i got a feeling
that this English project's gonna be a good good one

Five people in the group,
-Anthony
-Dan
-Jezelyn
-Steffi
-Zul
As a group, we will be doing a project on Graciousness.
Our mission statement is
"We plan to change the mindsets of typical Singaporeans and to teach them the importance of being gracious. We want to make Singapore a better place for people to live in whereby most of the population will learn how to be gracious so that they can teach their future genrations how to be gracious and also to attract more foreigners into Singapore to help boost it's economy."




THINGS-TO-DO

*Watch the videos
*Comprehension articles (Theatre slobs) [group]
*Argumentative essay
*Intervention drama
*Project planning [group]
*Debate/Forum
*Formal letter [individual]
*Project blog [group]
*Video [group]
*Posters [group]
*Self and peer review [individual]

Blog

!1st reflection
- Anthony
- Dan
- Jezelyn
- Steffi
- Zul
!2nd reflection
- Anthony
- Dan
- Jezelyn
- Steffi
- Zul
!Argumentative essay Intro
- Anthony
-Dan
-Jezelyn
-Steffi
-Zul
!3rd reflection
- Anthony
- Dan
-Jezelyn
-Steffi
- Zul

Assignments
*Argumentative essay
- Anthony
-Dan
-Jezelyn
-Steffi
-Zul
*Argumentative essay re-write
- Anthony
-Dan
-Jezelyn
-Steffi
-Zul
*Formal letter
- Anthony
-Dan
-Jezelyn
-Steffi
-Zul
*Individual report
- Anthony
-Dan
-Jezelyn
-Steffi
-Zul



layout by leen. © leen. 2009 - ∞.

IF THERE is one saving grace amid the seemingly ungracious demeanour of Singaporeans, it is that we now queue.

Whether for food, in stores or for taxis, Singaporeans can usually be counted on to fall into line.

It was different decades ago, when people crowded around cashiers and cut into lines, said Mr Courtesy himself, Mr Noel Hon, who has led the courtesy and kindness movements here for over 15 years.

'Eventually it (queueing up) became a norm because people were willing to express a desire for it. If you try and cut a queue now, people will tell you to get in line,'' he said.

All this, he said, bodes well for cultivating better behaviour and graciousness, without starting yet another campaign.

Mr Hon spoke of three elements - a willingness to act a certain way, a desire for others to do the same, and being unafraid to demand it - that if achieved, will make Singapore's quest to becoming more gracious - or as least more considerate - attainable.

He was responding to comments made by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, 84, last week that Singapore was not only ungracious, but this was unlikely to change in his lifetime.

Mr Lee's comments have set off much buzz. Views are clearly split, going by 35 people The Straits Times spoke to.

Those who agreed had no shortage of examples of bad behaviour to trot out, from rushing into trains to not giving way, and held up countries like Japan and Thailand as gracious examples.

'We have excelled in so many ways that one would think it would be natural for us to develop graciousness. But Singapore lacks people who are willing to make others feel comfortable out of goodwill,'' said lawyer Navin Kripalani, 33.

What is to blame? Sociologist Alexius Pereira of the National University of Singapore points to the 'me first' culture long fostered over time.

'The idea that we have to excel in everything has been ingrained in us for years... And we don't really see our lack of courtesy as being a problem in the first place,'' he said.

Some, particularly older respondents, say Singaporeans, while not entirely gracious, have come a long way.

'We have improved over the last 10 years...People are better about queueing, more civil and say sorry when they bump into others,'' said tutor Ho Soo Ping, 49.

Secretary Sharon Kang, 44, agreed, saying that travel abroad and exposure to other cultures have led to some self-reflection.

Indeed, there is less reference to the 'ugly Singaporean' these days, some said.

Most agreed that Singaporeans have not been found wanting when it comes to grand acts of kindness: they donate generously to charities and help in times of disaster, as they did during 2004's Indian Ocean tsunami.

Boorish behaviour showed up in the small, basic things, said Mr Hon.

Whether those polled agreed with MM Lee or not, the fact that his comments struck a nerve is telling, and bodes well, said NUS sociologist Paulin Straughan.

'If they cared to comment, they should want to do something about it. That is a positive sign.'

But how to get on, or keep going on, this gracious road? No more campaigns, all said.

The country has had no shortage of reminders about niceties since the National Courtesy Campaign was launched in 1979.

But campaigns are too 'top down', said production assistant Clarence Ng, 33.

Said Mr Hon: 'What we need is for every Singaporean to say: Excuse me, you need to return your tray, give way. Just like queueing, if we do it often enough, it becomes habit.

'If we can do that, we would have come a long way.''

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Sto...ry_196259.html

This article is showing us how Singaporeans have improved in showing graciousness and the view of the coming campaign. The views spilit on 'ugly Singaporeans' but all agree a campaign is not the answer. why do they think in this way? we shall think about the reasons why Singaporeans think in this way.

Dan