Scribbles EXCLUSIVE!

Read Post Foundation student Omaima Salim Said Al Minji’s interview with ELC’s Elaine Cockerham Turn to pages 8 and 9 for the full story

Also inside this bumper summer issue of Scribbles you’ll find useful advice and information on: Page 10: When spelling spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e! Page 11: How to improve your writing Page 12: E-learning @ ELC

And for an eye opening showcase of Post Foundation Students’ writing, poetry and drawing talents, turn to: Pages 17-37: Scribbles PF Student Portfolio Countdown to the holidays: Page 13: Passports at the ready Don’t miss our ’tongue in cheek’ article on Page 14: College Characters

Scr ibbles Newsletter i s for pr ivate c irculat ion only

Designed, written and produced by the English Post Foundation Programme Higher College of Technology, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

SUMMER 2010

Management

Mr Ahmed Al Dissi

Director, ELC

Mrs Asma Al Ghailani HOS

English Language Programmes

Mrs Elaine Cockerham HOS

Curriculum & Teaching Methods

Mrs Ghada Sarhan QA Officer

Mr Francis Rajendran Registrar

Lecturers Mr Sam Victor

Co-ordinator Post Foundation Programme

Technical Writing 1 Mrs Humera Shujat Ali Co-Ordinator

Mrs Alice Panaligan Mr Christopher Selvamony

Dr Afif Othman Mr Ramil Ecot

Mr Alan Basmayor Technical Writing 2

Mr Shujat Ali Co-Ordinator

Mr Jimmy Hollerin Mr Sami Al Busaidi

Mr Y R Balan Technical Communications Mr Ashraf Hydrose Co-Ordinator

Mrs Naina Joseph Mr Prithviraj P K

Mr Mr Sohail Khan Public Speaking Mr Sam Victor

Mr Bahulayan Govind Writing for School Labs

Mr Adeel Badar

Some lecturers teach more than one subject

T he ELC Post Foundation Unit is continually looking at new ways to help students to improve and enjoy their English learning experience.

To achieve this, we must be united in our teamwork, as our combined efforts go a long way towards your future success, not only in HCT, but also throughout your chosen career.

Team Post Foundation

Post Foundation Students Wanted by

Scribbles!

A Surefire way to Kick Start your

Career

If you intend to enter the media business, consider Scribbles as the first rung on the ladder to success. For example, in the media profession, both print and online media will play a major role in your future job responsibilities, so where better to start than with Scribbles Newsletter. No matter which specialization you are studying, you are welcome to contribute articles, illustrations, photographs and cartoons. This is your Newsletter, so take the opportunity to be seen and heard via the pages of Scribbles. It’s your future that you’re studying for, and Scribbles will be happy to help you to climb the ladder to success.

Team Post Foundation 2 A who’s who guide to the Post Foundation Department Here’s what you’ll find in Scribbles 3 Your favourite features and where to find them PF Events: Past, present and future 4 All that’s happening in the PF Department The Director’s Message 5 A message of encouragement from Mr Ahmed Al Dissi A Word from the Editor 6 PF students’ contributions are the secret of the success of Scribbles From the Desk of our Co-Ordinator 7 Words of wisdom from Sam Victor Scribbles Exclusive with ELC’s Elaine Cockerham 8/9 Interview by PF student Omaima Salim Said Al Minji When Spelling Spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e! 10 Befor(e), be(a)cause and conclu(t)ion, and many more! How to add the WOW!!! Factor to your writing 11 The secret ingredient behind successful writers Your HCT Library and E-Learning @ ELC 12 Use both to your advantage Countdown to the Holidays 13 Passports at the ready College Character Ajai & Guest Recipe 14 Meet canteen supremo Ajai, and try out a delicious recipe from PF Technical Writing 2 student Anfal Ahmed Mohammed Al Noamani’s Mum. Never lose your Sense of Humour! 15 A laugh a day keeps the doctor away! The Dreaded Assignment 16 Don’t - REPEAT DON’T - underestimate it! PF STUDENT PORTFOLIO 17 What I really want from life 18 A division & classification essay on Movies 19 A lesson in time management 20 A Student’s Predicament 21 Respecting the Older Generation 22 A personal definition of Success (Poem) 23 Glances from My Life 24 Gallery Thuraya 25 What I think of HCT 26 Two Embarrassing Moments 27 It’s all about Confidence! 28 My College, My Future 29 The Light of Life (Poem) 30 What are friends for? 31 Little words that mean a lot 32 Let’s Get Serious! 33 Oman IS a Tourist Attraction! 34 How to Avoid Twisting in the Wind! 35 I Love You Mom and Dad 36 My Thanks to HM Sultan Qaboos 37

Here’s what you’ll find in Scribbles:

Adeel Badar joins Team PF as lecturer Adeel has spent many years in Oman. His first teaching experience was in Salalah College of Technology, followed by a few years in Nizwa College of Technology. Adeel is now looking forward to helping students in the Writing for School Labs section of Post Foundation.

Welcome to Team Post Foundation Adeel. 4

Birthday celebration in PF Staff Room 228 Lecturer Shujat Ali celebrated his birthday in March. Post Foundation Lecturers presented Shujat with a card, cake and refreshments. His claims of being only twenty one however, fell on deaf ears! Undaunted, Shujat was fed cake, and more cake by a very mysterious arm!.

PF Events: Past, Present and Future

Scribbles launched in style

On Wednesday 6 March 2010, the ELC Management team and Post Foundation lecturers officially launched the first issue of Scribbles Newsletter. ELC Director, Ahmed Al Dissi cut the red ribbon of the first bundle of newsletters, and students and PF staff who contributed articles were presented with their own colour copies. It was an exciting lunchtime launch, with snacks and refreshments for everyone associated with Scribbles Newsletter and the Post Foundation Department.

T he first issue of “Scribbles” was launched very successfully and received a tremendous response from both ELC staff and students.

This second issue includes a variety of educational, informative and fun articles which really are worth reading. The content, design, layout and graphics are all very important elements that have to be planned and considered very carefully, in order to produce a distinguished and interesting publication like “Scribbles”. To make it attractive to readers, the content is especially important, hopefully instilling within the reader a feeling of enjoyment. If the content is stimulating enough, the reader may read many articles over and over again, and learn from them.

A number of articles have been submitted by our students, and I congratulate them on their inclusion. It is a wonderful feeling to have your work published, especially in a language that is not your Mother tongue.

May I close by saying that the second issue of “Scribbles” is another sign of success at ELC, and is the culmination of combined efforts made by the Post Foundation team and all the contributing students.

Congratulations to all involved.

Ahmed Al Dissi Ahmed Al Dissi

Director, ELC

The prestigious new ELC building where students learn Foundation English before progressing to the ELC Post Foundation Programme in the main college campus.

5

The Director’s Message

S am Victor’s vision of a Post Foundation newsletter has at last come true. After the success of the first issue produced by Christopher,

stepping into his size twelves was a big challenge, so I hope I’ve carried on the good work.

I’ve tried to ensure that this issue of Scribbles is entertaining as well as educational. There’s more humour and more student input. There’s a Scribbles exclusive on an excellent interview with Elaine Cockerham of ELC, conducted by our first ever student reporter, Omaima Salim Said Al Minji, and you’ll find some interesting advice on writing and spelling. And there’s fun, because in my opinion, where would we be without a good laugh?

The content of this issue is all down to the enthusiasm, talents and skills of our Post Foundation students. The articles by students show incredible writing and artistic qualities that we are not privileged to witness very often. So come on students, share your creative talents with others, and showcase your writing, illustrations, photography, cartoons and other ideas in the Scribbles PF Student Portfolio. We’ll help with your writing if you’re a little nervous.

To my PF colleagues, let’s continue to work together to give our students the foundation they need to launch successful careers. To students, work as hard as you can to the best of your abilities, and rewards will follow. Teachers are here to help, encourage, motivate, and to lead by example. Feel proud of what you can do, and feel especially proud that you are all communicating in a second language.

It’s a busy life in Post Foundation, but my gratitude and appreciation to the five PF teachers who made the extra effort to encourage their students to contribute articles; Alice, Christopher, Alan, Balan and Prithviraj, and to Elaine for giving Omaima her first Scribbles reporting assignment - which, may I add, Omaima passed with flying colours!

Jimmy Jimmy Hollerin

Editor/Lecturer

6

A Word from the Editor

Warmest greetings colleagues and PF students

I am immensely pleased to meet you all again via the pages of our summer edition of Scribbles Newsletter, which is our second issue. It’s jam packed

with articles that I hope you will all find very interesting. As dedicated educators, we are all aware that education is the pivot of civilization, the growth and development of an individual, and a nation as a whole. Education is not only how much you have committed to memory - it is knowledge which helps people distinguish between what they know, and what they don’t. I am really privileged to place on record my sincere gratitude to the Post Foundation team for writing and publishing the second issue of Scribbles, which is fast becoming a College favourite. My thanks goes to Mr. Ahmed Al Dissi, Director, ELC, for his constant support, Elaine Cockerham, HOS, Curriculum and Teaching Methods, Asma Al Ghailani, HOS, English Language Programmes, Ghada Sarhan, QA Officer and Francis Rajendran, PF Registrar, for their encouragement. On behalf of myself and the entire Post Foundation team, let me take this opportunity to welcome our new Dean, Dr. Ahmed Mohsin Mohammed Al Ghassani, and may the Almighty continue to bless him with the divine wisdom of perfect guidance and counselling. Before I sign out, I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the PF Course Co-ordinators and teachers for their sincerity, dedication and hard work throughout the Academic Year. My special thanks to Jimmy Hollerin, editor of this issue. ‘We do no great things, only small things, with great love’

Sam Victor Sam Victor

Post Foundation Department Co-Ordinator

7

From the Desk of our Co-ordinator

Scribbles EXCLUSIVE!

Post Foundation TW2 student interviews Elaine Cockerham

Scribbles very first student reporter gives her account of a face to face interview with ELC’s Head of Section.

Interview by Omaima Salim Said Al Minji Photography by Technical Writing 2 student Refqa Salim Mohammed Al Rawahi

“Hello readers. My name is Omaima Salim Said Al Minji. I’m a student in Technical Writing 2, and was lucky enough to have been appointed as Scribbles very first student reporter, and had the good fortune to conduct a face to face interview with Elaine Cockerham, Head of

Section, ELC, at our College. Some people can lead by example and influence others accordingly. In all walks of life, these people can be categorized as role models, and teach others how to adopt positive attitudes at all times. Elaine is one such role model to students and colleagues, and I was delighted to spend some time with her, to find out how she is working hard behind the scenes in the Post Foundation programme, and what her efforts mean to PF students. I began by asking Elaine a few questions about her family life, and moved on to her role in ELC, and more importantly for PF students, her

involvement with the Post Foundation programme. I hope my questions and Elaine’s answers gives students an insight into all the hard work that is being done by Post Foundation Management and Lecturers behind the scenes as well as in the classroom. My questions are indicated in italics, with Elaine’s answers in bold type.” In which city, and in which country were you born? I was born in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom. How many children do you have? I have two children, one boy and one girl. Their names are Harry and Lydia. Harry is 8 years old and Lydia is 17 years old. Are your children in Muscat, and if so, which school do they go to? Yes, they are here with my husband and me, and they are in the British School in Madinat Qaboos. Let’s move to your professional life…were you a teacher at ELC? Yes, I spent a few years teaching Foundation at ELC. Do your present responsibilities cover all 4 English skills? When I was teaching, yes, but now a major part of my job is to source and select suitable educational books for the whole of the ELC Department. Are there any plans for Post Foundation class sizes to be reduced so that we can have more individual attention from teachers? Yes, and I agree with this idea, because if class sizes are lower, there will be more individual attention. We would love to have more classes to reduce the number of students in each, but to do this we will need more teachers, and that could be difficult for the Ministry, as it means the Ministry will have to reconsider it’s current strategy and increase the budget for more teachers. 8

Do you think TOEFL is a fair examination process for student ability assessment? No, because all the questions in TOEFL are multiple choice. There’s no writing questions, and no speaking questions. Therefore, there’s nothing productive. Do you think that IELTS is better than TOEFL? Nothing is similar to IELTS, because all questions are productive. Students must work hard to answer them, without depending on luck. We would like to have IELTS rather than TOEFL in HCT, but this is up to the Ministry. Will we ever have Post Foundation classes where students can be grouped according to ability levels? There used to be, but that changed due to the Ministry’s decisions, so if we want to do the same now, we would have a major long term task ahead of us. We are all in favour of this at ELC, but we can only implement it with approval from the Ministry. Can you explain what ESP means, and how it would benefit PF students? ESP means English for Specific Purposes. It means that the content of TW1 and TW2 courses could be amended to include topics and exercises to suit students’ specializations. We would integrate new vocabulary that you can expect to find in your specialisations. For instance, the English language you will encounter in IT or Business, will be more than just everyday English. It will be English for your chosen specialisation subjects, and we would like to help our students with that. It will make the transition from Foundation to Post Foundation, and then on to your specializations easier. We are presently working hard to achieve this. Are there any immediate plans to introduce English for Specific Purposes into Technical Writing? Yes. We will try to introduce it as soon as we feel we are ready. ESP will make your courses more specific and less general, and we will change the content and objectives of both courses, and the course books, to benefit our students. Do you think “Scribbles” is a good showcase for students’ work, and a useful insight into management and teacher’s thoughts and plans? Yes, I think it is a great communication vehicle between students, teachers and management. It’s a voice where each of us can be seen and heard, and we hope to make it a permanent, official publication. So is there any chance that the Ministry might sanction actual print quantities of say, 1,000 copies? At this stage, it’s too soon to tell. We hope to receive some positive feedback from the Dean and the Ministry, and we’ll see what the future holds for Scribbles.

I’m sure that whatever happens, you will see future issues, as the teachers involved in the production of Scribbles strongly believe in their newsletter. Did you work in any institution in Oman before coming to HCT, and if so, was it better than HCT? In answer to the first part of your question, Omaima, yes, previously I worked in the National Training Institute in Muscat. Moving on to the second part of your question, HCT is better than any place I have ever worked in, and I’d like to finish my career in the Higher College of Technology. Thanks very much, Miss Elaine, for giving me so much of your time. You’re very welcome, Omaima. Thanks for a great interview. In my opinion, conducting an interview in the language that you are learning in HCT just goes to

show that our College is producing some excellent students of English. I wish you and all at Scribbles good luck for the future. 9

When spelling spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e!

S pelling is one of the biggest problems in English language learning. Having progressed through the ELC Foundation levels, we expect our Post Foundation students to have

mastered the correct spelling of basic words. Spelling proficiency will follow you into many areas of your business and personal lives. In business, you will need to write emails, reports and even memos. Your spelling will make a difference as to how someone thinks of you. If you send a resume peppered with errors, your chances of landing that dream job are zero! The internet is no different. If you are chatting with a cyber-friend in another country, he

or she will click you into oblivion if your spelling is so bad that your English is hard to understand. It’s well worth the extra effort to practice your spelling. One of the reasons why teachers always stress the importance of spelling is because some students are guilty of repeating basic errors. Hands up all those who spell before without an ‘e’ at the end, or the word because, as ‘beacause’, and conclusion as ‘counclution’. How can you improve your spelling? Read, read, and read...and practice, with a dictionary by your side. Teachers always give the all too often ignored advice, “Carry a dictionary!” Most students unfortunately, don’t. Your teachers had to do it. Many years ago, long before the invention of the internet and pocket sized electronic devices, dictionaries were as heavy as bricks. That’s why some of your ELC teachers have bigger biceps than Arnold Schwarzenegger! (Check the spelling on that one!) Dictionaries are heavy, but so is a briefcase full of cash. After a while, you could still have the briefcase, but the cash will be long gone, but you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll still have the dictionary, which will be worth it’s weight in gold forever! Dictionaries are an invaluable resource to learners of English, as is the internet. When online, I use www.m-w.com. Try it. You’ll also find an indispensible tool for writers on this website called a thesaurus. And if you think a thesaurus is some sort of dinosaur, look it up in your dictionary!

On the lighter side…

An HCT student teaches his Professor a lesson! A Professor and his HCT student went camping in the desert. After they set up their tent, they crawled inside and both fell sound asleep. Some hours later, when it was still dark, the student woke the Professor and said, “Hey Professor, look towards the sky, what do you see?” The Professor replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.” “And what does that tell you, Professor?” asked the student. The Professor pondered for a moment and then said, “Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning. Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. And what does it tell you my student?” The student replied, “It tells me Professor, that even with all your qualifications, you are not living in the real world, because it also tells me Sir, that someone stole the tent while we were asleep!” 10

How to add the WOW!!! factor to your writing

W hat’s the WOW!!! factor? It’s the element of surprise, and it’s something every successful writer includes whether writing a novel or an essay. This, unfortunately,

is the one missing ingredient in many a student’s essay. It can make or break your reader’s enjoyment in the flow of the content. The inspiration to write can come from your own lifestyle. Your family, friends, events in your life, like holidays and celebrations. Everything leaves its mark on you in some way. If, when you see the topic of your writing exam, you can relate to it from a personal viewpoint, you could and should be inspired to write a great essay. Inspiration often comes from within. You just add the WOW!!! factor. It’s not sufficient just to write what the reader expects. When you write, you should always include an element of surprise, as it makes readers sit up and take notice of the story. It’s something a little different to what readers anticipate. At the planning stage, try and remember to include the WOW!!! factor, and your writing (and marks) should improve. Get your readers (and teachers) ready to expect the unexpected - not the same content as everyone else. It’s the surprise ingredient in any story that gets you noticed. It can make the difference between a good writer and a great writer. Famous novelists like Agatha Christie, John Grisham, Stephen King and JK Rowling are all successful writers, thanks to the WOW!!! factor. Of course, introducing the WOW!!! factor into your writing depends on a few things. Your own limitations for one. If you have learned all the basic elements of writing an essay, it’s up to you to let your imagination take over. But there’s one rule you must stick to, and that is to keep the WOW!!! factor related to your topic. By all means, write a normal, informative introduction, but in the body of your essay, if you want to increase your marks, or even become a professional writer, include the often missing surprise ingredient. It will knock your readers off their feet. They will be so taken aback that they will read your essay again and again, and your teacher might even show it as an example of great writing to other students. If you’re really lucky, your essay might even be featured in an issue of Scribbles. Fame and fortune awaits. Well, the fame is instantly guaranteed within your College, but the fortune might come a little later. A perfect example of how the WOW!!! factor contributes to many a writer’s success is Harry Potter, and his female author/creator, JK Rowling, who is world famous for her now iconic fictional character. Her books have been translated into every language. She introduced many WOW!!! factors into each Harry Potter story. Do you have the imagination to create a Harry Potter equivalent for the Arab world? Sindbad the Sailor and Ali Baba had several WOW!!! Factors in their adventure stories. Could you turn Moroccan adventurer and explorer Ibn Battuta into an iconic 21st century thrill seeker? Could you unleash an Ahmed or an Amani Potter that would take Oman and the Gulf region by storm? If you can, Scribbles reserves the right to serialise your story in forthcoming issues - free of charge of course!

Good luck with your writing.

11

An HCT English learning resource that’s right on your doorstep

O n the first floor of the ‘Old Building’ in HCT, you’ll find one of the best educational resources in Oman. HCT

have presented you with all you need to progress your language learning experience. For general English, English for specialisations and internet access for research assignments etc, your ELC Library is here to help. In between classes, you can study in a quiet, peaceful environment on campus with your classmates and friends. The ELC Library online service also provides direct URL links to informative websites that cover specialisation subjects like Engineering and Technology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, Business and Economics, Language and Literature, Dictionaries and Encyclopaedia etc. You can access these online resources by visiting the HCT website, clicking on our Library page, and then clicking on the ‘Useful Links’ button. If you think you don’t have enough time to visit in person, turn to Page 20 of ’Scribbles’ Newsletter for interesting advice and ideas on time management. Remember, your studies and grades can affect your future ambitions, and career plans.

Information is knowledge. Knowledge is power. And both are within your reach in the HCT Library. Make the most of it!

E-learning @ HCT

An exciting new e-learning online programme is now available to all HCT students. You can log on using your own laptop if you visit the HELP DESK at the ETC Administration Building, where they will register your request to enable you to access the wireless system. The e-learning site can also be accessed by visiting: http://e-learning on the college intranet or on the internet at www.e-learning.hct.edu.om 12

Countdown to the Holidays

Passports at the Ready

Pattaya, Thailand Jimmy comes from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, but has lived in Thailand for over fifteen years with his Thai wife. Jimmy says, “When I return to Thailand, it can be just like Muscat, as I meet many Omanis who visit Pattaya for their holidays. It’s a little different to the Omani capital, but I’m sure they enjoy the laid back lifestyle,

the food, and Thai hospitality.” As well as Pattaya, Jimmy will be in Bangkok to visit the kids at the school where he used to teach before HCT, and will travel around

Amazing Thailand visiting friends and family. “I’m beginning to have second thoughts about the hair on my face! My wife won’t like it. I don’t think she’ll let me over the doorstep if she sees me like this. Maybe she won’t even recognize me!”

13

Believe it or not, we’re human also, and we love our holidays as much as you do! Checkout the July holiday destinations of seven of Post Foundation’s finest!

Singapore and India

Balan’s striking a sombre pose here, but we’re sure he’ll cheer up a little come July. He’s visiting Singapore

and his home in Tamil Nadu, India for his summer vacation this year.

But if our Mr Balan’s not wearing a smile on holiday, you can be sure of one thing...he will be wearing his

baseball cap!

Tamil Nadu, India

After another successful but hectic academic year of leading his Post

Foundation team, Sam and his wife will be spending their vacation at

home in Tamil Nadu. Although most of Sam’s children live and work in

Muscat, there will be a family gathering over in India, where they can enjoy each other’s company in

a relaxed family atmosphere.

Three different locations, one destination..The Philippines! And don’t our 3 Filipino teachers look happy!

Well, Alan and Ramil do anyway.

As for Alice, we can only assume she’s camera shy, crying with tears of

joy, or has her mouth full of cake (and more cake) from Shujat’s

birthday party! Yes, all three are heading home sweet home for their summer holidays. Alan and Ramil will be in Zamboanga Del Sur,

Mindanao, in the south, while Alice will be ruling the roost in Cagayan

Valley, Luzon in the north. Ramil will also spend some time holidaying

in Manila, the busy, bustling capital of the Philippines.

England United Kingdom

The UK won’t be as hot as Oman, but that won’t bother Elaine, her

husband and 2 children. Their base will be in Leicester, England, where most of their relatives live, but they

will also visit many English university towns as daughter Lydia will be applying for enrolment to an

English university next Autumn.

College Characters Canteen Supremo Ajai and his menu

A jai is a familiar face in HCT. Always smiling, always laughing. At what, I have no idea. As one sets out to try and have a friendly conversation with Ajai, he speaks in his own

inimitable language that resembles a fusion of English, Hindi, Urdu and possibly Arabic, with a splash of Tagalog thrown in for good measure.

If having a chat with Ajai is a little bewildering, then choosing your meal from the canteen menu is easy. Ajai proudly offers a choice of falafel, egg or schwarma as starters, or for breakfast. His lunchtime ‘a la carte’ menu is, shall we say, consistent, but don’t expect to see any dishes from the Shangri La Hotel. You’re more likely to encounter something from Gordon Ramsay’s hit MBC4 cooking show, ‘Hell’s Kitchen!’ Let’s see what’s on Ajai’s menu. On Saturday, there’s chicken. On Sunday there’s chicken. On Monday there might, just might, be fish, which admittedly doesn’t look like fish,

and could be chicken in disguise! On Tuesday there’s chicken. And then, surprise, surprise, on Wednesday, there’s chicken! Some of us though, after all that chicken, might just cluck, cluck, cluck all the way home for a welcome change of menu. But then, on the following Saturday, guess what’s on Ajai’s menu? Yes, you’ve guessed it! Chicken! Where though, would we be without the smiling Ajai? They say a picture speaks a thousand words, but looking at our photo of canteen supremo, Ajai, Lord of all he Purveys, I can’t work out if he’s laughing with us, or at us!

Here’s a dish you won’t find on Ajai’s canteen menu If you’re looking for something delicious to cook at the weekend, Technical Writing 2 student

Anfal Ahmed Mohammed Al Noamani and her Mum, Salha, present this tasty recipe for:

Prawn Spring Rolls Ingredients: The Dip: (500 grams) medium sized prawns Handful coriander & parsley Pinch of salt 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 tsp chicken masala & sambar powder Pinch of salt 1/2 tsp Omani masala 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1/2 tsp black pepper and paprika 3 tablespoons vinegar 1 tsp fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup 1/2 packet sambusa pastry 2 chillies (to taste) 2 cups oil for frying 3 tablespoons flour & a 1/4 cup water Directions: Clean the prawns by removing shell and head. Mix all spices in a bowl, add the prawns. Let it rest for at least 30 mins. Put three tablespoons of flour into another bowl, and add water slowly. Mix until soft (no lumps). Roll each prawn in a half sambusa pastry until you reach the end. Seal it using the flour and water mixture. Pour the two cups of oil into a frying pan. When the oil is hot add the prawn spring rolls slowly. When golden, put them on a plate. For the dip, mix one spoon of vinegar with soy sauce, then add a pinch of salt and ketchup. Finely slice the coriander and parsley, add sliced chilli to taste. 14

Here’s proof that your RIGHT FOOT is smarter than your BRAIN!

It seems that there are some things that the brain cannot handle. This movement will confuse your mind and you will keep trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. No way! Try it now... 1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. 2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction. There's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again and again, if you've not already done so. Don’t waste time because you can’t outsmart your right foot!

Now, back to reading Scribbles!

JobSearch Horror Stories

Careful what you say! At an interview, an applicant was asked what person he would most like to meet, living or dead, and his response was ‘the living one.’ Dirty business? “I once got talking to my newly employed friend whose job it was to sit alongside the IT Systems Administrator for 2 weeks, and write a report on his processes and practices. Naturally the Systems Administrator would be on his best behavior, showing off all the clever things he did to keep the company’s computer network ticking over. But at the end of the two weeks, he would be fired. This was the method the company used to replace their IT people, making sure the replacement (my friend) was fully trained and the guy he was replacing didn’t cause any damage before he left.” ‘Write’ or wrong? When a candidate was asked about his greatest ever accomplishment, he replied that it was writing a short novel. When the interviewer said, ‘No, I mean something you did while at work,’ the candidate replied, ‘But I did write it while at work!’

15

Why, Why, Why?

Lighten up a little with Scribbles. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but a laugh a day keeps the blues away. #1. Why do we press harder on a remote

control when we know the batteries are almost dead?

#2. Why do people always believe you when you

say there are four billion stars; but have to check when you say the paint is still wet?

#3. Why did Japanese Kamikaze pilots wear

safety helmets?

#4. Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?

#5. The statistics on sanity is that one out of

every four people suffer from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then you must be the fourth!

Never lose your sense of humour...

Clowning Around! A teacher in Post Foundation was giving a lecture on the respect and behavior he expected from his students. He said sarcastically, “If there are any clowns in the room, will they please stand up!” All the students stayed in their seats, and didn’t know quite what to do, or what to say. However, after a long silence, one student rose to his feet. “Aha! We have one!” exclaimed the teacher triumphantly. With a sneer, he continued, “Now then student, why do you consider yourself to be a clown?” The student looked at the teacher, looked at his fellow students seated all around him, and said, “Well, actually Sir, I don’t consider myself to be a clown, but I hate to see you standing up there all by yourself.” 16

The Dreaded Assignment! S ome students actually enjoy this part of the Post Foundation courses, as it’s a welcome

break from writing essays. With the assignment, your final grade is in your own hands. You will be well rewarded if you produce an excellent report and presentation, but if you

consider the assignment as a waste of time, it could affect your grades considerably. There is ample time to complete the assignment, and students even get to choose the topic from an extensive list. You are also working in a group, so between you, the steps necessary to complete the report can be distributed evenly. It’s all about teamwork, and it’s

essential to work together, because when you begin your very first job, you will become part of an already established team in your workplace. The oral presentations are also an integral part of the assignment, and give you the chance to speak in front of others, both individually and as a group. This builds confidence. If you try to take a short cut by copying and pasting information from the internet, with no editing or paraphrasing on your part, and include it in your report, that is plagiarism. And that means zero marks. One of the lessons we’re trying to teach you is that nobody can copy anyone else’s work and pass it off as their own, in education or in business life. Don’t leave everything to the last minute. Organise the workload professionally using an action plan and the time management skills you can find on page 20 of ‘Scribbles’. The total of 20 marks for the assignment can play a big part in whether you pass or fail the course. Do it faithfully and you could achieve very good course marks. Your biggest mistake however, could be to dismiss the assignment as a waste of time, because when your marks are posted, you will see just how big an error you have made! Help yourself and your colleagues to achieve good grades. True, there are those who will not do anything. In this case, you must tell your teacher at the very beginning, so appropriate measures can be taken to protect your own marks and grades. Technical Writing, Technical Communications, Public Speaking and Writing for Lab Science courses are helping you towards a brighter future. Make the most of your time in Post Foundation, and help us to help you to achieve your career ambitions.

Introducing the Scribbles PF

Student Portfolio

Check out the excellent PF students writing and drawing talents on the next few pages.

#1 Mohammed Mudathir Mohammed Al Farsi #2 Anfal Ahmed Mohammed Al Noamani #3 Omaima Salim Said Al Minji #4 Yousuf Hamed Hamood Al Harthi #5 Ahlam Abdullah Saif Al-Mahrouqi #6 Shaima Hassan Qader Al Baloushi #7 Zainab Emad Ahmed Abdul Rasool #8 Thuraya Saif Rashid Al Kalbani #9 Ahmed Mohammed Badar Al Kindi #10 Tasneem Mohammed Al Ghassani #11 Zamzam Hamdan Abdullah Al Farsi #12 Sharifa Said Khalfan Al Masroori #13 Al Batool Abdullah Al Ismaili #14 Maythaa Khalfan Saif Al Mahrizi #15 Amira Aziz Al Harthi #16 Nasra Said Khalfan Al Masroori #17 Fatima Habib Abdallah Al Jelani #18 Hanaa Abdul Majeed Al Darmaki #19 Muhja Ali Al Lamki #20 Safa Khalid Al Mukhaini

17

Education comes in all forms, so take a few moments to read, reflect upon and remember the articles printed below.

Never lose your respect for others A round of applause for all HCT College maintenance staff who keep your college campus colourful, clean and tidy.

You can help by putting your litter in the bins provided around the campus.

Be a responsible and mature student driver!

Many young HCT students are lucky enough to own cars. Some cars are new, some a few years older, but all are deadly weapons in the

hands of careless and reckless drivers. Driving at speed is not something to be proud of, nor does it impress onlookers or other drivers. A major cause of accidents in Oman is the use of mobile phones whilst driving. Cellphones are NOT to be used while you are driving. How can you possibly drive safely and speak, read or send sms texts on your phone at the same time?

Don’t do it! Show respect for others and obey the

rules of the road. If you don’t know them, study them well, because a serious

clampdown on irresponsible and dangerous should be a priority of the authorities to make Oman’s roads safer for everyone.

Don’t ruin someone else’s life – or your own.

What goes around comes around! Writing on furniture at home is not something your parents would approve of. The college is no different. Desks are not for writing on, so don’t write on them. Respect the fact that fellow students have to use the same desks, so keep the surfaces clean at all times. Don’t complain to your teacher that the surface of your desk is dirty, and the once brilliant white sleeve of your dishdasha is now covered in pencil! The solution is simple. If you see another student defacing a desk, tell them to stop it. And don’t do it yourself. Because one day, you might find yourself complaining about dirty sleeves, and the dirt may have come from your very own pen or pencil!

The graphic is childish, but so is writing on desks - don’t do it!

Attention budding PF Student Writers! If you want to publish samples of your writing, illustrations, cartoons or photographs in

the next issue of Scribbles Newsletter, speak to your PF teacher for guidance. New ideas always welcome.

We all have hopes and aspirations. We all dream and pray for success. We all want to be the best that we can be. Mohammed is no different, and his values are admirable. As it says in the poem on page 23, success doesn’t always have to be about money. Here’s a few words from Technical Writing 2 student

Mohammed on his own hopes and aspirations for his future.

See how many of Mohammed’s wishes are similar to your own.

“Who doesn’t want to be happy? Everyone wants to be happy, but being happy isn’t an easy thing that comes

just like that. Some people have a lot of money but aren’t happy, and aren’t satisfied with their lives. Other people are poor, but living a peaceful and happy life. There are

many things that make me happy.

The first and most important thing that makes me happy is living in a peaceful home. I mean, to live in a home without being mistreated, without misunderstandings

and without mistrust. In other words, the most important thing to me is to live in a loving home.

The next thing that makes me happy is to be a successful

person. Although I’m not very clever, I am a hardworking person, always looking forward to getting

better, to improving myself and to succeeding in life. The last thing that makes me happy is to get a good job.

A good job is necessary because without one, life will always be a struggle. Life is expensive these days, so in

order for me to live a good and healthy life, I need to get a good job.

To summarise, although there are many things that

could make me happy, I have mentioned only three of them, which are: a peaceful home, being a successful

person, and getting a good job. With these three things, I can make myself and my family happy.”

“What I really want from life…” Scribbles Student Portfolio

#1

Mohammed Mudathir Mohammed Al Farsi ID#12S08362

Mohammed is a Technical Writing 2 Post Foundation student. Engineering is his specialization, and Mohammed sees his future in the civil engineering profession. His hobbies are all types of sport, cars, chatting and making new friends. His wish is to complete his studies successfully and secure a good job with a bright future. Editor’s Note: In his article, and in his own words, Mohammed humbly admits to being “not very clever”. Don’t believe it. As his TW2 teacher, Mohammed is a model student, with a high level of intelligence! 18

Many people like to spend their free time watching movies. Nowadays, there are different kinds of movies to please everyone’s tastes, and there’s nowhere better to watch a movie than a cinema, where there’s popcorn, a variety of drinks and a large screen. Movies can be classified into many categories, and using the principle of my favorite, I have classified them into horror, cartoon and comedy. The first group of movies is horror movies. Horror movies are made to scare people and send a cold chill down their spine, and while many people enjoy them, some people don’t. Going to a cinema where demons and monsters creep and crawl around on screen, and there isn’t always a quick way out, can be a frightening experience. Examples of horror movies are Pulse, where evil spirits haunt the living, and Saw, which is another famous horror movie, where a man suffering from cancer takes people and tortures them in different sick and very scary and evil ways. The second group of movies is cartoons. One of the best things about cartoons is that they suit all ages. They can be watched a thousand times over and never get old, for example, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo, which is a story of a small clownfish that got

separated from his dad, so his fearful father had to swim all the way to Sydney, Australia to find him. Up is one of the latest cartoon movies that was a box office hit and was extremely hilarious. The last group of movies is comedy. After a difficult day of working at the office, many people enjoy watching

movies that will make them laugh out loud until their stomachs ache. Everyone loves a good laugh every now and then to take their mind off of things and to relax. One of the most classic comedies is Mr. Bean, which is about a very bizarre man who always acts in a funny way. Stepbrothers is also a comedy movie about two grown men who act like children and still live with their parents. There are many, many other comedy movies that are equally as funny. To sum up, movies began many generations ago and are still being made today. Watching movies is one of the things a person can do in his leisure time. Movies can be classified into many groups, but I have classified only three of them, using the principle of my favorite. In my opinion, watching movies is a great way for a family to get together, and spend quality time doing something enjoyable with each other.

A Division & Classification essay on MOVIES Scribbles Student Portfolio

#2

Anfal Ahmed Mohammed Al Noamani ID#16S09127

A Technical Writing 2 student, Anfal is at her most creative when writing and cartooning. The essay she presents here was one of the best in the Writing Quiz organized by Technical Writing 2 last February (2010).

For Scribbles Newsletter, she has added a new dimension to her essay with the introduction of her cartoon illustration of happy, young moviegoers.

19

Omaima learned about the value of time management the hard way. One evening, she returned home from HCT with the intention of studying into the evening. When she arrived home she was exhausted, too tired to eat, so decided to have a quick nap. Her ‘quick nap’ lasted from 7.00pm until midnight! Now she was in big trouble. She had planned to complete her part of the TW2 writing assignment, which involved several pages. She also wanted to research an interesting topic for her regular Wednesday morning speaking lesson in the ELC library. She didn’t want her teachers to think she wasn’t interested, so Omaima burned the midnight oil and eventually finished at 5.00 in the morning! It was too late to sleep, so she got ready for another day at College. After her class, she went to her speaking lesson in the library, and guess what topic she wanted to discuss...time management! Outlined below are the important time management points Omaima now considers in order to manage her time, and to help her achieve her ambitions. Take note students, take note! “With time management, you can get more done in less time. When you plan your time, you can see the amount of work that needs to be tackled.

#1. Once you make a list of the things you need to tackle, identify those you should do first. Prioritise the list into important and time sensitive categories, and start with the first one.

#2. When you plan, you are making a wise investment of a very limited resource - time. Knowing what to work on, when to do it, and knowing how much time you have to finish makes you more focused and ensures that you will get more quality work out...and on time. #3. Here’s one of my personal favorites. Why is time management important? Simple, when you write down what you need to do – it’s there, right in front of you and staring you in the face. You are forced to tackle it. To me it is a target I have set myself, and I must live up to the challenge regardless of how much I hate doing it.

#4. Whether it’s studying or making a career plan – time management keeps you on track. With your goals stated and time allocated, the likelihood of you staying within the boundaries you have given yourself is higher. Don’t make excuses when you start to get tired!

#5. If you cannot manage your time, how do you plan to achieve your goals? I find that learning to manage my time helps to discipline me.

I hope I have given my fellow students a fairly good idea of why time management is so important. Once you start, you will immediately feel the benefits. That will spur you on towards your future success in HCT and beyond.”

A Lesson in Time Management Scribbles Student Portfolio

#3

Omaima Salim Said Al Minji ID# 12S08422

Omaima is a Technical Writing 2 Post Foundation student. As a busy student, she realizes the importance of organising her free time. Omaima plans her studying as accurately as she can, because she knows that time management skills can contribute to her success in learning English. Omaima’s hobbies are reading, acting, travelling and, when given the chance, being an announcer. Her ambition is to be a medical equipment engineer.

20

“I Hate Studying” On the way to my class, I passed by another which to me didn’t look normal, because the students in that class weren't having the attention of the teacher. Each student was doing their own thing. I saw one student sleeping, some chatting on cellphones, and others behaving badly. There were many other negative things going on in this classroom. So what was the problem? The problem was that the students did not understand the lesson, and the teacher just ignored them. Let's take a look at the many causes and effects of such a problem. There are many causes that come from the students, teachers and the college administration. For example, some students don't have any ambition, and without this important factor, they don’t have the desire to study, and this can result in bad behavior. Teachers can also be at fault. Maybe their teaching style is boring and the subject isn’t explained properly. Another cause could be that the teacher’s attitude towards students makes them hate him/her. The college administration causes problems too, for example, it gives students a horrible timetable, which very often is from 8.00am to 8.00pm, with some late hours on a Wednesday. As a result of these causes, we can find many effects. The effects of these causes can be very serious for students. If a student is not interested in studying due to a lack of ambition, he/she won't find a good job because they will fail in their exams. If a teacher isn’t helping, students will switch off due to being given no explanation of subjects and topics. Another effect is, with a 12 hour timetable, students will be very tired. However many teachers do not consider this and keep giving homework. During the week, many students live in uncomfortable hostels and want to be with their families at the weekend. We can find that there are several negative effects of why some students have no interest in studying. In conclusion, most of these causes can be avoided. If teachers and the college administration made an effort to understand our situation, things would improve. I personally enjoy studying, but I want to bring some attention to our predicament. In my opinion, if students, teachers and the college administration all work together, we can solve the problem of students who hate studying.

(This article and 3D illustration is by PF student Yousuf, exclusively for Scribbles Newsletter)

A Student’s Predicament Scribbles Student Portfolio

#4

Yousuf Hamed Hamood Al Harthi

ID#12S08304

Yousuf’s dream job is to be an animator. There’s no animation company in Oman that I know of, but there’s nothing wrong with ambition, and making a supreme effort to achieve it. Yousuf is studying Engineering, just in case he has to revert to landing a job in PDO or OXY. He does have a few years of study ahead of him, but if there’s anyone out there who can help him to turn his dream into reality, or if anyone has any ‘wasta’ with family or friends in the media industry, please contact the Post Foundation Department, and we’ll put you in touch with our budding animator.

21

Days fly by so quickly, and life goes on, and before we know it ‘the old times’ are gone. Day by day we notice the differences around us, but never take the time to think about them. From generation to generation new goals are born, while the old are gold. From generation to generation we cherish, carry and maintain the legacy and pride of what the older generations accomplished, and left for present and future generations. We are the seeds of the older generation’s hard work and achievements; we are the light of their darkened life, of the pain, of the hunger and of the cries of war that marked their childhood. We are indeed their glory that will forever rise and shine with honor and pride. We are what the older generation have always wished and worked for! Our grandparents were amazing people. Whatever their flaws and problems, as a generation, they also had strengths and values. They were a generation charged with enormous tasks. They changed the world; they modernized it so that we could have the life they always dreamed we’d have. The older generation unleashed a phenomenon they could never have predicted; they gave us so much! From generation to generation we pass on love, respect, care, honesty and the seven elements of life. “In a house which becomes home, one hands down, and another takes up, the heritage of mind and heart.”

(Antoine De Saint-Exupery) As we look back at generations gone by, our grandparents reflect the memories of the past that bind us together, as both future and past come together to build a story that forever will last. From generation to generation we pass on love, respect, and heritage of mind and heart; the most important values of life!!

Respecting the Older Generation Scribbles Student Portfolio

#5

Ahlam Abdullah Saif Al-Mahrouqi ID#1201092

Here’s a story from 19 year old Ahlam that is written straight from her heart. It’s a story that will make you stop, think, and maybe even shed a tear or two, no matter where you come from. Our Technical Writing 1 student has a way with words, and an incredible grasp of how to put on paper all the emotions that each of us experience. Ahlam joined HCT on the 2nd January 2010, and PF teachers are proud to have her in our programme. Her ambition is “to make a difference in someone’s life, and to be remembered.” 22

“Success”

Success is doing the best you can With every task and every plan

Success is speaking words of praise And cheering other peoples’ ways

It's silence when your speech would hurt

Politeness when your neighbors curt

It’s deafness when the scandal flows And sympathy with others’ woes

It’s loyalty when duty calls

And courage when disaster falls

It’s patience when the hours are long It's found in laughter and in song

It’s in the silent time of prayer And in happiness and despair

In all of life and nothing less This is what we call ‘success’

A personal definition of Success Scribbles Student Portfolio

#6 Shaima Hassan Qader Al Balaushi ID#0126133

A Technical Communications and IT student, Shaima’s ambition is to be a software engineer. She says if the terms were right, she’d even be willing to work abroad in cities like London and New York. In the meantime, Shaima can be seen zipping along the highway (within the speed limit!) from her home in A’Seeb to HCT, and back again. It would be hard not to spot her as she drives a brightly coloured VW Beetle...her favourite car. Her hobbies are poetry, swimming, drawing, reading and writing and, of course, as with most females… shopping!

23

Success comes in all shapes and sizes. Some people only associate success with money and material possessions. Not so our Technical Communications student Shaima,

who presents this heartwarming interpretation of success in rhyme. In her short poem, she provides food for

thought on what the word success means to her. This is an excellent piece of poetry, and just goes to show that

there is plenty of truth in the old adage;

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

“Special moments and events happen to everyone and might change one’s life, making you more mature and experienced. I’m a Kuwaiti who had quite a normal life for any girl of my age. I grew up with my parents, two brothers and one sister, and graduated from Jabriya High School in 2006. later, I joined Kuwait University, and studied engineering. Everything was going as expected until one particular event happened, which really changed my whole life. In 2006, my Mom got sick and had to get medical treatment abroad. I had to take time off from my studies and take on the role of my Mom as I was the eldest. In this time, I learnt a lot about life, and became more mature. The next year, my Mom came back and my life’s biggest event came along with her. My Father told me that someone approached him and asked about me, as he wanted to marry me. The marriage idea wasn’t too difficult to think about as some of my friends were already married or engaged. The only issue which made the decision so difficult was that I would have to leave Kuwait and move to Oman, as he was an Omani. Moving to another country with a different lifestyle, environment, and being away from my family and friends made me think a lot before giving my final decision. In October 2007, I got engaged, then after ten months we married. During the engagement period, I came to know my husband more closely, and really loved his character, personality and way of thinking. I also visited Oman with my family in that period, and noticed the cultural similarities between the two countries. I knew I could adjust to life in Oman. In July 2008, we headed to Australia for 3 weeks honeymoon which were the loveliest days of my life. Afterwards, I began my new life as a wife in my new house in Oman. My marriage and relocation to Oman has changed me, as I started to see life from different perspectives. I had new rights and responsibilities as a wife, and at the same time, had to think about my education. I applied to HCT, and after a long process joined the college as the first ever Kuwaiti student in HCT Muscat. Life in Oman and Kuwait is similar, as both have Islamic and Arabic traditions. The changes which I noticed can be categorized into two main areas. The first is lifestyle; Omanis are bound to their tribal rituals and consistent in the way they dress, wearing traditional clothes for almost all occasions. Kuwaitis wear different styles due to the influence of western culture. The second is social relations. In Oman, especially Muscat, I noticed that people come from African, Indian, Arabic and other origins. These differences are noticeable in social relations, where neighbors might not know each other very well. In addition, life here stops after 10 or 11 pm, and you don’t see many people out late. In Kuwait, people know each other very well because the population isn’t as big, and cultural backgrounds are not too different. Furthermore, life in Kuwait continues late into the night. In conclusion, seeing many personal life changes in only three years, made me think about the risks that I agreed to take, so I evaluated my judgment, which turned out to be a good one. I’ve learnt a lot in recent years, and noticed that you can’t enjoy real life, if you don’t experience new things in it.”

“Glances from My Life…” Scribbles Student Portfolio

#7

Zainab Emad Ahmed Abdul Rasool ID#11J09169

Scribbles is pleased to introduce the very first Kuwaiti student to the Post Foundation department of HCT Muscat. A warm welcome from all in HCT, Zainab, and we hope you enjoy your studies. “My name is Zainab, I am a 21 year old Kuwaiti, and happy to be in Oman. I am studying Technical Writing 1 in Post Foundation level. My favorite hobbies are cooking, traveling and shopping. I hope in the future to graduate from HCT with high grades. My ambition is to be a happy and successful businesswoman.” 24

Gallery Thuraya Scribbles Student Portfolio

#8

Thuraya Saif Rashid Al Kalbani ID#12J09375

19 year old Thuraya is presently studying Technical Writing 2 in Post Foundation. As you can see, her hobbies are drawing and painting. In addition to the subjects featured on this page, Thuraya loves to design and draw dresses. She hopes to use her creative talents to get a job as an architectural engineer.

25

Welcome to Thuraya’s Art Gallery. In her free time, Post Foundation student Thuraya loves to sit down and let her imagination take over as she sketches and paints images from her mind. From the beautiful colour abstract painting below to the scary sketch of the ancient Greek Greek Goddess, Medusa, Thuraya does not specialize in any one style, she just lets her creativity loose on anything she can capture on paper,

as typified by the selection shown below. Thuraya uses artistic license whenever it suits her subject, and this is evident in her imaginative illustration of ‘Physics Planet.’

“Why I love my College”

“As everyone knows, the Higher College of Technology, Muscat, is one of the best colleges. We can find many colleges in Oman, but not one of them is like my college. I feel it’s like a part of me, and I wouldn’t reach my goals without it. Teachers, courses and specializations make my college unique. Here you can see your future with your own eyes and feel like you are at home. If you are a student, believe me, you are a lucky student. If you have graduated from somewhere else already, you have missed the chance to study in HCT. However, I invite you to visit us to see what I am talking about for yourselves. If you think HCT is just a college…think again!

Teachers in HCT treat students like their own sons and daughters. Teachers here don’t care about anything except making students ready for the future. They are showing us the path we should take, and lighting our way. If any student has a problem with anything, teachers will try to help in any way they can. Every teacher has their own way of teaching, but the amazing thing is that they all have the same aim – to make their students the best at everything. Words fail me when we just call a teacher a teacher in HCT. In general, we are all one hand in HCT, and we are the future of Oman.

In my college, we have strong courses which have been chosen carefully to give students a good grounding so they can stand proud in this world. It’s fun and educational at the same time. You will hardly find a college that gives so many training courses as my college gives. In HCT, students work with modern instruments even before they choose their major. They know how to handle and deal with many devices and are trained well in different types of workshops.

In conclusion, we can say that HCT is taking us to the top, helping us to be successful. It’s the best college I know of, and I’m proud to be a part of it as a student. I hope all students feel this way. Speaking on behalf of HCT students, I want to deliver a message to the world. We are proud to be educated in HCT, and we are going to show the world what HCT students can do. HCT is training us to be leaders, and our voices will be heard everywhere. We are being trained to create a new history and nothing will stop us from achieving our goals. Thank you to HCT and our teachers for all the words you have ever taught us, everything you gave us, and for showing us the path to success. We are going to make the world sit up and take notice of us, because we are not just anyone, we are Higher College of Technology students.”

What I think of HCT Scribbles Student Portfolio

#9

Ahmed Mohammed Badar Al Kindi

ID#12S08475

Ahmed is studying Technical Writing 2 in Post Foundation. His ambition is to become a civil engineer in OXY. Ahmed is also studying mechanical, electrical and telecommunication engineering. His interests include reading, writing and watching all the engineering programmes, videos and DVD’s he can get his hands on. Ahmed strongly believes that each student should choose their own future, and not just accept what the future offers them. “Work hard to earn your dream, and it will come true” says Ahmed. 26

In life, everyone is exposed to embarrassing situations. There are more than a million reasons that can cause unforgettable memories for everyone, and I'd like to share two embarrassing situations that I have personally experienced. My most embarrassing moment, which I'll never forget, happened when I was about 14. I went shopping with my mum and two sisters. I collected a lot of things and went to the cashier to pay, but I had a silly habit of pretending that I had forgotten my money! "Oh no!Where’s my money?!" I’d say, adding some silly facial expressions for emphasis. After enjoying the cashier's reaction I laughed and said: "It was just a joke!" But this time it was true!! I really had forgotten my money! I looked all through my handbag, but no money. Luckily, one of my sisters was standing beside me, so I whispered: "Pay for me please, because I really have forgotten my money!" She gave me a smile which said she had also forgotten her purse! I tried to think of how to get out of that embarrassing situation, but at moments like these, your brain stops working! I asked my sister to go and find my other sister to come and rescue me.

In the meantime, I spoke to the cashier, to distract her for few minutes. Finally, my sisters showed up and I felt so relieved. Unfortunately, they told me that they hadn’t enough money to pay for my shopping! My last hope was my Mother, who should have been my first hope! I called her, and was talking in such a way she couldn’t understand what I was saying. After repeating it calmly, she understood my situation, and ended up laughing. I said: "OK, laugh as much as you want Mum, but please tell me where you are!" I went to her and came running back quickly to pay the cashier, but

noticed that everyone was looking at me and laughing. I didn’t ask why - I just smiled, paid, and left the store immediately. After meeting my mum and sisters outside in the car, I asked them why everyone was laughing at me? They said that the cashier had told everyone in the shop about me!! I was so embarrassed! When I returned home, I found my money in the bedroom. I kept away from that store for a long, long time!

Another embarrassing thing happened to me when I was around 12 years old. My cousins - girls - and I were playing football . I was wearing a long tight skirt. Imagine a girl playing football wearing a long and tight skirt!! It was about 5.00pm. We were out with our families for a barbeque. I kicked the ball with all my might until my skirt tore!! I tried to hide it but it was impossible. I didn’t know what to do; we were far from home and it was really embarrassing for me, but funny to others!! The main thing I was thinking of was how to spend the rest of the night wearing a torn skirt! I managed, but Thank God that nightmare has passed. I spent the rest of that night sitting on a chair, and the only time I moved was to the car, to head for "home sweet home". Embarrassing and funny situations can happen to anyone, and when they do, we wish that they hadn’t! But later on we always see the funny side, and the memories stay with us forever as funny moments we can share with others.

Two of my most embarrassing moments... Scribbles Student Portfolio

#10

Tasneem Mohammed Al Ghassani ID#16S09140

Tasneem says, “I’m a Technical Writing 1 student. Since I was in secondary school, writing has been my thing. Whenever we had writing for homework, I was delighted. I enjoyed writing English essays and still do. Due to my interest in writing, I wanted to contribute something to Scribbles Newsletter. It’s a really exciting opportunity for students to have their writing published. Thank you Post Foundation and Scribbles.”

27

How confident are you? “I don’t think I’ll get good marks” or “I don’t think I can complete my work” or “I don’t think I can speak well.” These are some common sentences that keep haunting the minds of most students. This is because they lack a very important quality- CONFIDENCE. What is confidence? It means that a person is very sure that he/she can do something...anything, and there’s no doubt about it! The amount of confidence varies from one person to another. In some students, confidence is inborn, whereas some other students develop confidence during the duration of their education. It’s very easy to find out if a person is confident or not. To develop confidence, one has to be really hard working and he/she should know everything. For example, if we, as students, have to speak on a specific topic, or take part in a competition on a certain day, the confidence to succeed will improve if we do the following. First of all, we should prepare in advance what we have to speak about. We should seriously prepare by researching and taking information from different sources. Next, we should prepare well by reading our speech several times. Before we actually deliver the speech, we should also rehearse it many times. This process involves lots of hard work and positive thinking. As we practice, we should think that we are the best and absolutely no question of doubt should cross our mind. Once we do this, we will feel very confident to deliver our speech successfully. We will never doubt anything at any time because we will be well prepared. There are many, many students who lack confidence, but confidence is not a difficult thing to achieve. Serious commitment and hard work is the main requirement. To start working hard, one has to get rid of laziness and stop making silly excuses. Once students start getting rid of these, they will surely start working harder which will definitely result in improving their confidence. Every student should ask themselves these questions. Am I a confident person? Do I have at least a bit of confidence? What should I do to become a confident person? If he or she starts seriously working for the answers to these questions, I’m sure each individual will develop confidence. As each one of us develops confidence, we will become a more useful person to our family and to society, and above all, a useful citizen to our country.

It’s all about Confidence! Scribbles Student Portfolio

#11

Zamzam Hamdan Abdullah Al Farsi ID# 16S08579

“Slow and steady wins the race” is a great proverb. I probably am close to this category, but I’d like to slightly alter this proverb by chopping off the first word, “slow”, because I know for sure that I’m not slow. I’d rather say “Steady wins the race.” I’m calm, composed and confident. I love to take challenges in life and strongly believe that there is no substitute for hard work. In every class, I make sure I get my seat in the front row and rarely miss any detail that is discussed by the teacher. Being the youngest in my family, I’m loved by all and I enjoy home more than any other place. During my free time I enjoy reading English books and watching movies. Being a patient listener has helped me a lot in life. I dislike cooking, but love to eat what’s cooked. 28

The joy of studying in the Higher College of

Technology, Muscat

Who doesn’t want to study in HCT, one of the largest educational institutions in Oman? Who doesn’t hope to have the honor of being a student in the only public college owned

by The Ministry of Manpower that provides higher diplomas and bachelor degrees in different fields of technology?

As a student in the Higher College of Technology, I feel so proud to be a member of the HCT family.

Many people think that students who study in HCT are without a future. They think we won’t find a job easily, or find a job with a good salary. This is definitely not true. Every day we hear many stories about excellent graduates who find jobs

and training courses in large and reputable companies. These facts are proof of the quality of education

and of our teachers in HCT. Teachers at the Higher College of Technology are from

different parts of the globe. They try very hard to teach and encourage the students to do the best for their future. They

also introduce many activities in writing, reading and speaking to improve the English language skills of the

students. Teachers at HCT are unique, and it is difficult to find teachers like them nowadays.

Five important specializations provided at the Higher College of Technology are Engineering, Science, Information

Technology, Business and Pharmacy. In addition, the college provides extra certificate courses like CCNA, TOEFL and Linux.

These certificates help students to get international certificates in different areas of study.

Furthermore, resources like the SAC, Labs and the library in the original HCT building support students in their

educational programs. Students can find books, dictionaries and electronic resources like the E-library and E-books in the

new main library, and students can even borrow a laptop from the library for educational purposes.

The Higher College of Technology is an established college, and is a helping hand for students who really want to achieve

and do something special in their lives.

I’m very proud to be one of those students.

My College, My Future... Scribbles Student Portfolio

#12

Sharifa Said Khalfan Al Masroori ID# 16S08549

“I’m basically a workaholic. It takes time for me to understand people, but once I get to know them well, I cling on to them as a very sincere friend. I hate lies and liars. My dad is my motivating force and I adore him. To go abroad and pursue my career is a dream to be fulfilled. The college campus is the place where I love to spend most of my time. In fact, it’s my second home. A note to those who meet me for the first time: please do not mistake me to be a silent person; I love humour and explode in the presence of my close friends and family.”

29

“During times of pain and suffering, there is always something that keeps us rising back up again, and keeps us going.

As I understood the importance of the things that kept me going, I realized how little things, which are not given any importance, can make such a huge

difference.”

The tiny light

Out of my senses, I stood my ground

Hollow lost in emptiness, with no place to go

Covered in the scars of life with eyes bleeding sorrow

The past is gone, leaving a wish for a fading tomorrow

I lost my will and all my strength,

yet my faith in a smile did grow

Through all these years of hurt and pain,

a tiny light did glow

Who would have thought that life could go so low?

All the good in me had gone

only the dark in me the world did see

Yet the tiny light which my life laid on

kept me alive and helped me grow

Who would have thought that life could go so low?

The tiny light has saved the life of a human soul

from stressful flow

Imperfections of life and from within myself

made me shine and glow

Wish me good or wish me Hell, it doesn’t really matter

I won’t go slow

What I am and what I want

is starting to be clear and show

The joy and pain, laughter and tears

Are what made my life so full of fears

I took life for granted but now I know

The tiny light inside me will now forever show.

The Light of Life Scribbles Student Portfolio

#13

Al Batool Abdullah Al Ismaili ID# 11S08102

“Fate is something I hate, and in hard work, I trust. I enjoy being on my own, although at times I relish sensible company. Liars and flatterers I keep at bay as with me they don’t have a say. Rules, limits and judgments I like not. Singing is far beyond my limits, but I limit my taste of music to ‘black’ and ‘death metal’. Time goes on as I read, write, photograph and get lost in nature’s brilliance. I take a break to daydream a bit, but mind you, while I enjoy my daydreams at the time, I’m never lost in them.

30

My Best Friend

Every person needs someone to share their life with. This someone could be your wife, husband, sister, brother or cousin. However, sometimes you feel that it is not enough to have only your family beside you, or you feel that they might not understand you well enough, so you search for someone that you can trust, someone who will listen to you and you can share your thoughts with. This person becomes your “best friend”. A best friend is someone who is always beside you, in every difficult situation and every happy moment. She is the one who knows that there’s something wrong even when you have the biggest smile on your face. She is the one who wipes away your tears when you cry. Having a true friend is the greatest thing that you could have in your life.

My best friend has a special place in my small heart, because she is the only one who accepts me for who I am, and what I am. She understands me even when I don’t talk, because she sees inside my eyes, and knows what’s going inside my mind. She knows exactly what I am thinking about...that’s why there’s nowhere to hide from my best friend. What’s more, my best friend always forgives quickly all my weaknesses and my mistakes. She knows the exact moment when I am weak, depressed or angry.

Sometimes when I am sad, I just pick up the phone and call my best friend, because I’m sure she‘ll always be there for me anytime I need help, or whenever I need someone to talk to. Moreover, I always feel that my best friend is my strength, because we have been through many good and bad times together. She makes me rise when I fall, and when I cry I feel that there are small fingers wiping away my tears, and I know for sure my best friend is with me. My best friend considers me to be as precious as a sparkling diamond, and I thank God for this comparison, and for my best friend.

Words are not enough to describe my best friend, or the importance of my best friend in my life, or in anyone else’s life who is lucky enough to know her.

Without a best friend, life is empty.

What are friends for? Scribbles Student Portfolio

#14 Maythaa Khalfan Saif Al Mahrizi ID# 11J091

Maythaa is a Technical Writing 1 student who loves to learn and discover new things. She loves listening to music and reading. She has a keen interest in historical books, from which she has learned many interesting facts about other countries. She also loves to travel and to surf the internet. Maythaa is interested in art, and designs greetings cards for various occasions and celebrations.

“Sorry”“Sorry”......“Thank You” “Thank You” andand “I love you” “I love you”

Life is busy. Indeed it is. If you can forget what you have in your mind for a moment, and start watching people all around you,

you will see that everyone is getting on with their busy lives. Being busy has started to steal from us all the happy moments of our

lives. In turn, we have started to forget how to live. We forget both trivial and important things about life. By the way, have you ever

thought about the impact of little words and phrases such as “sorry”, “thank you” and “I love you”?

"I would never apologize!" is the first verbal reaction which we

commonly hear from people - especially from younger people even when they are caught red-handed. We are all egotistical in one

way or another. So, even as a result of misunderstandings on our part, we are not ready to say a mere “sorry” to the offenders. When

I meet people who would feel embarrassed to use a few polite words, such as “sorry” or "thank you", I find myself speechless.

But the truth of the matter is that by saying “sorry” you don’t need to feel sorry, and by saying “thank you”, you needn’t be

grateful to the other person! But these are words/phrases which remove the rough edges found in our speech. Consequently, we

will become friendlier, and will be considered sociable.

Sometimes life teaches us so many good things from the mistakes we commit due to ignorance. A friend who has been hanging out

with you, and who knows you inside out, expects you to utter apologies though you didn’t mean any harm to that person

intentionally. You ignore your friend purely out of ignorance, but eventually you will feel a chasm in your relationship.

Our world is full of people who think that the other person should be the first to apologise or even to utter a trivial sentence, such as “I like you”. They are an inherent part of our society, but we can’t just ignore them, and live without them. We need to have an open

mind to deal with these people. Let you be the first to speak to these people, and the world will follow you.

Finally, a tongue is a double-edged sword. It is so sharp that it

can cut and hurt people, so sometimes we need to be very careful before uttering a single word. But saying “sorry”, “thank you”

and “I love you”, will apply balm to your injured heart. Gestures such as these will help you to be ‘liveable beings’ and after all,

this is what we need to prove to our fellow beings. Isn’t it?

It’s the little words that mean a lot...in any language! Scribbles Student Portfolio

#15

Amira Aziz Al Harthi ID# 12S08440

Amira is an HCT Computer Engineering student in Diploma level.

A very well spoken student, Amira takes a keen interest in learning foreign languages, especially English.

Other interests and hobbies are collecting stamps and pictures, and writing.

As you can see from her article, Amira’s English studies and her fondness of writing combine well together, and have enabled her to provide Scribbles with another welcome contribution, in addition to the one she already had published in our first issue.

32

How serious are we about learning the English

Language? English is an International language and great emphasis is given to this language worldwide. Although it is not the native language of many countries, it is widely spoken all over the globe. The reasons are many. Even in our country of Oman, a lot of importance is given to this language and students all over this nation are being encouraged to master English. But are we serious about this? Today, in our sweet country of Oman a lot of emphasis is given to learning the English language and we have institutions spread all over the country. The English Language Center at the heart of this college is a good example, and it is one of the best of its kind in the country. Other students all over the world pay dearly to learn the language, but its totally free for us. In spite of all these facilities offered, how many of us are dedicated to learning the language? No doubt Arabic is an important language too; and above all, its our native language. But, Learning English as an additional language does not harm us in any way. In fact it only benefits us, as it is the only way which we can keep on a par with the world. Right now, English is the primary language used worldwide in areas of education, business and so on. It is high time that we open our eyes and realize the importance of this language. We have to start making use of this wonderful Center that we have, and the facilities it offers, rather than wasting our time. Many of us have a feeling that it is difficult and it is impossible to master it. There are so many people from non-native speaking countries who are so good at this language. They developed the language in their own countries. Was it magic? No! Its nothing but hard work combined with the willingness to learn. For those who think that learning English is difficult and it should have been learnt long back, let me tell you that it’s not too late. We are young and still can learn. So, from now on, let us all start feeling the importance of learning the English language. Let us make sincere efforts to master it and I’m sure one day, we will all feel proud of the fact that “It was all for good”.

Let’s Get Serious! Scribbles Student Portfolio

#16

Nasra Said Khalfan Al Masroori ID# 16S08549

“Hi, I’m cool, casual and take life as it comes. The way you see me is the way I am. I have no patience and there’s no place in my life for rude or impolite people. I’m not much of a hard worker, but I do rise to the occasion when needed. Taking up challenges in life is in my blood, and I enjoy being an MC at college functions. Back home, I’m the youngest in my family, so I’m treated like royalty. My friends are many but I am close to only a chosen few.”

33

Tourist attractions of Oman

Have you ever thought of visiting Oman? Many people think and

believe that Oman isn’t a good country for touring. That’s because they don’t know much about Oman. Even if Oman is

considered as a desert, it has many interesting and beautiful sights to see. In the following paragraphs you will read about

three main tourist attractions of Oman.

The first thing that attracts tourists to Oman is its people, culture and traditions. Many people like to visit Oman because of Omani

hospitality. Moreover, when tourists come to Oman they feel as though it’s their home. Omanis are well known around the Gulf for good behavior with tourists. What’s more, our culture teaches

us how to treat guests who visit Oman. In addition, Oman’s traditions are different from other Gulf countries; for example,

wearing a dishdasha and Omani cap (Kommah).

One thing that can make any country unique is its architecture. Oman has various architectural structures; for instance mosques, old buildings, old shops, forts and castles. All these architectural structures are spread throughout every region of Oman. Tourists can find mosques in almost every village and city. They can see

their doors and walls which are beautifully designed. Additionally, any tourist can find a lot of old buildings and shops in Mutrah Souq in Muscat. They can also buy gifts and

souvenirs from these shops. Only the tourists who visit Oman will know the importance of these architectural structures.

Last but not the least is the natural beauty of Oman. Many people

might think that Oman doesn’t have any natural sights. To illustrate, there are several natural sights in Oman such as

beaches, mountains and caves. Any tourist can go to Muscat or any city on the coast and find beautiful beaches. You can have fun at the beach and play your favourite games. Furthermore, there are many facilities available on the beach; for instance,

cafes, coffee shops and small shops. If tourists don’t like the beach, they can take a trip to the beautiful mountains or caves of

Oman. All these natural sights receive hundreds of tourists every year. No one can see the natural beauty of our country unless

they visit Oman!

In short, many tourists from all over the world have started visiting Oman. People, culture and tradition, architecture

and the natural beauty of Oman attract an increasing number of tourists to Oman. Year after year Oman is

developing and the tourism industry of Oman is dreaming to become the best of its kind in the whole world.

Oman IS a tourist attraction! Scribbles Student Portfolio

#17

Fatima Habib Abdallah Al Jelani ID# 12S08407

“I enjoy my studies and I’m very ambitious. I strongly believe that hard work is the key to success. I have many friends and I hope they all enjoy my company. My spare time is spent writing, reading and swimming. Laziness and being late for an appointment are two things I do not tolerate. Being kind and loyal are qualities I adore. Back home, although a little bit naughty, I’m a pleasant person to all my family. I love food - especially Indian and Zanzibari.” 34

Technical Writing 2 student, Hanaa, suggests following these steps if you’re thinking of decorating your home...

Decorating your home

Make floor plans of the rooms Make sure you have enough money

Research and use decorating software Appoint a home designer to ensure a personal service

Visit bookstores and study design books Read decorating articles for ideas

You are decorating your home but have no idea how to do it, where to start, or which direction to go in. If you don’t have the skills and knowledge in your back pocket, you will need some professional decorating help. There are many steps to

follow when decorating your home.

First of all, you have to decide to commit time and money. Then, you have to collect ideas and draw a floor plan of your

house. You can get ideas from home design books and magazines, and some websites to get you started. You could also hire a designer to give you a professional and personal service. But remember, without a plan for all the different

rooms in your house, such as, lounge, master bedroom and kitchen, you are twisting in the wind! At the planning stage,

you must know in which direction you are heading, and what you are looking for, so a designer will be a great help.

When your house is completed, you will need furniture and

furnishings. To help with sizes and colours, you can use decorating software to produce a floor plan to scale, which will give you an accurate idea of the floor space you have,

and what will fit into that space. This could save you a lot of money, and help you to buy furniture that’s just right for you.

When it comes to colour, don’t be afraid to experiment in small areas. Colours can be a bit more daring and fun in

kid’s rooms and maybe even in your home office.

In conclusion, decorating a house is an exhausting process. Everyone has different likes and dislikes. According to your own tastes, there will be many different steps to design your

new surroundings. In my opinion, designing your own living space can be very challenging, but it’s a golden opportunity to

create something really special and personal. After all, our dreams are to have beautiful homes, and to be happy and

comfortable living in them.

How to avoid twisting in the wind! Scribbles Student Portfolio

#18

Hanaa Abdul Majeed Al Darmaki ID# 12J09620

Hanaa is one of Post Foundation’s “High Fliers”, and shows us here just how high she IS flying with her writing skills.

Her specialization is Engineering, with a preference for the design side of architecture.

Hanaa would love to design homes, hotels, offices and any other kind of building she is given the opportunity to work on.

In the meantime, she will concentrate on her studies, to ensure she completes her HCT education in style.

35

The importance of parents Life without parents would be like a building without solid foundations. A building without foundations can’t exist, and life without parents is impossible to imagine. A beautiful quote states; “Parents are the bones on which children sharpen their teeth.”* Personally, I think this says it all. Love and care, advice and guidance and financial support all come from our parents. We receive true love and genuine care from our parents. Whether we are good or bad, pretty or ugly, rude or polite, they still love us. Whenever we feel sick, they spend all their time with us. And if they are far away, they keep on thinking of us. If we have any problems, they try to understand and help us. They might get upset if and when we make mistakes, but that is all part of their love for us. We are always given advice and guidance from our parents, when we need it, and when we don’t. Sometimes we feel annoyed because of this, but have we ever asked ourselves why? If we knew the answer, we would never get annoyed. “Don't be discouraged if your children reject your advice. Years later they will offer it to their own offspring”. The financial support we benefit from is also from our parents. We see them working hard and doing their best to provide us with the best support they can give, with all the necessities of life, like food, house, clothes, education, entertainment and much more - asides from our pocket money! They don’t only provide money, but also pay taxes to make us feel happy!! Taxes paid are their time, health and life. “No matter how much it costs, as long as our children are healthy and happy” is what they keep saying. There are many questions we should ask ourselves: Are we doing our best to make them happy? Do we spend our time with them when they feel sick? Do we understand them? Would we pay such taxes to make them feel happy? If your answers are all yes, congratulations, you are blessed. However, sometimes we don’t appreciate the importance of our parents, compared to those poor sons and daughters who have lost one or both of their parents. As we can see, the everlasting happiness and wishes of our parents is to see us happy. Similarly, we should feel happy when our parents are happy. It’s up to us to make them happy…and proud.

I love you Mom and Dad. * Peter Ustinov (1921-2004) British actor, writer and director.

I love you Mom and Dad! Scribbles Student Portfolio

#19

Muhja Ali Al Lamki ID# 70112107

Having successfully completed her Post Foundation courses, Mujha is now a Higher Diploma student, studying Telecommunication Engineering.

She is a girl who appreciates the value of education, and when not studying, Muhja spends her free time in a variety of hobbies. Her favourite pastimes are sports, drawing, reading and travelling.

Muhja also loves watching news and a selection of TV programmes.

36

Education in Oman Since H.M. Sultan Qaboos came to power in Oman, many

positive developments have happened. For instance, women now have rights and are given equal respect. Health has become a priority and health centers and hospitals are

being built all over our country. The most important development that happened is in education. Education in

Oman has improved dramatically since 1970.

Before 1970, the level of education in Oman was very low, and only males were given the chance to study. Male students used to sit in circles under trees and were taught about religion,

while the girls stayed in their homes to cook, clean the house, and take care of their families, and received no education

at all. When the boys were older, they used to travel to faraway places to continue their education, and those who could

afford it even traveled to other countries.

When His Majesty became ruler of Oman, education became a priority, and there have been many remarkable

developments. Schools and colleges were built in every region, and boys and girls alike were given free access to

education. Many different fields and specializations were opened, catering to the various needs of society. Now, most

young people are able to continue their education in Oman, instead of going abroad to study, having to be away from

their family and friends.

Education has become such an important part of Omani society that schools, educational institutes and Colleges of

Technology are being built all around us. Today, educational establishments even provide fully equipped laboratories and educational materials to help students in their studies, and offer the best learning environment for students in Oman.

In conclusion, H.M. Sultan Qaboos improved the availability and the quality of education in Oman. Without him ruling

this country, God knows where we would be today.

I am very happy and proud to say that I belong to a country ruled by such a great man.

My thanks to H.M. Sultan Qaboos Scribbles Student Portfolio

#20 Safa Khalid Al Mukhaini ID# 16S09137

Safa’s favourite hobby is reading. She has been reading since she was six years old. One of her favuorite novels is “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Michel. She also likes discovering new things and visiting new places to meet people and to learn new things from them. As such, she is a student of life itself. She also has a particular interest in foreign languages, with English and Spanish being two of her most favorite languages. At the moment, as a TW2 and an IT student at HCT, Safa has high hopes of becoming a successful software engineer after graduation.

37

HCT Muscat

English Language Centre Post Foundation Programme

Your gateway to a

brighter future