3J: Ang Zhen Yi (1)

3J: Jeff Neo (11)

Global Mindedness

Name : Benjamin Ong (29)

FW: 3J: Leo Wen Zhe (18)

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From: pgsm_wzl@hotmail.com
To: sec3vscle20123j@blogger.com
Subject: 3J: Leo Wen Zhe (18)
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:58:33 +0000

Q1: Why is it relevant for every Victorian to be global-minded?

Here in Victoria School, there are really quite a number of foreign students, coming from countries north of us such as, our neighbouring country, Malaysia. We also have foreign students from countries like China, Vietnam, and Thailand. As we do not live in their country, we may or may not get to know their culture and living styles and situations very well... These foreign students will definitely be able to better fit into Singapore's lifestyle with the help of the locals who in turn, also know what they have been through in their countries. I have seen many foreign students only in their clusters of the same nationality, and I am guessing that those are the only few people they can really talk to. If we can understand their troubles and circumstances that they have faced back at home, they could speak to us, and they will ease into Singapore's style of living much easier, faster and happily. This may also help in Academics because being global-minded means to be on track of the current affairs of the world. It can really help us in our essays if we need citations and real hard evidence of events, especially when current affairs published in the news cannot be fake. 

Q2: How may global-mindedness in you be evident to your friends?

I take 8 subjects, with Geography as my 2nd Humanities. As I know scholars from Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia who are being offered this as their course of study while in Singapore, I interact with them twice a week, if not more if I see them around in the school. They are my classmates, my friends and schoolmates. I must know them and know them well. If I understand their situation at home, I can interact and talk to them easier and freely and this will definitely help in the path of paving new friendships. Singaporeans need not just revolve around the social cycle of Singaporeans. And Scholars need not just get stuck in the small social circle of their own people. If they are in Singapore, we are the same and they are our friends. This will definitely be evident to my friends and they will find me much more knowledgeable than I find myself.

Q3: What do you think best fosters the development of global mindedness in a person? 

I think the best way of fostering development of global mindedness in individuals is through interaction. Interaction being the way we engage in activities that relate to foreign things that we have never tried before, and such activity is visiting countries and getting a feel of living there. A good way to promote such an interaction is through Victoria School's Regional Studies Programme... I have friends are currently in RSP and I have seen pictures of them being in photos of them with their fellow classmates in another country, such as Cambodia. I think if all of us can get a feel of the lifestyle of the people in the country, we will able to "speak their language" and communicate much more efficient and effectively. We can also look up on the internet for information regarding countless countries and their long line of history together with their values and beliefs. This will prepare us before heading out of homeland and into a foreign land... We will know the place and its people better. 

Q4: Comment briefly:

I can only agree with the part stating the openness to and awareness of diversity across cultures and the respect and imagination... It is definitely true that to be global-minded, is to know the facts and information of the cultures and virtues in each and every country... We must respect their culture because we are not their citizens and we really do not have the rights to change their way of thinking and their way they carry themselves and do things. We must go deep into understanding why they carry out certain tasks day-to-day and why is it necessary. As I have mentioned earlier, we would be able to communicate with the people there more effectively and efficiently. You would understand them better and they will respect you as someone that is knowledgeable and has done his/her "homework" before coming forth. However, I do not think that it is so much of pushing one's limit of doing things . We human have adapted to our basic lifestyle with great stress, influence and pressure by the location and geography we are currently in now. We do not certainly have to change ourselves, outlive ourselves just to establish and recognise other country's cultures. Yes, we adapt but we are to bounce straight back into our individual lifestyle once we are out. Being knowledgeable does not necessarily mean to carry out what we know. If we cannot handle the change, we can always get back to our previous lifestyle. Being global-minded is just keeping up with the current affairs that is every new every single day, but we need not push ourselves so much into doing things that other people in other countries do. An example would be people wearing winter clothing in China but in Singapore, we definitely do not. Here we are not pushing the limits of one's own way of doing things. Because here in Singapore, its weather and climate is definitely different to that of China. We are just well prepared for a visit to their country but we do not have to push our limits.

3J: Koh Shenyi Shinichi (15)

Q1) Why is it relevant for every Victorian to be global-minded?

Ans: As a Victorian, and as a citizen living in a multi-racial country like Singapore, we must learn not only about our race but also about other races and their way of living as we will have direct contact with people of other races in our daily life. Therefore, by learning how they live, we can further appreciate their ethnics and learn more about how other people are living in different parts of the world, helping us live life in a more appreciative manner.

Q2) How may global-mindedness in you be evident to your friends?

Ans: It may be evident through how the way i interact with people from other races. I have many friends who are malay or indian and i can converse with them better after learning more about their ethnic background and how they live.

Q3) What do you think best fosters the development of global mindedness in a person?  (You may consider the character virtue, school programmes or environment) 

Ans: I feel that the deciding factor which best fosters the development of global mindedness in a person is their environment. If their class or household is filled with people who are racists or people who does not care how other races live, then the person would definitely be a person who would not keep global mindedness in their heads. Therefore changing the racist thinking of people is the best way to help foster the development of global mindedness in a person.

Q4) Briefly comment on the comment 

Ans: I agree with the statement as without being global minded, we would be stuck in the views of only our own race which is not subjective hence people need to open up to opinions of other races. Then will they be able to have an awareness of other races  and push the limits of one's thinking.

Braxton Sheum

(Peer Support Board Convention Student Organising Team)

1) When a Victorian is global-minded, he knows more about the different cultures and races of the different people around him. He also knows about the different ways and practices of other countries. He is also pushing his own limits in doing things. For example, from the above picture, these are the Peer Support Boards from both Cedar and Victoria School. We had planned the convention for more than 3 months, pushing our limits and forming a whole convention from scratch.

2) Global-mindedness is evident in me to my friends when we are visiting neighboring countries. In villages overseas, we can observe the living conditions of the people and how they make a living in the villages.

3) I think that more programs that focus more on overseas learning will help foster the global-mindedness in a person. The overseas learning programs will give us more knowledge on the conditions of the people and the cultures in the country.

4) I strongly agree with this comment as we must be aware of the different kinds of conditions around the world, even if it doesn't concern us. Be it Afghanistan, Africa, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, etc, we need to know the diverse conditions in countries around us.

3J: Ng Wei Jin Travis (28)

3J: Tan Si Han(30)

Q1) Why is it relevant for every Victorian to be global-minded?
This is as we will have to interact with people of different races and culture in our lives and we have to  be global-minded to learn about their race, culture and tradition and to respect that.

Q2)How may global-mindedness in you be evident to your friends?

Global-Mindedness helps to makes communication with other people of different races and cultures easier. For example, as I have some foreign friends, I can communicate with them and learn about their culture, and I can also tell them things about Singapore.

Q3) What do you think best fosters the development of global mindedness in a person?

I think School programmes such as camps can help foster the development of global mindedness in a person. For example, the Sec 3 and 2 camp where we went to Malaysia. We were Able to learn about the culture and behaviour of the people living there and appreciate it.

Q4) Briefly comment on the comment -

                         "A global mindset combines an openness to and awareness

                   of diversity    across cultures.  It respects how different countries

                  do things and has the imagination to appreciate why other cultures

                  do them that way. But, a global mindset is also incisive — to push the

                  limits of one's own way of doing things."

  

I agree with this comment. It is important to know about the cultures and languages of people from different countries as it can help us interact with them. It is also important to respect how different countries do things and appreciate them so as to not cause conflict. Also, having a global mindset is important, as we are pushed out of our comfort zone, and will take a new step higher, and take ourselves to greater heights.

Global Mindedness

3J: Leonard Tay (19)

1. It is relevant to be global-minded as we will be able to gain more
exposure from other places not only from Singapore. For example when
the sports CCAs travel to other country to play teams from that
country, we will be able to gain much more experience and come back to
Singapore to perform better in our local tournaments.

2. When we mix around with the foreigners in our school, we learn more
about their culture and language in their country. This way we also
can get new ways and ideas to do things as we can learn from them.

3. I think it is best when we go overseas such as the Secondary 2 and
3 camp where we are able to go to Malaysia and the villages there to
learn more about how they live and their cultures. When we have
foreigners in our school we also can learn many things about them such
as their culture and language.

4. I agree with this comment as we have to respect people from all
around the world regardless of their race or religion. As Singapore is
a multi-racial society, it is important that we be sensitive to other
people's race or religion so as to prevent conflicts among different
races. At the same time, through global-mindedness, we can learn new
ways of doing things and improve from old methods to be more efficient
and productive.

3J: Chen Kai Bin (6)

Q1) It is relevant for every Victorian to be global-minded?
It is relevant because across the globe, there are people from all walks of life, be it their religion, race, age, wealth. When us, the current teenagers of Singapore grow up and join the workforce, we have to possess a global mindset so as to allow us to be aware of the outside world, socially and economically. Quoting Mr. Maran, "If Victorians can't do it, who can?". As Victoria school is one of the better schools in Singapore, I find it extremely relevant for every Victorian to be global-minded, and possessing a global mindset would definitely allow us to have a brighter future.

Q2) How may global-mindedness in you be evident to your friends?

Global-mindedness is evident in me to my friends when we are having our daily conversations. We may unknowingly talk about current affairs about the outside world in other countries, and this helps us improve our own global-mindedness through exchanging valuable knowledge within our conversations.

Q3) What do you think best fosters the development of global mindedness in a person?

I personally feel that the environment of someone's life affects his global mindedness within the most. If we do not have any access to the outside world through various forms of media, such as the internet, television or the radio and if we do not have knowledgable friends to exchange conversations with, there is absolutely no way our global mindedness within can develop. The school also plays a major role in the development of global mindedness in a person. Through inviting external trainers to give us talks, it can also help us to develop our global mindedness. Other factors such as character development lessons, help us to develop our perspective of the outside world and therefore would aid in the development of our global mindedness.

Q4) -Comment
I strongly agree with this comment. When being equipped with a global mindset, it exposes us to the outside world and allows us to develop a deeper understanding about the lives of those who are not as fortunate as us, such as the people in various third world countries. Allowing us to know how lucky we are would make us appreciate those around us more greatly and also allow us to respect those who are not so fortunate but however do not give up in life. When others have such a strong determination to break their poor cycle of life, it will further push us to break our limits and exceed our expectations.

3J: Dexter Chow (8)

Q1) Why is it relevant for every Victorian to be global-minded?

It is important to be global-minded, as it allows us to be aware of what people in other parts of the world do, their culture or language. This helps us to be able to learnt and exchange ideas with them, staying competitive with the rest of the world.

Q2) How may global-mindedness in you be evident to your friends? 

When I am able to communicate with people of other nations, respecting their culture and becoming friends with them, learning from one another,I will be able to show my friends the importance and need to be global-minded.

Q3) What do you think best fosters the development of global mindedness in a person?  (You may consider the character virtue, school programmes or environment)

I think we need to have the opportunity to interact with people of other nations, through exchange programs, international competitions etc. through this interaction, it will arouse the hunger of wanting to know more about the world, and when we communicate with our international friends, we can build up rapport and cooperation between different communities.

Q4) Briefly comment on the comment -

                         "A global mindset combines an openness to and awareness

                   of diversity across cultures.  It respects how different countries

                  do things and has the imagination to appreciate why other cultures

                  do them that way. But, a global mindset is also incisive — to push the

                  limits of one's own way of doing things."

I agree with this comment because to have a global mindset, is to be aware of the cultures of others, and respecting their believes, or how they do something, and through these we are able to learn from one another, and to continue to improve the way we do things.

  

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Yours sincerely,
Dexter Chow

3J: Keith Lau (14)

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From: pieisnoob@hotmail.com
To: sec3vscle.20123j@blogger.com
Subject:
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:02:31 +0800

As Victorians, we are expected to be future leaders, in the future, we may do dealings with people of different cultures, ethnics and countries. To ensure everything goes smoothly, and we treat others with respect, we must be global-minded and have the ability to understand and respect others.

In my opinion, friends can have chats with each other about events happening around the world. Not only the serious current affairs, it could be about controversial events that affect us in every moment of our lives. It could spark off discussions like talks about Kony 2012 and its purpose.

I think one should lead by example to develop global-mindedness in people. If everyone is to know what's happening globally, of course as the kiasu Singaporeans we are. Our peers would also attempt to find out more about the world.

I fully agree with the comment. With more experience about other cultures and how people of different countries and cultures makes much room and space for innovative method to many things. It gives one the chance to try something new

3J: Ashley Ho (10)

As Victorians, we are expected to be future leaders, in the future, we may do dealings with people of different cultures, ethnics and countries. To ensure everything goes smoothly, and we treat others with respect, we must be global-minded and have the ability to understand and respect others.

In my opinion, friends can have chats with each other about events happening around the world. Not only the serious current affairs, it could be about controversial events that affect us in every moment of our lives. It could spark off discussions like talks about Kony 2012 and its purpose.

I think one should lead by example to develop global-mindedness in people. If everyone is to know what's happening globally, of course as the kiasu Singaporeans we are. Our peers would also attempt to find out more about the world.

I fully agree with the comment. With more experience about other cultures and how people of different countries and cultures makes much room and space for innovative method to many things. It gives one the chance to try something new

3J: Jerry Lim (22)

(VS Chinese New Year celebrations, 20 January 2012)

Q1Singapore is a multiracial society. Therefore Victorians, as Singaporeans, have to global-minded. If we as Singaporeans are unable to accept or are unaware of the different cultures here in Singapore, we cannot say that Singapore is multiracial. Also, VS has students of many different races, so Victorians have to be global-minded or they would be unable to get along amicably with their fellow schoolmates.

Q2Majority of my class is Chinese, so we could learn about the other races and their cultures from the Malay and Indian students.

Q3Development of global-mindedness comes from experiencing many of these things. In the recent school camp in Malaysia for the Secondary Three students, one of the activities was visiting the nearby kampong and seeing what the lives of the people there were like.

Q4Being global-minded means that we are able to accept and live in harmony with people of different races and their cultures. This will help us in making friends easily with others, and will teach us to be grateful for what we already have as there are many people out there who are not as well-to-do as we are.

3J:Beckham Wong (2)

Keith Lau Class 3J (14)

2J: Roy Wong (33)

3J: Jerry Lim (22)

My CE Project.

3J: Nicholas Loh (24)

Reflections:

1. Victorians have to be global-minded to succeed in the ever-changing world. We have to be open to new ideas and mindsets in order to become successful in whatever we do.

2. My friends can see that I am global-minded as I accept people of other cultures as my friends as well as try to accomplish tasks using various methods instead of using only the standard way of doing things.

3. I think that a person understands global-mindedness through various life experiences and by interacting with different types of people. Experience is the best way for people to develop a global mindset. 

4. I agree with this comment. Global-mindedness is not only about how we understand people from different cultures, but also how we are able to try new methods of completing tasks. Therefore, global-mindedness is both how we interact with other people as well as how we, as individuals, overcome challenges using innovative methods.