LET'S BE A GOOD LEADER!

"Recommended For: Students / Mostly English Club's Leaders"

In handling an English club, we are about managing so many things. Moreover, if we are the leader. Besides we must arrange the schedules, find out the interesting ways to learn English (such as game, quiz, discussion), etc. we also have to pay attention to "the important things" in organization. They are:1. Clear and fix job description. As a leader, we have to be able to explain the function and limitation of the works. Means that "what should be done" for the running period. So, altough our English club has purpose to develop English skills through fun activities, it doesn't mean that our English club isn't formal. Wherever the English club exists, an English club should has clear structure in organization.2. Good coordination and communication. A leader of an English club should be able to make a good coordination in formal and informal ways. Formal means coordination through weekly / monthly meetings or in an event. And informal coordination means coordination outside of organization's activities or being a good friend, not only as commander. A good leader would listen to his / her staffs and give solutions if they have problem.3. Give rewards. For a success event or success program, a leader need to appreciate his / her staffs' works to eternalize the relationship between the leader and the staffs. An appreciation doesn't always mean money (salary) except it's possible. But, a sincere "thank you, guys" can be a good (and free) appreciation too.An English club isn't always a "play area". In a particular condition, an English club also a formal institution. Moreover, if it's located at school. So, besides managing ourselves to be able to use our English, an English club also a place for learning about organization. A good organization must has clear command line, schedule, budgeting, etc. because those things are the "basic" before we run activities or events. Without clear command line, we can't command the members. How can we command them if they are not respecting us as the committee (because they think there's no committee)? So, make your English club managed well in organization side first.

THE PROBLEM OF TRANSLATING

"Recommended For: Students"

After school, some students who were waiting for "Angkot" discussed their problem in translating sentence or paragraph both from bahasa Indonesia into English and from English into bahasa Indonesia. They thought that if there's translator devices, it will be easy to get the translation and be more understand the content of a sentence or paragraph. On the other hands, a student asked about the web site (address) which could translate bahasa Indonesia into English because she wanted to try to chat through chatting service and send e-mail in English.It's easy to get the translation nowadays. Not only from bahasa Indonesia into English or from English into bahasa Indonesia. But, some devices such as digital dictionary can also translate to many, many languages. Ya, today, digital dictionary and translator softwares can be found as easy as to use it. But, please note, that the problem in translating a language through software are about accuracy and time consuming.When we try to translate using a software, maybe we get it faster. But, after that you need to check the result's accuracy related with the context. Sometimes, a word can't be used if be combined with other words to arrange a sentence. So, finally we need to check word by word, line by line, context and usage of terms, even the completeness of sentence. It's consuming more time! On the other hands, direct / manual translating through opening dictionary, will make us memorize well about new vocabularies and enrich our vocabularies too. Altough, we aren't prohibited to use technology. Technology made to help us, but don't trust it too much. Because technology made by human and never be perfect.

NEVER GIVE UP!

"Recommended For: Students"

Learning English isn't an easy thing. But English also not too difficult to be learnt. It depends on how we choose the steps in learning it.
Actually, there are so many ways to learn English. We can find books about how to master grammar and structure, we can get tutorials about speaking and listening, etc. But, without "true love" to English itself, it's impossible for us to ba able to use English. Really, all of us want to get good mark in every English test and practice our English by speaking. But, without any bravery to make mistakes first, we won't be able to use our English. And, without any self confidence, we will never speak!
Come on, it's time to make your own environment consist of 2 or 3 close friends. Then start to speak in English and ignore your structure. Just speak with 1 tense. Just think that simple past tense, future tense, and the others tenses are the same. Then, read more articles in English, listen to English songs, and watch the English movies. And, never give up, please!
But, by the way, we often hear a student says "aku ingin bisa bahasa Inggris". In fact, most of students say that to mean they want to be able to solve / answer all questions given by teacher. To answer TOEIC or TOEFL test or final test. Why don't they want to master English because they want to speak each other in English, or communicate with the native speakers, or go to abroad? Most of students just want to pass the exam! Unfortunately! So, how's your idea? Would you like to share your opinion?