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NUS Extension closes down Korean, Mandarin and English programs

May 15, 2013 / Guus Goorts / No comments

NUS Extension logo It’s really hard to understand that the language courses at NUS Extension are now done away with.

The official reason is to “align with the strategic direction” of the University. But what’s so strategic about closing down something that is successful that people are lining up for to join? What’s so difficult about at least finding a way to keep the teachers and students together, even if it’s not inside the NUS?

But enough complaining. If you were hoping to join a Korean, Mandarin or English course at NUS Extension, you will have to figure out an alternative now.

Here are the options that I can see. I don’t know everything, please feel free to comment if you have additional information.

NUS Extension Korean: alternatives

Category: Chinese, English, Events, Korean, Language schools, Singapore / Tags: language learning, Language schools, NUS Extension, Singapore

English classes for adults. Where to find them in Singapore?

May 10, 2013 / Guus Goorts / No comments

There are English classes in Singapore of all kinds, and many of them are heavily promoted. Especially classes geared at children.

But what is the best place for adults improve their English?

In this article, I’ll cover the most common options:

Full-time English classes
Evening / weekend classes with subsidy
Evening / weekend classes without subsidy

1. Full-time English classes

Category: English, Language schools, Singapore / Tags: English, english learning, Language schools, Learn English, Singapore, subsidy, wda

Where to learn English in Singapore?

April 18, 2013 / Guus Goorts / 3 comments

Speak English well and be confident in your next business meeting

Are you trying to find out where to learn English in Singapore, for yourself or someone else? In this article, I’ll try to provide a starting point to finding the most suitable courses.

Where is the best place to learn English in Singapore is for you, depends on your situation and what you want to achieve.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself. The answer will tell you where to look first for a suitable course.

Do you have time to learn full-time?

Category: English, Language schools, Singapore / Tags: business english, English, english language, english language courses, english learning, language school, language schools in singapore, learn english in Singapore, learning methods, Singapore

How JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur came to pay for my flight ticket

March 26, 2013 / Guus Goorts / 2 comments

You’re used to find only posts related to language learning in this blog, but I had to share this. It’s a good story, and in a strange way, it relates to languages. How? Read on.

View from our window at JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur

This was the view from our room.

Back in 2004, I was an exchange student at National University of Singapore. I had 5 months to study business in Singapore, and get to see Asia. Like for most exchange students, the latter was my priority. So when my University friend came to see me, we took off for a few days to Tioman Island.

Now, I loved Tioman, but it was a bit too simple for my friend. He’s since become a bit more humble, but at that time he just loved to stay in 5-star hotels. So he called a few hotels in KL and found a good last-minute rate at the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur. I think we paid about a hundred dollars a night.

That same day, we were on the bus to K.L.

Category: English, Malaysia, Travel / Tags: customer service, english for hospitality, english language, jw marriott, kuala lumpur, Learn English, Malaysia

IELTS Writing tip: Useful Phrases for the Writing paper – Part 2

March 21, 2013 / Jonathan / No comments

“These days, traffic congestion is an ever increasing problem in many countries”

I mentioned in my previous post that it is good to memorize some writing phrases for the IELTS Writing paper. As an IELTS writing tip to you, I’d like to share some practical examples of this.

To begin your Writing Task 2 essay

Let’s start with Writing Task 2 first. There are a few common types of questions in this Task. Yet for each type you’re most likely asked to deal with a social topic which is of current interest. Because of this, it is possible to start the essay with a sentence that includes a generic phrase. Some examples of this include:

“These days, NOUN PHRASE is an ever increasing problem in many countries.”

You can fill in the noun phrase to create sentences like these:

“These days, traffic congestion is an ever-increasing problem in many countries.”

“These days, obesity is an ever-increasing problem in many countries.”

Or take this generic phrase:

Category: English / Tags: English, exam, IELTS, learning methods, vocabulary, writing

IELTS Writing Paper: Is it OK to memorize useful phrases? – Part 1

February 25, 2013 / Jonathan / One comment

Girl studying for IELTS If you’re taking the IELTS exam, you would probably agree that the most difficult paper is the Writing paper. You may be able to carry out a conversation with others decently in spoken English yet still find writing a challenge. This is because when it comes to writing, grammatical accuracy is hugely important.

The problem for most students taking the IELTS is that their grammar is far from where it should be. And very often, students only have a month or two before sitting for the exam. This is especially so for those taking the General Training paper for migration purposes or those sitting for the Academic paper for postgraduate studies.

Add to this the fact that one’s grammar is not something that can be easily transformed within a short period of time and we’ll start to understand the difficulties involved in getting a credible score for the Writing paper.

With the above context in mind, what would be the best way for you to prepare for the IELTS Writing paper?

Category: English / Tags: English, english learning, IELTS, learning methods, writing

Essential Life Skills: is your child learning them?

January 21, 2013 / Susan McKenzie / No comments

Are your kids missing out on the three top life skills?

Do you remember how you learnt the three top life skills?
Those three skills being financial management, cooking and social etiquette (including grooming). If you could give yourself a grade in these areas what would it be?

Financial Management
Think about your financial story – how did you learn this crucial skill?

When I was growing up I was a Brownie (the younger arm of the Girl Guide Movement) and I took the Thrift Badge which aimed to teach financial skills. I remember having to keep a savings account to show how I could save money, and also show how I cared for the things I owned. This was probably financial management at its most simplest and today is woefully inadequate.

Category: Culture, English, Kids/Family, Language schools, Languages, Learning methods, Singapore / Tags: communication, culture, E-learning, education system, English, english learning, Equip yourself and your child with the three greatest life skills, language learning, Languages, learning methods, motivation, speaking, Three Big Lessons, Two small feet

Learn English first. Then think of a degree.

January 11, 2013 / Susan McKenzie / No comments

Before you start studying for a degree, it’s important that you can express yourself well in both written and spoken English.

James Cook University Singapore turned away 16 students for not speaking English well enough, according to The Straits Times.

English Reality
How can you benefit from any good quality diploma or degree course if your English language is dodgy?

You can’t.

Requirement Reasoning
If your English is not up to the mark, don’t even contemplate a diploma or degree.

Learn English first.

Requirements are there for a reason.

Category: English, Language schools, Languages, Learning methods, Singapore / Tags: Chinese, communication, Council of Private Education, education system, English, english language, english learning, IELTS, language learning, Language schools, Languages, Learn English, learning methods, Singapore

They speak English. Why should I learn their language?

January 8, 2013 / Guus Goorts / 2 comments

Christmas tree in my Parents’ house

First off, best wishes for 2013! May you dream big, and take new steps to realize your dream this year. If you dream large, you may not realize it all this year. But I hope you’ll make great progress this year!

Sorry for the lack of posts on this blog recently. I have spent Christmas with my parents in the Netherlands. I had Internet access, but wanted to spend more time with family. And now I’m back in Singapore and picking up the regular schedule.

Being “unwired” for a while was great and really inspired me to double up my efforts for Yago and this blog. I realized again how important it is to speak other peoples’ languages.

Here are a few examples.

1. I’m sure people in South America understand English?

Category: Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Languages, Spanish / Tags: connecting, Dutch, French, relationships, Spanish

Childhood learning styles: what’s most important?

December 28, 2012 / Susan McKenzie / No comments

Who should read this article?

Parents with young children
Parents who want well-rounded successful children

Little Bears
I teach a Little Bears class for children officially aged at least 2 and half, although if the child is ready before that age they can join. Usually children are in the two to three age group. In my experience, kids have to be at least aged two before they can appreciate some of the activities.

Category: Culture, English, Language schools, Languages, Learning methods, Singapore / Tags: childhood learning, children, English, english language, english learning, I CAN READ, language learning, Singapore, speaking, writing

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Archive for English

NUS Extension closes down Korean, Mandarin and English programs

English classes for adults. Where to find them in Singapore?

Where to learn English in Singapore?

How JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur came to pay for my flight ticket

IELTS Writing tip: Useful Phrases for the Writing paper – Part 2

To begin your Writing Task 2 essay

IELTS Writing Paper: Is it OK to memorize useful phrases? – Part 1

Essential Life Skills: is your child learning them?

Learn English first. Then think of a degree.

They speak English. Why should I learn their language?

Childhood learning styles: what’s most important?

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