(Bandar Seri Begawan, 27th) – A series of Brunei Proverb and Fable Exercise Books, specially compiled for Brunei students from Grades 7 to 11, have been officially published. Strictly following the Brunei SPN 21 national curriculum syllabus, the book was meticulously compiled in Bangkok by former Malay language teacher, Dr. Zhang Yafu, recipient of the 2023 Southeast Asian Writers Award (SEA Write Award). It aims to provide teachers and students with systematic and practical Malay teaching and learning resources.
Speaking about his motivation for the project, Dr. Zhang Yafu stated that there were two main considerations: firstly, to provide teachers with structured teaching materials to improve classroom systematicity and efficiency; secondly, to make it convenient for students to learn independently or together with their parents, thereby deepening their understanding of Brunei's language and culture. The series specially includes a rich list of Bruneian proverbs, coupled with carefully designed exercises, making it both relevant to the current curriculum and practical and interesting.
Dr. Zhang emphasized that proverbs, as an ancient form of literature, encapsulate the wisdom of ancestors and deeply reflect people's thoughts on family, society, and nation. They are not only guides for life but also treasures of language. He believes that Bruneian proverbs and related expressions are closely connected with the nation's cultural heritage, and their transmission is crucial. Strengthening the elements of Malay language and traditional culture in teaching can help prevent the loss of precious cultural heritage among the younger generation.
The book systematically explains definitions of various traditional Bruneian expressions, including:
- Bruneian Classics: Covering the essence of the Brunei language such as idioms, proverbs, and fables.
- Language Nodes: Expressions composed of two or more words whose meaning differs from the literal combination.
- Fables: Beautiful short sentences introduced by words like `bagai`, ibarat, and `laksana`, containing deep metaphors.
- Proverbs: Set phrases conveying guidance and advice in concise, succinct sentences.
- Deepenings: Word combinations that contain comparisons, examples, and educational meanings.
- Words of Wisdom: Profound expressions originating from wise individuals that offer life guidance.
The exercise book is designed with ten basic training sections, with reference answers attached to challenging questions to facilitate both self-study and teaching. All proverbs in the book are accompanied by detailed explanations and are arranged alphabetically for easy reference. All selected materials refer to the "Brunei Darussalam Proverbs" (2nd Edition, 2001) published by the Department of Curriculum Development, Ministry of Education, Brunei, as well as public examination question patterns to ensure authority and applicability.
Dr. Zhang Yafu hopes that this book will contribute to the preservation of Bruneian literary heritage and enhance the language ability of the youth. In addition to this book, he has also compiled grammar exercise books for Grades 7-11, classical language and poetry exercise books for Grades 9-11, as well as comprehension and summary exercise books; these have been widely adopted by schools nationwide.
At present, this series of teaching materials is exclusively distributed nationwide by Samima Bookstore, providing high-quality teaching support for teachers and students at all levels.
Speaking about his motivation for the project, Dr. Zhang Yafu stated that there were two main considerations: firstly, to provide teachers with structured teaching materials to improve classroom systematicity and efficiency; secondly, to make it convenient for students to learn independently or together with their parents, thereby deepening their understanding of Brunei's language and culture. The series specially includes a rich list of Bruneian proverbs, coupled with carefully designed exercises, making it both relevant to the current curriculum and practical and interesting.
The book systematically explains definitions of various traditional Bruneian expressions, including:
- Bruneian Classics: Covering the essence of the Brunei language such as idioms, proverbs, and fables.
- Language Nodes: Expressions composed of two or more words whose meaning differs from the literal combination.
- Fables: Beautiful short sentences introduced by words like `bagai`, ibarat, and `laksana`, containing deep metaphors.
- Proverbs: Set phrases conveying guidance and advice in concise, succinct sentences.
- Deepenings: Word combinations that contain comparisons, examples, and educational meanings.
- Words of Wisdom: Profound expressions originating from wise individuals that offer life guidance.
The exercise book is designed with ten basic training sections, with reference answers attached to challenging questions to facilitate both self-study and teaching. All proverbs in the book are accompanied by detailed explanations and are arranged alphabetically for easy reference. All selected materials refer to the "Brunei Darussalam Proverbs" (2nd Edition, 2001) published by the Department of Curriculum Development, Ministry of Education, Brunei, as well as public examination question patterns to ensure authority and applicability.
Dr. Zhang Yafu hopes that this book will contribute to the preservation of Bruneian literary heritage and enhance the language ability of the youth. In addition to this book, he has also compiled grammar exercise books for Grades 7-11, classical language and poetry exercise books for Grades 9-11, as well as comprehension and summary exercise books; these have been widely adopted by schools nationwide.
At present, this series of teaching materials is exclusively distributed nationwide by Samima Bookstore, providing high-quality teaching support for teachers and students at all levels.