hope.englishforlife

It's been a long time!

2009-07-04T21:07:00.002+08:00

Isn't it funny how time flies by?

HOPE has been doing well. The inactivity on this blog is by no means an indication of the state HOPE itself. We've about 28 students (we seem to have been losing some here and there:() currently and let's just hope the numbers will grow.

Greetings

2008-12-25T11:26:00.001+08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Classes

2008-12-24T14:45:00.002+08:00

The new school year is less than two weeks away, which means that Hope English Academia's new term also begins on January4, 2009.

Class schedules for 2009 are almost done. Trying to fit classes to accommodate the student's free time is almost impossible. To make things worse, half the schools in Kulim have only one session and half of them have two sessions. This makes it difficult to schedule classes for students in Year 1-3 and those in Form 1 and 2. It's tricky, but it will be settled soon. Once the scheduling has been finalised, we'll put it up here.

Thespians in the making?

2008-12-23T11:48:00.009+08:00

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs went well. Thank God.

There were a few glitches here and there, and one of the young actors wanted to pull out right before the play started (he has a history of being nervous before performing but doing well once he is on-stage)! Despite being frazzled and in a dazed state of mind due to serious lack of sleep, Sherline and I managed to get it all together with help from the students, friends and my parents.
The backdrop had only been completed less than 30 minutes before the show started! But hey, the students got it right.
No forgotten lines, no chocking, no breakdowns.

TENG YI FAN AS ALEXANDER T. WOLF (A1)

The narrators: Nathaniel, Seraphina, Durgaashini and Daashayani

Shall I bake granny black forest?

Kughaan and Dhiiren, the two little pigs
I need a cup of sugar...why don't I ask my neighbours, the little pigs...
Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbour
He huffed, and he puffed, and he let out a great big sneeze...

The end.

COME

2008-12-20T09:00:00.000+08:00

IT'S OPEN DAY!!!!

Tis the Season to Give

2008-12-17T13:26:00.003+08:00

Hey guys,

Thanks a bunch for being fans/supporters of the school.

For those who are around Penang and Kedah, please take note. We are having a donation drive this holiday season for underprivileged children. We are collecting:

1. books (used/new school related books, storybooks, magazines...basically anything students can use for reading/learning purposes in any language/subject)
2. stationary (pens, pencils, erasers, etc)
3. bags (book bags/school bags new or old)

We have asked a church in Kulim which is very involved in community work with the lower-income group in Kulim to let us know of students who may need the items above for the new school year.

We are not accepting any monetary donation at the moment, but if there is a need for say uniforms or school shoes, we would inform you and perhaps you may want to sponsor them.

Do spread the news to your friends and family who are around this area. Any help is GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Cheers and God bless!

Regards,
Yasmin Bathamanathan

Come?

2008-12-15T13:35:00.004+08:00

OPEN DAY

2008-12-15T00:14:00.001+08:00

We're having a OPEN DAY!!

A proper one this time. ;)

Details to come later.

HOPE?

2008-12-04T11:44:00.002+08:00

What exactly is HOPE? I'm sure by now those who have been following this blog (I am certain that it comprises of me, Chumi and perhaps one other person...sigh) know that HOPE ENGLISH ACADEMIA is a English language training provider. Not only do we have the various courses for learners of all ages, but we also have activities/programmes that are centred around the language of English.

"Like what?" you ask.

Well, for this school holidays, we are running a drama workshop for students between the ages of 6 and 12. We meet trice a week, two hours each session for four weeks and then one week of rehearsals. The students are being exposed to the fundamentals of acting as well as preparing for their short play The True Story of the Three Little Pigs whiwhich will be performed by our little darlings on December 21, 2008. For most of them, this would be the first performance of theirs which is not part of a school/kindergarden event. They are quite excited about it especially since people would have to purchase tickets to come watch them. That does do wonders to their confidence.

Sometime in 2009 (most likely in March), we will be launching the HOPE BOOKERS CLUB. The BOOKERS CLUB's sole purpose is to expose the community to reading. For learners between the ages of 7 and 18, we will be using a literature programme by the Oxford University Press (all of our teaching materials and student books are from OUP). Those above 18 would be part of our Reading Cirlce, where we read the Book of the Month and have a monthly coffee and discussion session. Fun times ahead.

Then by mid-2009, we should be able to launch the HOPE CINEMA CLUB. This I am really excited about. Most of the movies we show would be independent films and art house productions. We are still contemplating whether to show films in languages other than English or not. There are a lot of really good movies in virtually every language in the world. That we will have to wait and see.

So, darlings, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that we can manage to execute all that we have planned.

Cheerio.

Books

2008-11-26T22:36:00.002+08:00

Books. Loads and loads of books. Bookstores well stocked with books. Well stocked with books of quality. Gorgeous, glorious books.

Stepping into Borders this afternoon was sensational. The mere sight of all those books was simply intoxicating. It was as though all my senses were in hyper-drive! Within 2 minutes I had already grabbed a book for purchase!

Such a pity that we (Ms. Ann and I) only had a couple of hours to browse through the books, though enough to make a few good buys. Speaking of which, I didn't take any pictures of the books! Another day. Another day.

Oh, my eyes are getting heavy.
**yawn**
I guess it's bedtime.

Buenos noches...the sleepy me seems to be thinking in Espanyol! Not that I am fluent in it or even know more than the required 10 basic words in Spanish. Talk about being drowsily messed up!

I love these!

2008-11-22T22:22:00.005+08:00

Owen (a student of mine) took these pictures last week on his new fancy camera. The pictures turned out really nice. This boy seems to have the knack for photography.

The view from the entrance.

Flowers from With Studio. They are the ones who designed signboard, name card, flyers, official receipts, bags and THE LOGO.

Students of Hope

2008-11-18T13:34:00.003+08:00

Oh, my head is too heavy...Ms. Ann is making me WRITE!!

One day I will be greater than Rushdie. For now, kiddie books would do just fine.

What do we have here...

AREN'T I FABULOUS?

2008-11-18T12:32:00.004+08:00

SAY CHEESE!!

This has to be the most beautiful signboard in the whole wide world.

DITTO.

Feel free to drop in. We'd love to talk to you.
Just enter the blue door.HOPE.
Our reading corner.

I can't wait to expand our library. One day, hopefully, we'll have an entire room just for the books.

Our very own library.
Simply FABULOUS.

read

2008-11-18T10:59:00.006+08:00

We have newbies!!!

Registration of new students has been quite a good experience. When people walk in our doors, we do not know what to expect. Some parents are quite well informed on the Cambridge ESOL programmes where else some are quite clueless despite claiming to have enrolled their children in "similar" (ed: similar in the loosest sense possible) learning centres. Though what we see all these people are seeking for is identical: QUALITY EDUCATION.

As we have given our word to these parents that we emphasise quality and the progress of our students where in we are more concerned on how they would be able to apply the learning of English in our classes in the world outside, we will see to it that these students receive the best we have to offer. We do not offer the moon, nor are we saying "Hey, send your child here. We guarantee they will score As in their exams..." No. We are asking them for time. Time for their children to grasp the fundamentals of English. Then we shall work together to the fluency of speech and understanding. When we have this down, then shall we work towards mastering the language.

I have been speaking English since I could talk. It is my first language. The only language in which I can truly express myself. Yet, I am no where near the true mastery of English. I continue to learn new words in English. When I watch movies and dramas, I encounter whole new expressions that are foreign to me. English is an exciting and vibrant language. It may not be as diverse as other languages, nor is it in the most logical language, but it is the nuances and quirkiness of this language which I am so in love with. It is my proficiency in English that enables me to immerse into the amazing worlds written by writers I love; to feel the intensity and motion the characters go through. Merely watching a movie does not inflame your senses as much as reading does.

Just as I love to read works by Arundhati Roy, Jane Austen, Audrey Niffinegger, Rohinton Mistry, Bernice Chauly, C.S. Lewis and many more, so do I want the young ones to grow to love the written word. The beauty you find in books is rarely ever translated in its full splendour to the screen.

When I look back, I am so impressed again
with the life-giving power of literature.
If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of
myself in the world, I would do that again by reading,
just as I did when I was young.
~ Maya Angelou ~

This is my hope for my students.

Chapter 1

2008-11-09T21:05:00.005+08:00

November 1 came and went, bringing along chaos and an immediate sense of urgency. You see, November 1st was supposed to be HOPE's "official" OPEN DAY. Alas, nothing was complete and ready for launch. The walls and floor were yet to be painted, the air-conditioners were not fully installed, the signboard was nowhere in-sight and the PLACE WAS A MESS!

I contemplated calling-off the meet-and-greet and registration of new students. Thank GOD I was reminded of hope. The hope which has been a fiery passion within me. The hope which "does not disappoint". True enough I was not disappointed. We met our future clients in the cafe downstairs. Sherline conducted her tutorial for two students in the cafe and I had my five students do their studies in the alfresco area.

See, hope does not fail.

Wallpaper!

2008-10-28T21:57:00.003+08:00

This is us

2008-10-24T07:20:00.003+08:00

Call me!

Greetings

2008-10-21T23:18:00.002+08:00

So, it's set. Open day is officially on November 1st, 2008. Woohooo!!!

God is AWESOME. The whole fiasco we faced last two weeks clearly made it apparent that God is in control of the setting up of HOPE. I mean why not, since it is a gift from Him.

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5

Rainy Days

2008-10-15T21:35:00.002+08:00

The Monsoon. Scorching hot days interwoven with irratic bouts of strong winds and flood-worthy downpours. Such has been the days of late.

How ironic that it should mirror the fate of HOPE.

Sunrise

2008-10-10T17:20:00.002+08:00

Hope.

I am Hope.

Hope

I give to you.