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Page-2 May-3-2011 BSP Newspaper

EditorialAlthough our time of youth is passing day

after day there is no reection from the other

side of our expectation. However, we all are still

marching to our goals. On the way to the goal, we

console and help each other in order that we can

get encouragement. Otherwise, we will face with

difculty. We need to be brave. No matter whathappens, dont give up, and keep implementing

your intention. One common saying is that Ev-

ery cloud has a sliver lining and like that say-

ing you might get something rewarding for your

trying. We, ESC students, are trying to continue

the re-born Burma Students Post (BSP) and

we want the community to benet from reading

our newspaper. And also from Nupo society, we

would like to get back the blissful feeling that can

give us courage to keep the BSP new paper alive.

It was a long and bumpy ride from

Mae Sot to Nupo. Along the way, I thought to my-

self Where am I going? and What am I getting

myself into? All the nervousness and anxiety I felt

though went away immediately when I was intro-

duced and shook hands with Mr. Win and the stu-

dents I would be teaching at PAB High School. Even

though I knew I was only going to spending three

weeks teaching and it would not be a long time toteach and get to know my students, I told myself I

was going to do my best.

Before traveling to Thailand and coming to

Nupo, I was a teacher for two years in the inner city

of Memphis, Tennessee teaching mathematics at a

public school to poor African-Americans. My stu-

dents at Nupo quickly blew me away and I was im-

pressed with how respectful and smart my students

were. Before coming and only hearing that my stu-

dents would be refugees from Burma, I thought Iwould be teaching Basic English like the A, B, Cs,

and maybe some math such as multiplication and

division. My assumptions were pleasantly false. Af-

ter a few days, I realized my students were bored

with identifying subject-verb agreement and prepo-

sitional phrases, while in math, students wanted to

learn about advanced geometry!

As I continued to make my lessons everyday

more challenging, I had great opportunity to learn

about the lives of my students in Burma, experi-

ence life with them in Nupo, and hear about all theirdreams and ambition for their future once they will

be resettled.

I was honored in feeling like a member of

the family of Mr. Win, the headmaster of PAB High

School, where I ate all of my delicious, traditional

Burmese meals with his wife, and two daughters in-

cluding Yoon, one of my students. Another student,

Wahlel, had spare space in his home and invited me

to live with him during my time at Nupo. He made

me feel welcome and I enjoyed his company. Anoth-

er student, Luka, invited me to his church on Easter

Sunday, which I enjoyed participating in.

In addition to learning about the lives of my

students, I shared moments and experiences of my

life with my students. During my time at Nupo was

the Jewish holiday of Passover, which I explained to

the students. I also taught them about my grandmoth-

ers experience surviving the Holocaust. On my last

day, I told students about how scary and how fright-

ened I was when I was 16 years old, on September

11, 2001 living only 30 minutes away from New YorkCity.

In my spare time after teaching everyday I

enjoyed exploring Nupo by walking around. I also

learned from a monk about Buddhism. I enjoyed

chatting with other educators at Nupo from some of

the other schools. One of my favorite activities was

running every night as the sun was setting and the

temperature had cooled down a bit.

I am sad to leave Nupo but I am proud of my

students and hard they worked to learn so much insuch a short period of time. Students came to class

during their summer vacation, during the Water Fes-

tival, on Saturdays, in the heat, and in the rain! They

were really determined to make every moment count

while I was here to learn.

I am most proud of my students in their criti-

cal thinking. Students progressed in their writing and

editing skills everyday to become truly gifted writers.

Students in social studies did not just sit and listen,

but asked very deep and insightful questions proving

to themselves and me how intelligent and how much

they were critical thinkers.

I hope to return in a few months after the

rainy seasons with my girlfriend and teach and learn

more from my current and new students at PAB High

School. Thank you students very much for your ardu-

ous work!

--by JEREMY

Burma Students Post Newspaper

MembersEditorial Group & Esc Students

Layout Design - ESC Group

Nupo

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Interview with In-charge of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)in NupoQ : What does VCT stand for and can you explain about the intention of VCT?

I.C: VCT stand for Volunteering Counseling and Testing. To know the peoples health condition and

to reduce the peoples stress about HIV/AIDS are our key intentions.

Q : May I know about when VCT started in Nupo?

I.C: VCT was established in 2005. It has been operating for 6 years.

Q : How many staff are working in VCT?

I.C: In total, there are seven staffs working for VCT.

Q : Can you explain little bit about VCTs process?

I.C: On Saturday, we make activity with young people to teachthe people often working outside the camp about HIV/

AIDS and to reduce their bad habits, and sometimes go to

their home to explain their family about HIV/AIDS. Also,

if they want to check blood, we make sure blood test.

In sum mer, we make campaign in the section to teach

people about HIV/ AIDS and have a plan to campaign for

young people on December 1 that is worlds AIDS day.

Q: What is VCTs target population?

I.C: Especially, our intentional population is the people living in

Nupo refugee camp.Q: What about VCTs target age?

I.C: Mainly, our target ages are between 15 and 50.

Q: What kinds of diseases are VCTs targets in blood test?

I.C: Mostly, we look for HIV/AIDS. If blood donors come to

check blood, we make sure blood test, take sample blood, and send it to the lab. And then the results come

out from the lab. Sometimes, we know ve diseases malaria, venereal diseases, enlarged liver, anemia,

HIV/AIDS and let the donors know about the diseases that they have. HIV/AIDS is especially spread from

blood and not from sneeze, phlegm, or cough.

BSP Newspaper May-3-2011 Page-3

8 favourite things about Nupo

1. ESC Newspaper improves reading skills of

students

2. Good Society in Nupo kind people, good rela-

tionships

3. Communication can contact by internet or

phone4. Environment - nice scenery, clean and beautiful

surroundings

5. Many libraries good for reading and gaining

knowledge

6. Receiving free rations each month

7. Womens rights- organizations that support

women (SGBV)

8. Security no ghting, protection for refugees

10 least favourite things

1. Lack of jobs lack of money, poor economy

2. Bad water lots of lime, pollution

3. Expensive food

4. A lot of plastic trash from packets

5. Bad smell from pig styes6. A lot of mosquitoes can cause malaria

7. Narrow-minded people- uneducated people

8. Insufcient electricity- difcult to read at night

9. Noise- the generator, drunk people

10. Health care no emergency room, no operation

room, no ambulance

Favourite In Nupo

Q: How long do the patients have to wait to know about the results of HIV/AIDS?

I.C: We make sure blood test at least three steps and then sent it to Maesout. After testing in Mesout,we onrm the results of if they have HIV/AIDS or not.

-See page 4

-by the Elementary and Pre-intermediate classes

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Page-4 May-3-2011 BSP Newspaper

Q: Can you explain VCTs patherships with other organizations?

I.C: Chiey, we play a part with three groups- -DEAR, SGBV,and ARC.

Q: What would you want the people living in Nupo to know about VCTs intentions?

I.C: I want the staffs to continue VCTs process as long as the camp exists and would like the people to

cooperate with VCTs procedures.

Q: How many people come to test blood each day?

I.C: Each day, one or two people come to test blood. Their ages are over 20 or 30. Mostly, they are

male.The main reason they want to know is whether they have HIV/AIDS or not. For Somepeople, they lose condence in their health. So, this is why they come to make blood test.

Q: Do you have any difculties to educate the people in sections about HIV/AIDS?

I.C: Some people dont want to test blood. Some dont accept explanations about HIV/AIDS. These are

our difculties.

Q: Do you think people are participating more in the blood test process?

I.C: I think that it is more and more improving in blood tests course. Three years ago, if we made

blood test in sections, we do have to give some soap, detergent powder. Now we do not need to give

something like that, if we campaign with the people in sections. Besides, people in sections

understand better and better and are more participating in blood tests process.

Q: What about VCTs schedule for one week?I.C: VCTs timetable is seven days a week and 24 hours a day. Anyone can come to check blood any time.

Welcome to VCT for anyone.

Q: Thanks for your time and kindness.

I.C: Its my pleasure. --Interviewer COT

-From page 6

Its also an ofcial language in their countries.

There is a different capacity of understanding level between native speakers and non-native speak-

ers. Native speakers acquire more words than non-native speakers. They can describe things with many

words so that they can make things sound nicer. They understand the language more deeply than non-native

speakers since they dene all natural phenomena in English. They will choose the proper words every timewhen they try to explain the idea or describe the situation. Moreover, they will form the idea and build up

knowledge in English, which is very different from non-native speakers. They also know very well about

the nature of the words and the language. Native speakers know how to change its form in order to have

different meanings or similar meanings with diverse structures.

Native speakers have better uency and pronunciation. Native speakers adapt the language very

well. The motion of the tongue and the manner of the mouth are ready as soon as the words come to their

mind to speak out. They also can adjust the ow of idea to the mood that they are in very smoothly. They

do not have problems with pronunciation. Non-native speakers will take a longer time for that kind of u-

ency; even so, they cant acquire that quality, and instead they come out with their own accent.

Since language is a part of their life and culture, native speakers will have a more advanced un-

derstanding level than non-native speakers. They can also use a diverse connection between words and

phrases to make the speech ow more smoothly when they describe things. Thus, the language used by

native speakers is superior to English used by non-native speakers.

2)We partially agree with the statement: English used by native speakers is superior to English used by

non-native speakers. We have three main reasons: rst, native speakers speak and form word usages more

uently than non-native speakers. The second reason is non-native speakers are excellent at creating sen-

tences grammatically accurately. Moreover, the nal reason suggests no one is better: if both native and

non-native speakers speak simply by using comprehensible words, everyone can absorb the meaning and

so no one is better.

As other people are advanced in their mother language, especially at pronunciation, native English

speakers have better pronunciation than non-native speakers. For example, we pronounce junta as /janta/,

whereas native speakers pronounce /hunta/. So, sometimes, the differences of pronunciation between non-

native speakers and native speakers give a hard time to each other in conversation. --See page 5

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BSP Newspaper May-3-2011 Page-5

-Rrom page 6

Like humans, apes have opposable thumbs and toes.

CS = apes / SS = apes / CP = Like humans, have opposable thumbs and toes / SP = have (verb)

Reproduction among apes is similar to humans.

CS = Reproduction among apes / SS = Reproduction / CP = is similar to humans / SP = is (verb)

The mountaingorilla is the most endangered ape.

CS = The mountain gorilla / SS = gorilla / CP = is the most endangered ape / SP = is (verb)

For the protection of apes, several nationalparks have been establishedin many countries.

CS = several national parks / SS = parks / CP = For the protection of apes, have been established in many

countries / SP = have been established (verb phrase)

Apes do not have a tail.

CS = Apes / SS = Apes / CP = do not have a tail / SP = do have (verb phrase)

(Notice that modiers are not part of the verb phrase, even if they interrupt the verb phrase. Therefore, the

modiernotis excluded from the simple predicate.)

-To be continuing next Issue --BY D. Demon

--From page 5

For the second point, non-native speakers are better in grammar usage, because English is their

second language and even if they cant speak perfectly, they try to learn grammatically. As an example, if

non-native speakers take an English level testing exam they will strive to get high marks in grammar. Be-

cause they know themselves that they cant speak well when they sit for a speaking test.

Neither is superior if they speak words both understand. Language is mainly for communicating,

passing information, and maintaining customs, so if they people compromise and adapt to speak using

easy-to-understand grammar and simple usage of words to form an idea, both native and non-native speaks

can share thoughts. Therefore, no one is better, since both have to use simple forms and try to understand

each other like English learners and native speaker teachers do in a school. No one is perfect; no one is bet-

ter. It is just some people are good at this and others that.

As the aforementioned paragraphs show, native speakers are experts of word usage and pronounce

better than non-native speakers. Non-native speakers use good grammar to express their thoughts. How-

ever, by compromising each other both can know the meaning and communicate, and no one is better.

3) We disagree with the statement: The English used by native speakers is superior to the English used

by non-native speakers. Native speakers use informal usages and some ambiguous vocabulary. In their

spoken and written language they apply creative writing and different pronunciation, and they never care

about basic grammar rules. Some non-native speakers can even acquire better language ability than native

speakers.

Among native speakers informal usages are widely spread and it becomes common when they

make conversation with other non-native speakers. Also, they use some unclear words both in their written

and spoken language. For example, they use pigpen instead of pigsty and rst oor instead of ground

oor.

In the teaching environment, native speakers explanations are not based on fundamental rules and

this can lead the students to misunderstanding. Another thing is that even some words have negative mean-

ing, but native speakers use them in a positive sense. To prove it, the words crazy and bad are very popu-

lar among native speakers, Otherwise, because of their pronunciation, it is more difcult to grasp their real

meaning. When they speak English, it is difcult to control and at least, some close words get combined,

So, it sounds unclear and sometimes it makes other people think they have said a new word.The non-native speakers could graduate from universities and will have higher English level than

some native speakers who have grown up in a farm and did not go to school. Moreover, the new genera-

tions from refugee families are more energetic to learn but the native speakers children are not mature and

nally, their qualication becomes lower. --BYUpper Intermediate B and Advanced classes

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Page-6 May-3-2011 BSP Newspaper

5. Adverbs brightly, honestly, downstairs, almost, too, truly, very, just, then, afterward, so,

only, next

6. Prepositions about, behind, of, off, onto, out, verse, via, per, with, up, upon, inside, to, like, near

7. Conjunctions and, but, for, nor, if, when, so that, while, since, as, after, both and, neither. nor

8. Interjections Oh! Hurry! Alas! Wow! Whew! Ouch! Ah! My goodness!

The Sentence and Its Parts

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought, feeling, or idea. Every sentence

consists of two main parts: the subject and the predicate.

Flags ap. (subject = Flags / predicate = ap)

He yawns.

The leaves are rustling.

The demonstrators were arrested.

The city has been attacked.

1. Complete Subjects (CS)

The complete subject includes the simple subject and all of its modiers.

2. Simple Subjects (SS)The simple subject is the main word or group of words in the complete subject.

3. Complete Predicates (CP)

The complete predicate includes the simple predicate and all of its complements and modiers.

4. Simple Predicates (SP)

The simple predicate is the verb or verb phrase in the complete predicate.

Apes are primates.

CS = Apes / SS = Apes / CP = are primates / SP = are (verb)..

Humans are also primates.

CS = Humans / SS = Humans / CP = are also primates / SP = are (verb) --See page 5Cartoon

Daw Kyaing Kyaing

New

Govern

ment

Senior-General

Than Shwe

The English used by native English speakers is su-

perior to the English spoken by non-native speakers.

*superior to= better than

Do you agree? ESCs Upper Intermediate B and Ad-

vanced classes had different opinions, and they ex-

plained their views in three persuasive essays. Which

argument do you agree with?

1)We agree with the statement The English used by

native speakers is superior to the English used by non-

native speakers. The ancestors of native speakers

spoke only English for generations, and native speak-

ers have better uency and pronunciation. The under-

standing level is also different between native and non-

native speakers.

The ancestors of native speakers of English

spoke only the English throughout their lifetime. They

have been using the English language from the start to

the end of their lifetime. They have been using only

English for communication in the course of their learn-

ing time. --See page 4

NATIVE VERSUS NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS

(--from Issue-3,page-5)Parsing the Sentence