Reflective Journal 5

Reflective Journal 5: Reflect on SES. You may want to consider the curriculum, the learning process, the assessment, difficulties you faced, how you overcame them, and how might SES be applicable in time to come.

It’s coming to the end of a full semester, and I have some thoughts about SES.

Personally, I feel I have grown a lot through learning about SES. I was able to connect with the curriculum on Chinese and American perceptions of self, because I am a ethnic Chinese and I have always been interested in the portrayal of Americans as confident, assertive individuals. A lot of books I read, like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, are based around Western characters with the American perception of self, and thus I was very interested during this segment of the curriculum, and I did have many of my own comments and clarifications to make. I was also intrigued by this topic because it related to my life in Singapore, as a country that had adopted snippets from both. I did not have the same level of connection with the segment of curriculum in Term 2, which emphasized more on the economic side of things, because it is just not my area of interest. I did not really identify with the tutorials on factories and the Industrial Revolution, in spite of appearances. However, I feel it is very good exposure, and I have definitely learnt a lot about how to factor in a country’s societal context into its economy, and vice versa.

I also enjoyed the method of pedagogy, because it enabled mutual learning between peers. Although I was one of the few people who spoke up consistently at first, I was in fact very glad when people like Jing Ling and Darrel made thought-provoking comments in response to my own. I feel that our class has people who think in very different ways from my own, and so I have many chances to learn from their ways of thinking and reasoning. It was also rather interesting being the one to scrutinise everyone’s comments and systematically rebutting them, at least initially. I just love a good debate, and in the process I often get to hone my own faculties of logic and reasoning as well. The pedagogy served as a sort of sharpening stone for me, and I feel I’ve definitely become sharper and keener through this process of mutual learning. One thing I’d like to suggest is to have smaller-scale group discussions instead of a class discussions, as some people may need to be eased into a discussion-oriented style of learning, before they are ready for class discussions. In smaller groups, everybody also gets more time to themselves for sharing of opinions.

At first, I was rather intrigued by the policy of having a word limit rather than a minimum word count. The initial idea of slacking off and writing less in my reflective journal was soon erased after I found that I actually wanted to write more. I really came to appreciate the 800 words we were given in each reflective journal to talk about our opinions, because it gave me ample space to flesh out my thoughts and perspectives on the issue itself, and attain a level of depth I was satisfied with. At the same time, the 800 word limit put pressure on me to be clear yet succinct whenever I had a wealth of opinions to explain. The result is that I learned how to balance depth with breadth, maintaining an appropriate level of detail as I expressed my opinions in each reflective journal. The kind of mentality a word limit created in me was that out of so many things to talk about, I had to select a few and expound on them, compromising neither breadth nor depth. As a result, I tried to adhere as closely to the word limit as possible, to fully develop my various arguments. I think this mentality helped a lot other subjects like English, because it helped open my eyes to the abundance of possible viewpoints I could adopt when writing. No doubt I never ran out of content to talk about, be it English or SES.

As I was going through some of my earlier reflective journals, it was quite noticeable how I have changed. I initially adhered more closely to the hints and pointers given in the questions, and as such my reflective journals tended to be more repetitive. When I compared them to those my classmates had written, the similarities were often very striking. But practice has helped me develop my personal voice and be willing to explore territory outside the boundaries set by the question. I think the most important thing, for me at least, is being able to express my personal thoughts and talk about my experiences in a way that is truly authentic.

Ultimately, I think I’ll never forget what I learnt in SES – not just the content, but the encapsulated skills as well.

(word count: 800)

Reflective Journal 4

Reflective Journal 4: Reflect on the societal problems faced by China and America. (Hint: you must definitely explain your responses to these societal problems. How can they be resolved? Who should be responsible for resolving these issues?)

China and America are of ever-increasing importance in the current world as political, economic and military superpowers. But what are some of the inherent societal problems that they are facing?

One of the most significant societal problems that China is facing is the disillusionment with the Government. Much of this resentment towards the Government stems from the unfair seizures of arable land for redevelopment, in spite of promises to curb the problem. In a recent incident, villagers of Panhe village, Zhejiang Province, united in a protest against the authorities seizing their land. This was in spite of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s call to protect the rights of Chinese farmers to retain their land, just one month prior to the incident. This clearly shows the self-contradiction and inherent hypocrisy within the China Communist Party (CCP), and is one of the main issues regarding the people’s disillusionment with the Government. Indeed, I feel it is because of this incompatibility between the words and actions of the Government that many farmers and villagers living in rural areas have become disillusioned with the Chinese Government and have stopped trusting in them, sparking off riots against the local governments. The empty promises made by the Government with no visible action or change have led to a cynicism and disillusionment with the Government amongst the Chinese citizens. As such, I can conclude that disillusionment with the Government due to numerous contradictions between their promises and actions is indeed a large societal problem that China faces today.

In my opinion, the main problem with the CCP is that it has too little transparency. Nobody gets a chance to see into the inner mechanisms of the party itself, and the reasons behind government decisions are not always made clear. I am sure that if Wen Jiabao were to provide a logical reason as to why there has been no action so far by the CCP in halting such incidents of misbehaving officials, the people would be more satisfied with the CCP. Of course, this is rather far removed from the typical Chinese reponse to public unrest. The CCP is too accustomed to having the public be subservient and indifferent about the actions of the party. What I think it needs to realise is that times are changing, and the people’s collective mindset is changing as well. If it does not do anything to solve its problems, it will find itself with more trouble on its hands than it anticipated.

In comparison, one of the most significant societal problems that America is facing is the falling academic achievements. This is in part due to the attrition rate of teachers, which is indeed a cause for concern. 46% of teachers quit their jobs after 5 years or less, with that number increasing to 50% in urban areas, and 90% of all teachers hired in America are hired as replacements for teachers who have left the profession. This is a major problem for America because the sheer amount of money required to search for and hire new teachers, year after year after year, is taking a huge toll on education budgets. According to Kopkowski (2008), teacher attrition has grown by 50% over the past two decades, and results in costs of up to US$7 billion per year as districts and states try to recruit, hire and retain teachers. I feel that this is a huge waste of money, as the money saved could otherwise have been dedicated to other, more worthwhile causes, such as upgrading school computers and facilities or purchasing more textbooks. Instead, it is regrettably wasted simply on hiring teachers. Also, Jalongo and Heider (2006) say that because of many qualified teachers leaving the profession, students are experiencing substandard education in many districts in the country. This is an even greater problem, as education is the key to ensure a high degree of social mobility in the country. Having substandard education will hinder social mobility and the overall economic robustness of the country.

In my opinion, the root of this problem lies with the education system itself. The numerous discipline problems with the typical rebellious American adolescent, the large workload, inadequate resources and the lack of a teacher-support system can be very discouraging for newly hired teachers. In particular, if there were a system similar to student orientation whereby teachers could be eased into the teaching profession, I am sure they would be more capable of dealing with the numerous difficulties that arise throughout the various aspects of teaching. Just as students should be eased into the school when they are immature, teachers should be eased into the education system and given the chance to accustom themselves to the teaching profession. Ultimately, it is my strong belief that this will cost less than the US$7 billion otherwise wasted.

(word count: 800 words)

Reflective Journal 3

Reflective Journal 3: We have discussed and debated on the Chinese and American perceptions of self. Reflect on the impact of these beliefs in your life.

China and America are of ever-increasing importance in the current world, as both economic, political and military superpowers. But at the individual level, how have the different ideologies adopted by the two countries affected us, as Singaporeans?

Personally, living in a Chinese country that has adopted Western philosophies and being educated in a school that reputes itself on being “the best of the East and the West” has moderated my exposure to both types of philosophies. In school, we are taught the importance of traditional Chinese values, but at the same time we are taught to think on our feet and defend our opinions, much like the Americans do. Furthermore, although the demography of Singapore is such that the Chinese form the majority, a diversity of culture and opinion is still preserved much like America. I feel that in my life, there is a healthy balance between the two somewhat immiscible schools of thought.

Speaking objectively, the cultural setting I am being educated in promotes more of American emphasis on diversity of opinion than the Chinese philosophy of harmony and collectivism. That, at least, is obvious from our usage of four official languages as opposed to just one, and the “meet the people” sessions organised by the Members of Parliament in each constituency. Furthermore, there are regular debates in parliament on national issues, and public feedback is generally welcomed and encouraged by the Government. In the Straits Times Forum everyday, one can see many opinions on a diverse range of topics. As a casual observer, I have noticed the striking similarities between Singapore and America in many areas such as multi-ethnicity and the power balance.

But if I had to say which one I have been affected more by, I would say it would be the American perception of self, that individuals have an undeniable, inalienable right to their own opinions and the opportunity to voice them. Learning, I feel, is not just picking up knowledge, but also being able to synthesise that knowledge into concepts and facts that can be applied in general situations. And for this to happen, it is my belief that there must be opportunities for a wide range of opinions to surface. In my opinion, it is through intellectual debate that we can most effectively learn the skills needed for synthesis of knowledge into concepts, because we cannot be taught the skills, but must learn them through our own thinking. As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for life.” I feel that the skills taught by the American system are invaluable in serving the purpose of teaching one to be an independent learner, capable of asking pertinent and insightful questions and voicing one’s own perspective on the issues at hand.

I also feel that I have the potential to be very rebellious, in that I ask a lot of questions, to the extent where people simply get tired of answering them. To be honest, this has been the root of many quarrels between my mother and I for as long as I can remember. Usually, when I have done something she feels is inappropriate, she will take me to task and reprimand me. In my innocence, I will proceed to ask many questions, and explain to her my opinion and point of view. However, she usually does not deign to try to comprehend my perspective before droning on more about hers, and this is what really irks me. Whenever I point out some flaws in her explanation, she will just repeat her explanation without addressing my point first. Also, she likes to make assumptions and generalisations which are, in my opinion, often insufficiently supported. I have gradually come to realise that she has tired of answering the same questions over and over again, but the problem persists because in some areas, she has yet to offer a satisfactory explanation for why I am in the wrong. I feel that this really shows my inquisitive nature and my need to voice my opinion over points of contention.

That is not to say I am completely alienated from my Chinese background. I have been brought up in a Chinese family and educated in Chinese schools - Nan Hua Primary School and now Hwa Chong Institution, so it is only natural that I have absorbed the teachings of traditional Chinese values. For example, I have been brought up from young to bow to an elder whenever I meet one, be it teacher or family members, as it is considered a sign of respect for their age (and therefore accompanying wisdom).

In my opinion, though, I’ll always be a Chinese kid with the American spirit. And that’s how I like it.

(800 words)

Reflective Journal Entry 2

Reflective Journal 2: Reflect on the working culture and management style in Google and Lenovo. (You may choose to explore how far their working cultures and management styles reflect their respective societies, share your personal experiences and opinions on your preference of working culture and management style, etc)

As the world progresses, Google and Lenovo have both become global brands in their respective technological fields. What is the secret to their success? Upon closer examination, it is evident that they have vastly differing styles of management.

Google’s working culture focuses on the benefits of autonomy and self-discipline amongst employees, as can be seen from the numerous company policies allowing for a high degree of flexibility at work. This is beneficial for the company as it creates space and a conducive environment for creativity and innovation to flourish, as it should. I also believe that by allowing employees to spend 20% of time on personal projects, they will be more motivated to finish company-allocated work in the 80% of time spent on structured work. This raises employee satisfaction, and with satisfied employees will come work of higher calibre.

Next, Google encourages dissent amongst employees, to voice their opinions and provide invaluable feedback to the managers. This helps to ensure that the perspectives of all are duly considered and the company can move in a direction supported by most, if not all employees. Personally, I feel that this managerial style promotes employee loyalty, as the employees are viewed to have equal status with the managers in terms of value and potential.

It does reflect the American society to a large extent. In America, human rights are more liberal and everyone is given the opportunity to express their own opinion. The individualistic and open-minded attitude evident from the country’s policies is very much akin to the free and easy style of Google. The strategies of the Obama administration may even have been adopted from Google’s company policy, in areas such as imposing a high entry barrier and depending on intrinsic employee motivation. However, Google’s success stems from the fact that its employees are disciplined enough to be able to concentrate on their programming work even with a host of distractions in the form of sports facilities, food and cosy offices. By contrast, the American populace is not as understanding of the numerous government-funded help programmes such as Social Security.

Lenovo, on the other hand, is largely based on a top-down managerial system, where the upper echelons of the company convey their instructions to those lower in the company hierarchy. The greatest strength of this system is also its greatest weakness; the fate of the company is based on a select group of people – the board of directors, who decide on what to do. On one hand, a capable board of directors can pass down orders to be executed quickly and effectively. This saves much time and energy as compared to the system of peer reviews employed by Google, where workers debate over the pros and cons of the projects of each individual. On the other hand though, there are many layers of red tape to cut through, limiting the company’s flexibility in policy changes. The top echelons are also far removed from those lower in the company ladder, and thus may not have as clear a picture of the situation at factories or individual outlets as the bottom employees. The system also hinders development of creativity in the workplace as less emphasis is placed on the employee’s opinions, limiting the influx of different opinions.

This system does reflect Chinese society to an extent. The political system is such that the China Communist Party (CCP) is the ultimate authority regarding most issues, leaving common citizens little room for debate or expression of their opinions. Indeed, they are brought up from young to not question the teacher’s opinion. Personally, I feel that this inhibition of innovation is very detrimental for China, as it should be drawing on the combined creative talents of its people in order to maintain itself as the world’s second-largest economy, instead of stifling creativity and thusly placing limits on its future success.

Although I would undoubtedly face many difficulties, I think I would prefer to work at a Google styled company.

I think that I would be an active contributor in peer discussions, being able to voice my opinion and defend it logically. I am also comfortable with the concept of questioning my superiors about the reasoning behind their decisions, and I can easily envision myself providing suggestions and feedback to my supervisor. In fact, I think I would love the prospect of being paid to be a voice of dissent. Furthermore, I would feel excited knowing that I was contributing to the cutting edge of research in my field, and that I would be working with peers equally well versed in my field of expertise. I would also feel satisfied knowing that the company valued my opinion.

Some people might contend that the lack of a creative faculty would be reason enough to work at a traditional company like Lenovo instead. However, I staunchly believe that this is the exact reason why I should work at a company like Google. Creativity can be cultivated, and I want to immerse myself in an environment conducive to innovation so I too may benefit. After all, if I work at Lenovo instead, I will simply be conditioned to follow instructions all the time – something I think I would not enjoy.

Thank you for reading!

Reflective Journal Entry 1

Good day, Ms Yeo and fellow classmates. Today I will be discussing our SES Tutorial 1 in my journal entry.

Today, we discussed cultural intelligence in class, based on 2 articles: one by Glenn Hopis and the other by David Livermore. After a brief discussion, we arrived at the conclusion that cultural intelligence is defined as the ability to function in a multiracial society. We also discussed the four aspects of cultural intelligence: Drive (basic motivation), Knowledge (about other cultures), Strategy (in the form of research conducted and reflections done before and after meeting a person from a different culture) and Action (taken to adapt oneself to a foreign culture). Today, I also experienced a very novel approach to lessons. Ms Yeo (our SES teacher) did not participate much in the discussion itself, instead asking the students questions and getting their responses in order to move the lesson forward. It did require much prior reading and a familiarity with the basics of the topic at hand in order to understand and participate in the discussion.

I found the particular pedagogy very interesting and worthy of mention. In a way, it accomplished much in one swoop. Not only were the students tested on whether they had done the essential readings, but the lack of participation from the teacher also encouraged active and spontaneous participation in the class discussions. Although I was a little nervous at first when emerging into this completely new classroom environment, I still managed to contribute my part towards the discussion, by offering my point of view on a large number of issues and sharing my personal experiences.

That brings me to the next thing. I felt that this teaching method also had another benefit: to allow the teacher to better understand the students based on their personal experiences. Some people in class, including me, shared their experiences about interacting with people from other cultures. The style of the lesson was more personalized and individual, aimed at encouraging students to answer their peer’s questions and the teacher’s questions through personal sharing. This particular emphasis on personal sharing also acted as a sort of quality control: by asking students to share their personal experiences, the students would consciously make an effort to choose the ones that were most relevant and important as they would not want to look bad in front of their classmates.

I also have some thoughts on the lesson content itself. During the lesson, we learnt about the importance of cultural intelligence. Some examples were raised: Before a hypothetical exchange programme to Turkey, how would we make preparations to fit into a vastly different society? During interactions with people from foreign cultures, having cultural knowledge helps us avoid unintentionally causing offence, while improving general communication by adapting our language, tuning ourselves to pick out the words that may or may not be mangled by accent. Additionally, the world is becoming increasingly interconnected. It is highly likely that wherever we go, we will bump into someone from another culture. Having cultural drive allows us to pick out the subtle differences in behaviour, and translate those into appropriate responses. For example, it is best not to talk about pork when we encounter a Muslim, or beef when we meet a Hindu.

Based on my personal experiences with people from other cultures, talking to such a person may require reducing one’s pace of speech, using gestures and other sign language or even speaking entirely in a different language. For example, when I went to Suzhou last December, I spoke almost exclusively in Mandarin as the Suzhou students had a poor standard of English. When I did speak English, I had to simplify my speech and cut out all the typical Singaporean slang to optimise the communication. The Suzhou students did appreciate my attempts, and reciprocated by speaking in more simple Mandarin that I could understand better.

Learning about their culture did pay off as well as I was able to talk with some of them about prominent Chinese and Singaporean singers, such as Jay Chou. I was also exposed to a whole library of songs I had never heard before.

Ultimately, cultural intelligence is not easy to obtain. There will always be those rough moments and tough times. But it is these that make the experience worthwhile, no?

Daniel Tan, 3S105. Signing off.