A. Text 1
Best Friends
Men and women share the exact same view of a best friend – a person who is always there for you. Your best friend is someone you can depend on to share your happiness, suffer through your worries, or lessen your sorrow. As one man put it, “To me, a best friend is somebody that you call if you’re on the the expressway and get a flat tire at 3:00 A.M. and you’ve been told it’s friend says, ‘Tell me exactly where you are, and I’ll come and get you.’”
A great variety of factors play into the birth of a best friendship – the age and circumstances under which people meet, what first attracts them, why they remain close, and how they fill each other’s needs. Yet I found the dominant themes that define a best friend were remarkably similar across the broadest range of experiences.
Safety was a word I heard over and over. A best friend is a safe harbor, a guaranteed comfort zone. You never have to explain yourself to best friends because they really, really know who you are. With best friends, you can be who you are. You can cry too hard or laugh too loud and never worry what they’ll think of you because best friends are nonjudgemental. They will give you advice if you want it and a kick in the pants if you need it, but best friends will not judge you or make you ashamed of your behavior. A best friend gives you what you expect from a parent and don’t always get: unconditional love.
Best friends are loyal and trustworthy. A best friend is a person to whom you can tell your most embarrasing, revealing, and damaging personal secrets with the full confidence they will never be repeated. Best friends can deliver brutally honest answer in the most gentle fashion.
Finally, best friends are the family you choose. They love you because they want to, not because they have to. And for many people, a best friend becomes the brother or sister they’d always wanted, but never had.
A man I knew asked his dying mother, “What has been the most important thing in your life?” he fully expected her tosay her husband, her children, or her family. Instead, without a moment’s hesitation, she replied sweetly, “My friends.”
After you read
Check (√) the statements that are true
1. Best friends always help when there is a problem.
2. Best friends have similar interests.
3. Best friends really know each other.
4. People know their best friend will not tell anybody their secrets.
5. Best friends don’t have arguments.
6. Best friends are like family.
Answer these questions.
1. How long have you known your best friend (or a good friend)?
2. How did you meet this friend? What do you remember about the first time you met?
Why do you think you are so close?
3. Which of the qualities mentioned in this article are true about your relationship with your best friend?
4. What is trustworthy?
B. Text 2
Migrant worker
Another Indonesian migrant worker has died of torture at the hands of her Malaysian employer. The torture and mistreatment that led to the tragic death of Muni Binti Bani is yet another sorry tale that adorns the pages of history of Indonesian over -seas workers.
Lured by the dream of improving their lives and those of their loves ones, and driven by their own precarious poverty, our fellow Indonesians brave even such cruel tales to sweat and toil on Malaysian land.
While condemning this inhuman act, committed by a certain Malaysian authority take whatever measures possible to punish the culprit of such a heinous crime are absolutely important, we must not, however, lose sight of, or forget our corporate responsibility. It is high time the government and the Indonesian people face up to our responsibilities and get our act together.
The very existence of Indonesian over-seas workers in Malaysia whether they work legally or illegally, can be traced back to the socioeconomic conditions of what I would call “vocational pockets of overseas workers’ i.e. regions that are socially and economically challenged such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province.
Just a view weeks ago, the Malaysian authorities sent back hundreds of illegal workers, of whom more than one fifth hail from the province of NTT. This sheer number alone and their province of origin reveal ne salient reality; The lack of economic opportunities and/or high unemployment that ultimately results in the high number of illegal workers.
In other words, the rampant poverty and high unemployment rate in the region contribute significantly to the rise in cases of illegal workers. After all, who, in his or her right mind, would bother to go all the way to Malaysia if that person was blissfully content and economically robust a home?
Thus addressing the issue of economic opportunities and improving the socioeconomic conditions of such regions are of paramount importance and must become the priority of the government if we are to face the problem of migrant workers squarely. Furthermore, equally important is for the government and its partners – such as NGOs and other people of goodwill, to have constant education and proper training for the younger generation in the regions, most targeted by often aggressive recruiters.
Poverty and high unemployment among the youth, coupled with their illiteracy often makes them an easy target for unscrupulous recruiters, who often aggressively sell the nobility of working in Malaysia. In most cases, young people will be lured with often unrealistic stories of people who are said to have been successful in Malaysia.
a. After reading the text above, you have to interpret the text according your opinion and give explanation how the best solution to solve it ?
C. Genre text
What do you know about descriptive text, narrative text, procedure text, recount text, spoof text and give examples
ANSWER A. Text 1
Check (√) the statements that are true
_ √ _ 1. Best friends always help when there is a problem.
_ √ _ 2. Best friends have similar interests.
_ √ _ 3. Best friends really know each other.
_ √ _ 4. People know their best friend will not tell anybody their secrets.
_X_ 5. Best friends don’t have arguments.
_ √ _ 6. Best friends are like family.
Answer these questions.
1. How long have you known your best friend (or a good friend)?
I have known my best friend for four years since I was in the first Grade of Senior High School
2. How did you meet this friend? What do you remember about the first time you met? Why do you think you are so close?
I met him for the first time after registering as new students. We encountered each other at the cafeteria, and our first interaction began with introductions.
After that, I invited him to have snacks together at a table. The first thing I remembered about our first meeting is sharing snacks in the cafeteria while chatting about our hopes and dreams. Eventually, as we discussed our dreams, we decided to set goals and support each other, promising to remind and encourage one another to achieve our shared aspirations. I felt a strong relation with him because he was always there when I needed in times of difficulty and happiness.
3. Which of the qualities mentioned in this article are true about your relationship with your best friend?
The qualities mentioned in this article which are true about my relationship with my best friend are always being there for each other, Providing a confort zone, nonjudgmental attitude, loyalty, trustworthiness, and the sens of chosen family
4. What is trustworthy?
trustworthy means being reliable, honest, and able to keep personal secrets without sharing them with others.
B. Text 2
a. The text discusses the unfortunate death of an Indonesian migrant worker, Muni Binti Bani, due to torture by her Malaysian employer. It emphasizes the need to condemn such inhuman acts and stresses the importance of addressing the broader issue of socioeconomic conditions driving Indonesians to work overseas. The text points out that the existence of Indonesian workers in Malaysia, whether legal or illegal, is linked to economic challenges in certain regions, like East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province.
The author suggests that the high number of illegal workers from NTT reflects the lack of economic opportunities and high unemployment in the region. To solve this problem, the text proposes prioritizing economic opportunities and improving socioeconomic conditions in these vulnerable regions. Additionally,
the text emphasizes the significance of continuous education and training for the younger generation in these areas to make them less susceptible to aggressive recruiters who exploit poverty, high unemployment, and illiteracy The solution to solve the grave issue of Indonesian migrant workers facing exploitation and abuse in Malaysia, a multifaceted approach is imperative. The Indonesian government must bolster legal measures, ensuring thorough investigations and severe penalties for perpetrators, while diplomatically engaging with Malaysia to enhance collaboration on worker protection.
Simultaneously, efforts should focus on economic empowerment in vulnerable source regions like East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), fostering sustainable job opportunities to diminish the incentive for illegal migration. Social and educational programs, in conjunction with NGOs, should empower the youth with skills and awareness, mitigating the susceptibility to deceptive recruiters.
Transparent recruitment processes, improved access to education, and international collaboration are pivotal components for creating a safer environment for migrant workers. Additionally, psychosocial support services should be established for returning workers, facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration into their home communities. This holistic strategy necessitates coordinated efforts from the Indonesian government, international partners, NGOs, and the private sector to address root causes and safeguard the rights of migrant workers.
C. Genre text
1. Descriptive Text:
Purpose: To describe and provide details about a particular person, place, or thing.
Features: Focus on sensory details, adjectives, and vivid language.
Example: The beach was adorned with soft, golden sand, and the gentle waves whispered against the shore. Palm trees swayed in the warm breeze, casting dancing shadows on the turquoise waters.
2. Narrative Text:
Purpose: To tell a story, whether real or fictional, in a chronological order.
Features: Characters, plot, setting, conflict, and resolution.
Example: Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a young girl named Cinderella. She dreamt of attending the royal ball and, with the help of a fairy godmother, her dream came true.
3. Procedure Text:
Purpose: To instruct or explain a series of steps in order to achieve a particular goal or complete a task.
Features: Use of imperatives, numbered steps, and clear instructions.
Example: How to Make a Cup of Tea - Step 1: Boil water. Step 2: Place a tea bag in a cup. Step 3: Pour the hot water into the cup. Step 4: Add sugar and milk according to taste.
4. Recount Text:
Purpose: To retell past events or experiences in chronological order.
Features: Time markers, sequence of events, personal perspective.
Example: Last summer, my family and I went on a road trip to the mountains. We enjoyed breathtaking views, campfires, and bonding moments that will forever be etched in our memories.
5. Spoof Text:
Purpose: To entertain by presenting a humorous or exaggerated version of a real-life situation.
Features: Playful language, irony, and absurdity.
Example: A news article reporting on the discovery of a new species of flying pigs in a remote jungle, complete with interviews from fictional experts and humorous descriptions.
Each text type serves a specific communicative purpose, and understanding their features helps in effectively producing and comprehending different forms of written or spoken communication.
