I Am a Student

Currently, my status is as a student in International Islamic University Malaysia. After graduating from my degree, I never expected to continue my studies into higher level and never dreamed to study overseas. My parents also never forced me to study after graduating from my degree. But, they never block me away to continue my study. I said to my parents “I would like to try to be an independent student”. And my parents answered “Yes, that's what we want you to be because you are still young, we are getting old and you will be our next generation”.

When I went back to my home, my father always asked me “what were you doing besides your studies?." Because I am getting fat and at that time I'm in my home town for holidays. He also asked me "what were you thinking of your life? Did you never fasting?," I understood what the messages are all about... I couldn’t tell it here. It would be so many explanations.


As you know earlier that my status is a student. But my activity after studying in the class is a part-timer’s teacher. I am happy to teach. I could share my knowledge with my students. Even I felt tired but I didn’t feel tired during teaching. I opined that a teacher is only the status in front of the student. Honestly, I learned so many things indirectly from them. Formally, I am a part-timer’s teacher. Certainly, I acknowledge myself as a student in front of them and they are my teachers informally. So, you can imagine who is the teacher actually..?

Normally, to be a teacher is to be paid for his prosperity. I don’t know, I never thought of this matter. When the head master asking me “How much should I paid you?”. I answered “I don’t know and it’s up to you?”. It sounds like an unprofessional teacher. For me, it doesn't matter, I would be happy to say that, because whenever I had been asked about the amount of salary from him, it wouldn’t make me to be a rich man and it doesn't fit my feeling to teach. I just want to share of what I knew and I want to know of what they knew. It makes me happy...:)

When I decided to be a teacher, then I never expected to have so much money from this profession. Because a teacher is not a seller who has weekly or monthly income expectation, a teacher is not a money investor that could doubled his own money. And I'm still remember that I am a student and my status in Malaysia is as a student and want to be a student forever. I know who I am..please remind me if I forget and do not study.


Thank you..

Who should be blamed?

Today is Monday, 11 July 2010. It’s my time to be home and relax with my home’s task such as creasing my clothes, having correction of my students’ homework and etc. even its relax day ,yet, I listed many tasks to do home. Of course it’s part of my duty as long as I single he he he…

A motorbike sounds louder to my ear and the sound ceasing suddenly in front of my house. I looked at him that was my friend coming into my house and needs a help to pick up her motorbike from motor’s repairer. By then, I have to company him to bring his motorbike to the Mahallah. When I reached in the parking park in front of Utsman’s Hostel, I met another friend and got chatting with him.

A Friend of my mine is a ustaz or we can say a teacher in Islamic studies. Incidentally, he has students from foreign country. Fortunately, they want to know how to read Holy Qur’an. His students come from England which consists of the father and his sons. No doubt that the lesson should be floored in their language.

“Where did you come from?” I asked him when he was coming over to me by his motorbike.
He answered “I just finished my teaching in damansara”
“Owh..Great then” I replied.
“hey Zakki..I bewildered with my students?!” He looked like griping on his face.
“What are you confusing?” I tried to help his problem
“Yeah.. My students are weak enough. They couldn’t understand my explanation even I used my English as best I can. Sure, their English is really bad because they couldn’t understand what I am saying” he said

Some teachers realized that teacher can do no wrong he he

Amazed German's Teacher

Three weeks ago, I had weekly classes with one of my lecturers; his name is DR. Syamsudin Arif. It was not the first class I had with him. I have been studying with him in many subjects such as Latin language, Aqidah, philosophy as well as German language. I was thinking it just normal class as I thought before or such a class that I got in my formal studies. However, it was not, the class beyond my prediction. He teaches us differently and intensively. It’s beyond one semester I had.

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years. ~Jacques Barzun

The subject that we learned from him was not too much explored in every lesson, so that we can understand it easily and again, the way he taught us was really serious. I still remember before we ended the class especially in German Language class, he always brings the loudspeaker for listening to a video or a song in Deutch. One day he ever bought many foods and beverages such us chicken, chicken rice, tea, coffee, and etc. see, how hard is he. SubhanaAllah..

KH. Hasan Abdullah Sahal (left) and DR. Syamsudin Arif (right)

DR. Syamsudin Arif just came from America for some conferences so that we just continue the class after a week of his absent due to his agenda. By then, 2 days after he arrived, if I am not mistaken i had class with him on Wednesday, 30 July 2010. Luckily, I was there because at the same time I had another agenda in Putra Jaya but I canceled it because I really wanted to learn this language even its still a mystery for me what is the benefits to me. Even so, now, I am dreaming to be in German.. I don’t know what to do there..to study is OK, to work is OK.. hu hu

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Brooks Adams

2 booklets

One thing that I remember most with DR. Syamsudin Arif was the last class we had in last week. He gave 2 booklets to each student which both are in English and German language. Even it’s just a booklet (Airport Guide) but I didn’t look at that thing. What I really amazed was the way he treated us as his students. I was thinking, maybe he still remember us when he was in some airports and then picked up the booklet spontaneously for a gift to his students or he still realize that he missed the class during his conference in America, so that he wanted to give us a joy. Subhanallah..

I want you to know that his class is free of charge and at the beginning of these classes was suggested from the students not from him. Yet, he just gave us the knowledge for free and seriously. JazakaAllah Khairan…

Special thank to the editor. your time to read and revise my blog is uncountable reward... :)

Event and Lessons

In this week, I am attending International Conference about Pacific RIM Objective Measurement Symposium 2010 Constructive Measurement for Greater Accountability. The conference held from 29 June – 1 July 2010 at Cultural Activity Centre (CAC), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Normally, the fee for this conference is RM 250. Luckily, I could participate 3 days conference for free and have trips to Putra Jaya, Malacca. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go for the trips due to some reasons.

Special thank to Dr. Suhaila who has been allowed us to participate it and I don’t forget to thank to Sis. Nazliati for calling me for the rest of the free seats. Honestly, I was the last person of ten students in the free seats listed. Hu hu hu

The keynote speaker was Professor Trevor G. Bond. He looks like a senior researcher, by then, I try to find out about his book through IIUM’s library online. Ehmm, he is one of the researchers who really concerned on the Rasch Model. Do you know about his works? Just search through Cikgu google..he he

In the midst of his first presentation, he advised us how to be scholarly researcher and what to be done as a researcher, the points are:

1. If we want to get ahead, get a theory.

2. Some long-term, iterative projects.

3. Review the books, articles and journals dispassionately, but supportively.

4. Cite other work in the field, it means collaborators not competitors.

5. Mutuality and reciprocity.

As I showed the presenters, to present a paper was not difficult as long as we understood properly on what we are going to present and share. I thought, the point was in the process of understanding and preparing on it. Consciously, it needs processes to be done and keep doing on what we concerned continuously and never give up. Waallahu’alam..