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News you can use!
Volume 2.2
1 April 1998
It is with great sadness that we inform you that this will be our last issue. The ELSC Newsletter, after weeks of valiant effort to remain an independent source of clear-sighted news, has fallen victim to a hostile take-over attempt by newspaper mogul Rupert Murdoch.
The President of the University refused to divulge the amount that he has sold the paper for, stating only "…the deal was worth millions" and that he intended to build an ice-skating rink on the campus with the money.
Murdoch first became interested in acquiring the Newsletter four weeks ago when he noticed that the circulation jumped from five to eight hundred and shows no signs of letting up. Concerned that Newsletter would threaten his media empire, Murdoch set out a relentless campaign to acquire it. "If you can’t beat them, buy them", he told reporters.
Sources close to Murdoch confirmed rumours that he intends to merge the Newsletter with The Sun, a popular British tabloid.
Shari, co-editor for the Newsletter lamented the loss of autonomy and couldn’t bear the thought of writing for "a trashy tabloid". "Now I’ll have to write about idiots instead of idioms", she sobbed.
APRIL FOOLS DAY A Cultural Note
In English culture the first day of April is known as April Fools Day. People play practical jokes on each other. We therefore couldn’t resist playing one on you today. Don’t worry, you do have the May issue of the Newsletter to look forward to. Unfortunately, you may have to wait a while before you get an ice rink on campus.
HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS DAY
The origins of April Fools Day can be traced back to France. During the Middle Ages, the French celebrated New Years Day on 25 March. Festivals were held each day culminating on 1 April when people exchanged gifts and went to parties. In 1582, King Charles IX decreed that France would adopt a new calendar developed by Pope Gregory XIII, thereby changing New Years Day to 1 January. People who forgot that New Years Day had been changed were considered "April Fools". They became the target of the practical jokers who would send them foolish gifts and invitations to parties that didn’t exist.
The Gregorian Calendar is still in use today. It replaced the Julian Calendar which was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar who, as you’ll remember from our March Issue, was the Emperor of Rome.
Inside you’ll find… |
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Alan is from Britain. He joined the PolyU in September of 1997. Before coming to the University, he taught in a local secondary school. In addition to English, he has taught science in Britain. These days Alan is pursuing his Ph.D. research, which examines the effects of the Handover on English teaching in Hong Kong. |
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Stella organises the Resources Room of the Study-Centre, where she is surrounded by the treasures of knowledge. Sometimes, it’s hard to see her face behind the towers of books. Her interests include Bible Studies and listening to religious hymns. She enjoys travelling in China. |
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Chris is originally from Canada, but she has been in Asia since 1992. Her professional experience is quite diverse. Besides teaching, she has worked as a land surveyor and an air traffic controller. Chris is pursuing a Ph.D. through the University of South Australia. She has a nine-year-old daughter. |
NEW FACES
Recently two new staff members joined us at the Centre. We are happy to welcome Alice Yu and Adam Tse. Before joining the Poly U as a Language Instructor, Alice was studying in Australia. Adam was teaching in
Chinese U. and City U. We hope that they will enjoy their new positions.
When in April the sweet showers fall
And pierce the drought of March to the root,
and all
The veins are bathed in liqour of such power
as brings about the engendering of the flower...
Geoffrey Chaucer,
The Canterbury Tales
This verse has often been quoted when describing spring and the month of April with its rains that bring forth a glorious burst of flora and fauna.
Stella’s Top Ten
Are you looking for a good novel? Stella offers her “Top Ten” list, which is sure to please. You can borrow any of these titles from the Resource Room. Just bring your ID and a 50 dollar deposit that will be refunded.
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 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONSWould you like to be part of our next issue? Stop by the Centre and have a chat with the editors. We'd like to meet you. We can be found in ST405d and e. Writers will receive a gift for their contribution. |
STUDENT FORUM provides writers with an opportunity to voice their ideas and have their writing published. All students are invited to submit essays, stories and poems to Shari or Thomas (ST405d&e).
This month we feature a movie review and an introduction to Shakespeare.
(Contributed by Vivian Lee)
Lost Paradise is the tragic love story of a couple whose marriage has become loveless. Matsubara Rinko, the main actress, has become incredibly submissive to her husband and her disdain for him has left her alone. On the other hand, Kuki Shoichiro, the main actor, has also found he has lost the spark once present in his marriage and is feeling isolated.
When the two finally make a move on each other, they realise that their newfound love is better than any they had ever experienced. When people find out the relationship between Rinko and Kuki, Kuki is forced to resign from his job. Finally they decide to commit suicide together and hope the other people understand their true love.
The movie reflects on the length people will go to in order to attain eternal love and examines the various consequences of such attempts- the joy, satisfaction, disappointment and tragedy. On the other hand, it reflects the conservative culture and thought among the people and the country.
I like this story. When you watch the story, you will find yourself immerse in the story. You will start to ask yourself,
“If I was her, what could I do? Would I still choose what she chooses?”
Nowadays, having love affairs is quite popular; many couples in Hong Kong are facing this problem. As we are Chinese, we usually think that having love affairs cannot be accepted by other people. But why don’t we consider their feelings. They have the right to choose their own way of living and their true love, without hurting the others. If we do, many tragedies would be prevented.
Contributed by Vicky Lee
‘O Brave new world’, ‘Love is blind’, ‘The course of love did never run smoothly....’
Maybe you are familiar with these quotations and can cite their origin. Yes, they are from William Shakespeare, our greatest master of literature ever alive.
You may think that poems and plays of Shakespeare are extremely difficult and one can hardly know his works unless one loaded oneself with mountains of books. Well, if you have watched Punch, those black and white films on TV, then you have already come across most of his works. It is because a lot of scenes and ideas of those films are based on Shakespeare. The most distinguishable one is Romeo and Juliet which is about love, Measure for Measure, about justice and Julius Caesar, about being killed.
Do you still think that you are ignorant of this literature? All right, why don’t you start with the simplified versions which are originally for F.1 to F.3. from Longman. They are about 15 to 20 pages only and are easy to enjoy and understand.
Foolish Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
To play the fool -- to behave foolishly in order to amuse other people.
Jim would often play the fool in school to get attention.
To make a fool of -- to cause oneself or another person to appear stupid or foolish.
Gordon used to enjoy making a fool of his younger brother.
To be nobody’s fool --to be a wise person who cannot be easily deceived.
Sue will never fall for a trick like that – she’s nobody’s fool.
To fool around with -- to play with something.
“If you fool around with that knife, you’ll hurt yourself.
A fool’s paradise -- a condition of happiness based on incorrect beliefs that is not likely to last for long.
She is living in a fool’s paradise if she thinks he really loves her. I saw him kissing another girl yesterday.
Wise Proverbs for Fools
Here are some English proverbs with a lot of wisdom.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
A foolish man spends his money unwisely and without thinking. Consequently, he is separated or ‘parted’ from his money.
Harry won the lottery and went gambling. By the end of the day he was penniless. How true it is that a fool and his money are soon parted.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Foolish people act in haste. They do things without much thought. Angels represent wise people who think carefully before acting.
The finance company that went bankrupt last week had promised unrealistically high profits to investors. Many people lost large sums of money and have no hope of reimbursement. My father who decided not to invest in such a risky venture, has been telling all his friends that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
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FOOLISH VOCABULARY
| practical | joke | unwise | foolish | trick |
| silly | gawk | joker | clown | fool |
A Word of Caution
Although the words in the wordsearch are useful, you should be careful when you use them. Some can be viewed as insults. Can you fill in the blanks below using the vocabulary?
| 1. A Practical _______ (4 letters) means playing a _________ (5 letters) on someone. 2. Only _______ people spend their money foolishly. (6 letters) 3. “I am not going out, it’s raining!” “Come on! Don’t be _______! It rains every day in London. (5 letters) 4. The _________ (5 letters) at the Fun Fair was really amusing. |
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