Reflective Journal 5

Reflective Journal 5. I feel that SES has been a new subject that has progressed and improved a lot over the past weeks and months, in terms of curriculum and assessment methods. The curriculum has been very rewarding and fulfilling, most importantly, applicable to our future life in terms of work or just understanding what people from other races and countries think and feel. It cultivates a sense of cultural sensitivity which is an indispensible skill in the 21st century. Like the western ideologies and perception of self, China’s Confucianism and their community above self mindset. It gives me a whole new perspective of the world and to see countries like America and China very differently. All I thought in the past about America and China seemed irrelevant and superficial, whereas, SES made me think much more than the Statue of Liberty of America and the Great Wall of China. More about its history, its ideologies, it people, how they live their lives and how their minds think. This would really help me in the future where I can work with people from all over the world more effectively by understand how they feel and think. SES, I feel is a subject that foster a sense of global awareness, the need to know and understand what is happening on the other side of the world as life do not merely revolve around us and it takes collective wisdom to drive the world to greater heights. Therefore, collaboration between [people from different countries is very important. Both sides have their own values, ideologies and perception. It is whether we can reach a compromise amidst the dichotomy to obtain a best possible panacea. SES also shows us disadvantages in a potentially flawless system or country. Like the US, it has always been a delusion that America is the best country on Earth and will be perfect. The truth is that there is no perfect system and in fact, policies and system in US have been also been in the eye of many critics and have been blasted or criticised many of times. However, systems will always improve and become better, evolving into something far better than what is originally is. This conveys a point that all policies and systems will always have their flaws and advantages, like the liberty rights and the abuse of it. Our focus should be more on how to change and better improve the system so that more people can benefit from it. The leaning process, making our own notes, coupled by readings and online sources allows me to better understand the tutorials. Because when we browse through all the sources and then compile all of its essential materials, we would focus on the main points and also indirectly gain summarization skills, not to mention, trained to sieve out the main points to put in and strengthen our argument. Also, with the teacher’s help of giving the context of some tutorials, it helps us to better understand it. These skills can be also very important for us as we will be exposed to many readings and sources. So when given a question, we would not beat around the bush nor give irrelevant points, thus going straight to the point and summarize what is needed not what is surplus and irrelevant. It also trains us in crafting sound arguments by quoting at least two or more concrete evidences from credible sources to be more convincing for others to believe. I see the transition from Social to economics, from perception of self to globalization. I must say that the transition is very smooth and apt, it gradually steer us to realize the interconnections between society and the economy, and not a waterfall that abruptly changes our scope. SES for me has not been peaches and cream, certainly not easy at all! Firstly it is the assessment methods. We have to prepare all questions at the start which was really demanding, not to mention my crazily busy schedule with Track and Field. However, it has improved as the class discussions is now split into different register number which I think is very useful, lightening our workload and so that we can have more focus and emphasis on our own question and not giving a half-hearted work for all. In conclusion, I find SES a very rewarding subject that well equip us skills of the 21st century, such as Cultural sensitivity, Summarization skills, global awareness etc..., thus should be carried on. However, being a new subject, it stills has a lot of room for improvement like assessment method etc.. Therefore, I look forward to a better SES lesson in term3! ( 775 words )