One of the way for me to improve my writing in English is by reading. I love reading. By reading I learn a bunch of new words. With that new words I increase my vocabulary. Although not all new words I learn I remember, but when I see it in other text, I eventually will try to remember what it is about.

I've finish reading a novel by Nicholas Spark. I don't know who the hell is Nicholas. One thing I know is that I've read his novel titled 'The Last Song'. I do remember how I finish the novel with tears. It sure made me reflect who I am.

Then I manage to read Nicholas other books called 'The Rescue'. How interesting to read it as a reader and a writer.

Before this I read as a reader. I criticize if it doesn't fit with my preferences. But then I realise that I was wrong. As a writer, I should look more deeper in what I read which is the way the writer write.

Ah thank you Sifu Azzah for reminding me this. It sounds harsh, but I know it is for my own goodness.

Anyway, back to the novel. I remember vividly its characters involved who name are Denise, Kyle, Judy, Taylor, Mitch and Melissa. There are bunch of other names but for sure those six gave me big impact to read further.

I like how Nicholas able to describe the event which then I too immersed the feeling of each characters.

I understand how Nicholas describe the surrounding and its effect on the character.

Oh I also like the way Melissa advice Taylor. She knows Taylor want to help but then, that is not what she want after all. What Taylor need is some guidance about himself. She knows Taylor has a problem of the past. But then Taylor refuse to admit it to anyone else.

I like the way the author able to describe the story. After all I guess I want to know whether Taylor will become Denise's husband or not.

At first I was thinking that the conflict will begin with Denise has a problem with Kyle's true father. But then, that is not the main plot after all.

I can give a 3 out of 5 stars on this novel. Good but not the one I can go for.

With this I pile up all the quotes I found while reading on the Internet.

You’ll know you’re succeeding when it feels like writing is taking over your life. (source)

Amateurs will spend their lives reading about what other people do. But professionals? Have the balls to make a decision about what they want to master. And then master it. (source)

Pressure is Not Your Friend. (source)

Imagine that! I need to teach real English. It is a new challenge for me.

As you can see, my blog is about me growing to write better in English. Yet you'll find a lot of errors here. Because I use Manglish of course!

Kak Zura had called me two weeks ago asking me whether I can teach primary students at her centre working at.

She asked whether I can teach on Friday night. Oh well. I said sorry I can't because I already teaching a student on Friday night.

Then she asked whether I can teach on Monday night. Well, I do free at the time. It just I was still blur about what will I teach there? Kak Zura offered me to sit there for a class to see how the class been handled.

So yesterday I went to the centre to get the gist.

Upon arriving there, I was introduced to the owner of the centre, Puan Sharifah. She asked me to join her class. But before that I need to fill up some form for the record for the centre.

What interesting was, I need to write an essay titled 'Why do I want to become an English teacher?'.

Oh my! I was not prepared for this. This is tough! My English writing and speaking is at average level. Hahah. You can tell by reading my blog! I'm only good at reading! I can read Time magazine, k?

Oh well. What the heck. Rather than I take myself aback, better I finish it here. So I wrote it anyway. Three reasons I wrote why I want to become an English teacher.

First, I love teaching. Second I want to improve my way of teaching. Lastly I love the challenge of teaching.

Luckily I still remember the writing technique taught in 'General Writing' when I was in degree in UPM. I applied it in the essay.

At the centre, mostly I need to teach kids there about speaking. Puan Sharifah was kind to show me the way the centre teach.

Well, it gave me a goose bump!

There were many kids there! 5 girls and 6 boys. In the class I can say the boys were more active than the girls.

"Alright. Keep quite. There is a new comer here. Let him introduce himself," said Puan Sharifah.

I was shivering. I'm not good in teaching in crowd. Oh well. What ever happens, happens here. I stand up and introduce myself.

"You want to try to teach now?" whisper Puan Sharifah to me. I shook my head.

"Alright. Then you can sit here and see how the class been handled," said her.

For the past an hour, I can see Puan Sharifah handled the kids well. "You must show the kids who is the teacher here." Sometimes Puan Sharifah tell me teaching tips while she conduct the class.                                                                                                                                                                        
When the class end, I had a small conversation with Puan Sharifah.

"Well Izham. How about the class? Did you enjoyed it?"

I don't know what to say.

"I've read you essay. It has a lot of grammar mistakes."

"I know."

Gulp. Suddenly my experience of being rejected as a tuition teacher before this came back in a flash. I took a deep breath. I accept any decision she made whether I being accepted here or I need to leave right away.

"I do see you want to improve yourself in teaching. Well you can grow with us if you want."

I don't blink my eyes for 5 second! This is something new to me.

"You can google 'phonetic'. And here take this book for you to use in the class next week. You can borrow it before you teach." Puan Sharifah handled me the book she used in the class.

This is a new challenge for me. I take the challenge!

How about you guys? Have you got any experience like this? To try something new that you aren't familiar with?

You can give a hi or comment here. I would love to read it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Being non-English native speaker, it seems English is part of me. Not just me, but everyone in Malaysia. Honestly I can say I'm not good in English.

Because of that I create this blog. Just for me to improve my writing and generate any ideas of writing in English.

Actually before this I do write English everyday. It just not online. I wrote it in my personal diary. Yeah. Laugh all you can. A man can also has a diary! Ahahaha.

But then I stop. I don't know what to write in it. I just write bluntly without knowing where will I stop. Honestly, I just don't know what the hell I wrote for.

Even if I write every single day, does my English writing will be improve? There is no key indicator for me to check up for. I can say KPI for it is none.

Maybe that is why I stop being me in English. As part of it, my English grading down.

Oh then my mentor in writing share about this splendid website called Humans of New York. I'm attracted to how the author able to tell the story in a well manner way. Oh my. A question arise inside of me. Can I be like that?

Well, I don't know. Let the time tell me whether my writing in simple plain Manglish here about my life will able to make my writing better or not.

By then, see ya all.

Well, as you can see I'm just a simple guy who can't write English well. In the end what I wrote is just a plain Manglish. I do wonder what is Manglish is all about?

I do read English perfectly. It means I still can understand 90% of what articles in Time Magazine is all about. I just wonder why the hell I can't still write English well.

I just want to compare it with my bahasa Melayu writing. It isn't that perfect also.

Alright. Let me do some post moterm about this.

Why is Izham cannot write perfect English?

First, maybe because up until now I don't understand much about the tenses. Yeah. What with the past, present and future? What I know is that I said this and you understand when it happen.

What's with the past? Ahhhh. I really hate it, you know.