Improve Your English – 212 [Archives:2003/690/Education]

Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and Expressions (57):
Tribute to a teacher (VII)

A teacher is not merely an individual, but an institution, a vast ocean of knowledge, an honest friend, a real guide and a personality-maker who seeks not only material benefits but also spiritual progress of the students. He injects special attributes in the minds of students so that they will have a harmonious living full of human values.
It is; no doubt, through the blessings of teachers that man can achieve great success.
A teacher is a friend, philosopher and guide for a student and a source of truth, beauty, and godliness.
As we conclude this series, let’s review some of the expressions that express the depth and sincerity of the student’s tribute to a teacher.

• Teacher, you are my guiding light, my moral support and my inspiration to become a humble human being. I remember the days of my nursery classes when you first taught me how to hold my pencil and write. Then, came the days of learning about everything around me and supporting me my failures, too. Now I find myself a confident individual, with a strong sense of morality and the credit for all my achievements goes to you, dear teacher.
• A little note for my favorite teacher: you’ve turned my minuses to pluses. So, here I am to say- you’re the best teacher any kid can ever have. With lots of love.
• You’re my guiding light, my moral support and my inspiration to become a humble human being.
• Teacher, you’ve been there to share each and every milestone of life. My humble salutations to you.
• Dear teacher, you’ve stood by me and helped set a perfect vision for myself and I always thank my stars for having a teacher like you.
• For my favorite teacher will all my love! New year’s wishes of hope and joy for a person who has taught me what they mean!
• There are people few and far between who touch our lives in ways unseen, who create magic that lasts forever. One such person is you, my dear teacher!
• Teachers help our dreams spread their wings and fly
Teachers take us into a world where our dreams turn into reality!
• On this Teacher’s Day, this shouldn’t surprise you.
You know how much I love you. You are so kind and good, when I say something silly, dear teacher, you are never cross. Often when I was studying hard and took so much time to understand you were there to help me on. And with you I could succeed. I really am so very glad that you’re my teacher.
• A warm note of appreciation and gratitude, for your invaluable teachings and genuine concern, to make us worthy of ourselves. With kindest regards.
• Dear teacher! Your knowledge and dedication truly outshine the rest. You encouraged me to learn to believe in myself. I’m indebted to you forever. Glad to have you my teacher.
• Life would have been a blank book without any text if you were not there to put meaning to my life. Thank You Teacher!

II. How to say it correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences:
1. The police would not allow anyone to enter into the hall.
2. He came on a very interesting advertisement in the newspaper.
3. The manager brought forward his many arguments in support of his scheme.
4. When she parted with her parents, there were tears in her eyes.
5. I will stand by you in thick and thin.

Suggested answers to last week’s questions
1. No sooner does the teacher enter the class than the students greet him.
2. Hardly had he stepped out when it started raining heavily.
3. Those who are engaged in the teaching profession are doing best services to the nation.
4. Work hard lest you should fail.
5. I have come to the conclusion that qat is a harmful habit.

III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. A substance that kill germs.
2. Remedy for all troubles.
3. All of one mind.
4. Contrary to law.
5. Not definitely or clearly expressed.

Suggested answers to last week’s questions
1. Not allowing passage of light: opaque (adj.)
2. A substance that kills insects: insecticide (n.)
3. Occurring at the same time: simultaneous (adj.)
4. An assembly of worshippers: congregation (n.)
5. An assembly of listeners: audience (n.).

(B) Foreign phrases and expressions
Give the source of origin and meaning of the following:
1. detenu 2. Deux ex machina
3. Dramatis personae 4. Don na e’mobile 5. ecce!

Suggested answers to last week’s questions
1. danke, schoon (Ger.): Many thanks.
2. de boone grace (Fr.): With good grace.
3. de facto (Lat.): From the fact, really.
4. de jure (Lat.): From the law, by right.
5. dei gratia (Lat.): By the grace of God.

(C) Words commonly confused
Bring out difference in meaning of the following pairs/groups of words
1. meet, meat, mete 2. patrol, petrol
3. rain, reign 4. peace, piece
5. pray, prey.

Suggested answers to last week’s questions
1. cite (vt) (give or mention as an example): The teacher cited a surat from the Holy Quran.
site (n.) (place where something was, is or is to be): The site of the new hospital is very good.
sight (n.) (power of seeing): He suffers from short sight.
2. flour (n.) ( fine meal, powder, made from grain) The cake is made out of flour.
flower (n.): He presented a bouquet of flowers to the guest.
floor (n) (lower surface of a room): Walk carefully on the marble floor.
3. hare (n.) (a fast-running field animal): Hunting hares is common among the tribals.
hair (n.) He has had a nice hair cut.
4. led (p. and p.p. of ‘lead’): The captain ably led the team to victory.
lead (n.) ( a soft, heavy metal): Lead is useful in printing technology.
5. loath (adj.) (unwilling to do something): He is loath to share with me the secret.
loath (vt) (dislike greatly): I loath hypocrisy.

(D) Phrases and idioms
Illustrate the meanings of the following phrases in sentences
1. set about 2. set in 3. take after 4. take down 5. turn down.

Suggested answers to last week’s questions
1. pull through (recover from illness): A patient’s cooperation is essential to pull him through his illness.
2. put by (save): You should put by something for the old age.
3. put off (postponed): The meeting was put off owing to the illness of the chair person.
4. run through (waste): Don’t run through your scanty resources.
5. see through (discern): He is too simple to see through the plot to trap him.

IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Choose the best answer
1. You’ll never guess who I ran the other day. It was Ahmed ! I hadn’t seen him for ages.
A. over B. into C. through D. along.
2. I must write down some of this information; there’s too much for me to take all at once.
A. in B. up C. over D. off.
3. Oh no! We’ve run bread again. Can you go and get some more ?
A. over B. through C. into D. out of.
4. The flight was late because we didn’t take
until after midnight.
A. in B. off C. up D. over.
5. Just before they went onto the field, the manger ran
what he wanted the players to do once again.
A. into B. through C. out of D. along.

Suggested answers to last week’s questions
1. I recognized her at once, in spite of the fact that I hadn’t seen her for a long time.
2. Even though he wanted to go out to the market, he stayed in.
3. Although she said she didn’t know very much about flowers she had the most beautiful garden.
4. Despite having no formal training, she teaches with professionalism.
5. Despite never having learned computer before, he soon picked it up when there was a need.
Remember: We use’ although’ and ‘even though’ with a clause. We use ‘despite’ and ‘in spite of’ with a noun or ‘-ing’ form of a verb, or with the words ‘the fact that…’

(B) Composition: Paragraph writing
Expand the idea contained in the saying :
44. BETTER TO REIGN IN HELL THAN TO SERVE IN HEAVEN

Last week’s topic
43. BOOKS ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE
Books are a man’s best and the most unfailing friend. They open a window to the world whereby a man enriches himself with the knowledge, feelings and experiences of gifted writers. Therefore Bacon is right when he says, “Reading maketh a full man…”. It is undeniably true that books constitute a valuable key to unlock the treasure of knowledge. However, the bookish knowledge is of little practical value unless it is complemented and supplemented by first hand knowledge and experience. This fact is borne out by evidence from real life where it is not uncommon to come across people who are learned, but are devoid of enough practical wisdom. Thus it is obvious that unless a man acquires his own storehouse of experience as a result of putting the theoretical knowledge into practical use, the information distilled from the pages of books , however valuable, do not stand him in good stead at the moment of need. Hence, knowledge from books has its ultimate fulfillment and meaningful realization in practical experience.

V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
“Fear Allah, through Whom
Ye demand your mutual (rights),
And be heedful of the wombs
(That bore you): for Allah
Ever watches over you.”
S4:A1

VI. Words of Wisdom
“Change is the end result of all true learning.”
—Leo Buscaglia
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