CHATROOM
Photos courtesy of AFP/ Bangkok Post
Letter of the week
NOVEL IDEA
My nickname is Neung, and I�m a 15-year-old girl. I have
wonderful memories of grade 9. Every time I have a look at my friendship
notebook, it reminds me of my friends, my teachers and my classroom.
Unfortunately, lots of my friends changed schools for grade 10.
On the first day, we had to choose the class leader, but unfortunately, nobody wanted to be the leader. Then suddenly, my friends chose me. I couldn�t believe it! Anyway, I will do my best.
I enjoy reading books for my leisure time. My friends call me a bookworm because I read for hours on weekends. I love books, and I love writing novels. I expect that one day I will be a novelist in English.
I suppose that some day my novel will be chosen for a Hollywood film. I�m looking forward to that day.
Narissara Hunapun, Nonthaburi
It sounds like you�ve got your future mapped out pretty well, Neung. It also sounds like you�re adjusting pretty well to all of the changes that you�ve had to face going into 10th grade. Keep studying hard and reading lots � don�t worry about being called a bookworm. Reading is a good way to improve your language skills, but as great as it is, it doesn�t help everybody. � Editor
FRIENDLY FRIENDS
I�m studying at Pattanavechsuksa School in Matayom 1. I
started school on May 1. My class teacher is Araya Luksanaworn.
I have made some new friends. They are lovely and friendly. I hope that everybody enjoys learning and meeting new friends.
Nureena Kansaku,l Rayong
You seem to be adjusting well to Matayom 1 already, Nureena. It�s good to make new friends � especially ones who are lovely and friendly. Good luck in the new term. � Editor
GOOD GRAMMAR
My nickname is
Soft. I�m 18 years old and studying in Matayom 6 at Phimai Wittaya School in
Nakhon Ratchasima.
I like to read Student Weekly magazine every week, and sometimes I read the Bangkok Post. I want to increase and improve my English skills for the entrance examination.
I like to speak English, but I don�t like learning grammar. I think that many people can speak English well but are not necessarily good at grammar.
Some Thai women who have foreign husbands can speak eloquently to their husbands. They can understand each other, even though they don�t have strong grammar skills. In contrast, some of my friends are skilled in grammar but they can�t speak fluently.
I think that to speak fluently, we should speak in everyday life as much as we can.
Nattapong Sributh, Nakhon Ratchasima
I�ll let you in on a little secret, Soft: I don�t like grammar much, either. While grammar is important to speaking and writing proper English, many people focus too much on the rules and don�t spend enough time on actually improving. That�s understandable. It�s easier to teach and to learn rules than it is to do the actual work that really improves language � things like speaking with others, reading, listening and writing. Learn as much grammar as you can, but I think you�re on the right track already. Remember that knowing all about the parts of speech isn�t going to help you much if you don�t know how to put them to practical use. � Editor
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leisure (n): time that is spent doing what you enjoy when you are
not working Idiom on the right track: thinking or behaving in the right way |
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