A student's reaction to Denzel Washington's speech

In my English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP) class for Grade 11, I presented a video of Denzel Washington who gave Dillard University students four life goals in commencement speech as part of our topic lesson on Writing a Reaction Paper. Likewise, my students presented their outputs after watching Denzel's video. So here, I picked two best reactions written by my students.


A Reaction Written by Carolyn Gabres, Grade 11, BHS

   A man spoke in front of many graduating college students. He inspired them by telling that put  God first in everything you do. Every word that he stated is so meaningful. He said  “Say thank you in advance for what is already yours". In the end, all the audience gave Denzel Washington a round of applause.

    According to Denzel Washington “Have dreams, but have a goal”. He is an inspirer of the people who believes in God, a motivator to achieve everyone's goals. He also gives an advice to all the students who want to become successful someday. In 2018 he was invited by Dillard University in USA to speak in front of the graduating college students. One of his topics was all about dreaming. From the word "dream", five letters that contains a colorful meaning, it is all about the ambition you want to become in the future. One part of this is you need to plan about your goal, because he also said that "Dream without a goal is just a dream". One of the reasons why many students are studying hard because they want to help their family. We all know that putting God first in our life is the best thing we need to do before we go on our next step. God can help us to exceed our problem that we will encounter.

   "Life advices will change your future", the title of his speech. Speaking in front of many people is hard thing to do. But Denzel Washington did a great job. He spoke on the stage with a powerful confidence. He motivated all the graduating students to follow their dreams and never stop dreaming because God will help them. He made my day when I watched his speech. His expression can attract the audience to listen carefully. He wears a proper attire and that's good. I want to hear more inspirational message from him. I heard a different speech, but the words, the voice, and the way he delivered the speech is heart touching. I felt that I'm so blessed when I heard those messages from him. I want to be like him someday, a very inspiring speaker I've ever listened to.


Updating....

Future journalists of Balayang High School hone their skills for MSPC 2018

I was appointed  to train our senior and junior students about editorial writing in preparation of the municipal schools press conference to be hosted by Balayang High School from August 2 - 3, 2018. These young journalists are already providing important leadership in our profession and they have an extraordinary opportunity and extraordinary examples to shape journalism in their careers.

Equipping these learners with the skill in writing editorials, below are essentials they need before the the Municipal Schools Press Conference (MSPC). Best of luck to my trainees namely Jamaica Patron, Elena Ramos, Jacquilyn Escobar, John Russel Jacinto, Joyce Ann Polido, Princess Ann Garabiles, Cherry Racuya, Denise Balana and Shella Mae Nacario.

Our students will be competing in various categories with English and Filipino divisions:

Editorial writing
News writing
Sports news writing
Feature writing
Cartooning
Copyreading and headline writing ( skipped this year)
Collaborative desktop publishing


The Philippine government institutionalized campus journalism training in the school system with the Campus Journalism Act of 1991.

And our photos during those training.

Tips on Writing Newspaper Editorial Format
An editorial is a newspaper article that expresses one's opinion. An editorial can be about any topic, but is usually written about an issue that deals with our society. To build credibility, the opinion in the editorial must be backed up with facts and evidence to substantiate your opinion.

The facts and evidence must be gone through extensively to find the point of view you want to argue. With a point of view through an editorial piece, issues are given solutions that could be rendered to solve the actual problem at hand. A newspaper editorial may seem hard to write; but, initiative and passion about an issue gives you, the writer, the inside knowledge of making editorial writing easier.

Steps for Writing Newspaper Editorials
There are several different steps you need to follow in order to be successful when writing an editorial:

Choosing a Topic
The topic you choose is the most important part in writing a newspaper editorial. The best topics are those that are current issues among our society. If the topic is a current issue that everyone is already interested in then your editorial piece will engage reader’s attention.

If the topic you choose is an ongoing issue in our society, make sure to use the most recent information. However, you can use older information as sources to help prove your case. Do not make your editorial a controversial topic, unless that is that is your whole reason for writing it in the first place.

Choosing Your Opinion
You need to ask yourself, are you for or against the issue you have chosen as your topic for your newspaper editorial piece. You can not be on both sides of the fence when writing an editorial piece. The purpose for the editorial is to give your opinion, the writer’s opinion. With this in mind you must give a strong opinion, if not readers will not be as inclined to see your point of view.

Outline Your Editorial
Oh, the dreaded outline. With any type of research paper you have to do an outline. This is one of the biggest tips on writing newspaper editorial format that you should always follow. With an outline you know where you stand on the issue. The outline helps you, the writer, get your thoughts and opinions in order. The outline also helps you discover any swaying of opinions you may have missed by just diving head first into writing.

Writing Your Article
The first step to writing your newspaper editorial is to pick a headline that grabs reader’s attention. If you grab their attention from the very beginning they are more inclined to keep reading. Your opinion on the topic should be addressed in the introduction to your new editorial.

Newspaper editorials should have at least three arguments. These arguments of course should be backed up with facts and evidence from your research of the topic.

Other tips for writing editorials are:
Use statistics to help prove your argument.
Make sure your strongest argument is left for last.
Do not be passive in the arguments that come before the strongest. If this happens you are most likely not going to have readers reading your entire newspaper editorial.

Conclusion of Article
In a newspaper editorial, and with most anything else you write, your conclusion should sum up all the information you wrote about. The conclusion should be tied up into a neat little package so as to let readers get a recap of all the facts that you presented in your editorial.

Your conclusion should also have a few solutions you think would help with the issue at hand. You are getting the reader to engage in asking him or herself questions on how they stand on the particular issue in our society.

A student's reaction to Denzel Washington's speech

In my English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP) class for Grade 11, I let my students watched a video of Denzel Washington who gave Dillard University students four life goals in commencement speech.

As part of our topic lesson on Writing a Reaction Paper, my students presented their outputs after watching Denzel's video. So here, I picked two best reactions written by my students. Read below.



A Reaction Written by Carolyn Gabres

A man spoke in front of many graduating college students. He inspired them by telling that put  God first in everything you do. Every word that he stated is so meaningful. He said  “Say thank you in advance for what is already yours". In the end, all the audience gave Denzel Washington a round of applause.
   According to Denzel Washington “Have dreams, but have a goal”. He is an inspirer of the people who believes in God, a motivator to achieve everyone's goals. He also gives an advice to all the students who want to become successful someday. In 2018 he was invited by Dillard University in USA to speak in front of the graduating college students. One of his topics was all about dreaming. From the word "dream", five letters that contains a colorful meaning, it is all about the ambition you want to become in the future. One part of this is you need to plan about your goal, because he also said that "Dream without a goal is just a dream". One of the reasons why many students are studying hard because they want to help their family. We all know that putting God first in our life is the best thing we need to do before we go on our next step. God can help us to exceed our problem that we will encounter.

   "Life advices will change your future", the title of his speech. Speaking in front of many people is hard thing to do. But Denzel Washington did a great job. He spoke on the stage with a powerful confidence. He motivated all the graduating students to follow their dreams and never stop dreaming because God will help them. He made my day when I watched his speech. His expression can attract the audience to listen carefully. He wears a proper attire and that's good. I want to hear a more inspirational message from him. I heard a different speech, but the words, the voice, and the way he delivered the speech is heart touching. I felt that I'm so blessed when I heard those messages from him. I want to be like him someday, a very inspiring speaker that ever

Makulay na Tinta: Isapuso!

Learn to unlearn. It was words by my colleague, ka-master Mam Ana during our class in Issues and Trends in Teaching English  - as I recalled my journey  as campus journalist back in high school days. Flashes of memories. I was in first year high school when I bagged third place in headline writing - English, school based. Nervous and diffident then, as I saw myself competing with other campus journalists in the division level. Learn to unlearn. Welcome to the 21st century where learning to adapt isn’t just important to your survival, it’s essential for you to prosper in the bigger game of life. As futurist and philosopher Alvin Toffler once wrote, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

 On my first year in the teaching industry, I was assigned as the school paper adviser for English young writers of Balayang High School.  The mission, simply put, is to provide the encouragement, resources, training, and inspiration young writers need, to stimulate their imaginations and challenge their potential.

I believe our campus journalists' potential would be more awaken with these tips in feature writing and editorial writing. Thankful to Buhay Journalist to share these helpful and handy tips!

Tips in Feature Writing 

1. Be a keen observer. Maging aware ka sa mga nangyayari sa paligid mo. Kailangan mo yun lalo na kung informative na feature article ang isusulat mo. Imulat mo ang iyong mga mata at hayaan mong masurpresa ka sa iyong mga makikita.

2. Maging mapili sa mga salitang gagamitin mo. Kailangan yung mabilis na makakuha ng atensyon ng mga mambabasa. Hindi basta simpleng salita lang, kung pwede mas laliman mo pa pero mabilis maintindihan.

3. Don't limit your words. Sabi ko kanina, maging mapili pero 'wag na 'wag mong lilimitahan. Isulat mo lahat ng naiisip mo na related sa topic. Pero 'wag na 'wag kang lalayo.

4. Hindi dapat masyadong mapalabok ang article mo. O hindi dapat paligoy-ligoy. Karamihan sa judges sa PressCon, ang gusto straight to the point.

5. Create a powerful lead. Iyan ang unang binabasa kaya kailangan yung lead mo maangas, yung tipong nananapak. Ganun din dapat sa title. Pumili ka lagi nung kakaiba. Dapat lagi mong ichecheck kung tama ba ang grammar.

7. Ayusin ang sulat. Always give the best of yours para walang regrets sa huli. Kung maganda nga ang laman ng article mo pero pangit naman ang sulat mo, hindi yan babasahin ng judge. Sayang ang effort mo.

Editorial Writing Tips:

1. Editorial should be based in an issue. Ang editorial article ay dapat relevant ngayon, dapat may high degree of sensibility ito. Hindi yung mga historical or yung mga nangyari na

2. Dapat Unbiased. Oo, alam natin na lahat ng news ay dapat hindi biased. Sa editorial, iinterview lahat ng sides tas write down the different beliefs and perspectives of the sides.

3. It shows evidence delivered in a professional and formal manner. Formality encompasses the use of language and the style of argumentation. Minsan yung iba satin napapagkamalan nang feature or vice versa. Sa feature is mas loose ang rules and expounds the idea by creative language. Editorial is direct and yields a serious tone.

4.  It simplifies an issue. And editorial ay yung  simplified objective explanation ng hottest issue in its proper perspectives. Sabihin natin na yung hottest news ay ang bagong curriculum ng isang school. The editorial may talk about the causes and effects to the students, teachers, and stakeholders.

5.  Offers Alternative Solutions. Ang function ng editorial is ro efdectuate change in other's beliefs and stands. The editorial does this by offering a suggestion ro remedy the problem or issue being criticized

6. Maging Aware sa different types ng editorial articles. For every issue may different perspectives writing styles, interpretation. Minsan kapag finocus mo ang isang issue sa isang writing style, ang mga readers ay nahihirapan intindihin ang articles mo.

7. Be Aware of Everything around you. Tumingin kayo sa news reports, articles, and online news tungkol sa mga issues ngayon.

PressCon Reminders:

1. Dapat kumpleto ang tulog mo before the day ng laban. Hindi ka makakapagsulat ng maayos kapag inaantok.
2. Magdala ng scratch paper incase na kailangan. Minsan provided na rin ang scratch paper pero magdala ka pa din, mas mabuti na yung sigurado. Damihan din ang dala ng ballpen. Iba ibang klase dapat. Baka mamaya, bawal ang sign pen, dapat may naka-ready kang extra.
3. Kumain lang ng sapat para 'di ka distracted habang nagsusulat.
4. Read, read and read. Magbasa ka ng mga articles at mga libro na sa tingin mo ay magagamit mo. Mas mainam yung may stock knowledge.
5. Mag-pray ka before you write. Ito ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat. Ask for guidance and for blessing.

 Always remember we write for a purpose.
Congratulations guys on making it this far, and best of luck in the elimination rounds!

Day two: Training campus journalists in Editorial Writing English & Filipino. (July 2, 2019)

Day one: Training campus journalists in Feature Writing English & Filipino. (July 1, 2019)

Literacy Changes Lives: A Celebration of Literacy week at Balayang High School

Balayang High School successfully celebrated Literacy Week with the theme “Literacy Changes Our World”, through  fun-filled events such as Hula Hoop Challenge, Icebag Popping Challenge and a lot more!

The BHSians kicked off Literacy Week last November  to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of writing, speaking and listening and to inspire BHS students to make reading a part of their daily routines. This event was made possible by the English Department, along with teachers and officers of I Speak English Club.

The English Faculty of Balayang High School

One way to promote this four foundational skills of language learning is by organizing a Literacy Week at school. Here we share to you how Balayang High School in Victoria, Tarlac celebrated their Literacy Week.

Students from Grade 7 to Grade 11  played a variety of literacy-themed games. The celebration began in a door contest where students decorated their classrooms' doors like a favorite book character, or with  something to promote reading that goes along with the theme "Literacy Changes Our World". Activities throughout the week also included declamation,speech choir, spelling bee, essay writing, poster making, quiz bee and speech contest.

Door Contest

Literacy Booths

“This is my first celebrating Literacy Week at Balayang High School and I am excited for the opportunity to spend time with hundreds of BHS students and their outstanding teachers throughout the week. I look forward to this event every year because it drags attention to the vital role of reading and literacy in every facet of our lives,"said Teresita P. Lorenzo, Principal II of Balayang High School.

Learning to read and write is a basic skill that unfortunately not all children in the world learn sufficiently. Societal change puts increasing demands on individuals' competence in using written language, so it's important that schools are able to teach such skills to all learners.In order for students to reach their full potential, they must continually hone essential reading and literacy skills.

The pics we've all been waiting for! Enjoy!

Books We Love!

Poster-making

Declamation

Our students co-hosted the event

Poster-Making

Quiz Bee

Spelling Bee

Speech Contest

Scrabble! Our Cup of Teaching.

I believe that students would benefit from playing some scrabble. Using scrabble game in improving students literacy, numeracy and all that. That being said, vocabulary is the basic element of a language. It is commonly defined as all the word used by the speakers when using their language. According to Richards (2000:255) suggest that “vocabulary is a core component of language proficiency and provides much of the basis for how well learners speak, listen, read, and write”. It means without knowing and having enough vocabulary, someone or language learner will be difficult to understand the other language skill such as speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Vocabulary is one of the items that have to be mastered first by the students in learning English, because no one can speak English if they have limited vocabulary and without a proportional amount of vocabulary any one will get trouble in the process of learning English.

Teaching is a people profession that demands a large amount of time being dedicated to personal interaction. Positive teacher-student interaction has a very crucial role for effective teaching and learning to take place (Arthur, Gordon, & Butterfield, 2003). There are many important factors including productive Teaching and learning. Positive teacher-student interaction can be defined by shared acceptance, understanding, affection, intimacy, trust, respect, care and cooperation (Krause, Bochner, & Duchesne, 2006).

It's fortunate that in some of our vacant periods, we can play this game to somehow meet students’ developmental, emotional and educational needs. I recall, two students approached me, they were cheerful while revealing to me they have adapted new words and that they will make note of it. Glad hearing that, I understood even how minimal beneficial things matter to these learners.

Here sharing a pic during those days when our learners are unloaded, while we are on less paper work mode, at least on lunch breaks :)

Featured Students of Balayang High School

Shekinah Balbin Barroga - Good Hearted Woman

As I began teaching in Senior High School this year, I figured it would be inspiring for students of Balayang High School to highlight all if not some of them who are leaving good impact on their companions, peers, fellow students and even teachers like yours truly regarding character and esteem. Character, not only knowledge is the thing that makes an awesome student. What your choice of words says about your personality. NO ONE DOUBTS that the words we write or speak are an expression of our inner thoughts and personalities.

I have been blessed to meet many of the future leaders in my classrooms and in BHS's hallways, and I greatly treasure the relationships I have with these intelligent and inspiring people.

Shekinah Balbin Barroga

Hello there! So… you’ve landed on my blog, looked around a bit, and are wondering, “Who in the world is this gal?” 

The Bible speaks very highly of those who had faith. There are many servers of women of faith, and I can learn much by face-to-face talk in school with Shekinah.

Well, allow me to tell you a little about herself with,

10 things you should know about 

Shekinah Balbin Barroga

1. What is your grade level and graduating year? 

Presently I am at Grade 9. I will be graduating from senior high in 2021.

2. What does success in the classroom mean to you?

When I gain a lot of learning in the classroom,  this means success to me.

3. What do you plan on doing after K12?

I would like to go to college and to get a degree in education. 

4. What is your favorite memory in high school?

Whenever I am with my friends and teachers.

5. What is your proudest moment?

When I became a leader of Young Sister for our church.

6. What is one thing that you gained during your life at Balayang High School which you feel was of great value?

 I know that everything comes in to serve a purpose. I like giving advice to my friends and classmates. And for the spirit of generosity, every so often I offer monetary aid to students that don't  have a single cent to spend for food. 

7. What do you want to learn more about?

I want to learn more about humility, and to accept my mistakes and learn from it. 

8. Who are your heroes or role models?

My co-believers in Christ.

9. What are you good at that nobody knows?

I am fond of writing stories and inspirational poems.

10. Do you have any projects that you are working on/have worked on that is being supported by any organization?

Being the leader of Young Sister in our church, I teach new songs thrice a week. I also serve as emcee.