'ir'

‘ir’ in the words irresponsible and irrational is a prefix in the adjectives responsible and rational. When ir is used with these words to describe someone, the prefix tells us that the person is not responsible nor rational respectively.

Everyone likes a person who is responsible. We are responsible when we know how to take care of our belongings and also the belongings of others. When we borrow things without returning them, we are being irresponsible. When we are careless and lose or damage what has been borrowed, we are irresponsible, too. Are you a responsible person? Can you give other examples of irresponsibility which you may have experienced with your friends and siblings? Do you think that it is important to be responsible?

An irrational person is one who does not think before taking action. He will follow his heart without paying heed to the consequences of his actions. Road bullies, for example, are irrational. When there is a mishap on the road, their emotions rule. They become angry with the other party even though they may have caused the mishap. I wonder if they ever regret their actions on hindsight or whether they feel justified for what they had done. Can you give more examples of irrational behavior?

To widen your vocabulary, look up the dictionary for more words which could have ‘ir’ as a prefix and share them with us.

BEING LITERATE

One of the main objectives of learning a language is to be able to express our thoughts and feelings in words. When we are able to use the language, we would be able to communicate with others who know the same language. If two people do not speak the same language, they would be like a hen and a duck.

One of the objectives of this blog is to give you, my students, an avenue to express yourselves in the written word. It is meant to be interactive, in the sense that you not only read what is written but you also respond by writing down your thoughts and feelings on the issues discussed. Being English language students, you are expected to write in grammatically correct sentences and to be courteous.

These days, writing has become a great part of our lives. We leave messages for our parents and siblings at home, and our friends at school. We send SMS messages to friends and family members. We put down our comments on Facebook. We chat with our friends online. We send e-mail messages, which are so much faster and more convenient than snail mail. Of course, we also have to write when we do our schoolwork and homework.

Can you imagine what your world would be like if you did not know how to read or write in English? What are the benefits of being English literate?

EVEN THIS SHALL PASS AWAY

Once in Persia reigned a King
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before the eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance,
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they:
"Even this shall pass away."

Trains of camels through the sand
Brought his gems from Samarcand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these.
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main;
"What is wealth?" the king would say;
"Even this shall pass away."

In the revels of his court
At the zenith of the sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests;
He amid his figs and wine,
Cried: "Oh loving friends of mine!"
"Pleasure comes but not to stay;"
"Even this shall pass away."

Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield;
Soldiers with a loud lament
Bore him bleeding to his tent;
Groaning from his tortured side,
"Pain is hard to bear," he cried,
"But with patience, day by day,
Even this shall pass away."

Towering in the public square,
Twenty cubits in the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone,
Then, the king, disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name
Musing meekly, "What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay
Even this shall pass away."

Struck with palsy, sere and old,
Waiting at the gates of gold,
Said he with his dying breath;
"Life is done, but what is death?"
Then, in answer to the King,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Showing by a heavenly ray,
"Even this shall pass away."

This is a poem by Theodore Tilton that I would like to share with you. I would like to let you know that as young students our problems may seem like mountains, but life goes on and somehow we manage to survive. So we will need to plod on and face the music. What do you think?

HOLIDAYS

Most of you are enjoying a one week break from going to school. I say 'most of you' because some of you will still be going back to school for extra classes or sports and games. Some of you will also be involved in school camps.

Many of you have had your monthly tests and you can be considered lucky because you will not need to spend your time studying during this one week break. For those whose tests are after the holidays, it will always be at the back of your mind that you will need to get ready for your tests. That is the life of a student, especially a Malaysian student since doing well in exams and tests is of utmost importance.

How are you spending your holidays? Do you like staying at home? Or do you prefer to go to school? There are many things one can do while on holiday, even if you spend your time at home. Cleaning up the mess in your room could be your top priority. Also, you should try to help your parents with some of the household chores. You could also spend time on your hobbies and interests.

Some of you will be going for a short vacation to another town or even a holiday resort. It will be a good change from the normal routine of life at home. I hope you appreciate the opportunities for adventure that you might have.

In whatever way you are spending your holidays, please do take some time to tell us about it. We will be eagerly awaiting your postings. As for me, I will be carrying on with my usual classes. I hope that you will be present for your language classes.

Home Schooling

Have you ever thought what it would be like if you did not have to go to school, but instead were taught at home?

Would you have the discipline needed to study on your own? You would need to buy the prescribed books but other reading material would be made available online. You would have a set timetable to follow. There would be homework to do and examinations to sit for. It does sound like attending a normal school, doesn't it? The main difference is that you would not need to step out of your house.

Besides that, what would you be missing out on? Friends and human contact would be the number one loss, unless, of course, your parents made arrangements for you to meet up with other homeschoolers now and then.

You would be missing out on all the extra-curricular activities. You would only do what you chose to do. So what do you think your world would be like?

Many parents these days choose to homeschool their children for one reason or another. Do you think that your parents have made the right choice in enrolling you in a school which you have to attend like all other children of school-going age?

What are the benefits of going to a building where you are
- exposed to different academic subjects (many of which do not interest you),
- taught these subjects not on a one-to-one basis, but in a classroom filled with students of the same age and
- expected to be at par and sometimes perform even better than the rest of your classmates?

Tuition Classes

Why do you come for English language classes?

Many students would say that it is to try to pass their examinations with flying colours.

To some, it is just a trend. Since they have been going for tuition from young, they must carry on attending these classes. Sometimes, it is because their friends are going, so they have to tag along and be one of the ‘in’ group.

From a distance, many people will view tuition classes as a waste of time and money since free education is being provided to all students studying in Government schools.

In my opinion, tuition classes are an avenue for students to grow and mature into more independent adults. Besides being exposed to the subject matter taught, it is in these classes where their discipline is checked. They learn discipline by attending classes punctually, doing the work assigned to them and paying their fees promptly.

They learn to communicate in their small group classes when they mingle and socialize with students from other schools. Some even go on to become lifetime friends.

If it is a language class, the students can take advantage of the opportunity of being in the tuition class (where the numbers are small) to speak the language they are learning. In the school, their overflowing classes would deter them from sounding a single word.

In short, attending tuition classes is not all about scoring straight As. It is akin to university students attending tutorial classes after the lecture sessions.

So why do you come for English language classes?