The Importance of Saving Money (SPM English Continuous Writing)

The Importance of Saving Money

Cars, houses, a college education, holidays and medical bills all have something in common. They cost money. As time goes on we need lots of it as inflation and greed have forced the prices of services and goods upwards. It is not enough to have money, it is important to save some of it. There are always unexpected expenses like wedding gifts, funerals and birthdays. Even if we give a token, we need to save in order to pay for gifts or donations.

The next most important reason we need to save is for medical expenses. This is sometimes covered by medical cards and employers but we always need some spare cash for the things they don't cover or to pay the premiums. Savings also help pay for the quality of the medical services we need.

There are also other benefits of savings which are pleasurable. We could save to make the trip o lifetime to a place we want to visit. Savings could help realize the world tour we dreamed of as a kid. Saving money enables us to make timely investments when opportunity knocks. We will not be able to grab that condo, share issue or car on offer if we do not have spare cash.

Saving money helps us pay for our dream home without paying too much interest to the bank. We could save from a young age and be surprised to see how much we have at the end. We need to save to be able to afford a college education for ourselves and our future generations. It helps us to get a better job.

Finally, the habit of saving creates a sense of emotional and mental security that is essential in today's world. We need that assurance that we are safe financially to enable us to lead a normal life. Many people today suffer from tremendous stress if they have financial insecurity. It is one of the cause of rift between siblings and extended family when you are unable to meet your financial obligations.

Thus, the habit of saving money is essential to live a happy life.

                                                             (A passage from Oxford Fajar Achieve! English Model Test Papers

                                                           SPM Latest SPM Format by Kamala Ganehsan and S. Thiruselvam)

Travel (SPM English Continuous Writing)

TRAVEL

Travel has become easier today with the development of science and technology  Vehicles have improved greatly in providing more comfort and taking us to places faraway at greater speed. What used to be wishful thinking has become a reality today, thanks to the brilliant and creative innovations of man.

There are many benefits that people obtain by travelling. It provides a chance to widen our horizon and minds. There is much that we can learn from books but so much more that we learn when we travel away from the comfort of our homes. We see new places and learn about new cultures, food, traditions and a thousand other things. We meet different people and learn of their ways.

Travel provides an education not acquired in books. It is an eye-opener in numerous ways. We learn of different music, dances, food and come to understand the history and geography of different lands. We can read about snow but to actually touch it or play with it provides a thrilling moment. To climb mountains or ski in snow-clad valleys is a joy in itself.

While travelling we also learn about ourselves. We learn about tolerance as we see different people with different customs and religions. We learn about patience whe we sit at airports and stations while waiting for delayed flights or trains. We learn about kindness and compassion when total strangers treat us well and help us when needed. Travel reveals much about ourselves too and we learn to adjust and adaot to different things in different countries. It will indeed be a pity if we were to make trips and remain the same as we were before we left on the trip. Surely that would be a waste?

Travel also makes us aware of the many blessings that we have in our homes and country. You will find many disadvantaged people in many countries. You will also find people who live quite happily without the many comforts that we have. Travel then would teach us to be grateful for what we have. I am very grateful that I live in a country that is peaceful and that people of many races can live in harmony here.

Everyone should travel if there if there is an opportunity for them to do so. You could travel about in your own country initially and go further when possible. It can be joyful and bring many pleasant memories.

(A passage from Oxford Fajar Achieve! English Model Test Papers

SPM Latest SPM Format by Kamala Ganehsan and S. Thiruselvam)

KEPENTINGAN MENGUASAI PELBAGAI BAHASA

KEPENTINGAN MENGUASAI PELBAGAI BAHASA

Menurut kamus Komprehensif Bahasa Melayu, perkataan bahasa membawa maksud sistem lambang-lambang bunyi yang dipakai sebagai alat perhubungan dalam lingkungan satu kelompok manusia. Terdapat pelbagai bahasa yang digunakan di dunia iaitu Bahasa Arab, Bahasa Cina dan Bahasa Inggeris. Bahasa telah dijadikan alat komunikasi antara satu sama lain. Biasanya mereka menggunakan bahasa antarabangsa yang mudah difahami ialah Bahasa Inggeris iaitu lingua franca.

Lingua franca merupakan bahasa perantaraan yang digunakan secara sistematik untuk tujuan perhubungan antara orang-orang yang tidak sama bahasa ibundanya. Lingua franca juga merupakan bahasa yang dikhususkan dalam bidang tertentu. Contohnya, bahasa Inggeris selalu digunakan untuk kajian sains. Pada abad ke-14, ketika zaman Kesultanan Melayu Melaka, Bahasa Melayu dijadikan lingua franca di Kepulauan Melayu, tidak kira dituturkan oleh penduduk tempatan mahupun saudagar dan seniman yang mengunjungi Melaka melalui Selat Melaka.

Terdapat pelbagai faedah menguasai pelbagai bahasa. DI antaranya ialah dapat berkomunikasi dengan pelbagai bangsa dari serata dunia. Di situ kelebihannya, ketika melancong, kita tidak perlu megupah jurubahasa kerana bayarannya agak lumayan. Apabila berada di negara luar kita perlu berkomunikasi dengan bahasa yang digunakan untuk memudahkan urusan jual beli. Biasanya peniaga mudah memberi harga yang lebih rendah dalam proses tawar menawar. Jika pelancong tidak pandai bertutur dalam bahasa yang digunakan mereka akan memberi harga paku belanda dan inginkan keuntungan lebih semata-mata.

Selain itu, apabila bertutur dalam pelbagai bahasa kita dapat memahami percakapan yang telah digunakan. Kita boleh mengetahui sama ada mereka menggunakan kata-kata kesat atau lucah kepada kita dalam bahasa ibunda mereka. Kita juga dapat mengelakkan perselisihan faham dan bertukar pendapat. Seterusnya, apabila dapat menguasai bahasa penduduk di sekitarnya akan melahirkan rasa hormat atas kesanggupan kita untuk belajar bahasa mereka.

Di samping itu, kita boleh mendapat ramai kenalan dari setiap negara apabila berkomunikasi di laman web. Kita boleh bertutur dan belajar ketika berkomunikasi di laman web. Kita boleh mempromosikan negara kita melalui kenalan di laman web lalu menarik minat pelancong untuk mengunjungi negara kita. Kita bukan sahaja memperbaiki bahasa yang dipelajari bahkan juga dapat bertutur dengan lebih fasih.

Tambahan pula, kita juga dapat lebih peluang pekerjaan terutamanya dalam bidang media mass yang memerlukan pengetahuan di dalam pelbagai bahasa. Seorang wartawan harus menguasai sekurang-kurangnya lima bahasa terutamanya bahasa Inggeris dan bahasa ibundanya. Pekerjaan yang melibatkan diri dalam bidang media massa juga mendapat gaji yang lumayan. Jurubahasa di dalam televisyen perlunya mengetahui pelbagai bahasa mengikut rancangan yang dikendalikan. Ada juga yang bertugas untuk menaip sari kata bagi paparan di televisyen.

Akhir sekali, kita boleh memahami rancangan yang diminati tanpa perlu membaca sari kata yang disediakan kerana sari katanya lambat daripada pertuturan pelakon atau kesalahan tatabahasa yang digunakan. Kita akan berasa lebih seronok menonton rancangan yang diminati tanpa perlu penat membaca sari kata yang disediakan. Kita juga boleh membaca buku komik atau buku cerita dari penulis asal tanpa perlu peralihan bahasa.

Konklusinya, setiap orang perlulah menguasai pelbagai bahasa kerana lebih banyak kebaikan apabila kita menguasainya. Peranan ibu bapa menjadikan seseorang itu berjaya tidak kira apa jua yang diceburi.