Reality TV shows

Get inspired by their stories. Start watching The Biggest Loser  if you haven't
watch any episode of the show.

Some parents fussed up when their kids get addicted on TV programs. Most of them scare that their children will neglect their studies if they spent too much time in front of the screen. To me, I think I would at the very first place observe what kind of TV shows my children have selected and of course never forget to monitor the time amount spent for TV.  When I was still a student, my English language teacher had always encouraged us to watch National Geographic. National geographic documents myriad of fun and interesting educational topics and it is suitable for people of all ages. Today, a lot of things had changed. The TV programs pattern has evolved so much to feed the demand of the public. Reality TV shows like American Idols, American got Talents, The Biggest Losers and Losing It with Jillian are some of the entertaining yet healthy TV shows that I would not stop my kids from watching it. Everybody likes reality story, most probably because they are closer to the public and thus give more impacts to the viewers. The Biggest Losers for example airs the life changing process of those people who are overweight which at the same time a very common health hazards long lived among our society. The show teaches the public to have great determination and consistency to fight for a healthier physical and at the same time pursue their dream and nevertheless improve their life. There was this episode of Losing it With Jillian that inspired me a lot. It was about a family where all the family members were obese and overweight. They faced not only health problem but also family conflict as well. Trying to restore the happy family relationship, the son finally decided to get his family on the show. At last, not only that they had built up healthy physical and life style but also had mended their family relationship. The broken family ties were rebuild as they participated in the program and won over the battle together as a family. They experienced the hardship together and worked hard to achieve their target for a healthier life. Their story inspired so many people who watched their story from the reality TV shows. Therefore, TV programs not just as a vessel to entertain and educate people but also good counselor and motivator too. As a teacher, I would suggest parents to get involve in their children’s activity such as watching the TV shows together so that they can share with one another what they have learnt from the shows. It would be a very great opportunity for the parents and their children to understand each other better which also at the same time bonding each other closer.

Myths: Ovid's Metamorphosis “Pyramus and Thisbe”

“Pyramus and Thisbe” was a tragedy love story during the Babylonian century. Young Pyramus and Thisbe lived next door to each other. They grew up together and were a deeply in love and longed to get married. Their relationship was forbid by their parents. Separated by a wall, they have no way to communicate to one another. At last, they found a crack on the wall and eventually used it to whisper their love for each other. Their love grew stronger until they couldn’t refrain again. Finally, they decided to meet at a tomb near a mulberries tree and run away. That night, Thisbe arrived first. She saw a lioness with a mouth bloody from a recent kill nearby the stream. She was horrified and quickly run away, leaving behind her veil. The lioness found her veil and played with it. Soon after the lioness left, Pyramus arrived. He tracked no sign of Thisbe but her blood contained veil. He assumed that a fierce beast had killed her. He blamed himself for coming late and so he stabbed himself to death, splashing blood on the white mulberry leaves. Pyramus' blood stained the white mulberry fruits, turning them dark. When Thisbe returned, she was so eager to share with Pyramus what had happened to her, but she found Pyramus’ dead body under the mulberry tree. Thisbe couldn’t bear the pain losing her lover. She took Pyramus’ sword and stabbed herself. In the end, the gods listened to Thisbe's lament, and forever changed the color of the mulberry fruits into the stained color to honor the forbidden love.

Myths, like legends and folktales, provides rich source of material for teaching lessons. Students can improve their critical thinking skills by determining the fundamental themes carried by the story. Teacher can conduct activities such as drama in class. This activity will help the students to understand the story as myths is often constructed chronologically. They will start to imagine the story and have the picture in their mind. The ability to imagine also allows the students to understand the story where they actually learn to infer the story from a contextual setting to a pictorial setting! Besides that, students will improve their language competency, vocabulary knowledge and also cultivating good listening and reading skills. Nevertheless, while working together in a group for the drama, students learn the importance of team work. They can also improve their communication skills while working as a group!