Functional English News - May 2005

The Bible in   Easy English 

"I am involved in a project that might interest some of your students. The first part has been completed and is now on the net in the form of a commentary in simple English on the book of Obadiah. 

There are many other commentaries and Bible extracts by other writers as well  which your students might find useful. The vocabulary is restricted to 2800 words, the sentences are short (maximum less than 20 words) and the passive is not used. 

The material is on www.easyenglish.info. Click on 'commentaries' and you will find a list of what is available so far. I am sending another commentary on the book of Judges which I have been working on for about a year and that should be available in about six months. I have started work on 2 Corinthians. I hope things are going well with FE and with you all. Christian greetings." 

Philip Smith (Teacher and Partner 1986 - 2000)

New courses for 2005 . . .  

1. English Plus courses

For 2005 we have introduced 3 week courses with General English plus afternoon lessons in Business English, Creative Arts British History & Culture Christian Life or Teaching Methods.

2. General English - Mornings only ( 15 hours per week)

These courses start from 122 GB Pounds per week, and may appeal to students on a budget.

Full details of these courses are on our website at www.funenglish.co.uk/courses

Bible Society Bi-Centenary Celebration

On the 27 November 2004, Students from Functional English were asked to participate in a special Bible Society celebration at York Minster, remembering how God’s Word has spread across the world because of the determined hard work of the Society's workers.

Five students from different countries volunteered their services and arrived at York Minster armed with a version of the Bible in their own mother tongue. They then had to read the same passage from Genesis and the Gospel of John - showing that God is the God of the World and his Love can be understood by all the Nations.

 The Bible Society provided a delightful buffet after the service for all participants and this gave the FE students a chance to get to know some of the local community. It was followed by a short presentation led by the Bible Society, detailing all the work that they do all around the Globe.  

We were very sad to hear of the death of Barbara Knollenborg (991) on 1 April this year. Barbara with her husband Dittmar and her son Benedikt  was here in 1991. She had been suffering from Crohn's disease. We send our condolences to her family - please remember them in your prayers.

Like everyone, we were distressed to hear about the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Asia, especially in Sumatra. So we were especially saddened to hear from Max and Desta Ay (994), that their sending church on Desta's home island of Nias had been destroyed by the earthquake that hit on the 28 of March this year, causing widespread destruction. They are currently working in Kyrgyzstan with WEC. They request continued prayer for everyone affected by that tragedy.

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, Licensed ten Readers to work in churches of the York Diocese in a service celebrating the work and ministry of Readers in York Minster on Saturday 20th November. Among them was Mrs Angela Barber, teacher at Functional English. The full article can be seen at http://www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/ in the 'Latest News' section. 

In 2005, we are again offering our English language course for 12-16 year olds from Saturday 23rd July to Saturday 13th August at the East Barnby Outdoor Centre, near Whitby. 

Social Programme

We recently 

For more details, click on our new social programme webpage on: - www.funenglish.co.uk/why/page5.html

School news

This summer we will welcome Jurgita Kederyte from Lithuania on a 50% scholarship. She was recommended to us by Alberto Melo, a missionary in Lithuania. He writes "There is a student at Vilnius University (Kaunas branch) that would like to go for the 2 weeks intensive program the School offers. Jurgita is a secretary at Vilnius University. She is Catholic but very open to the gospel and has helped a couple of missionaries to get language skills." 

Sports Centre

Students at Functional English can now use the new Whitby sports centre on the West Cliff, which includes:-

• 25m Main Pool
• 12.5m Learner Pool
• 4 court Sports Hall
• Fitness Suite
• Hard Court Area
• Tennis Courts
• Multi-use Room
• Swimming Lessons
• Sunbeds
• Exercise Classes

News from former students

Daniel Steiner. "Some of you may know that I got married on 15 May 2004! Most of you, well, maybe I better say all of you haven't heard from me for a very long time! Sorry about that, I'm a really bad writer! However, I wanted to share some pictures of our wedding with you! My wonderful wife's name is Ursula. We got to know each other through my art work! Well, for the last years, I didn't have much time to go on in the Arts, because of school concerning my job and other things, but now the school and the exam is over and we (Ursula and I) want to go on in the Arts together! God bless you and I hope to be more disciplined in the future, that I may contact you more often and also personal!"

Kyung Hoon Lee. "On 7 Sep, I came back to Korea and now I am staying in my home. I gave up entering university in England but, hopefully around 2 years later , I will be back for a Masters degree. Can you remember that I have a bad left knee. I consulted the doctor and had my knee scanned. The result was that my left knee had been damaged seriously and I was born with slightly deformed left knee. He suggested an operation which takes 4 months and 2000 pounds but, I don't want operation so nowadays, I am finding an Asian doctor (who uses needles to heal patients, I don't know in English) The only thing I can do is driving a car. I enjoy it. I can't run, play any sport, climb mountain, jump, and so on. Even a hour walking makes me feel pain. I will have free time till next March and I will spend it to heal my knee, which mean I will do nothing."  

Panos Spiridonis

"Here is so difference than FE. I miss so much FE. There I spent my best 6 months which I had ever had in my life. All of you have a space in my heart, I will never forget the time which I was there. Thank you to accept me as working student (it really is very good chance for everyone to improve his/her English at this place.) I have kept contact with some students from last term and our feelings are same about this. Our memories is still now fresh from there. I would like to thank all of you."

Caecilia Atmodipuro (921-924)

"Thank you for keep sending the Functional English information. I am really glad that the school still remember the old student. How are you doing & your family? I am sure the kids has grown up already. It’s been a long time that I left the school with the unforgetable memories. Since I left England , I got the job at Radisson Hotel (near my house) a few months later. I had a good time in my previous company. But, then I have been moving to my family company since 2001 - present. Could you pass my email address to all friends who studied the same batch as me. It was Jan – Dec 1992. So that, we could keep contact. Thank you for your help and give my best regards to everybody I know."

Roswitha Vollmer (811)

"I was one of Whitby's language students in 1981. It was a great time and essential for my ministry with a mission overseas. I took the Pitman's English Language for Overseas students Advanced I."  

Alberto Melo (972)

"My name is Audrey and I am from Brazil. I studied at Functional English in 1997. I would like you to have my new e-mail address, so I can be informed of the school's news.  I miss England (specially Whitby ) a lot and I would love to go back some day. I was looking at Functional English' site today and learned about many new things at the school and the city. The English language is part of my daily life because of my job and also because I am part of an International English speaking Christian Community in my city. I have been able to use the language for the kingdom of God and that is a blessing! I was surprised to know that you still remember me, after meeting so many people from all over the world! Again I want to thank you for giving me that scholarship when I was there. Learning English was one of the best things I ever did in my life, specially because I am using it for the kingdom of God. I have been working as a volunteer translating letters & documents and interpreting American missionaries here in Brazil for 6 years. Alberto from Brazil that also studied at FE while I was there is now working as a missionary in Lithuania."

Rev Tiowa Diarra (011, 012)

"Thanks very much indeed. I highly appreciated the smart post card of FE. Sometimes I am visiting your web site and is finding improvement in the school's program. I am doing well with my studies by distance. However, my various ministries slow down a bit the rhythm of my progress. I still remember my time at FE and the lifetime relationship I am having with some people in Whitby. Keep sending us your news. We will do our best to talk about you around, since my ministry is taking off in many respects. Hope I can come again in Whitby either to improve my English or to visit you when I will be defending my thesis. Please pass my greetings to all at FE."

Website update

• New homepage

Our school homepage has been updated to make it more user-friendly - links to all the pages are now visible on the homepage as well as links to video clips, FAQ's, a PDF file of our new brochure and both enquiry and enrolment forms. Take a look on www.funenglish.co.uk/main/index.html

• Video clips of Functional English

Video clips of the school are now available on our website. They are taken from our video which was filmed a few years ago - so you might be in some of the pictures! The pages were set up by Andrew McKelvie, and use Microsoft Media Player. If you have a fast internet connection then why not have a look at them on www.funenglish.co.uk/video/videopage.htm

The Enrolments Secretary,
Functional English,  5 Chubb Hill,  Whitby,  North Yorkshire  YO21 1JU,  UK
Tel: +44 1947 603933                 Fax: +44 1947 820703
Email: office@funenglish.co.uk    Website: www.funenglish.co.uk