Literature Component 2010

Many have asked me about the literature component via sms and emails. As a GC, I see it as a responsibility  to disseminate information (of the non-confidential type) although this was met with some misunderstandings recently. There are many blogs I have come across writing on this topic though. As a matter of fact my first posting on the new literature component was AFTER the texts (book loan) had been published. It's amazing how people jump to conclusions without even giving the other party  the chance to explain things. Regardless of your position, education background, age etc. etc. keeping an open mind and having that sense of humour are important to be able to read a blog post and to decide whether you will laugh, cry or scream. For one who has been involved with confidential work for over 20 years, surely I would know where to draw the line. And who would have thought  my small blog would have been noticed :). Anyway, it will not dampen my spirit to continue sharing.

Many books on the new literature component are available in the market now and as a matter of fact,  they were already available when I first posted on this topic. However, the two that I like are Pelangi (pict below) and Setia Emas Publications. I co-wrote the Pelangi book and we tried to keep it as simple as possible as it's for lower secondary (promo in progress hehe).  For the poem 'A fighter's Lines, I actually spoke to Pak Marzuki Ali (the poet) himself!- an out of this world experience albeit a short conversation. I must thank Pak Marzuki for his insights and not forgetting Cahaya (http://www.creativecahaya.blogspot.com/) an ex-convent student whose godfather knows Pak Marzuki- that explains how I got in touch.

The Setia Emas book is rather detail- something you  may want to buy as a reference book rather than a workbook. My students would be discouraged by the notes. What I like is a book with just enough notes that I can expound on and plenty of exercises.

(Literature Component Forms 1-3, Pelangi Publications)

FORM 1

Poems

The River (Valerie Bloom)

Mr. Nobody (anonymous)

Short Stories

Flipping Fantastic (Jane Langford)

Graphic Novels (one for each zone)

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Black Beauty

Boscome Valley Mystery
FORM 2

Poems

I wonder (Jeannie Kirby)

Heir conditioning (M Shanmugalingham)

Short Stories

One is One and All Alone (Nicholas Fisk)

Play

Rumplestiltkin (Angela Lanyon)

FORM 3

Poems

A Fighter's Lines (Marzuki Ali)

Leisure (William Henry Davies)

Novel- to be decided

FORM 4

Poems

In the Midst of Hardship (Latif Mohidin)

He had such Quiet Eyes (Bibsy Soenhardjo)

Short Stories

QWERTYUIOP (Vivien Alcock)

The Fruitcake Special (Frank Brennan)

Play

Gulp and Gasp (John Townsend)

FORM 5

Poems

Nature (H.D. Carberry)

Are You Still Playing the Flute (Zurinah Hassan)

Novel - to be decided

If you are looking for web materials on the texts above, you will be disappointed especially the local texts. This is the problem with us Malaysians- we are good users but bad contributors! I mean you know how difficult it is to find information on local writers and authors and anything academic for that matter. We have yet to cultivate that culture of sharing and disseminating information. I appreciate the west- at how selfless many bloggers and webmasters are in sharing information with the public. Yes they do monetise but that's their right totally but we get the information we want. I thought with globalisation and all the jazz, information would be within reach but in reality we are far behind. However, if anyone has found good links , do share. The best thing to do at this point in time teachers, is to use the books available in the market if you want to at least get a sneak preview of the new texts you will be teaching.

Be sure to insert the new texts in your scheme of work for Forms 1 and 4. Happy Teaching!