REFLECTION

This assignment deals with the practice of taboos in various ethnic groups in Malaysia
and how we as teachers create the culturally and friendly classroom environment.
First thing first, the given tasks actually helped me pursuing knowledge in certain
cultures and beliefs for various ethnics, especially the taboos of the childbirth for the Malays,
Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. It is very essential for me as a teacher-to-be to understand
and learn the cultures of other ethnics. Therefore, I had done a lot of research regarding the
taboos in Malaysia. Since taboos are somehow the beliefs of our ancestors that had been
passed down from generations to generations, the truths are not widely proved. For example,
there is no evidence in the researches that I had read either from the books, journals or even
from any websites, showing that one of the Malay taboos after childbirth, which is about
attracting the evil spirit when the newly delivered mother is not protecting herself with sharp
metal objects, is totally true. So, there is still one thing that is being questioned by the people
nowadays: Are we going to get the bad consequences if we do not follow the taboos? From
my readings, actually it depends on the believers himself.
Other than that, from these two tasks, I could also pursue my knowledge regarding
the functions of taboos. Before I did some research about taboos, I always believed that they
are not valid in our modern era since I thought they are just superstitious. But then, I realized
that taboos actually could also benefit people nowadays a lot. This is because, there are
some taboos that are being practiced not because we are too scared of the evil spirit or
whatsoever, but they are used to give us warning about the bad effects that we may
encounter in the future (Nurul Halifah Hamiruddin, 2007). For instance, a newly delivered
mother is asked to sleep on the roasting bed to boost up her spirit, so that the evil spirit or
ghost will not distract her and the baby. However, from my readings, laying on the roasting
bed after childbirth is good for the mothers health since it could dry up the blood, shrink
swollen tissues and prevent hemorrhage (Robson, ). Then, now I realized that taboos
actually could give a lot of benefits and prevent us from having bad consequences like
illness.
In addition, I could also pursue my knowledge on how to be a good and non-biased
teacher. For the second task, I need to give my points and opinions in creating a culturally
and friendly classroom environment. From the readings that I have made from books,
journals and also small interview from my mother who is also a teacher, teacher should have
special methods to create the friendly environment in a classroom since there might be more
than one ethnic group in a class. There should not be any pupil that is being neglected and
this is where a teacher should play a vital role to unite them and respect each others

cultures. A teacher should make each and every one of them understand the importance of
respecting their friends, so that they could learn happily. Hence, I had gain a lot of knowledge
regarding the methods of creating culturally and friendly classroom environment from my
reading and I will make sure to apply each of them in my teaching and learning process in
the future.
Then, one of the challenges that I faced during completing the task is the difficulties in
searching for reliable sources related to the taboos after childbirth. At first, I chose this theme
because I really wanted to know more about it. As a woman, it is my own will to gain more
information regarding this as I might be practicing the taboos one day. However, it is so hard
to search for reliable sources like books that reviewing about the taboos after childbirth and I
could only find the information from the websites which the truth is quite doubtful. The
research about this kind of taboo is not too wide and not many researches choose this topic
to make research. But then I realized that it may be due to the concept of taboo itself
whereby it is actually being passed down from generations to generations and we could not
prove whether it is really true or not. However, I still gave my all in searching for the
information and I managed to collect as much I could get.
Moving on, there are many new findings that I got to know during the process of
completing the assignment, especially for the task A. Even though I did choose the theme of
taboos after childbirth, there a lot of things that I did not know. For example, after a child was
born, his or her cord is being cut with sharp bamboo silver and then being buried in a
selected area with few things. If the parents put stationery like pens and pencils with the
cord, they believed that the baby would be a scholar like doctor or lawyer in the future. That
is why most parents choose to put things that they want their child to be one fine day. Other
than that, I also gained a lot of information about the dietary after childbirth which I could
practice in the future. The taboos like food taboos for newly delivered mother are actually the
good dietary for a woman. It is not just a taboo, but it is the method for a woman to keep
healthy.
As for the task B, there are also new findings that I could gain in order for me to use
in my teaching and learning process. Firstly, now I knew that a teacher could do various
methods to create a friendly and culturally classroom environment. I learned how to handle a
classroom with different ethnic groups. For me, a teacher should understand every pupils
cultures so biasness will not occur. I knew that I have to be very creative so that I could teach
them in peaceful and harmonious environment.

In conclusion, this assignment has taught me a lot. I realize now that everything that I
do will reflect my future. Therefore, if I am trying hard to be a better teacher-to-be, it is not
possible I could be a great teacher in the future.