Memories...
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
ON WHETHER U SHUD TAKE LEVEL4000 MODULES IN YEAR 3/ AMERICAN JOURNALISTS VISIT
Today during Chinese Foreign Policy seminar class (a level4000 mod), a year 3 girl (1 of the very few year3 students in the class) presented and she was... well, let's just say she was lambasted.
She didnt prepare properly, and most importantly, she wasn't aware of the expectations at all for an Honours level module. She didnt even have basic powerpoint slides, a topic focus, looking at too broad issues, & severely lacked deep analysis. Was just narrating and ranting bout China's worldview, which really irked everyone, coz all of what she said were very shallow stuff which everyone oredi knew.
Even our Professor was very surprised at her level of unpreparedness, and repeatedly urged the newer students to approach him for advice and consultation if they need to.
I guess looking back, it is a fair choice to leave your level4000 module requirements until your Honours year. I noe some people, and some seniors do advise others to try and take at least 1 level4000 mod during year3, so that your workload during Honours year ll be lighter. Most majors ll require at least 32 MC (or 8 modules) of level4000 for Hons year requirement.
That being said, most students do stick to 8 level4000 modules during final year. Besides understanding the requirements better, easier to bid during CORS, one can also build up the necessary network of classmates which makes it easier for group work, discussions, & dynamics etc. Easier to cope also.
Of coz a few of my friends also tried taking 1 or 2 level4000 mods when they were year 3, but u really have to be prepared to work very hard and face fierce competition from the year4s (who may not necessary be very friendly & warm to the year3s I must add haha). And they didnt score very well for the mods they were taking.
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The session with the American journalists was wonderful. =) It was so refreshing to share n hear from them various insights on both Singapore and the US.
I spent a lot of time talking to Michelle Burford of The Oprah Magazine & William Dobson of Foreign Policy magazine. I asked tons of questions regarding the current primary elections in US and their views on it haha.
Gosh, the embarassing part for me was that after I received their namecards towards the end when they were leaving, then did I realize how significant their portfolios were. Miss Burford is currently the Contributing Features Editor for The Oprah Magazine, and Mr Dobson is actually the Managing Editor for Foreign Policy. And thats when it hit me that I have come across Mr Dobson's articles before on Foreign Policy, which is like 1 of the most respected & established online journals for Political Science & International Relations.
I did a quick search on google for their names just now, together with Mr David Crumm (Founding Editor for ReadTheSpirit.com), and Mr Andy Jordan (Technology Reporter for Wall Street Journal Online).. And found tons of stuff that each of them have written on, as well as interviews/ features they have done with world-famous statesmen, businessmen, celebrities etc.
Wow, I feel really lucky and privileged man. Its really not everyday that u can meet up with such a select group of established American journalists. And I m really grateful that the Deanery gave students like us a chance to mingle and interact with them.
Apparently, they ll each be writing on their trip here to Sg & Taiwan when they return back to the US. And they ll be fowarding us the links so that we can read them. Cant wait for that man.
