Hooray! It's a smart holiday!

Holiday is too worth to pass. So, why don’t we plan our holiday in order to have “having fun” time while sharpening our intelligence?

After receiving report books in school, and after knowing the result of our efforts in education, we sometimes feel confused where we want to spend our holiday. Having vacation overseas is one of the highest dream we sometimes hope the upcoming holiday. But, honestly, at the same time, we realize that it can spend a lot of money if we trip overseas, even in this difficult economical situation. And after the holiday, all we feel is only tiresome. Even, we will not be ready enough to start our school for new term again.

However, we also have to admit that doing something and going somewhere are very useful to refresh our mind and heart before we go to the school again. That’s why, all the people—the students and the workers—really wait for holiday. No matter what, we must make our holiday useful and educative.

When the holiday comes, children may think about some exciting things. They imagine about places which can make them forget hard time in their school. But, as parents, it is their duty to disappear the children’s thirst of excitement without erasing the children’s intellectual insights, because, if the parents find a way only to entertain the children, the children’s achievement after they come back to the schools will decrease.

As well all know, there are still a lot of places which can only give the excitement to the children, but also can refresh the children’s insights. Those places are very interesting, too. Besides they give satisfaction to children, the places can make the students are eager to come back to the places again, because the children feel that they can study a lot of new things related to their lessons at schools.

In Indonesia itself, we have some places that can realize all those goals above. Taman Safari, for instance, can give us deeper knowledge about animals, and of course it has relation to some subjects in our school, such as biology. Planetarium, in Cikini, can also give us excitement and insights. In the place, we can watch some things in the sky, such as stars and planets. All those views can provoke the children’s interest in science.

Finally, having decision to go to useful places are wise plans. And, hooray! It’s a smart holiday!

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Students Are The Stars in The Time of Turmoil

Riots, violence, and chaos happening nowadays seem to give social unrest to our nation. Even, the events are like devils hunting welfare. People now don’t know who to trust, they are also blind to whom they can give their mercy, because it seems that the people considered as friends, can suddenly change become the most dangerous enemies. These facts make the future of our nation become dark, and at the same time, people hope that a hero can come to make everything back to the time of glory.

However, there is no time for us to loose of hope. There is still a chance for us to make everything better. And if we ask who will give the change, just see clearly in schools. They, the next heroes, are being educated by great teachers. They are being prepared to be the best human beings in the future. Ya, they are students. They’re going to the stars in this time of turmoil.

If we try to see our history, the independence of Indonesia was reached by the students having a big dream. With their strong struggle, colonization could be chased away. With their spirit, they were not easy to give up finding ways for this nation. This fact is not only an illusion, because we certainly know some figures in the past like Muhammad Hatta, Soekarno, etc. They were students finally using their critical knowledge after graduation to free this country from the colonization. They even continued their struggle after independence to keep alive the students after them.

Now, the signs of heroes can be seen clearly. We perhaps have ever heard that in April 2010, some college students in Malang had created successfully a vehicle with economic gasoline. At the same month, some Indonesian students became runner up after Chinese students in Math competition organized in Germany. Moreover, it was reported recently that some students from Indonesia organized successfully a program of charity for Palestine, and the program was given award by the secretary general of United Nations.

The facts above should make us aware that in their youths, they proved, the glories they have received not only for themselves, but also for the sake of this nation, Indonesia. They have made us proud of them, and they will not stop trying to make sensation in this world until the name of this country will be fragrance in the future.

Finally, now it’s time for the students to build up their confidence. They have to dig for knowledge as much as possible. The students must like studying. They must read books a lot. They mustn’t stop reaching as high as possible achievements in the academic sides and also non-academic sides such as being a member of PASKIBRA, a member of PMR, a member of OSIS, and also a member of SENAT in the universities.

So, hey the students! You are the stars in the time of turmoil, and you must believe that Indonesia future is in your hands…!!!

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TOEFL OH TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (or TOEFL, pronounced "toe-full") evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting. It sometimes is an admission requirement for non-native English speakers at many English-speaking colleges and universities.


Additionally, institutions such as government agencies, licensing bodies, businesses, or scholarship programs may require this test. A TOEFL score is valid for two years and then will no longer be officially reported since a candidate's language proficiency could have significantly changed since the date of the test. Colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent TOEFL score.

The TOEFL test is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is administered worldwide. The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by more than 23 million students. The test was originally developed at the Center for Applied Linguistics led by the linguist, Dr. Charles A. Ferguson.[1]

Policies governing the TOEFL program are formulated with advice from a 16-member board. Board members are affiliated with undergraduate and graduate schools, 2-year institutions and public or private agencies with an interest in international education. Other members are specialists in the field of English as a foreign or second language.

The TOEFL Committee of Examiners is composed of 12 specialists in linguistics, language testing, teaching or research. Its main responsibility is to advise on TOEFL test content. The committee helps ensure the test is a valid measure of English language proficiency reflecting current trends and methodologies.

(In the Classroom, 20-May-2010)

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Ingredients of Educational Success

One of the important ingredients of educational success is motivation. Motivation basically explains why we do the things we do, or why we behave the way we do. It is about our drives, wants and needs. Simply put, motivation is cyclical process starting and finishing with an individual's needs. Our individual needs direct our goals. Our goals determine our actions and may later trigger other needs.

Psychologists distinguish between INTRINSIC and EXTRINSIC motivation. Behavior based on long-term goals or a person's established preferences is considered to be intrinsically motivated. Behavior based on some external reward is considered to be extrinsically motivated.
Most of our daily behavior, however, is a complex mixture of both kinds of motivation. Going to course may be mostly a matter of intrinsic motivation, for the goal--in this case, the academic degree--can only be reached after a long period and concentrated effort. But, the effort that is put into daily assignments may be partly motivated by extrinsic factors, such as praise from teachers, incentives from parents, and admiration from peers. In other words, the chances of success during the years of schooling are biggest if one can draw support and encouragement from others. in the absence of sch support and encouragement, the chances of success may be slim.
Finally, KEY is here to give you support and motivation in order that you, your families, and your children can get success in learning English.
Office (15-May-2010)

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Key Is the Only Key to Open The World

It is easy to understand that English has become the most spoken language by all the people under the sun. English, even, is the only truly universal language in which many countries of the world, and the people, can speak the language. The principles and the patterns of English are developed every day, following the development of period, by linguists. It is the aims of KEY to discuss and share the knowledge of English in which about the history, the development, and the modern expression of English.Most people today in Indonesia, especially the students, extremely expect to study abroad or work abroad. It causes them to study, analyze, and even to master English as a support for their capability to go abroad. All the efforts, indeed, will be useless without any clear comprehension of any media—books, magazines, newspapers, and internets—, because, it is a fact that some people are still confused of the use and the function of English. Finally, in many cases there are a lot of people giving up in the rest way of their learning process.

In the globalization era, English institutions are established; include the organizations, based on introduction, education, and guidance. They also committed themselves to the realization of successful goals, with specific targets that can be achieved by the learners. This action among the institutions is aimed as an achievement to create a successful learner in learning English. Nevertheless, it should be supported by the learners’ will too. And the students, even, must make significant performances in the class. But, the tight of their schedule outside, sometimes doesn’t encourage them to realize that.—especially for workers.

To reduce all the problems and to advance English learning process, KEY tries to take a part in introducing and discussing all texts related to English itself to the society generally, and the students especially. These efforts are based on the reality of the learners’ difficult feelings for their failures in learning English. Grammar is a critical problem. It needs special explanation, which must not only explain the students about the use, but must also have the best way—and the reason of “why” questions sometimes—in giving the learners clear comprehension.

This Blog which is the title “All about English” attempts to complement the efforts in resolving the problems that creates confusion to the learners in their learning process. And though many blogs have existed in the internet explaining about English, KEY hopes that this additional blog can complete the learners’ need in understanding English more and more. Moreover, we hope that it can ensure the learners that it‘s effective on the way of conveying.

Finally, we are Indonesian Learners, are standing in the world that forces us to face the challenges of globalization. Having only dream will not suffice. A will shall be burned to realize the biggest actions to be a successful man. I hope readers will find that KEY has given new insight about English, and has responded those challenges, to resurgent becoming the new era of Indonesia in the world. And it’s here we are providing for you, KEY, the only key to open the world.

Sincerely Yours

Andes Kurnia,SS

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There's a reason how english is universal language

English is without a doubt the actual universal language. It is the world's second largest native language, the official language in 70 countries, and English-speaking countries are responsible for about 40% of world's total GNP. English can be at least understood almost everywhere among scholars and educated people, as it is the world media language, and the language of cinema, TV, pop music and the computer world. All over the planet people know many English words, their pronunciation and meaning.The causes for this universality are very well known and understandable. English first began to spread during the 16th century with British Empire and was strongly reinforced in 20th by USA world domination in economic, political and military aspects and by the huge influence of American movies. The concept of a Universal Language is more significant only now, in the era of world mass communication. Before this era Greek, Latin, French were to some extent universal languages, though mainly in Europe.

By a lucky coincidence due to factors above, English, the Universal language, is one of the simplest and easiest natural languages in the world. The only other simple and easy languages are constructed ones. Of course the concept of easiness is relative, and it depends on which language you know already. However the concept of simplicity is undeniable: English in an easy language to learn, understand and speak. A complex language such as Hungarian would be a very unlikely candidate for a universal language.

First of all, English Language uses Latin alphabet, the most universal, simple and short one (only the Greek alphabet is shorter and simpler). In addition, in English, the Latin Alphabet presents its most "clean" form as a true alphabet with only 26 basic letters and no diacritics;

Verb conjugation is very simple and easy. Even for irregular verbs, there is almost no variation in person (except 3rd singular in present tense).

Regular verbs have only four forms: Infinitive + Present, Past Tense + Past Participle, 3rd person singular Present Indicative, Present Participle.

There are almost no Inflections. No number or gender inflection for adjectives, articles, adverbs. For adjectives there is only comparative and superlative, almost only number for nouns. In pronouns there are gender and number inflections and only three declension cases (Acc/Dat, Nom, Gen).

English is one of the most analytical languages, with no significant synthetic, fusional or agglutinative characteristics.

Historically, the British, even, who conquered most widely, spoke English. They colonized North America - most North Americans are descended from the colonists and speak English. They conquered parts of South America, and those pockets speak English. They conquered Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India.

Currently, Modern English, sometimes described as the first global lingua franca, is the dominant international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, radio and diplomacy.

Taken From Many Resources By: ANDES KURNIA

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The History of English Language

After discussing about the reason of English as universal language, one of the most important and serious thing in studying English is English history. It is absolutely suggested to know enough specific details of origins of the English language to support learners’ fully comprehension. At same point, no one would love something without knowing, and understanding of the thing: To Know Means To Love.

The history of English is conventionally divided into three periods; Old English (Anglo-Saxon), Middle English, and Modern English. Firstly, Old English, or known as Anglo-Saxon period in which begins with the migration of certain Germanic tribes in the seventh century to Britain. By that time, the Viking invaders’ language is Old Norse, especially Anglo-Norman French, the language of the dominant class, have a substantial impact on the lexicon, moreover, at this time the grammar of Old English had begun to breakdown, and had well-developed inflectional system.

Here are some differences that can be noticed. Even, it can be said that the words of Old English has survived in their forms, they are:

axode becomes asked,
hu becomes how,
rihtlice becomes rightly,
engla becomes angels,
habbað becomes have,
swilcum becomes such,
heofonum becomes heaven, and
beon becomes be.

Moreover, here can be seen clearly one of Old English’s Literary Works taken from Aelfric's "Homily on St. Gregory the Great", which is of course reformed into Modern English after all;

“Eft he axode, hu ðære ðeode nama wære þe hi of comon. Him wæs geandwyrd, þæt hi Angle genemnode wæron. Þa cwæð he, "Rihtlice hi sind Angle gehatene, for ðan ðe hi engla wlite habbað, and swilcum gedafenað þæt hi on heofonum engla geferan beon" (Old English)

“He asked what might be the name of the people from which they came. It was answered to him that they were named Angles. Then he said, "Rightly are they called Angles because they have the beauty of angels, and it is fitting that such as they should be angels' companions in heaven." (Modern English)

Finally, the most distinctive difference between Old and Modern English reflected in Aelfric's sentences is the elaborate system of inflections, of which we now have only remnants. Nouns, adjectives, and even the definite article are inflected for gender, case, and number.

The discussion here is hoped to make all the English learners know a little about the Old English that can be stated as the beginning of English. Also, it is hoped that the learners can summarize by themselves the comprehension of English, so that to know means to love can be the best and first step to study English.

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