Word Play

Sometimes we feel like when we know basic English, it is the same as knowing the entire of it−from the basic rules of grammar down to complicated ones. I’d like to emphasize that I sometimes make mistakes in English grammar, may it be in oral or written form. It’s either I unconsciously flawed the rules or I just thought that my grammar is right, it’s tricky though. I’m not perfect and neither are you.

But I wouldn’t want to teach you the grammar rules since I do not have a perfect grammar to help you through.

Things I recommend to expand your vocabulary (and your grammar, too) without breaking your head by reading Webster’s dictionary and its entire content:

1. You buy a handy dictionary, so you will be able to bring it anywhere you go. The time when you don’t understand terms you’re unfamiliar with, consult your dictionary.
2. Expose yourself. During your free time, spend time watching American TV shows, foreign films, or listening to music. This will help you effectively construct sentences and learn slang terms.
3. Answer online exercises. Keep your score in an online quiz and try to go back after a week or a month, and then check how well you have improved.
4. Play word games. Crossword puzzles, scrabble, and the like. These will challenge you to discover new words and meanings in your pursuit to expanding your vocabulary.
5. Note the words you just have learnt by writing it down in your notebook.
6. Learn English words through songs, sing along with the lyrics. Your bathroom is the best place to do it if you want to have a good voice.
7. Set a goal. Learn a word or two every day.
8. Get engaged in conversations. By simply having conversations with other people and your friends can help you learn new terms.

Put this into practice if you want to have a better vocabulary, to help you understand words that were once unfamiliar to you, and help you answer the recipient correctly. You just don’t say YES or NO without actually understanding what the speaker is trying to convey to you. Say it out loud.

Note: Second Person POV

Back Off The Slack Off

It takes a lot of courage and confidence for you to be able to get out of your comfort zones.

I spent almost twelve years of hauling immaturity, but during those times I was not aware that I acted like an idiot, I felt like I have made right decisions then, I always felt right. Weren’t we all? It is natural to undergo the process of being a kid, of having the mind of a kid. What we considered as grown up decisions were not anymore applicable in today’s generation. This time, I was expected to change my childish ways because college life is totally different, but it never became very hard for me to adjust since I have friends who study in the same school as mine. Having said that, it was not easy to deal with the pressures and stressors your professors implant in my moody brain, I mean, it just functions only if I want to.

I entered the University without any achievements to boast about. Highschool, I was disqualified to any of the privileges a student can consider as “something” in order to have a good start in college. Reason: I got 77 in Physics. But, I have to say that I was not running for honors then because my opponents were consistent androids since they started off drawing apples up to the time they solve complicated equations without actually sweating ice unlike me; it was very hard to take the title away from them. Ergo, instead of punching the wind, I forfeited and decided to just make friends with them to help me pass. Kidding. Sorry, I’m talking too much.

My first year in college was a thin line between slacking off and…slacking off. A year full of regrets because I was unaware about the qualifications of being a cum laude. A year later, I found out when a friend informed me. I felt sorry for myself because I had foreseen and I had the feeling that if I only passionately worked hard all throughout, I could get a hold of such cum laude. I even computed my previous grades to check how many deteriorating scores are still needed to be filled up by my future grades. Luckily, I have the chance to run for the honor, but the question of “how” cuts me down to size.

I received good grades when I was in my second year college, not that good. But satisfied enough knowing that I was moving forward and a proof to show people that I was not dumb, my brain just needed some lubricant, it rusted for a while. That I'm no dumb, I’m just black. Sure that’s a joke. Moreover, I applied as a features correspondent in our College Paper, CAS Ideas. Challenge accepted.

So there, another year, another phase of life. Third year college, I became a College Scholar carried by sheer dedication, perhaps? This is the only thing I could brag about, forgive me if it leaves you an arrogant impression. In fact, no more than 10 people knew about this.


Note: First Person POV

We Need No Superhero

She graduated three years back and now she’s 23. She set foot in the University not knowing what course to choose, and I think that’s the world’s most complicated question to ever answer by an undecided incoming freshman student, a student who cares so much about her future but a bit lazy to kick great efforts in order to make a difference. With that very low self-esteem only led her to temporarily withhold her goals in life. But now she changed, a wakeup call changed her.

Who would have imagined that Ariane got this far? A mere student then who actually never got a chance to lead her subordinates, to represent her school in competing against universities, to prove what she was able to do that others cannot.

And worse, a student who then offensively recognized at her weakest by some, because they see her future was standing on an unsupported ground. She was a relaxed student that time and was coming late every first period. A student who once aspired to get her Cum Laude…fairytale gone bad. During college, some people always claim that once a student gone bad in terms of grades, she’s gone forever but intelligence doesn’t always measure by how high your grades are. As Dumbledore said, “It is our choices that show us who we are, far more than our abilities.”

Ariane is now taking a position of being a Global Marketing Director in a business company after two years of working in the Philippines as a writer in Summit Media and as a Production Manager in Regal Films Entertainment. She just found out that working in media industry never became one of her passions−not even once, really. Hence, she left and equipped herself to head abroad.

She is the type of person who had always been dreaming of helping her fellowmen, the people who really need her help. She studied not only for her own sake, but for all the people who may eventually benefit the moment she expands money by taking her job very seriously, bawling her eyes out that she would have wanted to jab it with a tooth pick and eat them.

It might sound corny or even funny to admittedly say that she always prays to make this happen, to make her own charity for her people. Ariane never wished to take a seat in the throne of the president (whoever he/she may be). Because with the belief embedded within her, helping people doesn’t necessitate you to acquire positions first, as long as you have the call of heart, that’s more than enough. This world needs no superhero. Let the superhero within you be triggered by opening your heart and mind.

Note: Third Person POV