) Love triangle

2. Love between family members
 Father’s love- Salleh rescues Azreen a few times –from two incidents of fire – from a fight with Puan Normala
 Mother’s love- Azreen’s mother does not scold her for breaking her rattan basket – teaches her how to make new one – does not blame her for the accident
 Sister’s love – Madhuri- protects Azreen a few times from beatings – helps to weave rattan basket to replace the damaged basket – writes many letters to Azreen when she is in London

3. Love between friends
 Azreen and the Old Lady –console each other- Azreen is the Old Lady’s only friend –sacrifices for the Old Lady- tries to rescue the Old Lady when the house is on fire

4. Love triangle
 Azreen /Mohd.Asraf/ Madhuri – Azreen plays hockey for Mohd Asraf’s team - spends a lot of time together after school- sacrifices for Mohd Asraf-making false confession about letting the gate of the farm opened – unrequited love – Mohd.Asraf loves Madhuri – Madhuri returns his love.
 Hj Ghani/ Madhuri/ Puan Fatiha – Hj Ghani loves Madhuri – pampers her- buys things for her- Fatiha-first wife-jealous- Madhuri loves Mohd.Asraf – marries Hj Ghani –because she is forced by Salleh, her father.

I have been too busy

2011 is moving very fast indeed. I hope all of you are doing constant revision. I shall post some more tips when I am less busy. :)

The Curse:"The Old Lady"

Who is the Old lady?

Lee Su Ann must have a reason for creating the character “The Old Lady” in the story. The Old Lady seems alien in a small Malay village despite of being Malay.

She has been ostracised for many years only because the villagers believe that she has killed her own husband. She is found guilty without trial even though evidences have proved her innocent.

Instead of getting herself immersed in self-pity, the Old Lady rises with pride. She chooses to stay in a small house in the forest. She relies only on herself. She plants her own vegetables and herbs.

Moving to the mainland has not been her dream as she does not have money. So, after her husband’s death, the house in the forest becomes her sanctuary.

Her friendship with Azreen has led her to be more receptive of the outside world. She lends her hand to treat Mohd Asraf’s grandmother who is seriously ill. She treats the sick lady with her herbs but fate plays its role when the sick lady succumbs to her illness.

The death of Mohd Asraf's grandmother causes her own final departure from the world. She is accused of poisoning Mohd Asraf’s grandmother. Mohd Asraf who has been overwhelmed with anger has accidentally lit her house on fire. Azreen fails to save the Old Lady who has been trapped in the fire. Her life is ended cruelly.

Do you like how the Old Lady dies? I don’t! A good person should be repaid with kindness. Tell me your opinion. Does she deserve to die in such a way?

More about Madhuri from "The Curse" written by Lee Su Ann

Well,Madhuri seems to have led a perfect life. She has everything.She has the beauty.She has parents who love and adore her. She has a rich husband who spends generously and lavishly on her.

Yet, nobody knows what is in her heart.Even her sister,Azreen does not understand her.Azreen has been too busy in her own conflict that she forgets about the sister who always defends her. She has not given the attention Madhuri may have needed.Azreen forgets that Madhuri is also a human being. She also has feelings and dreams.Madhuri has been sending letters religiously to Azreen but Azreen has been very reserve of her feeling towards her sister.

Madhuri's sudden death finally makes Azreen realises how kind and wonderful her sister has been towards her. It is not her external beauty alone that draws admirers. Madhuri's kindness and sweet nature has actually attracted people to her. She also has an extra value.She can recite "syair" beautifully.

Let us imagine ourselves in Madhuri's shoes.She is so young but she has to marry an old man twice her age.I will run away if I am forced to do so.However Madhuri remains obedient to her father,Salleh. She marries Hj Ghani to please her father.Even after Mohd. Asraf declares his feeling towards her, she does not just leave Hj Ghani. She wants to tell her parents first and asks for a divorce from Hj Ghani.She is a sensible woman.It is a pity that she becomes the victim of anger.Salleh who is actually her adopted father has accidentally killed her when she tries to stop him from chasing Mohd.Asraf.So sad and tragic!

The Curse: Who is Madhuri?

Let's talk about Madhuri!

Do you know anyone in school who is beautiful,kind-hearted and helpful? In other words, do you know someone who is an angel? She is admired by the men and the envy of her female friends?

Madhuri has everything that her parents want. She grows up to be a fine woman and wife. She has always been the obedient daughter. She is being compared to her boisterous and rude sister, Azreen. However in "The Curse", fate plays its role. Read the novel and find out how fate changes Madhuri's life.

More on "Azreen" from The Curse

Dear readers,
I was not in a very good mood yesterday when I discovered my synopsis on "The Curse" has been copied and pasted by a blogger who claims it as hers.I'm writing this blog to help Malaysian students in their SPM.I've also indicated to the writer of the book,Lee Su Ann, I will write more of her work on my blog so that people recognise and acknowledge her work. I am proud that she is a Malaysian and is really looking forward to reading more novels written by her.


MORE ON AZREEN

I find Azreen in many of us.At one period of our lives,we can be so vulnerable and emotional.However as we grow up, we learn a few tricks about how to live a happy contented life.A person changes with time.So does Azreen.Her friendship with the Old Lady has changed her outlook towards life.She begins to accept what has been fated and not to suck over small things that happen around her.

I have heard many times people saying that you cannot choose your parents.It is very true in Azreen's case.Though Salleh is extremely strict and hot-tempered, as a daughter,she ought to accept him. She mustn't have any ill-thoughts about her father.He must have loved her so much.He lays out some of his expectations clearly.He may be orthodox in his thinking but he never abandons her.He comes to her rescue in a few occasions such as when she is being attacked by Puan Normala and the villagers.

Many of us have conflict with our parents because we have so much in common with them.Lee tries to show this through Azreen.Azreen takes after her father a lot!She has his temper, his stubbornness and frankness.

So my dear readers/students, do read the novel.Try to understand the characters.Relate them to you or people around you.