New Workyear 2006/2007 NUS

The new workyear for NUS 2006/2007 starts on 14 Aug 06 designated as week 1. Yesterday was a long day(at least for me). Lessons started at 2pm for advertising lecture. This module is pretty exciting because we will be learning how to create an advertisment in order to promote a certain product to customers in Singapore. Basically this week's lectures are all introductory lectures. We were told which is the textbook for the module that we would be using and what to expect for the modules, etc. Some things are changed - there is no participation points as well as peer evaluation for this module which doesn't really impact much on the module as the percentage points are usually set quite low for these aspects. Additionally, presenters have to dress up for this module, which is quite surprising indeed because this is not a business module. The other thing done in lecture is basically watching many advertisements that were recorded by the lecturer and then filling up the form about which ads is the most memorable etc, and voicing out opinions in the lecture.

The next lecture for the day is at 4pm in AS1 which is the storytelling class. Not much student enrollment for this module - only 31 students, not surprising because this is a new module in NUS. One of the other rather interesting modules in NUS where we will be learning concepts relevant to telling a story via the interactive medium of new media and computers. The lecturer is rather nice too. She is a director of an interactive software design company in Singapore called Ideaforia. Her introductory slide has 3 pictures - which also involves the concept of interactivity (each student can interpret the picture differently as opposed to what the lecturer is actually trying to present to us) The first picture shows 2 twins - which means that she has a twin sister. The 2nd slide is showing a famous television personality who is preparing some delicacy - this picture serves to show us the opposite of what the lecturer intends to show which is that she does not know how to cook! Finally, the 3rd slide is about some form of sports games that she participated in which I forgot what it is...but it's rather unheard of in Singapore. Well, this lesson is very interactive indeed I can say.

After the lecture which ends at around 5.40 pm, I went to get ready to attend the FASS prize and awards presentation in LT8 which starts at 7pm(although it don't start at 7pm sharp but starts much later which is unsurprising because many people still have not arrived for the event and we have to wait for them and the letter specifically stated to arrive at 6.30pm too) The event started with the talk by the Head of FASS Prof Tan Tai Yong, basically congratulating all the prize recepients. First prize presentation is the Long Service Awards winners which are all the professors who have served for 20, 30 and 40 years in NUS. They include Prof Robbie Goh from EL dept; Prof TC Chang from Geography dept and many many others. Next up is the group photo taking with Prof Tan Tai Yong for 2005, followed by the 2004 Dean's List awards winners on stage. At 8 pm, we are treated to the performance firstly by the Resonance Acapella Group in NUS. One of the songs that they performed is the Heinekan beer ad theme song "Happy Together" which is quite well done since it is quite memorable to me. The other 2 songs they performed, I can't remember what they were. The 2nd performance is by the Winds Symphony in NUS. Two of the music pieces that they performed are Lemon Tree and First Love. First Love is very touching and it was very well performed. After this performance, the book prize awards winners were called individually up the stage to receive their prizes and took a personal photo with Prof Tan Tai Yong. All the book prize winners are the cream of the crop and they are First Class Honours graduates. Finally the ceremony ended with a short video showing, and we were treated to a reception and left the Hall for home.