Working with Database or Access can be frustrating particularly if you're interested in it and don't use it daily. Even some of classmates I study Database with complain that the course is such a nightmare. In fact, Database is a challenging course if you know how to push yourself to study it . 

It might not effective method at all to push yourself towards something you dislike - and I've been in this situation as well. The structure of the material course sometimes influence our dislike or like to the subject, and because of this we often think that the subject is too hard for us. Like in ECDL course for example, on Database module most the main subjects in the course are discussed in early material. 

Step 1: Read the first lesson ONLY

I know it's boring - whether you understand the material or not, particularly if you don't. Give time for yourself for few days if you don't like to push yourself to read it. Back to the material and read only the first lesson. 

Don't go to the next lesson if you find the first lesson is difficult - sometimes people do it by curiosity. If you do this you'd get more frustrated.

Step 2: Practise with the Application

While you read the material, open the Access application to ensure you know how to do it and also to get used with the tools on the application. This practise give you more motivated to explore your knowledge even you haven't read the material.

Step 3: Get to know the four main subjects (Tables, Forms, Queries and Reports)

In Access there are four main subjects that we always work with: Tables, Forms, Queries and Reports (see the image). This is what most of my classmates get mad from studying Access. The four main subjects are likely hard to understand, but again, try to read the material and practise with the application - read the material first and then practise it in the application.

The tables are generally the very mainly data  and the other main subjects i.e. Forms, Queries and Reports, are followed when they're needed - normally they are used in a scale large data. 

When you know the difference of the four main subjects, you'd find easy to use all the functions in the application.

I'm a big fan of Meteor Garden (and you can laugh for that). This program is played in most Southeast countries, and it also becomes the most famous melodrama in Southeast in 2003s. When I get bored at the weekend, I can watch this series program all the day although I've seen this so many times - it will never make me fed-up.

There is a scene in episode 26 of Meteor Garden 2 that gets my psychological concern. It's a scene when Mei, a girl that San Chai met accidentally, she offers herself to become Hua Lei's Girlfriend.

Mei's confession is based on her thought as Hua Lei often told her that she's adorable girl. Based on what Hua Lei always said to her, Mei then takes a chance. Mei braveness is another round of Hua Lei's attitude towards his feeling to San Chai - he would rather keep it and wait.

There is another character like Mei, he is Dao Ming Si. Si fights toe to nail to win San Chai's heart, in despite of he has to fight his mother. San Chai herself is actually falling for Dao Ming Si, but she's not as brave as Mei to admit it.

In this earth, there are two types’ characters of people: Secret and Overt. Some people prefer to keep their things secretly, their feeling in particular, for example we often pretend to be nice with somebody although we dislike him. We hide the true feeling towards this person; certainly we do that because we're afraid of hurting their feelings although you know that being pretended is not good idea either. 

However, in overt people they like being 'honest', for example showing the attitude of like or dislike. 

Si's character to win San Chai's heart can be called type of overt man. Si might be moody, childish and bad temper, but he's actually always honest what he feels about things. Although he finds it hard to hear from San Chai to say those three words, but yet he keeps telling her how he feels about her. 

Meanwhile, San Chai just like Hua Lei, prefers to abandon it. Deep inside it tortures her. Both San Chai and Si aren't happy. Si's waiting for the answer - although he knows San Chai must fall for him too, San Chai is afraid of what happens to their relationship next. Yet, I'd prefer being in Si side if I'm in this situation. Fighting for your dream is courage even if not leads to win, but it's still a victory. 

DBLN, 19.46-250911

We can call her a new 'shakespare' from Sumatera and she's widely known by many Indonesian blogger as a well poet writer. Her writing style remind me with a famous old poet from Indonesia Chairil Anwar. Interestingly, she herself is not coming from art school background.

'Ilalang Menarilah' contains so many impressive prose and poetry. It is just like what Elly always write on her blogs, one of which she actively writes is Sayangilah Dirimu.

Although Ilalang Menarilah is Elly's first book, Elly has previously active writing fiction when she was at college. 

Her fiction have been published in some news papers and magazine in Lampung, such as Lampung Post and Padang Express. However, future led her to be something else, but blogging activity  apparently has encourage Elly to return to her 'old habit'.

After years break of writing, Elly is back and give her first shot at writing by publishing her first book. From what its cover, Ilalang Menarilah seems to be an easy book to read, you might think that it just a collection of  amateur prose and poetry - in fact, Elly has a very unique writing style, she always invites her readers to a riddle where they might not know the answer.

Ilalang Menarilah is the phrases of life where nature is the subject of Elly's idea. Also, the book is the resulting of Kampung Fiksi January event. 

The book can now be purchased through online or  bookshops. For more information ordering her book, please contact her email address at [email protected]. Or else you can read her writings on http://www.ellysuryani.wordpress.com

DBLN, 18.48-170911

So what is the topic today? Today is about how to write English smooth and easy to understand. My essay is inspired by one of members VIP Effortless English named Mark, and also other members. I would like to say thank you for all of you who have been so nicely dropping your comments and giving compliments. Thank you guys; I really appreciate it.

Don’t think that I write this I am already expert or fluent in English; absolutely not. If my writing sounds like that I am better than you, then I have to tell you that I am not; I am just the same as you; a beginner. These all positive words for encouraging myself; if my essay give you positive influence in your learning English; then that is good.

Everyone has their own style in writing; I myself prefer to write in a free style. Whatever type of writing I write, I try to avoid difficult words that will mess up the sentence.

What are difficult words? I will explain later.

Anyway, here are my tips below in how to write English smooth and easy to understand;

1. Free style writing

Never ever think about writing in a formal way while you still learning. Trust me, you won’t make it. Write about everything in a free form. Write about your hobby, your family, your neighbour, your schoolmate, your travel; everything! But don’t think to write a letter to a company that need your formal skill in writing. You don’t want to look stupid because they laugh at your letter, do you? I don’t think so.

So, rule number one: write in a free style.

2. Use easy words

This is the explanation to avoid difficult words that I have already mentioned earlier. Don’t use difficult words. Use only easy words. I see sometimes many members writing so many difficult words which other members difficult to understand. Don’t you think is better to write something that other people can easy understand it rather than write difficult that perhaps you yourself can’t understand?

If you want to look cool for your English essay, then write it in an honest way. Don’t pretend that you understand which actually you don’t. People can see whether you’re good at English or not from your writing.

A good English essay also is not a measurement to know your English is good or not. Some people are very good at writing English, but it doesn’t mean they are good at speaking English. I find kind of these people sometimes as well; instead even for them who are known as English teacher, they find it difficult to speak English although they are perfect at writing.

So, rule number two: don’t use difficult word.

3. Right sentence

I know you want to write in a free style, but doesn’t mean that you just writing, writing, and writing without focusing the right sentence. If you want to get better in English, you need learn how to write it in a right sentence. Therefore I mention in the second rules that do not use difficult word except if you really, really, really understand it, or the words used by you automatically in daily conversation or your English essay.

A right sentence will lead you to better in writing English. You become know which good sentence to use and which not.

So, rule number three: know how to write a right sentence.

4. Reading lots of English books

My hubby said; “read English books if you want to progress your English” and I think this is also mentioned by AJ. Reading English books give you more vocabularies and certainly right sentence. By reading English books you become more know how to write in right sentence.

So, rule number four: don’t be lazy to read English books!

5. Use Effortless English Club Forum; Facebook, VIP members, and the forum

Don’t be shy to join these forums. These forums made especially for all members of Effortless English Club; for them who willing to become fluent in English. Don’t feel down if you see other members look better in writing while you don’t. Remember, they’re here for learning; if they’re already fluent, they won’t be part of Effortless English Club.

Rule number five: let’s learning together!


DBLN, 16.21-230110

 

Repost from My Blog at Effortless English VIP.

I've never thought to marry a man from very far away, a place where I haven't been it before --- not until I met and in love with a great Irish man. Well, isn't that what love about? Because love comes unexpetedly and unplanned --- you won't realise until it's touching your heart deeply and finally decided to marry him, go with him, live with him for the rest of your life in poor and rich, etc --- and then moving in a new life, being an immigrant.

I learn a lot about Irish society which according to my opinion Irish society has indvidual type of society. A study in social Psychology also found that European society, particularly Western society  has a strong individual type of society, which is this type of society has the opposite of  the eastern society.

Luckily, I've lived in Thailand for nearly a year in 2005 so it gave me some experiences with different cultures but Thai's culture has similiar culture with Indonesia thus pretty easy for me to adapt with the Thai's lifestyle.

First  of month of my arrival in Ireland was the hardest one to keep going with the surroundings. Ireland is a very nice country; most Irish people are very easy going; they like chatting; going to pub; and telling jokes. However, like when you're away from home you still get home sick no matter how lot enjoyment allocable to you.

I have finally know that loving someone is need dozens of consequences. And therefore I have to change my negative attitudes into positive attitudes before it ruined everything --- my life especially. I began to spend more time to search information about Irish cultures and organise a do-list on my agenda.

 Here are some other things that I've been trying to change them up to now:

Integrating the Irish Society With Indonesian Society  - As Irish society is very different to my society at home so I start to join with Irish community to know that there might be something that interesting me. Most community in Ireland has a very welcome attitude towards immigrant and that is good start for me.

As they're very welcome people it makes me feel not like a stranger. I grew up with people who love social life very much therefore I like to meet people and chatting with them.

By entering Irish society it gives me dozens ideas to do something, such as become a volunteer. Aside from practising my English and learning Irish accent another advantages that I gain from being a volunteer are learning about Irish people and their lifestyle.

A positive feedback has changed my negative attitudes into positive attitudes such as to learn, to accept, and to respect differencess. Aren't people already born with differences, even they're twins?

Irish Foods: How can I change it ?! - Here is another Immigrant problem: foods! I really don't like Irish food! I told my hubby that there is no way to eat Irish food as I would rather being hungry than have to eat Irish food. Ouch! that sounds so hard, isn't?!

Fortunately, there is an asian market in Dublin so it keeps me alive! But wait a minute, the asian market is located in a town meanwhile we live in a county that miles away from town. Oh no!!!! The only market that near to where we live is Lidl, Tesco, and Dunnestore. Nothing I can do, I have to go to those markets. Thank God, they have some of good stuffs.

I love cooking and also love eating healthy food very much. Being away from my home not stopping me from eating healthy food. And here I go with another new exploration but this time is challenging my talent at cooking!

Here is good news for you if you like cooking: Try to mix your home flavours with other country flavours: It's delicious!!

Weather: Disaster!! --- It would be perfect if Ireland without winter. Oh Yes!

Irish weather is horrible. I have to deal with this horrible weather whether I like or not: So I decide to enjoy it. How come?!

My weight raise more kilo gram in the past of 3 years and I'm afraid if it will be more later so let's go over it! I start to  jogging in the cold weather --- my hubby suggest that a cold weather sometime gives you benefit and he's absolutely right. Jogging or exercise in the cold weather can warm up your body, and the other thing is I like to wear a mod hat and coat winter in red colour!

Some people say that being immigrant is all about struggling with the surroundings and yet how to deal if home sick attack your mood. You may change your attitude towards these thoughts if you know that many sociologists found on their study that those immigrants who can deal with its surroundings have better in mental health than those who never been abroad.

Really? You tell me.

DBLN, 20.20-050211

Re-posting from My blog at Effortless Englis Club VIP. The title and some words have been modified from its original posting. 

A few years ago, education in Indonesia was hardly to get. A middle of economic people, and, slummer particularly would not effort to go to college. Sadly, it still happens in Indonesia now, though government try to free the fee of education until elementary school, but it's still not enough. The people who can't effort to go to college usually have minimum education until elementary school only. Therefore, many Indonesian embark to abroad looking for a job. With no knowledge and enough education, these people trying to get their better future. Dreaming about a good future is something that gives us a motivation, but how could we get it without planning at all?

Case by case of Indonesian workers who working abroad then become a problem for government, such as sexual abuse and specific physical abuse. If the government consider to education in Indonesia, I believe it would not be happening to them. There something has to be done by government certainly - I hope so.

Those mention above are just one of my reasons that I still want to go to college. I learn from them, I learn from their experience, I learn how important education and knowledge in a life. Once I read about education philosophy says: Education is power. An Irish friend of mine joked about that words, no wonder, he's from a country which could get free education. But what about in Asia such Indonesia? We have to survive and have to work hard to get good education, otherwise, nothing will we get.

Knowledge and education are something very important, aren't they? 

I'm not going to college for a big dream. As I mentioned on my previous posting about my considerations to my country about education. It is sad if a country in a poor level country with economic problems. In fact, my country is not categorised of a poor country, beside, we're on the G20 list! And we all know that most countries in G20 are country which has quality to develop better future in the economic crisis.

Indeed, I hardly understand what is going on to education in my country.

The most consideration that really bothers me is that too many women, either single or married leave the country only for a housekeeper job due to unskilled, uneducated, and unqualified. Sadly, some people take these uneducated people for advantages. Therefore, cases of worker overseas increased every year. If unskilled and uneducated person could bring him/her to physical, sexual abuse and so on by someone who has more power, thus we know how power is education in our life.

Perhaps, when I finishing from college I could go back to my country, give my ideas about education to government. There is a big plan to do, isn’t' it? Well, although, it's still far away but I'm going to do it! It's just about time! (Really?).

I find an interesting case about education in Ireland and my country, Indonesia. As I wrote in my previous post as to my concerns in education in Indonesia, in the other hands, there some of fellows in a wealthy life who irresponsive to education. While people in Indonesia, are not able to go college due to of money, some Irish people, particularly those who in a good or wealthy life, they are not interested in studying at all. This is shown that some of them, even some of my Irish friends who are have a wealthy life, their education is just ended until secondary school. They have realised as to how really important education is in their life, after the crisis economic hit Ireland in November 2008 hitherto and most countries in the world too, loads of Irish fellows start thinking to go back to college to get further educations. The fortune fellows who still employed by its company are those who really have a good job, the firm probably think that they are qualified staffs and countable to the headway of their firms.

Then I change my mind about attitude some fellows in their irresponsive as to education, that is not about a wealthy country or not, we have any money or not, it's all about what we think about our life. Certainly we need some penny for college, but, think about if we start to think outlives everything from money? So, a chance will be dominated by those who got money?

I found nice words of the Quote of the Day who written by Patricia Neil, and I would like to share it with you: "A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug". I indeed agree with this great philosophy.

 

DBLN, 190609

This topic has been actually posted in 3 parts on Effortless English Club Forum in June 2009, but one of EEC VIP members' posts has inspired me to re post mine on this blog. I did little bit reform from the original posting.