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Nurturing discourse

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MASTERING A foreign language is often characterised by rote learning, which is made worse by outdated textbooks that use complex grammar.

But imagine if acquiring a whole new vocabulary was just as much fun as watching a sitcom on television.

The idea is not as far-fetched as it sounds, at least if you are talking about learning English. Because of new developments in the world of technology and linguistics, learning a new language can be entertaining.

One of the city's largest providers of English classes, the Wall Street Institute School of English, is leading the drive to make language learning fun, exciting and productive. The institute follows an integrated approach to teaching English, using listening, speaking, reading and writing.

'The course structure is based on the lives of a group of people as they encounter different situations in life,' said Faye Man, Wall Street Institute's senior centre director, adding that the dialogue became more difficult as one moved to higher levels but the content was consistent throughout and the experience was just like watching a television series.

Besides the core classes and laboratory sessions, there are also extra-curricular services such as social club activities and complementary classes that nurture an English-speaking environment at the school's six centres.

Meanwhile, the increasing need to use Putonghua and unwavering demand for English - the international business language of choice - has prompted a surge in student enrolment. Language schools are pulling out all stops to attract students through advertisements in magazines and newspapers, direct mail promotions and free trial sessions.

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