CHILDREN

Happy holidays!

Hello Children,

We are in the last month of the year.

I am sure you are very happy as the school holidays are here.

You would have done your term tests and are eagerly waiting for the year end holidays. Happy to have a break from school.

You all deserve a good rest after all the studies you have been doing throughout the year.

I suppose you would have made a big plan on how you are going to spend your December vacation.

I know that you are going to have great fun with your friends and relations, especially, during this festive season.

Children, be sure you make the best out of your holidays and spare time.

Avoid wasting all your time by playing with your friends. Do whatever you enjoy the most, be it travelling, indulging in sports or listening to music, but make sure to keep up with your reading and preparing yourself for the next school term in 2012.

All the best to those sitting for the GCE O/L exam this month.

Have yourselves a great time. Stay healthy and be creative. Happy holidays.

Bye for now.

Aunt Anji

Reading, a language skill

Hi everybody

What are the languages you use? The fact that you’re reading this now proves that you know your English. You may know/use other languages as well; however let’s concentrate on English for the moment.

How did you learn English? How did you learn to read English? Do you speak English at home and/or school? Do you watch English movies and listen to English songs? Do you use the Internet? Do you read English books, magazines, newspapers and so on? Do you learn English at school and other private classes? Do you write in English?

People learn English in many ways. When it comes to English language learning, there are four skills that are frequently mentioned: listening, speaking, reading and writing. All these are very important components in communication.

How does reading help you improve your English knowledge? When you read, you come across different aspects of language. You get to know new words and expressions, words and expressions that you have never heard of before, and also words and expressions that have different meanings than the meanings you already know. You also become familiar with grammar, sentence structures and spelling when you read a lot. Depending on what you read, you learn to express yourself both in writing and speaking by reading.

When you read stories, dialogues, conversations and the like that helps you improve your speaking by making you familiar with the spoken/colloquial language(s), at least to a certain extent. However, even more than that, I think reading helps you become a good writer. Many keen readers I know are good writers as well.

Reading makes you a creative person. This in turn helps you with your writing and speaking, in communicating more effectively. You become a person with a good imagination. Do you agree with me or not?

If you read a lot, you probably know how much it helps you improve your language skills. So, please pass this message on to all your friends as well. Ask them to read as much as possible and encourage them by lending books, talking about books you have read and the benefits you have got. If possible, suggest your class teacher/English teacher to have a class library. If not, you can borrow books from your school library and even take books, newspapers, journals etc from home and exchange with your friends. If you have free time you can read in your classroom, while you’re waiting for your school van or spending your PT period in classroom because of the rain. (Not advisable to miss PT unless it’s raining or you’re sick!)

If you read regularly for one year, I believe you will notice a good improvement in your language. Even if you’re already really good in your English it won’t harm you to read more and learn more right?

Gayathri

December sky

December sky
At a blizzard night,
I was hung out
under the December sky,
It was gloomy, not a starlit night
merely some December carols were
shone to spread light,
The night wasn't muffle in composure
because the lisp of toddlers,
While I was seeking on my way
All of a sudden, swift footed wind
came a cross and
gripped my whole ego
Freezing and no more heat
I fell down to struggle for life,
instinctively closed my eyes and
tears embraced my cheeks,
I was fidgety and no one to reach
Only the glacial bears were there,
no more to move and sit tight
I came to grim and nomad
It was end of my light-hearted
and
finally I sought my way,
When I was shoving to death bolt
in despair and anxious,
Under the December sky

- Malshani Medagedara Grade 12 Sangamittha Balika Vidyalaya Matale

Zoo	Animals destroying plants	Highway construction
Dave Surendran Year 1S6 St. Joseph's College Colombo 10	U. G. D. Suvini Eronica 5EA Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugegoda	2E U. G. Senesh Lakitha Keshan Highland College Nugegoda

My teacher

C M S F Areeba 2A Sailan International School Negombo

Santa Claus	Flowers	Swan in the pond
Damien Johan Jayatilaka 5E2 St. Peters College Colombo 4	Dinojan 3A Kingston College International Colombo 15	Zihanaas Ziyard 5B Sailan International School Negombo

Night time

Dulmi Nanayakkara Year 3D Vidura College, Nawala