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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"></TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>4:33 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>32930.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>May 10, 2010
Joy in learning English
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Feng Tianwei conversing in English with STTA administrative officer Marilyn Nelson. In this exercise, they re-enacted the procedure of checking in at the airport. The world No. 2 and other China-born paddlers in the national squad are picking up the language. -- ST PHOTO: LIN XINYI
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http://www.straitstimes.com/Sports/Story/STIStory_524679.html
KAOHSIUNG: X-sai-te-men-te. Those were the letters that Feng Tianwei scribbled onto a piece of paper during an English lesson.
Her teacher, Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) administrative officer Marilyn Nelson, had just read the word 'excitement' to the player, and she wanted to remember how it was pronounced.
China-born paddlers in the national team like Feng are all learning English, and it is something they take seriously.
In fact, Feng was one of the paddlers who made a request for English lessons. She and the rest of the team have even picked up English names.
'I'm loving the lessons. Speaking English is a way for me to communicate with others. If I had the time, I'd want to learn at a faster pace,' said the Heilongjiang native, whose English name is Joy.
Veteran Li Jiawei is called Tiffany while Wang Yuegu is Ivy. Sun Beibei picked a name that was similar to her surname and her disposition - Sunny. Interestingly, her doubles partner Yu Mengyu has chosen to call herself Rayne.
Feng is arguably one of the keenest learners in class. While others attend the hour-long one-on-one sessions with loose sheets of paper, she is armed with a file filled with handouts and notes.
'Learning English is very difficult - as difficult as trying to beat a player from China,' said Feng, who had her first lesson close to four months ago.
'But anything worth doing is worth doing well.'
During the lessons, the players work on expanding their vocabulary, conduct conversations and learn how to spell.
Said Yu: 'It's important to learn English because we compete in so many Pro Tour Opens worldwide.
'It'd be nice to be able to do interviews in English one day.'
Most of the topics are practical, such as how to check in one's luggage at the airport.
Sun's favourite subject?
Food.
'It's good to know what everything is called,' she said. 'That way, when I'm hungry, I'll know exactly how to order.'
LIN XINYI
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Joy in learning English
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<!-- story content : start -->
http://www.straitstimes.com/Sports/Story/STIStory_524679.html
KAOHSIUNG: X-sai-te-men-te. Those were the letters that Feng Tianwei scribbled onto a piece of paper during an English lesson.
Her teacher, Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) administrative officer Marilyn Nelson, had just read the word 'excitement' to the player, and she wanted to remember how it was pronounced.
China-born paddlers in the national team like Feng are all learning English, and it is something they take seriously.
In fact, Feng was one of the paddlers who made a request for English lessons. She and the rest of the team have even picked up English names.
'I'm loving the lessons. Speaking English is a way for me to communicate with others. If I had the time, I'd want to learn at a faster pace,' said the Heilongjiang native, whose English name is Joy.
Veteran Li Jiawei is called Tiffany while Wang Yuegu is Ivy. Sun Beibei picked a name that was similar to her surname and her disposition - Sunny. Interestingly, her doubles partner Yu Mengyu has chosen to call herself Rayne.
Feng is arguably one of the keenest learners in class. While others attend the hour-long one-on-one sessions with loose sheets of paper, she is armed with a file filled with handouts and notes.
'Learning English is very difficult - as difficult as trying to beat a player from China,' said Feng, who had her first lesson close to four months ago.
'But anything worth doing is worth doing well.'
During the lessons, the players work on expanding their vocabulary, conduct conversations and learn how to spell.
Said Yu: 'It's important to learn English because we compete in so many Pro Tour Opens worldwide.
'It'd be nice to be able to do interviews in English one day.'
Most of the topics are practical, such as how to check in one's luggage at the airport.
Sun's favourite subject?
Food.
'It's good to know what everything is called,' she said. 'That way, when I'm hungry, I'll know exactly how to order.'
LIN XINYI
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