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New Hope Language Centre.
What does NHLC teach?
Beginning the 16th of September, 2003, my school
will teach YLE (Young Learners of English), KET
(Key English Tests) and PET (Preliminary English
Tests) as part of our new syllabus based on courses
from University Cambridge UK who have
lead the field in ESOL (English Speakers of Other
Languages) for over 150 years, worldwide!
The aim of NHLC is to address the needs of the
student individually while teaching in classes of
up to 12 students. This generally involves going
back to basics and teaching parts of speech
(grammar) and the rules so easily overlooked by
other teachers from non-English speaking
backgrounds.
Some of the older students have a good grasp of
the language yet find conversation daunting. While
nobody as an individual is to blame for their
shortcomings, a critical eye could be passed over
the governments preceding the present. They chose
to change the education system from pro-English to
a more Malay system. Over the last 10 or more
years, Malaysia's standard of English has dropped
significantly.
The students of Limbang now have a new centre
where English is the 1st language and where they
can immerse themselves (if they need to do so) in
the language while being encouraged to utilise
their first (and second) languages to gain a full
understanding of English and all its concepts.
The first few months.
The first few months of a student's English
education at NHLC is going to be a back to basics
time where he or she will hopefully gain a better
understanding of what is and is not or can and
can't be done with English. Areas covering
pronouns, articles, conjunctions, verbs,
prepositions, agreements, adverbs and tenses are
the main cause for concern in here.
Many parents ask,
"Why is my child showing no change? He has been
coming to NHLC for a month already!"
Our answer is simple. GIVE THEM A CHANCE! We
(NHLC) do not teach to the school curriculum. The
school curriculum is for this year and probably
forgotten next year. We teach English that we hope
your child will remember for the rest of his/her
life. Sometimes a child will not show any change
(better or worse) for possibly 2 months or
more. The child will need to address the
new teacher and the teacher's speech, accent and
methods. The child may be learning new skills of
how the language is used in real life (not a
classroom in his/her school) and how new strings of
words, tonation and sound systems are used. During
this time a student may demand "The right to be
silent" and not speak other than in his/her own
language. It all takes time. Some kids take more
time than others. Give them time to adjust and
blend in.
I could write for hours on this subject but for
now, I hope I have given you something to think
about and an idea of what to expect from us.
New Hope Language Centre
(Borneo)
Mr. Chris Critchlow(Native English Teacher of
English)
M.Sc B.Sc. (Hon)
ESL Mainstream (D.E.T.E.) 2002
Astrologer
Addendum: 19 August 2003.
NHLC and the British Council of
Brunei have banded together to offer YLE, KET, PET,
CPE, BEC and eventually IELTS courses for adults
and school students. Commencement due September
2003. Exams are expected to be taken on site in
Limbang.
Addendum: 1
September 2004.
NHLC now offers
HTML classes for
anyone, any age. Please call in for details.
Beginning in 2005, Visual
Basic classes for form 4 and 5 students.
Coming
soon! PHP classes and
other, programming related classes.
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