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News you can use!
Volume 1.1 December 1997
Welcome to the holiday issue of the English Language Study-Centre Newsletter. Inside you will find interesting articles, ELSC news and helpful hints to improve your English. Who knows, there may even be a joke or two.
We would like to hear from you and look forward to the opportunity to include student writing in our upcoming issues. So, if you are an aspiring young writer this is your chance to see your work in print. Feel free to submit your essays, stories or poems. We can't promise to publish them all, but we will do our best. If your work is chosen you will receive a prize! You can submit your writing to the editors in ST 405d or e. We hope to hear from you soon.
The ELSC is designed to provide a setting where students can address their personal language learning needs with the help of a qualified teacher. In small groups, students generally receive 20 hours of supplemental instruction each term. The focus of instruction is determined by students’ needs and interests.
In addition, there is a variety of resources available to students for self-study including books, cassettes, videos, newspapers, quiet areas and computers. It is a great place to work on your language and academic skills.
CILL Another valuable resource
The Centre for Independent Language Learning, or CILL for short, is an ideal place for ELSC students to complement their learning.
CILL is a self-access centre where students can study alone or in groups. There are multimedia programmes, language learning videos, movies, books, computers with Internet and e-mail access and much more. There are also materials in Japanese, French, and German. So, why not stop in Room L0009, E Core, Ground Floor and explore the CILL?
How many jelly beans are in the jar at the main desk? Take a guess! Whoever is the closest wins the jar (and the sweets, of course!). How you arrive at a number is up to you, but here's a little advice.
You may enter only once. Write your name, group number and the number of jelly beans that you think are in the jar on a piece of paper and place it in the contest box. The winner will be announced on December 18, 1997. Good Luck!
Each issue we will feature 4 people who make the ELSC an exciting place.
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Richard, originally from England, has worked in Hong Kong since 1992. He has also worked in China, Jordan, Somalia, and Kuwait. His wife is from Guangzhou and they have a six-year-old son. |
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Terri taught in Australia and Macau before coming to PolyU. She is originally from Burma but has found a home in Hong Kong with her husband and daughter. She loves music and spends her free time surfing the net. |
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Fanny is the Centre's resident computer expert. As the Audio-Visual Assistant she has been keeping the things running smoothly for the last 6 years. She enjoys working in the Study-Centre because she gets to meet people from all over the world. Her hobbies include weekend shopping with her husband and son and visiting relatives. |
| To burn the midnight oil To stay awake late into the night, especially to work or study. |
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| I expect you'll be burning the midnight oil for the next week or two, getting ready for your exams. |
| A fish out of water Somebody who is uncomfortable or at a disadvantage, because of being in unfamiliar company or unusual surroundings. I fear that I shall be a fish out of water at the party. There is so little in common between me and the other guests. |
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| Adapted from the Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms |
| KEY PHRASAL VERBS | |
| Key in To enter words, data, or numbers into a computer by typing them on a keyboard. She spent the day keying in entries for a new edition of the dictionary. Keyed up Extremely tense because something important or dangerous is about to happen. The students were keyed up by the announcement that they would be given an exam on Friday. Adapted from the Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs |
Congratulations to Charles, who just
received his Master of Arts in English Language Teaching from The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University. He teaches in the Study-Centre and on Service English.
Cultural
Note In the United States the first semester usually ends with final exams that
are scheduled just days before Christmas. This adaptation of the classic holiday poem The
Night Before Christmas provides insight into this pre-holiday ritual from a university
student's point of view.
‘Twas the night before finals, 
And all through the college,
The students were praying
For last minute knowledge.
Most were quite sleepy,
But none touched their beds,
While visions of essays
Danced in their heads.
Out in the taverns, 
A few were still drinking,
And hoping that liquor
would loosen their thinking.
In my own apartment,
I had been pacing,
Dreading the exams
I soon would be facing.
My roommate was speechless,
His nose in the books;
My comments to him
Drew unfriendly looks.
I drained all the coffee, 
And brewed another pot,
No longer caring
My nerves were now shot.
I stared at my notes,
But my thoughts were muddy.
My eyes all a blur,
I just couldn't study.
Some pizza might help,
I said with a shiver. 
But each place I called
refused to deliver.
I'd nearly concluded
That life was too cruel,
With futures depending
on grades had in school.
When all of a sudden
Our door opened wide,
And the Patron Saint of Procrastination
Ambled inside.
Her spirit was carefree.
Her manner was mellow.
As I stared at her blankly,
She started to bellow.
What kind of student 
Would make such a fuss,
To toss back at teachers
What they tossed at us?
On Cliff Notes! On Crib Notes!
On Last Year's Exams!
On Wingit and Slingit!
And Last Minute Crams!
Her message delivered,
She vanished from sight.
But we heard her laughing
In the cold winter's night.
Your teachers have pegged you.
So just do your best.
Happy Finals to all,
And to all a good test!
What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Snowflakes.
What do you call someone who is afraid of Santa?
Claustrophobic.
Why does Santa have three gardens?
So he can ho, ho, ho!
Why was Santa's little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf esteem.
As you know, inhabitants of the UK and the USA share the same language. But, have you ever noticed that there are some differences of vocabulary? See if you can make the transatlantic connection by matching the British word with its American equivalent.
| British | American | |
| zebra crossing | trunk | |
| lift | fish story | |
| petrol | faucet | |
| lorry | cross walk | |
| tap | elevator | |
| tall tale | truck | |
| boot of a car | gasoline |
There are many things you can do to improve your English. There is no real secret, it simply comes down to your attitude. If you really want to improve you can make it happen. Keep the following suggestions in mind as you practise. You will be surprised how quickly you'll improve if you adopt them as rules to live by.
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How many festive words can you find? Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
FESTIVE VOCABULARY P CHRISTMAS TREE CAROLS
NOEL TURKEY STOCKINGS |
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Would 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 (Shari) and 405e (Thomas).
RESENTS 
REINDEER
ELF
SANTA