Learn English - Seminars and Trainings

Not about English learning, but another subject that I teach and feel passionate about. Maybe 7, maybe 9 MILLION people dying every year because of bad air: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/27/air-pollution-is-the-new-tobacco-warns-who-head
Shouldn't we wake up? Next time, it might be your Mum or Dad ...

Air pollution is the ‘new tobacco’, warns WHO head Exclusive: Simple act of breathing is killing 7 million people a year and harming billions more, but ‘a smog of complacency pervades the planet’, says Dr Tedros Adhanom

I'm thinking of starting a small IGCSE English tuition group here in JB. I have one student already, but two or three more will make it more challenging and fun. Drop me a line if you would like to discuss it ...

Beware of "grammar fascists". Good grammar is important, but unless your focus is on academia or similar, focus on being understood, rather than on perfect grammar.

Learn at least 5 new words every day. Make sure you fully understand them. Start using in your conversations and writing, and be brave.

In case you haven't noticed, one thing that will really stand out as you become a regular reader is that English is a very odd language. Sometimes there are easily identifiable patterns to the way it works whilst at other times, there are no patterns at all.
That word right there, for example - 'whilst'. When do you use it instead of while, and why? Do you need to use it at all? Or, why are 'read' and 'reed' pronounced in the same way just some, but not all, of the time?
The fact is, English can be regular and irregular, and often with little obvious reason. Which means two things for you as an English student:
1. You must learn the oddities of the language by heart BUT
2. You must not allow them to get in the way of mastering the language.
This last point is critical. It would be very easy to use the common irregularities of English as an excuse for giving up, but you must not do so. Instead, use your reading experiences to identify and recognise the oddities of English, write them down and learn them. There is no other way!

Reading is a start, but it's not enough. You should be reading to enjoy and to learn, of course, to absorb what is on the page in front of you, but you must go further.
So, for example, every time you encounter a word that you're not familiar with, don't simply ignore it! Instead, write it down, find the meaning and write that down too. Use a pen and notebook like you see in the picture to do so! Please don't try it with the drink or the plant - it could get very messy!
Writing with a pen on paper creates a far stronger connection with your brain than using a keyboard making the chances of remembering the new words that much greater. This becomes more pronounced if you write it down several times, as repetition makes it stick far more effectively.
Reading is a great start, but it is only half the battle. If you really want to win the English learning 'war', you must do everything you possibly can in order to do so...
What are your thoughts?

First tip. READ! Anything and everything you can get your hands on. Read it. Read until you succeed...(more to follow)

Lots of people have asked whether we can add regular English learning tips to this page. I thought it unnecessary, but apparently not. So twill be done...

Renewed efforts needed to motivate young M'sians to learn English seriously: Raja Zarith Sofiah JOHOR BARU: The Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, has called for concerted efforts to create opportunities for young people to study the English language and take their place on the world stage.

Coming very soon. Regular English learning tips, suggestions and ideas...