The Simple Present Tense Exercises

Taprobane Review English Grammar Guide

The Activities Published here can be used for improving your knowledge of The Simple Present Tense sentence pattern. This is one of the most used sentence patterns in the English language. The activities have also been prepared in such a way that they can be easily used in classroom teaching. 

Introduction:

The Simple Present Tense is basically used to speak about habitual actions or things that regularly happens.  

Study how the following sentences have been written in the table -1. When the subject is singular suffixes 's' , 'es'  or 'ies' are added to the verb. 

When the subject is plural the verb remains unchanged; it is used in the base form. Note: verbs are found in the plural form.  

It is wrong to use the verbs in the following way. 

👉  I watches news everyday. ( wrong )

       I watch news everyday.     ( correct )

👉  My friend learn music.     (wrong )

       My friend learns music.    ( correct ) 

👉 People decorates houses for the Vesak. (wrong)

      People decorate houses for the Vesak.   ( correct )

👉 Children plays cricket in their free time. ( wrong )

       Children play cricket in their free time.   (correct) 

How a verb is turned into singular.

The First Appointment ; An Autobiography Of A Teacher.

                            Sigiriya- Udawelayagama ('92)

Foreword: 

I felt that it was worth sharing the experiences I went through during the years I served my difficult area service as a government teacher of English, with the rest of the world ;and specially among young teachers today. The tenure of difficult area service, specially, of a government teacher , was an indelible turning point in a teacher's life.  Hundreds of literary works  have seen their day based on the experiences of teachers gathered during this unforgettable chapter of their career. Perhaps, you may envy me and thousands of others like me who enjoyed that precious privilege. 

Blogger Sajendra Kumara

Online Learning: Pros and Cons

 (An essay on online education)

The subject of online learning ; though it is not a novel concept to the world , comes into public discussion more than ever  with the current global corona pandemic. Online learning means learning using the facilities offered by the internet. It is a form of distant learning. 

Online learning has two forms. One is learning live using, for example, Zoom or Team web applications. The other is learning by exchanging educational materials like worksheets and tutorials via ,  for example,  e-mail or WhatsApp. However, the most popular form of online learning is the former mode: learning live. 

The teacher and the student  are not physically present in an online classroom. In a live online classroom, the teacher appears on the student's computer screen and explains the lesson using a whiteboard, a PowerPoint presentation or sometimes, merely orally, depending on the need of the subject. The teaching aids could vary depending on the age group and the subject taught. 

Here, the teacher gets an opportunity to focus on even minute parts of a lesson which the teacher might have ,perhaps, overlooked or missed in a physical classroom. The teacher naturally makes an extra effort to pass down the lesson to the learner. The teacher always works with the doubt haunting in mind if the learner could grasp the lesson in his or her absence. This unnatural environment may perhaps lead the teacher to end up with a successful lesson.

My First Online Experience

My First Online Experience ( As a teacher)

(A true story) 

The last two weeks of August, according to the Sri Lankan college calendar is the period where the second term test is held. It is a busy time for both the teacher and the student. 

What I am going to bring out here happened far back in 2014; nearly a decade ago. I was then the class teacher as well as the teacher of English of Grade 11 C. I had got a group of students with whom I had to work quite tirelessly. It usually was after I came to this new school on a transfer. ( I feel I needn't mention the name of the school as my personal experience counts more than the name of the college.) 

I had to use every kind of technique available in my teaching arsenals to bring my students on the track. It was a Himalayan task hitting the pass rate somewhere beyond 50% with this group of students. 

Something had gone wrong somewhere. I had not worked with them before. I met them in their most crucial part of the school career.  However, I had realized it was never an excuse for me to shrug off my duty. As I had been exposed to hard times during my initial period of teaching away from home in a hamlet at Sigiriya, I considered working with these young ones was interesting. I tried to enjoy my time with them, rather than being angry and looking down upon them. 

I always consider every passing day adds up a new experience to my life. I remember as if it were today, what my driving trainer told me once when I was struggling with the wheel, "Mister, the experience on the road changes every passing minute. Every moment is a new experience. You have to change your plans to suit the moment." Now, after many years of driving I know the value of that piece of advice". 

I strongly believe that you should never enter the classroom with a prejudice against the students. A teacher's pessimistic attitudes do more harm than good to both the teacher and the student. Such attitudes could cloud your mind and prevent you from planning out your work. 

We work in a system of education where the ball is passed from top to bottom and vice versa. However, it is the teacher at the bottom that is professionally harassed. The victims of this game are none other than innocent children.  

The authorities yearns for statistics rather than the quality of the work.   The 'statistics guns'  are usually aimed at the teacher. Hence the  educational system finally produces a teacher who is all out to create an exam oriented citizen to the society.  No teacher can break away from these chains. Then you become a square plug in a round hole. 

The August vacation to come was a lengthy one; one whole month. I knew what would happen to whatever I had done for English in the classroom. My students needed constant repeated practice. The vacation was going to steal everything from my students. Once they return to school, I have to start from square one. So, I wanted to remedy this situation. It was a mind boggling problem for me. Sometimes, I felt if I were oversensitive. 

By this time, I was the proud owner of an eight inch Toshiba tab. It cost me around eighty thousand rupees at that time. Compared with my meager salary it was a big amount. I always have a knack for technology. I like to meddle with them like a small child.   I started all my blog pages with this tab. I realized, I could do something with my tab. 

I quickly planned a fair number of simple activities for the whole vacation. Then I fixed a date to be completed for each and every activity. I compiled the activities into a booklet. It took only a few days for all this to be completed. If there is a will, there is a way. I strongly believe in this saying. Everything was done with my own hard earned money. 

Having completed all the work, I disclosed my plan to my students first. When I told them that they were going to join me during the vacation via e-mail, they were overjoyed. I further told them to create an e-mail. I explained them as to how it could be done. Fortunately most of their parents had access to the internet. There were a few who had problems. I told them to contact a relation or a neighbour with the consent of their parents. They agreed.  

I knew the true cause of their enthusiasm; it was the medium that I was going to get them engaged in my work: internet. The internet had been barred for most of the children at that time. Only adults could surf the internet at their own liberty.  According to most of the adults, it was not a safe zone for children; but they never thought of explaining or guiding their young as to how it could be used for their own betterment. 

My students had only a simple thing to do. They only had to direct me the answers on the day mentioned with each activity. This was a novel experience for the students. During the same period, I had employed an assistant at my own institution. My assistant was also a student of mine. I explained her my plan and the role she had to play. I only had to keep the marking scheme with her.

Now, having everything made ready, I visited my boss. I briefed him everything from A to Z. However, I didn't notice any welcome signs on his face, but some doubtful look. He told me that he needed to think and he would discuss  the matter with the subject head; an unmarried lady. I realized that something was wrong, but as I knew the nature of these people, I determined to continue with my work as planned. My conscience knew I was going to do a right thing. 

By this time my plan had leaked to other classes as well and requests started flowing in begging me to enroll them as well in the programme. The idea of working with the internet was the motivating factor here. Most of our teachers and principals at that time harboured an unfounded fear for the internet.  

Two days later, I was called to the office. My boss welcomed me with a smile and made me comfortable in front of him. Then he started his lecture on the harms that could happen by encouraging children to use the internet. He further said that there was a strong opposition to the idea from the subject head and other teachers as well. He said that he was not in a position to help , if parents made any complaint against me. So, finally ,  he requested me to drop the plan and get the students to answer the activities at home and correct them after the school reopens. 

I listened to everything quite patiently. I had learnt ,with regards to certain situations , silence was golden. Arguments could lead to unnecessary problems making matters worse. On the other hand, it was like plucking feathers from a tortoise shell. The established mentality of some people cannot be changed. Perhaps, the subject teacher may have added fuel to the fire. According to him, it was a crime to encourage little ones for work on internet.  

I decided to launch my plan. I had arranged every thing to happen under the supervision of parents.  That night, I talked about this matter further with one of my good friends. I have a habit of talking with him when I am confronted with a problem. I like him because he is only a passive listener. He never shares his thoughts with me. But, while talking to him I can find solutions to my problems. I love the patient manner he lends me his ear. 

I did not disclose anything that happened behind the curtain to my students. Instead, I decided to continue with my plan. I gave all the necessary instructions to my students on the last day of the term. 

Well, as expected I started getting mails from my students. My assistant had a tough time that month. However, it seemed she enjoyed the work. I supervised everything from beginning to end. Sometimes, I got encouraging mails from students. Needless to say, tears welled into my eyes when I read them. 

Sajendra Kumara

Dear readers,

This is a true story. I wanted to share this personal experience with the rest of the world. This story contains a strong message for all teachers. Never be afraid to take the right decision at the right time. Be innovative in your teaching. Sometimes, you have to battle with culture and traditions to do good to others. Work according to conscience. I have reaped immense benefits by following it. Good luck. 

 Sajendra Kumara

Voice: 0777597875  Writer of Educational materials. 

A slogan that changed a regime

                                Good Governance

If there was an attractive slogan that entered into the hearts and minds of the Sri Lankans from all walks of life that would be 'Good Governance'. The war in the North and East had distracted people from all kinds of attractive slogans for democracy. Eliminating terrorism by hook or crook was number one. People wanted to put an end to the bloody war. The dream of all the Sri Lankans was to see a peaceful nation without war. 

Thanks to the bold decisions taken by the Rajapaksha regime the country could finally see an end to the merciless terrorism. The long chapter of separatist terrorism was closed. The country gradually started recovering from the wounds of terrorism. The GDP started increasing and foreign investments started flowing into the country. A dramatic increase in tourism could be observed. New airports, harbours , highways etc. were added to the long list of development activities of the nation. In short a new Sri Lanka was in the making. 

Politically the economic and social changes which were undergoing in the country dealt a heavy blow on the opposition parties.The voter base of the major political parties started eroding. The Marxist parties lost their slogans. The elections appeared a nightmare for the opposition.

The west wanted a change in Sri Lanka. The Tamil diaspora played a big role here. They knew very well that with the Rajapaksha in the government they never could achieve their ulterior movtives.Hence a well planned conspiracy was launched under the attreactive banner of 'good governance'. 

First the brain clean up backed by the western countries, with America and England at the front, was launched. India also played a leading role here. The tool they used for this was 'the social media'. After bringing the campaign to the expected level they dealt the final blow with Sirisena, the secretary of the SLFP.The journey was smooth from there.

It did not take one year for people to understand the blunder they made. The economic progress has collapsed. The cost of living has risen sky high.The production cost of agricultural products has increased forcing the farmer to abandon agriculture which was booming not so long ago.

The central bank issue and how the government is reacting to it have raised questions over the government policy of good governance. There is clear political victimization in matters regarding the investigations into corruption. Meanwhile the massive financial allocations for the huge cabinet for vehicles, offices and other benefits while the voter is paying huge taxes is another accusation being levelled at 'good governance'. 

Could the Sri Lankans see their dream of 'Good Governance'? is a question that every one asks from each other today.

Sajendra Kumara

   

 

Online Education In Sri Lankan Schools

 Online Education in Sri Lankan Schools

What is online education? 

Online education can easily be summed up as a form of distant education. Distant education was initially conducted in Sri Lanka using the ordinary mail services. 

Let's look back. 

For instance, this was a common practice used by universities in conducting their post graduate courses. The assignments were posted with the relevant modules to the students and they in turn , having duly completed them , returned them to the university. The students attended lectures occasionally keeping to a schedule.  Hence, one can even say, distant education depended heavily on correspondence.

Covid-19    

The concept of modern online education comes into popularity with the outbreak of the Corona Pandemic. Universities , schools and all such educational institutions were forced to shut down to prevent the spread of the deadly virus: The Covid-19. The educational institutions of every kind; from the kindergarten to the university, was left stranded. 

Sri Lankan universities make a breakthrough.  

With uncertainty rising high in the circles of education, attention was automatically focused on online modes of education. This was first launched by the Sri Lankan universities. Though, at the beginning , university authorities struggled with numerous practical issues such as the availability of computers, laptops , smartphones , tabs and then data, gradually the system started bearing fruits. Today, according to the university authorities, online educational activities are fully functional with a higher percentage of participation.  

Schools In Sri Lanka 

The trend of resorting to online modes of teaching and learning gradually turned towards the school system, too. At first, teachers who had some level of technical knowledge and facilities started up the work. It was a herculean task. The majority of the school community is from ordinary middle class families. 

 The very first thing teachers had to do was to establish the parents' trust for this novel concept. The reason, partly being the aversion of ordinary people for online activities. The impression of the internet which had been created in the hearts and minds of the ordinary people was not a positive one. Teachers and the religious institutions of the country had created the internet as one of monsters which ruin their little ones. Ironically, teachers themselves played a big role in doing it. The reason is most people of this country identify internet with social media.

As a matter of fact, the young in Sri Lanka are not properly coached as to how the benefits of the internet could be used as a source of knowledge. Therefore the young engage in their search missions on the sly in their peer-groups without proper guidance. No wonder they end up in unwanted stuff like phonography. They are easily lured to rubbish sites which ultimately ruin them. The young needs to be pitied here because they are not matured enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. Their every experience with regard to internet is 'self-guided'.  

It is this fear that caused the elders to shrug away from the internet. College principals and teachers are the  architects of this fear-psychosis. Parents are constantly advised at parents meeting to keep their children away from this evil. The few teachers who usually thought out of the box were scoffed at and criticized. 

In such an awkward environment forcing the teachers to take up the smart phone , computer , tab or laptop and contact the child online for teaching was really absurd. The pandemic bomb exploded within a short period. The education sector in the country was totally in a dilemma. They did not have any plans or experience up in their sleeves as how they could tackle the novel situation. 

The reluctance of the majority older community to adapt themselves to the changing technological developments was the main cause. Their stubborn attitudes made the young student-population another victim of the pandemic. 

Development of education means not hanging onto age old attitudes and traditions. This never means ruining the identity of a nation or a particular community. While preserving the good old traditions, we must try to make the best out of any deemed evil force. For this one needs sacrifice , dedication , innovativeness and good planning through constant dialogue. 

The authorities must at least now study this issue without wasting time. It seems online teaching-learning process  is still going on in the country without proper supervision or guidance. It can be compared to a fast growing tree in the backyard without proper attention. The tree could either fall on to the house demolishing it completely in a storm or needs to be cut down after much effort. Better late than never. 

*Facilities for online teaching-learning must be created.

*Online teaching methodology must be made a compulsory subject for teachers. 

*Students must be coached on the use of the internet for the benefit of good living. 

*Infrastructure facilities must be improved to provide equal opportunities to all in the country. 

 Sajendra Kumara

 A trained teacher of English

Sri Lanka

 

 

Political Slogans In The Recent Past-Sri Lanka

Political Slogans in The Recent Past- Sri Lanka

'Good governance'; yahapalanaya (Sinhalese), could be heard in the common parlance of Sri Lanka today. With people understanding the proper meaning or not the slogan seems to have rooted into the community irrespective of class, creed, gender, age etc. The media played a bigger role in propagating this slogan which really was a novel idea for a nation battered by a decade long war and two uprisings. For some it is a subject for serious discussions and some others; on both political camps, good fodder for laughter and fun over a cup of tea, in office, on the street or in public transport. 

Creation of an attractive political slogan for power is sine-qua-non in the modern world. With more people turning towards education and information technology the attitudes of people towards politics have undergone a revolutionary change. In such a backdrop the creation of an attractive slogan for power has become an indispensable necessity. 

Sometime back it was the slogan 'suba anagatayak-samurdimath ratak' meaning 'a better future and a prosperous country' widely used by the former president Mahinda Rajapaksha that reverberated in the minds of people. However he was able to serve justice to his slogan by eradicating terrorism from Sri Lanka and bringing about a steady growth in the Sri Lankan economy as accepted by most analysts. It was the need of the hour and he did capitalized on it by creating an environment for the Sri Lankans to engage in politics as they wish in every nook and corner of the country without fear. Hence president Rajapaksha could rightly be credited as the father of modern Sri Lanka. 

Way back in 1977, J.R. Jayawardene of the United National Party, an extreme right wing politician, the  architect of the controversial executive presidency of Sri Lanka used the popular slogan of the time 'Darmista Samajayak' meaning 'a just society'. He changed the then SLFP regime by creating 'a world beyond imagination' for the people at that time. People who were suffering from scarcity of food due to the strong socialist policy they followed without properly preparing people for the change educationally grabbed JRJ's attractive slogan at once. However it took a long time for people to understand that they had been beguiled by an attractive slogan. It was during his governance that the country got the biggest black mark in 1982 July: the eruption of ethnic violence. This helped the Tamil separatist movement to launch its terrorist campaign with much vigour. The Sri Lankan society was pushed into deep turmoil as a result of the 'just society' created by JRJ . At the same time thousands of state sector workers who struck work for a mere pay hike of 10 rupees were sacked. It was reported that a large number of workers committed suicide being unable to make both ends meet. The civil society in the South showed their displeasure and anger in an uprising led by the People's Liberation Front (JVP) which was brutally crushed by the UNP regime led by late President R.Premadasa, father of Mr. Sajith Premadasa. Over 60,000 youth were killed or disappeared during a span of two years. Mutilated dead bodies were piled up along the roads. 

Then it was the Marxist party JVP; People's Liberation Front that came out with the slogan 'Unuth Ekai Munuth Ekai' meaning 'both are the same(that is the two main parties UNP and SLFP) in 1999. But they failed to attract the voter towards them as the terror unleashed by the JVP repression still haunted in their minds. People spurned their slogan and re-elected the then incumbent president Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranayake. 

However today political slogans have gone an extra mileage with the social media capturing especially the urban youth. They have developed to the extent of regime change. The young seems to trust the influx of politics related news tit bits with a fervant favour. This trend reached its zenith at the presidential election held recently in Sri Lanka. It is up to the sociologists to weigh the pros and cons of this newest trend and its influence on the future of a nation. They have to find out if a country's destiny is to be decided by an unseen power manipulated through technology. 

Sajendra