" There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart" - Ben Crenshaw

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.
Delicious Ambiguity.”
― Gilda Radner

PHRASAL VERB  Hi guys ! In this article, we are going to discuss about phrasal verb. Well, actually it took some times to tackle phrasal verbs. As an English learner, phrasal verb is one of the most difficult units. To tell you the truth, I often think that phrasal verb is unbearable, but still it’s an essential part in learning English. Now let’s check out what the definition of phrasal verb is. There are many definitions for it, but some grammarians say that: a phrasal verb is a verb that is combined with a preposition (e.g. in, on, with) or an adverbial particle (e.g. up, out, off). The preposition or adverbial particle extends the meaning of the verb to create a new meaning. For example if you look at something, your eyes are focused on it, but if you look after something or someone, you take care of them. Take a look at some examples below: • I’m looking for my glasses. I’ve been looking for them all day. • Can you look after my cat while I’m away? I’ll pay you for looking after him. • I take after my cousin. Everybody says I take after her. • I’ve really fallen for this guy. Have you ever fallen for anyone? • Did you come across any photos of the family when your were clearing out the attic? Now, take a look at the sentences below and find out the correct answer for each one. A. My son’s going to one of the best schools in the area. I’m so pleased he …………….. 1. Took over 2. Burned out 3. Got in 4. Ran out B. Having children has really ………….. my life. 1. Taken over 2. Run out of 3. Got in 4. Burned out C. He’s really working hard for his exams. After they’re over, he’ll ………….. 1. Burn out 2. Take over 3. Get in 4. Slow down D. He trained so hard for the marathon that he …………. before the race. 1. Burned out 2. Took over 3. Ran out E. Don’t eat your sweets so quickly – you’ll ……………….. before the film starts. 1. Run out 2. Slow down 3. Take over 4. Burn


references : www.englishpage.com

Writing tips

These are some tips to help you in your writing.

General

• use simple language
• use simple and clear sentences
• write well structured paragraphs (with a topic sentences supporting details and a concluding sentence)
• you may use subordinate clauses but keep them short
• prefer active voice to passive voice
• avoid slang language.

Sentence

• she tells stories
• She lies

Paragraph

• Concentrate on one main point per paragraph. Summarize this point in the first sentence ( topic sentence.)
• All sentences that follow support the main point or limit its scope (supporting sentences)
• The last sentence is a summary of the main point of the paragraph and is used as a transition to the next paragraph. (concluding sentence)

Text

• (title)
• introduction
• main part
• conclusion

• General to Specific:
  general statement followed by details and examples
• Specific to General:
  details and examples followed by a generalization:
• Known to Unknown:
  provide new information based on what readers already know
• Least Important to Most Important:
  catch and keep readers' attention
• Chronology (ordering by time):
  e.g. in biographies

Process writing

• Collecting  the data
• Organising the data
• Making an outline.
• The first draft.
• Editing.
• Possible reassessment of the ideas (crossing out some ideas, introducing new ideas, rearranging ideas…)
• Final draft.

Type of texts

• Descriptive
• Argumentative
• Letters (personal and business letters)
• Cause and effects…

taken from www.usingenglish.com

Strategies for Developing Speaking Skills

1. Using minimal responses

Language learners who lack confidence in their ability to participate successfully in oral interaction often listen in silence while others do the talking. One way to encourage such learners to begin to participate is to help them build up a stock of minimal responses that they can use in different types of exchanges. Such responses can be especially useful for beginners.
Minimal responses are predictable, often idiomatic phrases that conversation participants use to indicate understanding, agreement, doubt, and other responses to what another speaker is saying. Having a stock of such responses enables a learner to focus on what the other participant is saying, without having to simultaneously plan a response.
2. Recognizing scripts
Some communication situations are associated with a predictable set of spoken exchanges -- a script. Greetings, apologies, compliments, invitations, and other functions that are influenced by social and cultural norms often follow patterns or scripts. So do the transactional exchanges involved in activities such as obtaining information and making a purchase. In these scripts, the relationship between a speaker's turn and the one that follows it can often be anticipated.
Instructors can help students develop speaking ability by making them aware of the scripts for different situations so that they can predict what they will hear and what they will need to say in response. Through interactive activities, instructors can give students practice in managing and varying the language that different scripts contain.
3. Using language to talk about language
Language learners are often too embarrassed or shy to say anything when they do not understand another speaker or when they realize that a conversation partner has not understood them. Instructors can help students overcome this reticence by assuring them that misunderstanding and the need for clarification can occur in any type of interaction, whatever the participants' language skill levels. Instructors can also give students strategies and phrases to use for clarification and comprehension check.
By encouraging students to use clarification phrases in class when misunderstanding occurs, and by responding positively when they do, instructors can create an authentic practice environment within the classroom itself. As they develop control of various clarification strategies, students will gain confidence in their ability to manage the various communication situations that they may encounter outside the classroom.

this article was written by wilma and hesti using some sources such as :
www.nclrc.org/
www.teachingexpertise.com 

Nowadays a lot of people forgot the importance of reading. Here, we would like to share some great benefits of reading!


Benefit #1 - Build Your Vocabulary - One of the main benefits of reading that you'll find today is that it will help you to build your vocabulary. Too many people today don't read and they also suffer from vocabularies that are very limited. Well, you'll find that your vocabulary will definitely improve when you become an avid reader, so this is one benefit that makes it easy to see the importance of reading.

Benefit #2 - Relax and De-Stress - Another great benefit of reading is that it provides you a wonderful time to relax and de-stress. This is a great time when you can allow yourself to be transported into another world that is exciting and different. If you need a few moments to relax after a hard day, reading is a wonderful way to do so.

Benefit #3 - Enhance Your Brain Power - You'll also find that another reading benefit that shows the importance of reading is that reading can actually help to enhance your brain power. As you read you'll stimulate the brain, and there are some studies that are even showing that people who read on a regular basis are less likely to end up dealing with problems like Alzheimer's Disease.

Benefit #4 - Improve Your Spelling - Reading on a regular basis can also have the added benefit of improving your spelling as well. The more you read the more you'll see the proper spelling and it will help you to make sure that you are spelling things correctly as well, which is definitely very important.

As you can see, there are many great benefits of reading and they all show the importance of reading today. So, don't let reading become left behind with the age of technology. It's important that you take time to read and do your best to instill a love of reading within your children as well so they grow up knowing how fun, exciting, and important it is to read.

In the modern age of information, reading truly is a fundamental survival skill. Here are ten tips that anyone can use to improve their reading skills:
1. You don't have to be a great reader to get the point.
Some people read fast and remember everything. Others read slowly and take a couple of times to get all the information. It doesn't matter, really, so long as when you read, you get the information you're seeking.
2. Know WHY you're reading.
Are you reading for entertainment or to learn something? Decide why you're reading before you start and you'll greatly improve your comprehension and your enjoyment.
3. You don't need to read everything.
Not every magazine, letter, and email you receive contains information you need. In fact, most of it is simply junk. Throw it away, hit the delete key! Just doing this will double the amount of time you have available to read.
4. You don't need to read all of what you DO read.
Do you read every article of every magazine, every chapter of every book? If so, you're probably spending a lot of time reading stuff you don't need.
Be choosy: select the chapters and articles that are important. Ignore the rest.
5. Scan before you read.
Look at the table of contents, index, topic headers, photo captions, etc. These will help you determine if, a) you have a real interest in this reading, and b) what information you're likely to get from it.
6. Prioritize your reading.
You can't read everything all at once (and wouldn't want to). If it's important, read it now. If it's not, let it wait.
7. Optimize your reading environment.
You'll read faster and comprehend more if you read in an environment that's comfortable for you.
8. Once you start, don't stop!
Read each item straight through. If you finish and have questions, go back and re-read the pertinent sections. If you don't have questions, you got what you needed and are ready to move on.
9. Focus.
Remember, you're reading with a purpose, so focus on that purpose and the material. If you lose interest or keep losing your place, take a break or read something else. You can keep track of where you are by following along with your hand. This simple technique helps you focus and increase your concentration.
10. Practice!
The more you read, the better reader you'll become (and smarter, too)! So, feed your mind: read!

Here are some topics for writing. You can practice by picking one topic and write at least one paragraph !

Grade 1

The Four Most Important Writing Lessons