// Semester 2's Exam Result //
Sigh.

Semester 2's result came out yesterday.

Mathematics II - D
Statistical Package Programming - B-
Data Structure (Introduction) - D+
Object-oriented Programming - C+
--------------
Ethnic Relations - A-
French Language (Level 1) - A-
Language and Communication - A

To be honest, it was terrible. My GPA for Semester 1 was 2.8. Those two Ds dragged it down to 2.66.

I'm NOT proud, okay?

Anyway. What's done is done. I would have to re-take that two courses again in Semester 4. That's how I'll handle this.

On a side note : I'm very surprised to see an A for "Language & Communication" - The course with a lecturer that won't always want to give you an A. My initial reaction was of course I'm happy! But I started thinking that maybe the lecturer was only bluffing since the beginning. If this is true, there must be a lot of others who also got an A. Cheh. That's none of my business. Just be grateful for the A, right?

// Piano Practical Exam (Grade 2) //
I'd been fidgety since June started because I thought I didn't prepare enough for last Wednesday's ABRSM G2 piano practical exam. It's my second. The examiner was Timothy Goulter. I think it went well despite some [& hopefully small] mistakes. I didn't misheard him (like last time) but still managed to play broken chords [wrongly] as arpeggios. Fortunately, he gave me another chance to play it right. And then I missed one raised note.

Scales etc part done. Then it was the three pieces section. Little mistakes here & there again but not as bad as previous exam's. Did I conveyed the songs' moods & dynamics correctly? I don't know.

The next part was sight-reading. I was fortunate. I got a slow (andante - actually moderately slow) piece in G Major (one sharp) not any Majors/Minors with plenty of flats in it.

Last part. Aural section. Worst part ever. I only enjoyed the singing part (called "echo")... the rest... I can't recall what I answered but I'm convinced that mostly were wrong. The principal of my music school was at the waiting room too to give moral support to her students. I must had had a really terrified look as I returned to the room (haha).. She told me that the aural part is only a small part of the exam (thus won't affect the overall marks significantly). The three pieces are the most important part. Which is true 'cos I read about someone on the ABRSM forum who failed the scales & sight-reading parts but still passed the exam with merit.

Sigh. I won't be taking the practical exam next year (commencing of 3rd year). I haven't told my teacher yet though. Anyway. Hopefully I could reach Grade 4 level during this 'exam break' (I wish to skip G3's exam).

Part 2 of 2. A continuation to this post.

Ethnic Relations - Enjoyed the lectures but not the group presentations. I know these presentations are important. But sometimes I can't help thinking how time-wasting these kind of presentations are. *smiles bitterly*

The lecturer was sometimes funny & I like his way of explaining things. At random times, during 5-minute breaks, he would share his youth's weird stories/misadventures with us. Some were plain weird. Some were TOTALLY weird. And awkward. Sometimes awkwardly gay (reminded me of Nakatsu). A friend of mine once commented "WHAT is he talking about?" with a WTH face. Oh, well~


French Language - I like [my] French lessons. Enough said.


Language and Communication - Killer lecturer. Haha. She said that herself. That's the first time I heard of such terminology.

Even though it's a hard-to-get-A course, it's hard to not like the lecturer! I thought she was a really, really cool person. She knows her field very well. I love her lectures.

Oh yeah. It's also the first time I had a presentation session that doesn't include other students. The lecturer was our only audience. But it was still scary though although she gave us freedom to pick anything to talk about. My friend and I took some risk for our group presentation. It was my idea (Eve, it's okay if you want to blame me later). I was thinking that because she's a "killer lecturer" it didn't matter anymore if we get an A or not. It's better to choose a topic that we (or me only, if Eve beg to differ) were interested in or familiar with. I wanted an unconventional topic that she would want to hear.

And that topic was, "Twitter".

We talked about the effects of communication through Twitter. Well... actually it was more about examples. How fast news (including false ones) traveled through Twitter. How Twitter affected movie-goers (Bruno?). The Kevin Smith & Southwest Airlines incident (actually I'm not really sure if I included this because of the limited time given, but it's in our notes). Eve talked about Bustin Jieber Justin Bieber. How people is tweeting at wrong/inappropriate times (burglar in the house, death of child etc).

She groaned when we told her the title of the topic. I half guessed that some students had presented about Facebook to her. Anyway. She responded to some examples (when we talked about tweeters who tweeted about their abortion as if it's a common thing in daily life), which I took as a good sign - she was listening (actually she was busy on her computer during presentation).

I was reading my Exam S1 diaries (ha!), & I thought it was interesting to read what I thought of the courses I'd taken in the past. So I'm continuing that new tradition for Semester 2's.

[ Part 1 of 2. Part 2 is here. ]

Mathematics II - Basically, we learnt about Calculus (only). Could've been easy to grasp if all the notes are in English. Hmm. But, to be frank, that wouldn't do any changes to me. I would still slack off. Bleh.

Anyway. The lecturer was good. I think. She's going to teach us again next semester. *No! I'm not cringing in fear!* She was also our dedicated tutor. It was a sad story, really. Just after a week of tutorial classes, the other tutor guy backed out. I don't know the real reason but in the end, our lecturer became our tutor as well. Now that I'd said it... I think that's sad to hear too. Hmm.. But I salute her for the dedication & patience she had shown during those tutorial classes. I always didn't finish my tutorial homework. I survived to tell the tale.


Statistical Package Programming - I think I made a small mistake in translating the course name. We didn't learn anything about programming a program that is used for Statistics (I thought it meant that). It's about using the SPSS program and some stats stuff.

The lecturer taught us "Economic Statistics" (Semester 1). She didn't make much impression last semester. But I like her now. She kinda helped me a little during mid-term exam. Not by giving answers, NO! I might repeat "Economic Statistics" next semester and I'm glad she's still the lecturer for the course. I said 'might' because I don't like the timetable for the class (still considering the pluses and minuses). I don't want another Monday morning class.


Data Structure (Introduction) - The lecturer is from the Engineering school/faculty. I don't really have much impression about her... other than her straight-forward way of teaching and somewhat strict. She's likeable actually, to be honest.

The lessons were held in the afternoon. An unfortunate time for someone like me. I'm always sleepy at this time (there were two classes in the morning too on the same day...). So, it was always hard for me to pay attention even though I find the lecture topics interesting that day.


Object-oriented Programming - Same as Structure Data classes. This one was held every Monday evening. *smiles embarrassedly* I often dozed off during the class & I sat in the front.

I admire the lecturer. My admiration doesn't have anything to do with the iPhone he's using or his colourful tertiary education background. He just looked like someone who's easy to talk to (ask questions), he didn't mind us asking him about Data Structure problems (both C++ language). Hmm.

I kinda like the lab sessions too. There were two lab assistants that "took care" of us during lab sessions. The lecturer just gave us the questions/assignments and we were supposed to create the program during lab. At first, it was awkward. In Semester 1, our C Programming lecturer himself gave us the codes beforehand... So, I thought it was the same for this course's lab sesion. But no. You had to do it yourself. Awkward was when the lab assistants walked around and had some good laughs behind our backs (yep. Our programming skills were below par).

[to be continued...]

~ Object-oriented Programming [7th/Final Day - May 3rd, 2010]

Final paper!

Left the exam hall with good feelings. Answered at least half of the questions.


Haha.

Let me embrace this freedom even if it's temporary.




First thing I want to do after that is get some sleep...

~ Ethnic Relations [3rd Day - Apr 28th, 2010]

I love knowing about history. Any kind of histories. But I do not like to study for it. I just love knowing.

Though, I must say... I think this subject is very interesting (more interesting than TITAS)... I even managed to read half the text book (which is good already if you're me) for the exam. It was an MCQ exam. The part about politics... I relied on my sometimes-no-good memory. I couldn't make myself read the other half. Haha...

~ French Language [4th Day - Apr 29th, 2010]

This exam reminded me of English language exams in primary school. Huh. If only I had cared to read more... I would have remembered more things.

It wasn't really that difficult.

~ Data Structure (Introduction) [4th Day - Apr 29th, 2010]

Same as the French exam.

Surprisingly easy. And yet... I couldn't answer 3 main questions.

I thought I was the only one who.. well... ready to "let go" of this. I thought everyone else studied like crazy. But I was wrong. One coursemate already said about "Let us all take this course together again".

Hmmm. On second thought.. I think he's just bluffing.

~ Language and Communication [5th Day - Apr 30th, 2010]

Interesting course, difficult MCQ exam questions.

I don't know why I think the final exam for this course doesn't matter much to the lecturer. The lecturer didn't seem care about notes & text books. It looks like the presentation is more important. Though... I can't be so sure about that.

Oh, well. What's done is done.

~ Mathematics II [1st Day - Apr 21st, 2010]

(This is a "sequel" course to Mathematics I. Well, obviously.)

Didn't study enough.

So... yeah.

I am ready to meet you again, Maths 2.

After I returned home, what bothered me wasn't how badly I answered the paper... but a realization that hit me during the exam. A blast from the past. Find it. Or better - don't find it.

~ Statistical Package Programming [2nd Day - Apr 23rd, 2010]

Okay... wasn't really smooth-sailing, but at least I managed to answer all questions.. There were several incomplete answers though.