Reflective Journal 5: Reflect on SES. You may want to consider the curriculum, the learning process, the assessment, difficulties you faced, how you overcame them, and how might SES be applicable in time to come.
Time flies, and now, nearing the end of my short yet fruitful SES journey, I would like to express my feelings about this module.
I am impressed by the scope of SES because it seeks to explore pertinent issues present in Chinese and/or American societies. Some of the thought-provoking issues discussed include Confucian ideology, the 'dichotomy' between China and America, and the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the commencement of SES, I only had a cursory understanding of these topics and thought they were poles apart. Once, I even considered some issues obsolete because they occurred in the past. Fortunately, SES proved me wrong.
Through SES, I was able to draw implicit links among issues which exist in Chinese and Western societies, and most importantly uncover their relevance to my life. For example, I discovered that my mannerism has always been influenced by the coalesce of the American and Chinese perceptions of self in cosmopolitan Singapore. The progressive nature of SES curriculum also enabled me to utilise the knowledge gleaned in previous tutorials and apply them by incorporating them into answers to questions in following tutorials. For instance, one can cite the Western perception of rights to account for factory operations in America. This prevented me from naively considering all issues as mutually exclusive. On top of that, I liked the way in which discussion questions were phrased because it encouraged us to delve into and analyse both sides of issues to get a clearer picture of them, and by evaluating their pros and cons, eventually reach a balanced conclusion. This has evidently served me well as I developed critical thinking skills and unique perspectives, which granted me with a more comprehensive understanding of the world.
However, this learning process was not smooth-sailing because I encountered many difficulties along the way. At times, I struggled to comprehend readings and identify key concepts. Thankfully, my doubts would always be quelled after listening to presentations and ruminating on insights generated by presenters. Through these experiences, I recognised the necessity of SES presentations as they could accurately assess an individual's perspicacity and the amount of effort he had invested into conducting background research, hence I staunchly believe the assessment format is justified. In addition, the 'reflective journal' component allowed me to reflect upon issues discussed in class in commendable depth and expound my views, and facilitated the frank exchange of viewpoints via comments. In general, I took into account both positive and negative comments within my discretion and this certainly enriched my intellect over time.
However, this learning process was not smooth-sailing because I encountered many difficulties along the way. At times, I struggled to comprehend readings and identify key concepts. Thankfully, my doubts would always be quelled after listening to presentations and ruminating on insights generated by presenters. Through these experiences, I recognised the necessity of SES presentations as they could accurately assess an individual's perspicacity and the amount of effort he had invested into conducting background research, hence I staunchly believe the assessment format is justified. In addition, the 'reflective journal' component allowed me to reflect upon issues discussed in class in commendable depth and expound my views, and facilitated the frank exchange of viewpoints via comments. In general, I took into account both positive and negative comments within my discretion and this certainly enriched my intellect over time.
Personally, I am pleased with the pedagogical framework of SES, especially the 'class discussion' component, mainly because it succeeded in facilitating the interaction among peers and subsequently the exchange of a plethora of ideas. More often than not, valid points raised by classmates opened new avenues for discussion, honed my faculty of reasoning and broadened my perspectives. In addition, this segment would boost my confidence and improve my presentation skills. To me, though, the main aim of class discussion should be to foster an open mindset in me. This is absolutely paramount because I will have to interact with people from all walks of life in the future, hence if I were to confine ourselves to a solitary point of view and not be receptive to the opinions of others, I will struggle to thrive, or worse still, attract unnecessary ire which can potentially sour human relations. Therefore, only when the objective aforementioned is achieved will I truly benefit from this pedagogical approach in the long run.
As construed by Confucius, the essence of knowledge lies in its application. Similarly, besides supplying me with factual knowledge, SES can be applied too. In this dynamic and globalised world, I will definitely have to venture out of my comfort zone and interact with people hailing from the East and the West, all with different cultural backgrounds. In order to foster our interaction and avoid unnecessary disputes, I must first understand the cultural differences and aim to transcend cultural boundaries so as to collaborate with my foreign counterparts effectively. This will indirectly improve my employability amid the stiff competition for job vacancies around the world. However, pragmatic reason is secondary and it does not constitute the main driving force behind my thirst for knowledge. The prospect of broadening my global perspective is what truly ignited my passion for SES.
Reminiscing my arduous SES journey, I am glad to say that I have grown.
Without the help of SES, I will perpetually languish in superficiality and not perceive the world in a brand new light.
Having benefited from SES, I will be more cognizant of my surroundings and more optimistic about my future prospects.
Therefore, I will never forget about SES and the positive impact that it has made on my life.
Without the help of SES, I will perpetually languish in superficiality and not perceive the world in a brand new light.
Having benefited from SES, I will be more cognizant of my surroundings and more optimistic about my future prospects.
Therefore, I will never forget about SES and the positive impact that it has made on my life.
(800 words)
