Quote #73

"Always make a good impression on someone when you first meet them, and never make a bad impression every time you take leave of them." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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A Passion for Correction

Everybody has a passion, don't they? Okay, I concede that it is probably more precise to say that many or most people have it. Without a passion, life can overflow with mundanity, leaving no space for the element of excitement that would otherwise make it much more interesting and worth living. I was born roughly 31 years ago, and it appears that ever since then I have had a passion for something that would possibly make many people raise their eyebrows. And that's a passion for correction.

My bodily configuration is easily to "blame" for this offbeat path. By nature, I would wince at things that are square pegs in round holes. Incorrectness and imperfection get under my skin and launch me into a state of nagging unease. Order is what I earnestly strive for and aspire to achieve. This eccentric tendency eventually and naturally led to me taking up an unusual hobby of making corrections, and this is most pronounced in the area of English.

I first learned English epochs ago in elementary school and instantly got hooked on it. English, as a whole, captivates me, but the most interesting aspect of this international language for me was – and still is – grammar. While it seems that a massive number of English learners dread and regard it as a nightmare, I am actually fascinated by the workings of the English language. Throughout my life, I kept on learning English and discovered myriad interesting things, including the revelation that English, including its grammar, evolves – just like everything else in the world (also read Language Finds a Way). Now I pursue a career in the field of English education and this is certainly a dream come true.

My enormous interest in English inevitably blends with my great passion for correction. In classroom settings, I do my level best to give my students useful corrections for their improvement in the language. However, as I stated earlier, it extends to pursuits outside my livelihood sphere. Over the years I have spotted mistakes in books etc., wrote their corrections and sent them to those responsible. Not all of them responded, but I am really glad to have contributed what I could for better accuracy, nevertheless.

Among those replying to me, three were so kind-hearted that not only did they thank me, but they also went the extra mile. The first one is 4M, a Hongkong-based company that produces educational toys and crafts. In 2012, I made corrections for its two products: Dinosaur Skeleton Excavation Kit: Tyrannosaurus rex and Dig a Glow Dinosaur. The company's representative, Daniel Yun, replied to my email, thanking me and saying that they would like to send Glow-in-the-Dark 3-Dimensional Dinosaur to me as a gesture of goodwill. I was joyfully speechless. Of course, I accepted the kind offer and received the dinosaurian present.

Glow-in-the-Dark 3-Dimensional Dinosaur

The second one is one of my favorite authors Darren Naish. While enjoying his marvelous book Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved, I jotted down writing mistakes which I found there and sent the corrections to the British paleontologist via Twitter. As a token of appreciation, Dr. Naish included me in the acknowledgements of the second edition to the book (my name is also mentioned in his blog post The Second Edition of Naish and Barrett's Dinosaurs).

Acknowledgements of Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved (Second Edition) with my name marked

The last one is the publishing house Collins. While it seems to be not as popular as Oxford and the like when it comes to ELT (English Language Teaching), the British publisher has actually produced some of my favorite books on the subject, such as Work on Your Idioms. One tremendously useful resource for learning English released by Collins is Collins COBUILD English Usage (Fourth Edition). While perusing this superb book, I noticed a number of mistakes and sent them to Collins ELT via Facebook over a period of time. A representative named Yan always warmly replied to my messages, forming a congenial conversation atmosphere. This went on up to a point where the publisher decided to send me something as a way to say thank you. Do you know what that something is? A duo of amazing dictionaries: Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary and Collins COBUILD Phrasal Verbs Dictionary!

Collins COBUILD Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Dictionaries

This sort of rectification endeavors is not the only form in which my linguistic craziness is manifested. A few years ago was an epiphany that kickstarted an exciting project on Instagram. I had never had an account on the social media platform before (also read Why I Don't Use Instagram), but this had to change thanks to the light-bulb moment. I created an account named English Corrector, which captures writing mistakes made all over the world and invites its followers, namely ECers, to correct them – of course, I provide the answer and explanation in the description of every post. English Corrector also offers daily quizzes through Instagram stories, which can also be accessed via Highlights.

English Corrector

Last but not least, I also make use of my dino eyes (yes, eagles are dinosaurs) for commercial purposes. Troofreader helps you with your writing by means of proofreading and translating from English into Indonesian and vice versa. Troofreader's motto is "Clarity is a virtue."

Troofreader Logo

Note: Information about English Corrector and Troofreader can be found in the left sidebar of this blog.

I think my burning passion for correction will last for as long as I can breathe. It is part of what defines me as a person.

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Quote #72

"Absolutism is to be abhorred absolutely." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #71

"The suppression of freedom of expression eliminates the possibilities of limitless advancement in a nation." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #70

"Accept reality, no matter how harsh or grim it is. Without coming to terms with it, you will never be your full self." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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The Little Book of Humanism – Book Review

The Little Book of Humanism

by Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts

I'd like to begin my review by making a statement: This is one of the most important, if not the most important, books I have ever read in my life. And I do wish I could have (and had) read this book way, way back when I was much younger. Yes, it is little indeed, as the title goes, but do NOT underestimate the impact this book could make on your life – it is gargantuan and potentially life-changing.

The Little Book of Humanism 👫🌏📖 by Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts is a modest-sized book explaining what humanism is and what being a humanist is all about. Here you will find a treasure trove of humanist wisdom and insights in the forms of quotes, meditations, and poems. Among the vast number of humanists featured in this book are Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Margaret Atwood, David Attenborough, Bertrand Russell, Richard Dawkins, Confucius, and Epicurus. Why should you read The Little Book of Humanism? Well, this book is a perfect guide to living your life to the fullest as a human. It aptly begins with a discussion of the veritable nature of humans – how we came about and who we really are – and throughout the book, you will learn about humanist values, virtues, endeavors, and lessons in a good number of chapters on diversity and equality, thinking clearly, and science and progress, for example. What should we base our actions on? Is curiosity a good thing? Does technology deserve to be abhorred? How can we cope with the inescapable thing called death? You'll find answers to these questions and more in this wonderfully informative book.

The text in The Little Book of Humanism is exquisitely beautiful and profoundly luminous. The co-authors employ engaging conversational writing style which makes the book highly readable and accessible. Despite being a nonfiction book, I found this to be an absolute page-turner, wanting to devour more and more to sate my appetite for knowledge about humanism – I was completely hooked and absorbed throughout! It was an immense pleasure to let myself be toured by the superbly educational writers, and I would like to give them an infinite round of applause. 👏👏👏

You may already be a humanist – just as I was before reading it – or you may not. Whichever you are, I believe there is something to learn from this engrossing book which will make you a better human. The Little Book of Humanism is a thought-provoking book that will continue to serve to help people find "purpose, meaning and joy" and bring out the best in them – for themselves and for the world.

Notes:

• I think the best way to read The Little Book of Humanism is from cover to cover, but picking a random page and reading the content would work too. Enjoy!
• I could discuss the book in more detail. If you're interested to hear what I have to say, please do contact me personally.

Have you read The Little Book of Humanism? What is your opinion on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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Quote #69

"The world's current social issues would be drastically reduced if people stopped meddling in others' personal business." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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