Burma Students’ Post

BSP NewsPaper

Monday • April 25,2011 Nupo-Temporary Shelter Issue 2011­-Vol:3

Umphang District, Tak Province, Thailand.

ESC school’s 2nd session for 2011
In spite of being tired during Water Festival,
forty of some enthusiastic students did not forget to
Rakhine Water festival in the Nupo Camp
Led by young Arakanese people, the very pop-
ular Rakhine Water festival, marking the New Year
in Burma, was successfully and joyfully celebrated
from April 13 to 16, 2011 in Nupo Temporary Shel-
ter, Tak Province, Thailand.

come and sit for the entrance test at ESC school on

April 19, 2011. The placement test was held at 9:00
a.m. on that day and some former E.S.C students
and new students showed up. After sitting for a two-
hour-writing test, 22 students out of 39 students were
selected to be interviewed. On April 21, 2011, these
students came to sit for an oral test with Ms. Erin, an
The festival was held on the eve of Burmese
New Year as a means of cleansing the bad deeds of
the previous year by pouring water. The Rakhine
Water Festival was held in Nupo for the first time
and lasted four days.
In the course of the festival, young girls and
boys of different ethnicities peacefully participated,
curious to learn about Rakhine water festival, which
they had never experienced before. They joyfully
splashed water at each other to wash away the sins
and to have a good time flirting and drinking during
the water festival while older people retreated to the
monasteries.
American volunteer teacher, to decide who willat-
tend higher level classes. The rest will attend local
teacher classes, Starter A and Starter B. All English
classes will start on April 25, 2011, and the session -See page 3
will last only ten weeks. --by Rainbow
BSP Newspaper April-25-2011 Page-1
Editorial
Hardships, miseries, disasters, and war fares
are what people faced and are facing in their lives.
Crises make people more intelligent and endur-
ance. Since the ancient times, people and animals
encountered numerous troubles and only those who
adapted best survived. Similarly, we currently are
in the middle of a difficult situation. Natural disas-
ters—from hurricane Katrina in the U.S to tsunami
in Japan—swept throughout the world. Within a
few years, volcanoes erupted, earthquakes stroke,
hurricanes and typhoons destroyed many parts of
the world; moreover, tsunami and earthquakes dam-
aged a nuclear reactor in Japan. Is our world on the
brink of destruction? Take a glance back to the his-
tory: war fares – such as from The Crusade, Mon-
gol’s aggressions, to seven years war, 30 years war,
and American civil war to First and Second World
War—had killed lots of people, and the Black Death
–The Plague – harvested the souls of nearly entire
Europe. On the other hand, atomic bomb takes tens
of thousands at a blink. Nevertheless, many people
managed to survive in such conditions at the time.
Life truly is a challenge; however, we do have a
chance to overcome whatever difficulties. Even the
people living in Nazi concentration camps did get
their freedom after The World War II though many
died. Whenever hardships came, some adapted the
situation and got out of the trouble when others died.
If one grasp the hope and never give up, he/she will
certainly overcome the hard test of life. Likewise,
the refugees still have a hope – although dim – to
grasp and never give up trying to reach it. There is
a saying: “If you cannot fly, run. If you cannot run,
walk. If you cannot walk, crawl”. Always keep do-
ing something you can. Even if you can do nothing,
it is sure there still left many things you can make
done. Never give up trying, and do whatever you
have to before you die.
May all pass the test of endurance and courage of
your lifetime.
Dear Readers
If you would like to publish your article, poem,
and Cartoon, you can contact and send to ESC School,
directly.
BSP Members
Page-2 April-25-2011
Learning to Learn
For all English learners who should know the
different learning styles of learning process. Learning
can cause change and change can cause learning, but
learning does not always cause change and change
does not always cause learning. So why do we need
to think about this? Some students are prepared for
change; others do not want to change. For a while,
let’s move back to Burma and see the education
system that is a restrictive system. In a classroom,
students should shut up their mouths and copy the
lecture, and the teachers don’t want to welcome stu-
dent’s opinions and ideas. Burmese English learners,
here in Nu Po, brought the bad habit from Burma and
consequently, they do not have self-esteem, and as
a result have no question, comments or complaints;
moreover, teachers rarely get feedback from the stu-
dents.
Bringing new teaching method into the class-
room - Andragogy ( for adults learners ) – may be dif-
ficult for both the teachers and the students. Andra-
gogy teaching method is based on a student-centered
learning process: expression by the learners, sharing
and building on knowledge and experiences, offer-
ing ideas, responsibility for the learning process, and
independence. Ms Erin, one of the volunteer teach-
ers who is currently teaching at ESC, introduced that
kind of teaching style and she presented like a discus-
sion (meeting) lessons. Personally, I was so nervous
about the strange new method, even though I am a
teacher, and I had already learnt the new method from
Non Formal Education Teacher Training Program. As
a student, I also am attending advanced class and we
advanced students can share knowledge, ideas and
experiences of learning English; however, I didn’t
dare to speak for a few weeks. But the rest of my
classmates were eager to speak regarding the lessons.
I felt impressed for them and I myself also wanted
-See page 5
BSP Newspaper
News ..................................................Page 1
Editorial .............................................Page 2
Article ................................................Page 3
Poem ................................................Page 3
Cartoon ..............................................Page 5
Snappy Joke ......................................Page 6
English Lesson ..................................Page 6
BSP Newspaper
-From page 1 PASSOVER
This year for the Jewish holiday of Passover I
will not eat one piece of unleavened bread (matzah).
I will not have any of my mom’s, Aunt Myra’s, or
any Jewish mother’s homemade mitzvah ball soup
either. I will not possess a haggada (the Jewish book
for Passover). I will not even come into contact with
another Jew, by any definition, during the whole
week. However, I will come to better understand the
meaning of Passover perhaps better than the previ-
ous 24 Passovers in my life.
In the 2nd half of Social Studies today with
the six Burmese student refugees that came to class, I
taught the story of Passover. For Luka, whose father
There are not just the public holidays but plenty of is a minister at one of the refugee camp’s churches,
festivals held in Rakhine State throughout the year, he eagerly listened and modestly corrected some of
and water festival is one of the most popular and what I forgot from Hebrew School as a child. So was
famous traditional festivals. Kim Kim, who is also Christian and knows the book
--by BKM (April 20, 2011) of Exodus from the Old Testament quite well.
For Yoon, Wah-Ler, and San Yae Ayn, who
THOUGHTS
are Buddhist, they respectfully and silently listened
Leran to wall before you run. just as they were during the first half of Social Stud-
He who has hope has everything. ies as I explained the consequences of World War I
Better do it than wish it done. leading up to World War II.
Godness must be joined with knowledge. Explaining mitzvah was easy and so was
Confidence is the companion of success. singing the traditional four questions for Passover.
He who makes nomistakes makes nothing. I felt a little guilty when I could not list all
Never find your delight in anothers misfortune ten plagues. I also stumbled over the last of the fives
Failure teaches success. items found on the Passover Seder Plate.
The heart of the fool is in his mouth, the mouth All this was trivial to what I really wanted to
of the wise is in his heart. teach, or rather discuss, with my students: oppres-
sion and freedom.
Why do we study social studies? Why are
American Slang for learners Jews commanded to tell the story of the Exodus and
It is always good to study proper English celebrate Passover every year?
vocabulary and grammar but it is also worth while -See page 4
to study slang. Slang is defined as words or phrases POEM
that people use in everyday informal conversation.
Often they have meanings that might surprise you.
The Spirit of being Alive
Below are some examples of American slang often
used in the U.S.
Life of everyone is a challenge
Big mouth - (n)someone who tells everyone’s secrets
There’s always something that could land
Chicken or Scaredy cat- n. someone
A conflict waged without swords or guns
who is afraid of something
To each individual other than none
Bling - (n) possession, especially jewelry, that is
The excitement that truly stirs the heart
very expensive, big, and showy
Like a portion of mixed wine bitter-sweet
Know it all -(n) someone who thinks they know
If there is no challenge in one to resist
everything and wants to show off
Life would seem as useless as a dead leaf.
and get attention
Ride - (n) transportation (ex. bicycle, car, truck,
motorbike, tractor)
--by Robert Chem
--By Amber Dodge
BSP Newspaper April-25-2011 Page-3
-From page 3 The first opening day of ESC’ s second session

Because 3,000 years ago or so, the Hebrews be- After happy water-festival days and long va-
cation, it is once again to meet ESC’s new students
came a free people but there is still oppression in
the world. and old students at ESCschool, on Monday( April 25,
2011).
All of my students were born as free citizens of Bur-
There
ma under a repressive regime. When most students
are more
were 12 or 13, the age when Jews are preparing for
than 135
their bar or bat mitzvahs (coming of age milestone
students
in Judaism) their families had difficult choices that
for this
today fortunately Jews cannot and do not have to
second
imagine. Do I stay in this country and risk being
session
jailed, tortured, and killed (or all three)? Or do I
2011.
flee with my family with whatever we can carry and
Out of
start a new and hopefully free life in another coun-
50 new
try? (still risking jail, torture and death if caught).
students, 22 students are qualified to at-
The students and their families here are not slaves,
tend higher level classes: Elementary,Pre-
but are certainly not free people. The Sukkas (tem-
i n t e r m e d i a t e , I n t e r m e d i a t e , U p p e r- i n t e r m e -
porary houses) the Jews dwelt in the dessert here
diate A,B and Advancedclass.
are make-shift huts made from bamboo. The man- .

Elementary and Pre-intermediate clasess start at 9:00

na that G-d provided for food for the Jews to the .

Burmese refugees is rice, rice, and some more rice. a.m. in the
The Promiseland to them is not Eretz Yisrael, but morning.
Norway, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, or the Interme-
United States. G-d is not going decide whether and diate and
when they will be ready to enter. Rather, the Thai Upper-
government will decide if they should be classified interme-
as refugees, the United Nations High Commission diate A
on Refugees will decide case by case how dire each classes
family’s case is, and the bureaucrats of the Western begin at
World will decide what their quota of refugees will 2:00 p.m.
be for the given year, all at a rate I would not con- Again Up-
sider due process. per- intermediate B and Advanced calss students have
to attend at 4:00 p.m. and all classes finish at 5:30 p.m.
The students I teach are not stupid, naïve, nor ig-
The other two basic classes, Starter A and Starter B
norant about their situation. I do not sugar coat or
are handled by local teachers, Miss Grace
use any euphemisms to describe their present and
hopefully not long future circumstances.and U Myint than. These classes start at
10:30 a.m. and at 12:00, respectively.
I tell them the important of Passover because it is
Dur-
the story of a people once oppressed becoming free.
ing their
--by JEREMY stay in the
camp, the
students
should-
spend their
Burma Students’ Post Newspaper time effec-
Members tively by
studying.
There is a
Editorial Group & Esc Students famous saying “Practice makes perfect”. Keeping
Layout Design - ESC Group touch with English lessons and activities everyday
and speaking with native speakers, the students’
English levels became higher and higher gradually.
Welcome to ESC English Speaking School.
--by Rainbow

Page-4 April-25-2011 BSP Newspaper

Cartoon -from page 2

to try and then tried my best in

the classroom. And the result is
that my speaking skill is gradu-
ally improving and I can get more
knowledge, knowing, and ideas
from my classmates by discuss-
ing.
For all new English learn-
ers at ESC, I would like to sug-
gest that you keep trying your
best in the English learning pro-
cess and don’t worry about who
you are, where you are from, or
your educational level. There is
no discrimination at ESC and you
can show your opinions, present
your knowledge and ideas, and
give your advice in the classroom.
But be aware that “You shouldn’t
bring shyness and fear of speak-
ing!”
--By Grace
-From page 6
2. Pronouns I, we, she, it, they, me, us, it, them (Personal Pronouns)
mine, yours, hers, his, its, ours, theirs (Possessive Pronouns)
myself, yourself, yourselves, ourselves, themselves (Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns)
this, that, these, those (Demonstrative Pronouns)
another, anybody, much, neither, someone, anything, both, all, any, few (Indefinite Pro
nouns)
who, whom, whose, which, what (Interrogative Pronouns)
who, whom, whose, which, that (Relative Pronouns)
each other, one another (Reciprocal Pronouns)

3. Verbs play, played, played, playing/ invent, invented, invented, inventing (Regular Verbs)
buy, bought, bought, buying/ feel, felt, felt, feeling (Irregular Verbs)
discover, chop, create, establish, desire (Action Verbs/ Transitive Verbs)
snore, creep, yawn (Action Verbs/ Intransitive Verbs)
clap, recall, chew, (Action Verbs/ Transitive or Intransitive Verbs)
am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being, look, smell, feel, grow, appear, become (Linking
Verbs)
has, have, had, will, would, must, do, does, did, am, is, are, was, were, been (Auxiliary
Verbs)

4. Adjectives
huge, lively, beautiful, proper, essential, tiny, eager, soft, intelligent, wide, comfortable
a, an, the (The most common adjectives are the articles.)
Taiwanese, American, French, Shakespearean (Proper Adjectives)
this, that, these, those (Demonstrative Adjectives)
--BY D. Demon
-To be continuing next Issue
BSP Newspaper April-25-2011 Page-5
Snappy Joke
The modern tortoise story
Long, long ago, there was a big lake in the middle of a forest and a big talkative tortoise lived for
many years in that lake. One day, he noticed the water in the lake became less and less and he began to
worry about his future. So, he arranged for the two egrets who lived in a tree nearby to carry him to a big-
ger lake far from the forest. They agreed and planned to let him bite a stick and they would carry the stick.
But they warned him not to open his mouth during the trip.
During the aerial journey, he tried to be quiet, but while they were passing over a village, the kids
saw and shouted at him. He forgot his promise and shouted back to them. Finally, he fell on to the ground
and died.
It was an old story about a careless tortoise. The young new tortoise generation knew this story ad
they were very embarrassed whenever some other animals talked about this.
Actually, the life-span of a tortoise is more than one hundred years. But, that poor tortoise gave his
life due to his carelessness.
The modern tortoise generation was very intelligent. They were trained not to be talkative and be
quiet. They decided they would never make such a mistake.
One day, a modern tortoise was listening to the B.B.C news in a bush near the lake. He was very
crazy about football news. In the news, he heard about global warming. When he checked the lake in which
he live, he was shocked because the water level in the lake was much lower than before.
The next day, when the egrets came to the lake for water, he asked them for help. At first they didn’t
want to help. Due to previous history, their ancestors were very shameful. But the poor tortoise requested
again and again and finally, they agreed to carry him to a big lake.
The next morning, they started their journey at dawn, It was a beautiful day and the sky was clear,
The sun began to rise up on the horizon. The tortoise did not forget to take his radio and he hoped this time
everything would be alright.
While hey were in the air, the tortoise was listening to BBC news as usual. In the sky the radio an-
nouncement was very clear and he assured even if naughty children saw and shouted at him, he could not
hear them.
At that time the radio was announcing how they played in the last night’s foot ball match, Man-
chester United vs. Chelsea. When the radio announced Chelsea got a chance to kick a penalty and the ball
directly got into the goal-post, the tortoise shouted GOAL!!! and he fell down from the sky. After a few
moments when other animals came, there the tortoise was dying on the ground and the radio was still play-
ing the famous world-cup song ‘ Wakaa Wakaa Hey Hey’ from on top of a tree.
--By Rainbow
Parsing the Sentence
For any language, words are the basic building blocks. In English, words are classified into eight
categories, called the Eight Parts of Speech. They are nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepo-
sitions, conjunctions, and interjection. Some examples for the Eight Parts of Speech are listed below:
1. Nouns river, mountain, pilot (Common Nouns)
Nile, Mt. Everest, Pacific (Proper Nouns)
shoe, car, perfume, thorn, smoke (Concrete Nouns)
beauty, truth, jealousy, prestige, freedom (Abstract Nouns)
camp, award, sheep, deer, mouse, calf (Singular Nouns)
camps, awards, sheep, deer, mice, calves (Plural Nouns)
wisdom, flour, cotton, butter (Uncountable Nouns)
scientist, animal, dictator, continent (Countable Nouns)
tribe, committee, flock, herd, gang, crew, staff (Collective Nouns)
bookcase, ice cream, mother-in-law, self-knowledge, South Carolina (Compound Nouns)
the tourist’s companion, a dog’s bark, the birds’ beaks, the children’s park ( Possessive Nouns)
a chip of glass, a slice of bread, a pair of glasses, some grains of salt (Unit Nouns)
a basket of flowers, an armful of straw, a heap of leaves (Quantifying Nouns)
-See page 5
Page-6 April-25-2011 BSP Newspaper