How to Improve My Speaking Skill?

If your daily conversation is not using english as the main language, it will very hard to become speaking english fluently. Because, speaking skill is need to practice frequently and then become your new habit.

I have been facing the new situation too. I’ve tried and looking for the environment which support me to form my speaking habit. Finally, I decided to took up an english course that contains conversation/speaking study on the middle of this December 2010. This course is held everyday except Sunday. Each class takes 90 minutes long.

But, I felt this course still not quite long. So, I must looking for another way to increase my speaking time in everyday. Suddenly, I’ve got a good idea. Why I did’nt try to use english in my lecture? I think this way will be very helpful. Because, I have three class in a week. Each class takes 90 minutes. If I calculated, 90 minutes x 9 times = 810 minutes/13,5 hours a week. Doesn’t it great?

I started my english class in last week of December 2010. Actually, it didn’t full of english, I am still using Bahasa Indonesia to make a clear explanation. At the beginning, I guessed that my student will get in trouble to understanding my explanation in english. Surprisingly, it didn’t happened. Moreover, they felt comfort and looks like more enthusiastic than before.

I’m very happy with the condusive environment. I did my job as usual, at the same time I can improve my speaking skill.

Writing Test from Deakin University

Today, I was following a writing test which held by Pusat Pengembanganan Bahasa and UAD International Office. This test is based on Deakin University’s initiative.

When I saw the test question, I felt this is an IELTS like. I got a question on how my opinion  about the future of education. Will education uses computer based programs only? I must write my opinion more than 250 words, and I think I wrote more than 300 words.

I didn’t know what is the test for? Maybe it will be the ticket to apply to Deakin University or maybe for another needs. I just do my best to answer the questions.

My First ITP Test

On Decemter, 16, 2010 I’ve contacted by Mr. Wajiran who told me that my name is involved as one of participant for the ITP TOEFL test. The test was on December, 17, 2010. Of course I’m really upset to heard his announcement. Because I really didn’t have any plan to take an ITP test. I’ve my own plan to take a test after take my english course first.

But, I think why I did’nt try it first. It’ll be useful for me to understand how high is my ITP score. At 8 AM on Dec, 17, 2010 the test is begun. Actually, I was really tired and little sleepy because I’ve many activities to do. Consequently, I did not on my best performed at this test. For example, I can’t be focus at the listening test section and also the reading test section.

Finally, on Dec 29, 2010, Mr. Dwi Santoto told me that my ITP score test is 480. I am not sad or shocked, even I’m little bit happy, because this score meant that my TOEFL score is higher than the last score test I’ve taken at Pusat Bahasa UGM before my Master graduation.

Based on the last score I will improve my english skill harder. As my friend Mr. Andri Setiawan said to me: you must learn really harder if you want to raise your TOEFL score from 400′s to 500′s. But, if your score are 500′s you’ll be easier to raise it up to 570 or even 600.

Now, I’m following in intensive english course. In a few days later, I’ll take an ITP test again. Because Pusat Bahasa UAD has invite me to take the test. Insya allah in this test I am very sure to achieve 500′s.

Looking For the Supervisor

One of important person who will help you to be a PhD is a supervisor. Supervisor will guide you along your PhD study. Therefore, since December 2010 I am looking for a supervisor. I’ve searched the supervisor through Internet. They are coming from many universities in many countries such as Australia, UK and USA.

I’ve sent emails to those supervisor. There are some of them who reply my email and others don’t. Almost all of them is interested in my research topic, and they asked for me to wrote the mini research proposal.

Consequently, now I am in progress to writing the proposal they asking for. Whoever one of them is accepted my proposal I’ll be welcome to choose his/her as my supervisor.

Who will mate with me as my supervisor? Let us see together….

Misperception of PhD and Professor Title

Sometimes, there are misperceptions when people use academic title in their daily life. For example, many of us are still confusing whether a title of Professor is an academic title or title for job position. I’m sure almost all of us think that Professor is the highest level of an academic title after the PhD. In fact that is absolutely wrong.
In Indonesian academic rule, Professor is not an academic title. It’s just a title for job position or the highest job position in academic institution as well as university or college. Whereas, the doctor or PhD is the highest academic title.
Beside that, the professor title is only allowed for who is not retired yet.  So, if one of the professor is not active anymore as an academic job, he/she have to discharge the title.
Different from professor, the PhD title is able to use forever, even he/she has retired or pass away.

Writing The Title
Many people are also confuse and even misuse when they are writing academic title or job title. We often write the complete title between the name start from BSc, Master and until PhD title. For instance, we usually read the long title written like this: Prof. Ir. XXX XXX XXX, M.Sc., Ph.D. It should be written as: Prof. XXX XXX XXX, Ph.D. It’s mean that you must write only the highest academic title.

Come Back Again

Hello dear, I know this blog has moved to another place. But, fortunately I still have one mission for using this blog again. I want to use this blog to practicing my english writing skill. Ok now, start today insya allah you’ll able to read my paltry post in english. It’ll contain small piece of my daily opinion and thought.

See you tomorrow…

Untungnya Saya Mencatat Keuangan Keluarga

Ceritanya saya merasa aneh, kenapa tagihan langganan kompas datang lagi bulan Agustus ini. Padahal saya rasanya sudah bayar. Akhirnya saya bukan software MyFamily Accounting dan membuka record transaksi pembayaran koran, dan gotcha..! ternyata memang saya udah bayar kok…! Langsung saya telepon agennya, dan saya ceritakan historis pembayaran yang telah saya lakukan. Akhirnya si agen mengakui kesalahan mereka, dan uang saya akan direfund.

Satu lagi terbukti, betapa besarnya manfaat melakukan pencatatan dan pengelolaan keuangan keluarga secara baik dan profesional, apalagi dibantu dengan piranti lunak MyFamily Accounting. Mau ikutan…

Ternyata Langsing Itu Mudah

Saya memang memiliki kelebihan berat badan dan saya sudah deklarasikan untuk perang melawan obesitas. Beberapa minggu sebelum bulan puasa saya mencoba untuk menurunkan berat badan dengan mengatur pola makan. Coba searching di Internet siapa tahu ada yang sharing pengalaman dan saya dapatkan cara yang sangat mudah dan saya yakin bisa diterapkan oleh siapa saja.

Kita mulai saja, kunci utama dalam proses diet adalah MENGATUR POLA MAKAN, camkan itu. Bila gak mau diatur pola makannya, jangan harap perut buncit Anda akan susut. Berikut pola makan yang saya terapkan:

PAGI : Minum air putih 2-3 gelas. Makan kentang/jagung rebus atau untuk variasi bisa juga roti gandum.

SIANG : Nasi (max 10 sendok) plus lauknya ikan bakar dan yang paling penting sayurnya (ingat! Jangan makan sayur yg bersantan) lebih banyak dari nasi.

Malam : Makan buah.

Pantangan: hentikan makan gorengan ataupun makanan yg digoreng dengan minyak, coklat, manis-manis gula.

Perhatian: Bila masih lapar perbanyak minum air putih atau banyak-banyak makan buah.

Hasilnya alhamdulilah subhanallah, dalam 2-3 hari berat badan saya sudah bisa susut 1-3 Kg! Coba bayangkan bila Anda bisa konsisten dalam 1-3 bulan. Tubuh ideal yang Anda impikan, bisa segera terwujud!

Selamat mencoba…

Tenang Saja, Konsumen Akhirnya Beli Juga Kok…

Saya dan Anda pasti sering melihat secara sengaja atau tidak produk-produk yang diiklankan dan terpampang mulai dari bentuk spanduk, surat kabar, iklan baris, kolom, baliho, reklame, televisi, radio, dll. Pada awalnya kita mungkin cukup tertarik ketika melihat sebuah produk dengan berkata dalam hati, “…hmmm, bagus juga tuh produk, suatu saat beli ah….“.

Hari berganti hari dan minggu berganti minggu, mungkin kita telah lupa dengan niat tersebut. Nah, suatu hari kita melihat kembali iklan produk tersebut dan lantas teringat kembali dengan niat kita untuk membeli produk tersebut, tapi karena hari itu kita sangat sibuk dengan kerjaan rutin, akhirnya niat tersebut tertunda kembali.

Kandas di Babak Kedua

Menyakitkan! Itu kata yang tepat buat kekalahan tim asuhan saya ketika kalah dalam pertandingan babak kedua Papua Cup melawan PS Manokwari dengan skor 1-2.

Jalannya Pertandingan

Memang saya akui tim kami kalah di semua lini. Memulai pertandingan dengan gugup dan kelihatan “kaget” karena harus bertanding pukul 14.30 siang membuat barisan pemain kocar-kacir. Bayangkan saja, lepas kick off beberapa menit langsung gawang kami nyaris bobol kalau tidak karena bola hasil tendangan keras pemain lawan membentur mistar bagian bawan lalu memantul ke bawah. Dari situ lah sport jantung kami para ofisial di mulai. Kekalahan kami sudah kelihatan dari bagian bek kanan yang kerap kehilangan bola karena gagal mem-pressure lawan. Alhasil sering sekali tusukan dan serangan berbahaya lawan berawal dari sana. Oleh karena itu segera saya ganti dengan pemain sesungguhnya karena datangnya telat. Alhasil barisan belakang sudah beres dan kuat.

Tetapi petaka pertama datang ketika tidak berapa lama kemudian, berawal dari serangan lawan yang sudah dekat area penalti akibat bebas marking pemain kami tendangan bebasnya yang keras sukses menjebol gawang kami, 0-1 buat PS Manokwari. Adapun gol balasan kami bermula dari free kick di bagian kanan lapangan yang dieksekusi oleh Okta, bek kiri kami. Tendangannya yang sangt akurat sempat membentur mistar gawang dan tepat jatuh di kaki Zainal pemain tengah dan tanpa ampun melesakkan tendangannya hingga tidak bisa ditahan kiper lawan, 1-1 skor berubah.

Menjelang pluit akhir pertandingan sebenarnya kami sudah optimis bakal terjadi penalti yang membuat kami sangat PD, karena kami unggul di sisi kiper. Tetapi bencana yang kami takutkan terjadi, akibat konsentrasi yang kurang di akhir pertandingan, bermula dari Pinandi, bek kanan kami yang membuang bola ke tengah dan berhasil diambil lawan yang langsung umpan crossing dan gagal di heading oleh Ratno hingga dengan manis bola berhasil di heading oleh pemaing lawan, akibatnya pada injury time kami harus mengalami kekalahan yang saya rasa sangat menyakitkan dengan skor 1-2.

Dari kekalahan ini saya sangat paham bagaimana tidak enaknya kalau kalah di saat injury time. Tapi memang tim lawan pantas menang, karena mereka unggul dari permainan. Kami akan bertekad untuk tampil lebih baik lagi pada kompetisi-kompetisi yang akan datang. Bagi saya pribadi menjadi manajer pertama kali ini membuat semakin ketagihan, wah bagaimana nih…?