Boy, 13, Conquers Everest

While reading this article, it made me reflect on myself. This 13 year old boy had conquered Mount Everest with much determination! Most teenagers at the age of 13 would be probably spending their time studying, hanging out with friends and playing computer games. But 13 year old Jordan Romero spent his time training and preparing to conquer all seven continents highest peaks.

He dreams big! That is amazing! At the age of just 9, he already had an ambition since he saw a mural of the mountain at school. It is really a great achievement for such a young boy to break record. His never-give-up spirit can be an example to other young teenagers who dare not pursue their dreams. I think Jordan is a role model for all of us. We should learn from him and be determined in what ever we do.

Boy 13, Conquers Everest

I was astonished as i read this article. A 13 year old, conquering Mount Everest seems impossible to many. However, the 13 year old, Jordan Romero, proved us wrong by breaking the world record and crossing Everest the big hurdle.
I admire his courage and his surpassing determination. He did not back out or gave up on his dream even though he knew the dangers he would face, for example, avalanches, when climbing the mountain. He even set a greater goal, that is to reach the highest points of all 50 US states, after taking down Everest. I believe he is the fine example for every person out there who gives up on their dreams easily, and have little perseverance. Endurance and perseverance combined to win in the end. I am sure that is how the 13 year old's attempt to reach the summit of Everest became a success.

Boy, 13, conquers Everest

Reading about the achievement of 13 year-old Jordan Romero, I feel that he is bound for even greater things to come. Climbing any mountain is not an easy task, especially not Mount Everest. However, not only did he climb Everest, he managed to reach the peak as the youngest climber to achieve such a feat. I admire his courage to scale Mount Everest as it is no hidden fact that countless climbers have been killed in their quest to conquer the highest peak in the world. Despite the criticism thrown at the decision of letting a 13 year-old climb the mountain, he pushed forward for his dream. I feel that the passion and drive that he has to reach his goals are traits that more teenagers should have. It has made me realize that with hard work and determination, nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams.

Boy, 13, conquers Everest

After i have read the article, I just had to applaud this teenager to be able to climb Mount Everest. Climbing mountains is a never easy task for an adult, much lest a teenager, who is just thirteen years old. I believe that climbing mountains require years of training and self-discipline. Nevertheless, it also requires experience and the knowledge to climb the mountains. I believe that the boy probably had to do hours of training each day just to maintain, if not, build up his muscles.
In addition, the boy, Jordan's training includes 'carrying a heavy backpack and sleeping in a specially created tent that simulates the effects of altitude', which i believe is the most rigorous training that i have heard. Other sports training could be very vigorous, but from my point of view, I feel that it would not be as tough as what this teenager has gone through.

Boy, 13, conquers Everest

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_530007.html
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20100411-209651.html

I admire the courage and strength of the boy. His ambition started when he was just nine years-old, after seeing a mural of the mountain at school. At the age of ten, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya. Mount Kilimanjaro is among the tallest freestanding mountains in the world (5893metres).
To climb up the world highest mountain (8848metres) is not an easy task. For a growing boy to endure hardships and tough weather conditions of Mount Everest require tons of determination and perseverance.
To prepare for his quest on Mount Everest, Jordan has been training hard for the past year, climbing the mountains of his native California carrying a heavy backpack and sleeping in a specially created tent that simulates the effects of altitude.

Minister Reassures Mother Tongue Teachers

I feel that been fluent in Mother Tongue Language (MTL) should be an essential skills that all of us should have. Each one of us should be proud of our MTL that our ancestors spoke in the past. If MTL's weight-age is lowered, it would be unfair to all those students which are strong in their MTL. Lowering the weight-age of MTL will not help solve the problem in the long run.

I am also glad that Dr. Ng took the effort to send a two-page e-mail to the teachers. This assured many MTL teachers that their job position would not be affected.

At home, parents should play a part in their children's interest in MTL. I recommend that parents should speak MTL when communicating with their children. They should also encourage their children and educate them from young that MTL is very important in our modern society.

Minister Reassures Mother Tongue Teachers

http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20100513-216066.html

I am glad that the minister feels that learning mother tongue language is important. Personally, I feel that learning mother tongue language connects us with our past and roots. In addition, i felt that the minister is doing a good job by doing more on the subject, which includes hiring more mother tongue teachers and getting more education facilities. In addition, I am elated that Singapore has been doing more enrichment programmes with schools in China, India and Malaysia. I feel that by having these, the students would benefit the most and therefore earned the most out of their abilities. I agree with Aishah on what she said about learning mother tongue being crucial and students nowadays being predominantly english educated. As such, learning mother tongue is a crucial factor and we should all treasure it.

Minister Reassures Mother Tongue Teachers

I agree with the ministry's decision to maintain the weighting system for MTL at primary school level. As many students do not realize the importance of MTL, they speak English more frequently than their native language. Some parents think that mastering the English Language is more important than MTL thus teach and remind their children to speak English more often. Hence, neglecting the MTL.

I believe that by maintaining the weighting system for MTL at primary school level is the solution to the growing number of children from predominantly English-speaking homes. It would increase the students' awareness of the importance of the MTL. Dr Ng Eng Hen said in the article, there would be an increase of MTL teachers, enrichment programmes with schools in various countries. Language elective programmes at secondary and junior college levels have also been expanded. By doing so, students will realize the importance of the MTL.

Minister Reassures Mother Tongue Teachers

I feel that the ministry’s decision to not cut the weighting for Mother Tongue Language (MTL) at PSLE is the right decision. I agree with Jun Wei that reducing the importance of a subject is not a solution to students not being able to perform up to standards. Instead, more efforts should be put in to resolve the problem head on. A more proactive approach should be adopted to capture students’ interest to learn and master MTL.

MTL is especially crucial and important nowadays as more and more households are predominantly English speaking as stated in the article. As opposed to up to a few years ago, students today have lesser outlets to practice speaking in their native tongue. Everyday conversations are usually in English and school is, for most students, the only place they get to practice speaking in their MTL and improve their fluency in the language.

Minister reassures mother tongue teachers

After reading this article, I felt relieved that the mother tongue weightage in PSLE will remain the same. Mother Tongue to us is like roots to the trees. Without roots, you can't expect a tree to grow. Before we learn any subjects the first thing we learn is our mother tongue taught by our parents. Don't you think it's funny that people learns a lot of different languages but can't speak their mother tongue?
By removing or reducing the importance of a subject that students can't do well is not a solution to the problem. The authorities should find ways to build interest in students. This way students will not forget their 'roots'. By mastering their mother tongue will also allow students to gain an upper hand during job interviews as they know one more language compared to others who can't speak their mother tongue.

How to make Singapore livelier?

In my opinion, the hire-and-ride scheme is a good suggestion. It adds to the image of Singapore as a lively city and it is environmentally friendly. However, I agree with Shi Qian that it may not be supported by many office workers. In addition to it being an inconvenience for ladies wearing office skirts, the hassle of having to constantly rent and return the bicycle on time may be a turn-off to some.

On the other hand, I agree with the suggestion to build more elderly-friendly amenities like underpasses. Doing so will give the elderly an equal chance of enjoying the city. They should be strategically placed and not built just for the sake of having more. Inter-generational bonding also plays a part as it will open up even more opportunities for interaction between the generations and I believe that this will make Singapore a more lovable and lively city.

How to make Singapore livelier?

In my opinion, making Singapore a livelier city is very essential for improving the quality of life. The bicycle-rental scheme makes it more convenient for Singapore residents to enjoy the outdoors.

Secondly, I belive, 'improving the accessibility of places in Singapore for senior citizens by building more elderly-friendly amenities like underpasses', would help Singapore become a much more livelier city, both the elderly and young generations would benefit from accessibility of places. It encourages people to step out of their homes instead of confining within the four walls.

In addition, I agree with Cheryl's opinion of converting housing board flats into reusable spaces for community activities. This brings the community together as they would be able to interact and bond with each other. By having these centres, people would voluntarily visit the centre and spend their free time there, thus resulting in a livelier city.

How to make Singapore livelier?

In my point of view,
the 'hire-and-ride' scheme suggested by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is a good way to make singapore livelier. I believe that by carrying out the 'hire-and-ride' scheme, Singapore can be seen as an interesting, unique city and a livelier country as it is a rare sight to see many Singaporeans cycling to the nearby eatery for lunch.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan mentioned in the article that inter-generational bonding is an important aspect to livening up Singapore the city. I agree that The suggestion of converting the second floor of upcoming housing board into reusable spaces is one way to make singapore livelier. By converting housing board flats into reusable spaces that brings community services like childcare centres closer to home, the young and olds can interact, bond, participate in activities and spend more time together, and thus, livening up Singapore.

How to make Singapore livelier?

Firstly, the suggestion of renting a bicycle and cycle to a nearby eatery for lunch may not be supported by most office workers. Even though it is environmentally - friendly, many would not be willing to spend their money on renting bicycles. For ladies, if they are wearing office skirts, it would be very inconvenient for them. They are open to the people's suggestion as they had selected (which comprises 35 members including businessmen and teachers) to discuss about the aging population. This shows that they are concern about Singapore's aging population.

Secondly, by building more elderly-friendly amenities like underpasses for senior citizens will bring more convenience. It would be more safe for them if they have difficulty walking. I think they did a great job as they include the senior citizens' opinion regarding this suggestion. In this way, they will understand more about the senior citizens' needs and wants.

Shi Qian

How to make Singapore livelier?

After reading this article, I feel that the 'hire-and-ride' scheme is not a good idea to make Singapore livelier. This scheme targets office workers, making them ride bicycle to eat is very unprofessional. Office workers wearing business suits riding bicycles send wrong messages to people that the company they work for is unprofessional.
However, I agree that inter-generational bonding mentioned in the article is an important aspect to livening up the city. I like the idea of converting second floor HDB flats into reusable spaces like childcare centres, bringing community services closer to home. This idea allows the older and younger generations to interact through using the community services, making Singapore more lively.
To make Singapore livelier, I suggest that Singapore organises more international events like Formula One Racing, AYG, YOG, SEA Games, etc. Through these events, the young and old can learn from one another and make Singapore livelier.