February 2015 Newsletter

Meeeh - me-eee-eh - me-eee-eh . . . is it just me, or do you hear that goat too?

To kick off our February 2015 newsletter, let us wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year! Whether you're holding an open house, visiting open houses or just celebrating quietly with family, we hope this time of year will be enjoyable for you and bring you much happiness and prosperity.

The recently concluded GOAT SOUND COMPETITION has been documented on our facebook page and three winners have been selected:

1st place: Sharmayne

2nd place: Kuang Yee

3rd place: Jia Hao

Congratulations to the winners for producing the most life-like goat sounds. They each received 'angpao' (red packet) with a little monetary reward inside.

There are two themes for February - Chinese New Year, and Accommodation. Vocabulary, brainstorming, grammar, reading, writing and speaking exercises incorporate aspects of both themes. Speaking features every week this month, which we will be especially emphasizing in 2015, as we look to get our students to open up and express themselves and build confidence in speaking the English language.

As far as availability goes, classes are full to overflowing. Unfortunately there is no space for new students, only as current students stop. We will still add prospective students to our waiting list and hope to be able to enroll them in our classes as soon as possible.

We have opened up new classes for a maximum of 4 students per class. Each class will be for one hour (2 classes per week). Children will receive more close attention from the teacher while following the same syllabus. The fee for this class is set at RM50/hour. Classes can be held any time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday afternoons.

That's all for this month. Now let me invite that goat into my house for a drink . . . 

The "Chocolate" lesson - for adults

This month we are conducting a special lesson dedicated to chocolate - the food of the deities. Students will read a short article about chocolate, where it comes from, and how it grows. They will answer several comprehension questions on the topic.

Mr. Duncan will then present five different chocolate items for tasting. Students will then right down lists of words that describe the taste of each piece of chocolate.

Samples of chocolate ready for tasting in adult classes in September at Horne Learning Services

The final part of the lesson will see students have an opportunity to speak to the class on the topic of chocolate.

We are looking forward to this exciting class and hope our students will find it worthwhile and memorable!

Word Game upgrade

Each English class begins with a word game, a vocabulary building exercise. Sometimes we present students with a word, for example:

PRESENTATION

Our students are then asked to make a list of words by using the letters in the main word. For example:

1. sit

2. pat

3. station

4. sent

5. priest

Another way we exercise vocabulary is by giving students a single letter ie. "B". They then proceed to write down every word they can think of that begins with the letter "B".

Sometimes we will present two letters ie. S,T. Students must then make two words beginning with these letters, that make sense. For example, Sticky Tarts.

We have been practicing these word games for a number of years and the children love it. As of August 2014 we will be slightly upgrading the word game in an effort to try and give our students something new and fresh.

Students will now be making words and calculating the total of all the letters so that each word has a score. Of course, the more challenging letters to use have greater value!

We have another project lined up for August, which we'll discuss soon.

FIFA World Cup 2014 Comprehension Test

In conjunction with the start of the FIFA World Cup this week to be held in Brazil, we have formulated an English comprehension test featuring 14 questions on the history of the FIFA World Cup.

Here are the questions. Why don't you print it out and have a go for yourself. In addition to enhancing your English understanding and vocabulary, you will end up more knowledgeable about the history of the FIFA World Cup!

Who is your pick to lift the FIFA World Cup this year?

Obganiate

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

OBGANIATE

- to irritate someone by constantly repeating oneself

Gerrie Nel (pictured) is the South African lawyer prosecuting in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. He is known as the 'pitbull' for his aggressive tactics in the courtroom. I was watching a session recently, so when I came across the word 'obganiate', I immediately thought of Nel! He's very clever and repeats certain points over and over again. It's taking a lot of patience on Pistorius' part.

Can you make a sentence with this word?

Naevus

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

NAEVUS

- birthmark

"Our child was born with this naevus on his right arm. Is there anything you can do, doctor?"

Moilsome

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

MOILSOME

- laborious

"Look, I'm tired of doing this moilsome proofreading. Can you get me a teaching job instead?"

How would you make a sentence with 'moilsome'?

Lallation

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

LALLATION

- childish speech; mispronunciation of speech sounds

"A little lallation could prevent you from attaining an 'A' grade for your English speaking exam."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Kakorrhaphiophobia

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

KAKORRHAPHIOPHOBIA

- fear of failure

"As he struggled to accept his new responsibility, Harry was burdened beyond relief by kakorrhaphiophobia."

How would you use this mouthful in a sentence?

Jeremiad

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

JEREMIAD

- prolonged complaint; angry or cautionary harangue; lamentation

"Springing from the name Jeremiah, a prophet of the Old Testament who is known for his lamenting of Israel, comes the word 'jeremiad.' "

Iconolatry

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

ICONOLATRY

- image worship

"Iconolatry is rather taboo in some areas of the world."

Can you make a sentence with this word?

Hesternopothia

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

HESTERNOPOTHIA

- yearning for yesterday or earlier times

"Reading through my friend's facebook status really brought on a deep sense of hesternopothia."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Gymnosophy

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

GYMNOSOPHY

- deep contemplation performed while naked

"I am not advocating you to take up gymnosophy, but I do find it a very interesting concept."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Fandango

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

FANDANGO

- one of the main folk dances in Portugal

"Attendees will be treated to a rendition of the fandango performed by professional dancers from Portugal."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Ecdysiast

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

ECDYSIAST

- striptease performer

"If you're lucky, you'll see me ply my skills as an ecdysiast tonight with no audience but you."

Dendrochronology

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

DENDROCHRONOLOGY

- study of tree rings

"John is immersed in the dendrochronology module as part of his botany course at university."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Climacophobia

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

CLIMACOPHOBIA

- fear of falling down stairs

"Poor Seth could never live in a double-storey house due to his terrible climacophobia."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Bannock

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

BANNOCK

- flat, unleavened loaf of bread

"These bannocks are especially delicious with butter."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Abaculus

Welcome to the A-Z April blogging challenge. We are participating with a daily dose of vocabulary by selecting an unusual word and making a sentence with it.

ABACULUS

- a small mosaic tile

"For years I have wanted an abaculus-styled wall for my bathroom."

How would you use this word in a sentence?

Exam Week

This week marks the first time at Horne Learning Services that we'll be holding an Exam Week.

Now, we do not base our teaching on school methods and we don't follow the same 'exam focus' that schools do, but on 5 occasions this year, we will be keeping our students accountable with an exam.

The exam will test them on 5 areas:

1. Speaking and listening

2. Vocabulary

3. Grammar

4. Reading comprehension

5. Writing

All completed papers with results will be passed to parents!