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It is a truism that many people nowadays live longer. Due to this fact, some people suggest that it is better to raise the age of retirement. I agree with this perspective and in this essay I shall discuss the argument for and against this proposal.

It is undeniable that elderly people are likely to become senile as they get older. The aging affects their health and they easily get sick. These issues influence their contribution to the office where they work and the company will be disadvantaged.  It will influence the productivity of the company because they cannot accomplish their duties due to their sickness. Besides, the old appear to be forgetful and dependent on the young. It is hard for them to finish their duties by themselves and they often look for assistance from others. The forgetfulness frequently happened and it could waste other staff’s time to help them find out about something instead of doing their own tasks.

Although the old are sometimes senile and have less concentration in doing their work, the old workers do still have more experience and expertise in their field since they have been working for many years. They will get sick sometimes, but we should not underestimate the power of advanced technology nowadays. If the old suffer from an illness and need days off, they can still accomplish their duties through working and submitting their files via email and internet. The technology would be able facilitate them in giving consultation to their clients.

In conclusion, I understand the concerns that some people have about early retirement. However, I agree that the age of retirement should be raised due to their valuable expertise and the possibility of working virtually. Nevertheless, it is better for the company to provide the senior with health insurance and facilities regarding their concerns.
(306 words)

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Summary of Cross Cultural Expectations in Learning VID 0803 ( 10 June 2016)

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Summary of Cross Cultural Expectations in Learning VID 0803 ( 10 June 2016)

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I think the session we had on Friday was very informative. It provided us much information about academic setting expectation and potential challenges as an international student later on which is extremely helpful to prepare ourselves in overcoming all possibilities that might occur.

As students, we are expected to actively engage and contribute in a discussion, fill up ourselves with confidence so we are able to adapt easily, have critical thinking to demonstrate knowledge and become independent learners. Since most Asian and Western culture are different, international students need some adjustments in academic setting. We need to get used to a highly interactive discussion, reading various sources of ‘high’ academic reading, and thinking critically.

The session boosts my spirit up to practice myself to meet the Western academic expectation. I think I need to push myself to do more reading so I will be knowledgeable in my own field.  Besides, I am aware that there will be a lot of discussion going, therefore, I need to sharpen my thought and get used to criticize things by having more discussion with other people and perhaps creating a group study to discuss about anything.

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Writing Task 2 (Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad

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Writing Task 2 (Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad

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Nowadays, many people challenge themselves to pursue a higher education overseas. When studying abroad, people would find several benefits and drawbacks.

Studying in another country sharpens one’s survival skills. Living alone helps them to be able to manage their time wisely because there will be no other people who will supervise them. Besides, it also makes them realize that it is important to keep track of their expenditure and financial management. To save money, it would be better to learn how to cook as they would know how to provide their own meals and so not to waste much money on food. Moreover, living abroad gives us opportunity to build a global network and become more insightful in facing various people and circumstances. We will meet many people who have different backgrounds from us which will provide us with information about jobs in other countries as well as allow us to connect with other graduates in the future. Perhaps, collaborate together on a global project.

It is also undeniable that studying overseas offers us some drawbacks. When we are far away from our parents and family, we will get homesick and sometimes it could to less concentration in accomplishing the study. Furthermore, it also requires a large amount of money to study abroad. We need to prepare for visa, airplane arrangement and medical check which are quite complicated and expensive compared to the fees that we would spend in our own country. However, the financial problem will not be an issue if you get a scholarship.
In conclusion, studying abroad facilitates us to have more self-regulation and global network although we will face challenges in facing homesickness and financial matters.
(280 words)

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Summary of Meta Discussion (Difficulties Faced by ESL Students)

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Summary of Meta Discussion (Difficulties Faced by ESL Students)

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Research to inquire common academic barriers faced by ESL students was conducted and took TESOL postgraduate students at a university in Australia as the sample. The research findings will be displayed below;

First, numerous international students grappled with academic English language for study although most of them having English as their undergraduate degree major. In their prior learning, English was not taught contextually because it was part of academic requirement which primarily focused on examination as their learning achievement. Meanwhile, when they start pursuing a master degree, they are demanded to read and write academic texts as well as spoken activities which they have never experienced it extensively. Interestingly, facility or technological challenges could be faced but mostly by mature students instead of new generations.

Furthermore, the research found that the difficulties were intertwined. Having difficulties in reading leads to writing problems while an effective use of study supports enhances one’s academic performance.

Third, the research revealed that high IELTS score (6.5 and above) does not guarantee the students will not face academic difficulties. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that admitted students should participate in an English academic preparation program to minimize the level of academic challenges. The research also found that there are several internal factors influencing students’ difficulties in writing and reading. The higher academic English proficiency, self-regulation, motivation, self-efficacy, positive attitudes toward difficulty and transferrable former learning experiences that the students have, the easier they adjust to academic difficulties. Conversely, the less of these six factors the students possess, the more probability of having a hard time to academic adjustment.

These factors need to be investigated in a further research among master students of TESOL by considering the existent theories and each aspect to deepen the understanding and exploration pertaining students’ academic challenges.

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Come on in and take a seat.
What’s your name, please? Your full name? Ainol Mardhiah
And where are you from originally? Aceh, Indonesia
OK. Well my name’s Alan Stevens, by the way.

Now in the first part of the test, I’m going to talk to you about some aspects of your life. Let’s start with shopping. Do you enjoy shopping?
Yes, I enjoy shopping

How do you go shopping and what do you buy?
Once a week, and I usually go for grocery shopping

Do you prefer to go shopping alone or with other people, and why?
I prefer to go shopping with my friends to accompany me so that I won’t be alone. That’s why sometimes I need help because I have a lot of stuff to bring so I need help from other people. That’s why I prefer to go with friends.

I see. And do you like eating out?
Yes, I like eating out with my friends and hanging out with them and also sometimes I go to the cafeteria with my friends and spend time together with them.

What is your favourite food and why?
My favourite food is meatball. It’s because it’s very tasty food. It’s very easy to serve. Sometimes, you can only store them in your refrigerator and then you can make the soup whenever you want.

What would your perfect meal be?
A very healthy one. It’s because food is not only for fulfilling our desire to eat and to have lots of energy but also we need to have healthy food as our main course.

Now tell me about your main hobby?
I love traveling because it refreshes my mind so that I could release my stress.
Are there any other hobbies you’d like to have in the future?
I think another hobby that I’d like to have in the future is reading. I wish I would be able to love reading because reading is very important. However, now I don’t really like reading since it’s more like a compulsory for me.

Why is that?
It is because reading is very important. As we know that as academic people, we are obliged to read some books and demanded to have more insight about a certain field. That’s why I want to make reading as my hobby and habit.

Do you think hobbies should be relaxing or do you think they should be exciting, and why?
Relaxing. It is because when we do something based on our hobby, it makes us joyful and relax and help us to release our stress.

Part 2- Now give a short talk about a course that you’ve done and found useful.
So, when I was in my exchange program in the US, I have learned about multicultural communication. It is a course that explains about how to communicate with people around the globe and multicultural environment and their customs. I loved this subject the most because the teacher is very attractive in giving the course and it is because the content itself is fascinating to learn. The course helps me to get to know other culture, to find out more about myself and love more about my country because I need to explain and exchange our culture to another. It is very useful to learn about others' geographical features, world diversity and I could avoid misunderstanding of others’ culture.

Are you in touch with anyone from the course now?
Yes, I keep in touch with them generally on facebook.

Part 3
Now I’d like to discuss with you some aspects related to this topic. I’d first like to consider educational systems. Can you describe for me the education system in your country?

Our education starts at the young age. The children of 3-5 year old are usually enrolled to an early education or a pre-school. When they are 6, they will go to kindergarten until they are 7. These level of education is optional and not an obligation.
Then, they will attend the elementary school from 7-12 year old. Afterward, they continue studying in Junior high school level for three years when they are 13 - 15 years old. These two levels are an obligation for all children in Indonesia to attend since the government subsidizes these stages of education.
After completing junior high school, they will accomplish senior high school level or vocational school in their 15-17 year old. Then, they are going to pursue a higher education in a polytechnic school or a university to get a diploma or bachelor degree.

I did not go through all stages of education in the appropriate age that has been determined by the government. My mother enrolled me directly to an Islamic elementary school named MIN (Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri) Kutablang in 1995 when I was only five years old. She encouraged me to be able to read, write and memorize some surah of Holy Quran since the early age. Since I had those skills earlier than the expected time, she decided to skip me from attending kindergarten. In this level, I learned math, Indonesian language, Arabic, general social study, science, and many other subjects related to Islamic study such as Islamic manner, Quran, etc. All of those lessons are compulsory to learn.
After accomplishing my elementary school, I voluntarily asked my parents to register me in an Islamic boarding school in another province. I passed the entrance test and finally became a student in MTs (Madrasah Tsanawiyah) Swasta Al- Kautsar Al- Akbar Medan in 2001 until 2004. In this school, I learned social study such as history, geography and economy, science more specifically in biology and physic subject, Indonesian language, physical education, English, Arabic and its specific component such as nahwu and sharaf, as well as Islamic studies such as Islamic history, Islamic manner, Fiqih, Quran, Hadits, etc.
In the age of 15 years old, I came back to my hometown and continued studying in an Islamic boarding school named MA (Madrasah Aliyah) swasta Ulumuddin. I developed more skills in mastering languages especially English and Arabic because it was part of the school’s primary program so that we are obliged to use them as our daily language. Besides focusing on learning those two languages, I was also demanded to memorize one chapter of Quran each year. So, I was able to memorize three chapters of Quran during my study in this boarding school. Not only did the school focused on language mastery and Islamic study such as tafsir, Islamic history, Islamic manner, Fiqih, Quran, Hadits, etc, but also it did provide us knowledge about science, social study, Indonesian language, chemistry, physic, biology, etc.
In 2007 when I was 17 years old, I graduated from senior high school and was able to pursue my higher education to get a bachelor degree in a university called STAIN Malikussaleh. I chose teaching English program as my major because I love teaching and learning languages. In the university, I learned many things about English grammar, syntax, reading, writing, teaching methods, research methodology, etc. It was not until 2012, that I was able to accomplish my script as my final project and finally graduated from the university with 3,74 GPA.

How much homework do you think children should do every day?
I think children should not do much homework. They learn from playing. I think it’s better to give them chance to study while playing.

To what extent do you believe that education should be subsidized?
I personally feel that it is government’s obligation to subsidize the education in Indonesia since not all Indonesia citizen are able to provide good quality of education for their children especially for those who live in rural area.

And turning now to the relationship between education and work… Can you assess the importance of a tertiary level qualification in your country for getting a job?
The higher your education is, the better job opportunity you will get. So, it is essential to have high level of education in Indonesia.

Can you predict how education and work may change in the future?
I think the qualification to get a job will be higher because there are many people nowadays preparing themselves to compete for it by pursuing master degree or developing special skills such as English or computer that would make them different from others.
I see. Well, thank you, and that’s all I want to ask you. That’s the end of the speaking test.

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Colorful Indonesia - a Summary of National Museum Visit

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Colorful Indonesia - a Summary of National Museum Visit

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My 4,5M3 companions and I visited the national museum on 2 June 2016. We were divided into two groups during the tour, and my group was guided by a volunteer named Colotte Felenbok, a French woman from Indonesian Heritage Society. She started her explanation through explaining the geographic of Indonesia and some facts pertaining our country in front of a large map of the entrance. Then,  she showed us many artifacts left by our ancestors during their survival. The entire story she delivered was meaningful; however, I would like to highlight only four surprising things that I found out.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago with 13.466 islands that officially figured. It consists of five big islands; Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua while there are many other islands which play the important role in Indonesia. In the past around 17 C when the Dutch reached Indonesia, Maluku has a great role as the supplier of particular spice which was very crucial to European people. They need the spice due to its ability to cure a very harmful disease that occurred in Europe at the time. There are two main reasons of why many people traveled to Indonesia; spices and pilgrimage.

Wallace line located between Bali and Lombok differentiates types of Indonesian animals. Due to its geographic, tectonic plates, etc., Sumatera and Java islands have tigers, elephants, and other bigger animals rather than animals in the three other main islands which we usually find marsupials and kangaroos. Kind of birds and fauna that we usually find in these two areas that separated by Wallace line is also varied.

Minangkabau is a unique tribe in Indonesia which applies matrilinear system which implies women has more power than men. Many European people surprise when they find out about it as it is unbelievable for such system exists in an Islamic society. The pattern of rumah gadang, Minangkabau’s traditional house, is very unusual. The shape of the roof is adapted from the form of buffalo’s horns since buffalo is valuable for Minangkabau people. Minang itself means victory and kabau means buffalo. The house was decorated in four specific colors; red, white, black and yellow. Furthermore, there is a tradition for young men in this tribe that they have to travel to other places known as “merantau” tradition, and then return to their house.

There was a very tragic accident happened in Bali in 1908. It is called “puputan”- a term for mass suicide. Back in the day, Bali was very productive of opium and the Dutch were eager to occupy Bali due to this drug and asked Balinese to surrender to them. Instead of surrendering their homeland, all people in the village approximately hundreds committed suicide by using keris and they felt proud of it.

It was a very insightful learning experience. We learned about the diversity of our culture and learned to appreciate the ancestors’ efforts in creating the civilization. Therefore, it is important to know about history to pass the story to our children and preserve our culture so it will not be claimed by other’s country or extinct.