CHATROOM

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Letter of The Week

FEAR OF FLYING

Dear Editor. My name is Jeffrey Gabe and I�m both a teenager and a student.

I�d like to talk to you about something � fear of flying. How can anyone like flying? Birds fly, people don�t, and I hate flying. You wait for hours for the plane to take off and it�s often late. The plane�s always crowded, you can�t walk around and there�s nothing to do. You can�t open the windows and can�t get off. The seats are uncomfortable, there�s no choice of food and there are never enough toilets. Then, after the plane lands it�s even worse. It takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city.

When I go on holiday I go by train and not by plane for all these reasons. Also, trains are cheaper than planes and they are safer because they never leave the ground. Trains are also more comfortable because you can walk around and open the windows. If you miss a train, it�s easy to catch another one later. This is often not possible with planes. Yes, trains are slower than planes, but speed isn�t everything. Staying alive and enjoying yourself is more important than speed.

Do you agree with me? Please let me know. Thank you very much and I hope to write you again.

Jeffrey Gabe, via email

Hello Jeffrey � nice to talk to you again and thanks for contributing to our web forums (that�s www.student-weekly.com/forums for anybody with an Internet connection and something to say). Actually, I�m going to disagree with you, although all your points are valid. I like flying (although I normally fly long distances like the 10,000-kilometre trip to London). I love the feeling that I can get on a plane and end up anywhere in the world. I also find the feeling of flying very exhilarating. I do agree that it can be uncomfortable, the food is often bland and the wait at either end can be a pain. But all in all, I�d rather fly than use any other form of transport on most occasions. � Editor

PERSONAL PROBLEM

My name�s Angkana Ngamteerapornkul and I�m studying in Matayom 3. I have a problem about my ex-boyfriend. He recently called me and said that I had to return some money that he said I owed him. But I never borrowed his money and now I�m really worried. I don�t know what I should do. And I don�t know how I can get that money. All I can do now is refuse to answer his telephone calls.

Angkana Ngamteenapornkul
Bangkok

Well, Angkana, there�s not a lot I can say, and I hope your problems have sorted themselves out as it takes us three weeks between receiving a letter and publishing it. The main thing is to talk about your problem with an adult, but if you�re too shy, you can always call the Teen Hotline on 02 275 6993-4. � Editor

STILL LEARNING

Dear Student Weekly. I�ve been reading Student Weekly since I was in Matayom 3; four years later, I finished my bachelor�s degree in food science and technology. Now I am 26 years old and work in a confectionery company. However, I still read Student Weekly because it has so much information that helps me improve my English and it contains interesting stories for everybody. Keep it up for everyone who wants to understand English!

Thanunchai Sathaporn
Bangkok

Thanks, Thanunchai. It�s always nice to get mail from people who not only used to read Student Weekly, but who carry on reading it. We try to put something in each issue for everyone as learning has no age barriers. � Editor

HOOPING MAD

Hello there. I�m studying in Matayom 3, and at my school, I am the star basketball player. I�m very good at basketball; I enjoy it because it�s a sport that is very exciting. It uses all your skills and power to win. Your arms and legs must be strong and you must have a lot of stamina to play. However, basketball isn�t a game that you can play alone � teamwork is the most important thing in basketball.

Nuttasorn Kornjantuek
Bangkok

Basketball isn�t my favourite sport, Nuttasorn, although I like to shoot a few hoops every now and again � and as such I would say that you can practise basketball by yourself. I would agree that it�s a very demanding sport, though, with all that running and jumping. Me? I like to play pool � it�s a little more sedate. � Editor

We want to hear from you!

For pen pals, letters and any general comments you have about Student Weekly, contact us at Bangkok Post Student Weekly, Bangkok Post Building, 136 Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. You can also email us at  [email protected]. Your words must be your own (except for quotations and well-known proverbs or sayings) and they may be edited. Letters of the Week win a prize of 150 baht!

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Vocabulary

contribute (v): in this use, to write things for a newspaper, magazine or a radio or television programme
valid (adj): based on what is logical or true
exhilarating (adj): very exciting and enjoyable
bland (adj): not having a strong or interesting taste
confectionery (n): sweets/candy, chocolate, etc.
stamina (n): the physical or mental strength that enables you to do something difficult for long periods of time
sedate (adj): slow, calm and relaxed