Edition 34, September 2013 ISSN: 1450-328X website: www.kes.ac.cy/institute e-mail: institute@kes.ac.cy 1
Αγαπητοί γονείς, κηδεμόνες, καθηγήτριες και παιδιά, Με το ξεκίνημα αυτής της σχολικής χρονιάς δράττω της ευκαιρίας να απευθυνθώ ξεχωριστά στον καθένα μας. Τα αποτελέσματα που όλοι επιθυμούμε εξαρτώνται από την συλλογική μας δουλειά. Γονείς και κηδεμόνες, συνεχίστε να ενδιαφέρεστε, να απαιτείται το καλύτερο για τα παιδιά και από τα παιδιά σας, να συνεργάζεστε και να στηρίζετε τις καθηγήτριες. Παιδιά, αρπάξετε την ευκαιρία που σας δίνετε για καλύτερη εκπαίδευση, να σέβεστε τους εαυτούς σας και τους άλλους, και πάντα να προσπαθείτε να δίνετε τον καλύτερό σας εαυτό. Συνάδελφοι, μην ξεχνάτε την ευθύνη που έχουμε απέναντι στα παιδιά, συνεχίστε να νοιάζεστε και να δουλεύετε για το καλύτερο αποτέλεσμα. Καλή μας σχολική χρονιά! Μακάρι να είναι δημιουργική και παραγωγική! Φιλικά, ήμητρα Αριστοδήμου Συντονίστρια KES School of Languages Dear parents, guardians, teachers and children, With the beginning of this new school year I take the opportunity to address each one of us, as the results we all wish for depend on our collective work. Parents and guardians, continue asking for the best and wanting the best from your children. Collaborate and support the teachers. Children, take the opportunity for a good education, respect yourselves and others, and always try to be the best you can be. Colleagues do not forget the responsibility we have towards the children, keep caring and working for the best possible result. Have a great school year! I wish it is creative and productive! Regards, Demetra Aristodemou KES School of Languages Coordinator Ιδιαίτερα συγχαρητήρια αξίζουν σε όλους τους μαθητές μας που παρακάθισαν τις εξετάσεις του Cambridge, πρωτίστως για την προσπάθεια και ακολούθως για τα αποτελέσματά τους. ΕΠΙΠΕ Ο ΕΞΕΤΑΣΕΩΝ ES2 - Starters SS1 - Flyers SS3 - PET IGCSE ΟΝΟΜΑΤΑ ΜΑΘΗΤΩΝ Άνχελ Βαλεντίνα, Στυλιανού Θεοφάνης, Στυλιανού Νικόλ, Φώτσιου Μαριλένα, Χουλούδη Νεφέλη Γεωργίου Αντρέας, Ραίκοβα Ρατίνα, Κάμπος Ισαβέλ, Κοιλανιώτου Νικόλ, Ξενοφώντος Ελένη, Ασλαμαζίδης Γιώργος, Γκολφινοπούλου Χρύσα, Ευτυχίου Χαρά, Σωτηρίου Γιώργος, Χαχολιάδου έσποινα, Χριστοδούλου Άντρεα, 2
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1 October 2013 Tuesday National Holiday 21 December 2013-06 January 2014 Christmas Holidays 3 March 2014 Monday Green Monday 25 March 2014 Tuesday National Holiday 1 April 2014 Tuesday National Holiday 12-27 April 2014 Easter Holidays PLEASE REMEMBER 4
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Parents and teachers know that learning a foreign language connects children directly to the rest of the world. Children in Chinese, German, or French preschools and playgroups are picking up a language as they would a toy: it's right there and it looks fun. Other kids trot off to weekend or after-school classes in Croatian, Japanese, or Italian as they do soccer, music, or scouts. It's part of life in the twenty-first century. Of course, many children wait until primary or secondary school before meeting another language. There language study is more formal, but the learning is fast and efficient and comprises practice and homework. Language lessons, like other subjects, can be even more successful with a little encouragement at home. Even parents who are particularly enthusiastic about their kids' studying a second language can be reluctant to get involved. Here are five reasons parents often give: It's better if you do it yourself. You won't really learn it if I help you. I don't understand it. I'm too busy. I'm too tired. And there is absolutely no reason why any parent should have to conjugate English verbs or pound out a paragraph in French (while the child stands by watching TV over the top of the parent's head. For while it is true that the child will learn something by this exercise, it won't be a second language). On the other hand, parents can do a lot to grease the wheels of learning another language. Join your child. If it is a language you have always liked, wanted to learn, or talked your child into learning, sign up for the same class in night school. Studying together helps the parent as well as the child. The drawback to this is that if you feel like dropping out, you'd better be able to talk fast if you don't want to have to give your child the same option. If you don't want to sign on for the term (or your natural life), just dabble. "Oh, Indonesian! I've always wanted to learn that. How do you say, 'Good morning'"? Talk about the class at dinner or when walking the dog together. "Let's see how long we can talk in Danish." Yes, good teaching can involve a bit of trickery! Go to a restaurant specializing in the cuisine of the country whose language your child is studying, and invite a couple of his or her classmates along. Encourage the waiter to urge them to try out their new language, but remember that they might feel shy with you listening. So seat the students at another table and let them rise to the challenge. Invest in the foreign language magazines and comic books and leave a couple of copies in the bathroom, bedside table, and family room. 6
Ask your child to get his second language book and read to you while you fix dinner or do chores. If you don't understand a word of what you're hearing, that's fine. Ask your junior translator what he or she just read. Don't just watch cultural events of people who speak the language your child is studyingattend them! Talk to people, try things, volunteer, get involved. Why did you get an Internet connection if you aren't interested in the world? See what places far from home have to offer. Praise progress. Super grades, good ones, decent ones, and daily triumphs in second language learning should get just as many cheers as athletic or artistic ones. If you are interested in the results every day, not just at the end of the term, your children will be too. A final note: Can you go too far with a foreign language and multicultural program? Not really, but you can go in the wrong direction or in the right direction too quickly. If your school is introducing a foreign language, don't start a program at home without coordinating it with the school's program. Avoid using adult-level tapes, which can overwhelm a child. Don't insist on an hour of practice every single night when twenty minutes a day may sufficient for younger students. Consulting your child's teacher for suggestions is the best plan if you want to do more than the usual homework. In addition, school libraries and school language programs often have stacks of material that they are willing to loan to keen students and enthusiastic parents. How far your family wants to go into the wide world is entirely up to you. For the next few years anyway, the sky is the limit. 7
Edition Team: Demetra Aristodemou KES School of Languages Coordinator Angela Philippou Public Relations & Marketing Manager Text-Illustrations: KES SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES STUDENTS 2013 KES SCHOOLS LTD. All rights reserved. Material in this issue may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or format without the permission from the publisher. Printed at KES Schools premises. 8