THE STAR, TUESDAY 6 JUNE 2017
Brilliantly creative
Strong with synbiotics
PROBIOTICS or friendly bacteria
such as Lactobacillus acidophilus
LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis
BB-12 help maintain good health
and prevent diseases.
According to a study published
in the Journal of Medicinal Food in
2001, LA-5 strengthens the bodys
immune system, assists in lactose
digestion and reduces symptoms
of lactose intolerance.
Besides that, BB-12 has high bile
tolerance and acid resistance
needed to survive through the gut,
has high colonisation rate in the
gastrointestinal tract, and
improves beneficial intestinal
microflora.
A prebiotic is a selectively
fermented ingredient that changes
the composition and/or activity of
the intestinal microflora,
benefiting the hosts health. The
most common type of prebiotics is
the soluble fibre inulin.
The intake of prebiotics reduces
the prevalence of infectious and
antibiotic-associated diarrhoea,
reduces inflammatory bowel
disease symptoms, and enhances
the bioavailability of minerals.
When combined, prebiotics and
probiotics create a synbiotic effect
with digestive health benefits.
They are fermented throughout
the colon, selectively stimulating
the growth of friendly bacteria,
enhancing immune response,
increasing nutrient absorption
and promoting the generation of
short-chain fatty acids.
According to a study published
in the Iranian Journal of Pediatrics
in 2010, mixtures of different
strains of probiotics and prebiotic
are more effective than probiotics
alone, resulting in more frequent
bowel movements as well as
reducing faecal incontinence and
abdominal pain.
The triple-protection action by
the combination of Lactobacillus,
Bifidobacterium and inulin leads
to better nutrient absorption, bone
health and immune function.
This synbiotic formula is
suitable for all children, especially
those with gastrointestinal
problems, poor appetite and
digestion, poor immune system
and dietary fibre deficiency.
This article is brought to you by
BiO-LiFE Marketing Sdn Bhd.
n For more information,
call 03-7882 6412 (Monday to
Friday, 8am to 5pm) or e-mail
health@biolife.com.my.
AS early years education is an
essential component of childrens
development, it is important to
give them a comprehensive and
quality learning experience.
Learning aids such as fun
educational toys engross childrens
senses, spark their imagination and
allow them to interact with others.
Smart Reader Worldwides
programmes incorporate the Smart
Reader Creative Teaching
Methodology, which combines a
creative, simple and fun teaching
approach with a systematical
syllabus, encouraging children to
love the process of learning and
discovery.
The programmes curriculum
includes activities such as
Smart Fun Play, role-playing,
public speaking, storytelling and
kindercooking. These help them
to be more creative and learn
problem-solving skills in a fun
environment.
Smart Reader Worldwide was
Smart Reader Worldwides group
executive director Datuk Dr K.H. Wang
(right) with the Worlds Education Leader
award and executive director Kevan
Ong with the Inspirational Company
award at The BIZZ Awards 2017.
recently presented the
Inspirational Company award at
one of the worlds most prestigious
business awards The BIZZ 2017
by the World Confederation of
Businesses (WORLDCOB) in
Bucharest, Romania.
In addition, Smart Reader
Worldwides group executive
director Datuk Dr K.H. Wang was
conferred a personal award as
the Worlds Education Leader for
her extensive contribution in the
global education landscape.
Smart Reader Worldwide offers
Smart Reader Kids, Smart Reader
Kids Islamic, Smart Reader Kids
Mandarin Medium, Smart Reader
Kids Intensive English Programme,
Smart Reader Kids Tamil Language
Programme and Smart Reader
Kids++ franchises.
n For more information, call
03-6279 5555 or the SMARTLine at
1300 885 555 or visit
www.smartreader.edu.my.
2 Bright Kids
Zeal for reading
AT Morris Allen English, teachers
know the importance of reading and
acknowledge this by nurturing every
childs appreciation for books.
They ensure that students are
directed, according to their age and
ability, to the correct level of reading
material and guided towards
selecting a genre of their preference.
Both fiction and non-fiction titles
are available and students are
encouraged to borrow books from
both areas each week.
This freedom of choice can
sometimes mean the difference
between developing an avid reader
and having a reluctant one. The joy
of reading is a treasure that can only
be discovered by the individual
himself.
Reading is one of the most
important ways for children to
enrich their learning of English.
When children read, they are
exposed to a variety of vocabulary,
an array of spelling patterns, and the
correct use of grammar and
sentence structures.
Morris Allen English adopts an
interactive learning programme that,
besides reading, encompasses
speaking, listening, writing and
creative thinking.
These learning areas are crucial
and work closely together in
allowing students to develop their
potential in the holistic knowledge
of the English language.
Nurturing creativity and
originality allows students to
express their ideas both orally and
through writing.
Teachers achieve this through
higher-order questioning,
requiring students to make
inferences based on predictions and
personal experiences.
When students are supported
through this process, positive
discussion is evoked, leading to
further ideas for creative writing.
Another avenue of building
students personal confidence in
using the English language is
through speech and drama classes
where the focus is on speaking and
presentation in front of others.
In these classes, students get
involved in fun speaking and role-
playing exercises, oral readings to
entertain and speech presentations
with guidance from qualified native-
speaking English teachers.
With English being a global
language, Morris Allen English
understands the languages
importance in todays world.
It builds its students into
individuals with a strong command
of the English language, giving them
a future brimming with
opportunities.
n For more information, call
03-7610 9889 or visit
www.morrisallen-malaysia.com.
Great teachers,
inspired students
AS the only school offering the
Canadian (Ontario) curriculum
in Malaysia, Sunway
International School (SIS) is
stringent in selecting teachers.
The Canadian curriculum is
ranked first among traditionally
English-speaking countries for
reading, mathematics and
science among 15- to 16-year-olds
in the fifth and sixth Programme
for International Student
Assessment (PISA).
Licensed by the Ontario
College of Teachers, SIS teachers
practice is informed by ethical
and pedagogical standards.
Developments in technology
allows teachers with the right set
of training, skills and abilities to
relate to their students and keep
abreast of transformations in
international education.
It is teachers responsibility to
leverage on these opportunities
within the ever-changing socio-
environmental landscape and
advances in education if we are
to present learning plans that are
rich, rigorous and relevant, says
academic coordinator Michael
Owen.
While academic excellence is a
priority at SIS, the teachers are
equally vigilant in building
values-based characters.
Students witness their teachers
Be enlightened
SINCE 2012, the Private &
International School Fairs have
helped many parents find the
right school for their children.
Organised by Mint
Communications, the exhibitors
and visitors at Private &
International School Fairs have
grown in number each year.
Visitors can speak to school
representatives to learn more
about a schools curricular
offering, fee schedule and
facilities. Besides international
schools, preschools and learning
centres will also be exhibiting.
The ninth instalment of the
Private & International School
Fair in Kuala Lumpur will be
held on June 17 and 18 at the
Mid Valley Exhibition Centre.
According to Nickie Yew,
co-founder and director of Mint
Communications, The Private &
International School Fair brings
together leading international
schools from all over Malaysia
in one convenient location.
We hope parents will take
this opportunity to find out
more about international school
education and ultimately find a
suitable school for their
children.
Visitors can attend talks by
9th Private & International School Fair in Kuala Lumpur
Date : June 17 and 18 (Saturday and Sunday)
Time : 11am to 7pm
Venue : Mid Valley Exhibition Centre
THE STAR, TUESDAY 6 JUNE 2017
put to practice the principles
taught such as compassion,
respect, integrity and dedication.
The personalised attention and
wholehearted support from SIS
teachers provide students with
the motivation to realise their
strengths and potential.
Recognising the teachers
contributions in their childrens
development, SIS parents
organised a teachers
appreciation celebration on May
16 in conjunction with Teachers
Day.
According to Bill Ironside,
principal of the Bandar Sunway
campus, When parents and
students come together to thank
teachers in such a genuine way,
it is truly a celebration in
learning. The quality of parents,
students and teachers is what
makes SIS stand out among
international schools.
SIS teachers personify the
schools motto of Nurturing
Minds, Building Character by
pursuing strategic skills training.
They motivate and inspire
students to be the best version of
themselves through supportive
feedback and embodying
character-building values.
n For more information,
visit sis.sunway.edu.my.
The Private & International School
Fairs are an avenue for parents to
obtain reliable information about
international school education.
international education experts
and gain knowledge on a variety of
topics related to international
school education.
The latest edition of Education
Destination Malaysia, a
comprehensive guide to
international schools in the
country, will be launched and
available for purchase at a
discounted price at the fair.
Admission is free. Register online
to receive updates about the event
through e-mail.
n For the complete list of
exhibitors, visit www.
privateinternationalschoolfair.com.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 6 JUNE 2017
Joy of teaching
TEACHING is a fascinating challenge because
it really is about learning there is another
person involved in all of this.
In the animated movie Peter Pan, Peter
tries to teach Wendy and her brothers to fly.
Flying is completely second nature to Peter,
however, so describing that process becomes
impossible. Fortunately, Tinkerbells pixie
dust fixes everything.
In the process of teaching and learning,
we are always looking for this pixie dust.
I love this process of continuously inventing
means to understand.
I love who I am when I am teaching.
The me that comes out in the classroom
sings, dances, uses big words and is
confident. Most of all, this me gets to make
stories that attempt to explain concepts,
structures and ideas to people, from children
to adults. This me gets to look for that
Bright Kids 3
elusive pixie dust.
The influences in my life that have driven
me to teach have been my own teachers,
both in and out of classrooms, and I model
my teaching aspirations after them.
The greatest teacher I have known is my
mother. My home is filled with her wisdom
in phrases such as We wear our nice clothes
when we have visitors and We must finish
whatever food is on our plate. She taught
me a great deal about listening, expressing
myself and becoming a mother.
All my great teachers have made me want
to learn more by instilling a sense of wonder
in me. A teacher gets to witness learning,
confusion, comprehension, frustration,
change, passion, awareness the very things
that seem to be at the core of humanity.
I dont teach because I have an altruistic
goal of making the world a better place; I
teach because it makes me feel alive. It
allows me to be the person that I, completely
selfishly, want to be. By Dr Elsie Chin,
master trainer at Cambridge English for
Life (CEFL)
CEFL conducts tutorials to prepare
candidates for the Cambridge International
Diploma in Teaching and Learning.
n For more information, call Christine Looi
at 03-7883 0912 or e-mail christine@
cambridgeforlife.org.
 4 Bright Kids
OPEN UP TO
Realising
INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNISED
PROFESSIONAL
excellence
FIVE Taylors International School Kuala
Lumpur (TIS Kuala Lumpur) students
DEVELOPMENT recently received the Outstanding
Cambridge Learner Awards, marking the
QUALIFICATION schools continuous success in the
International General Certificate of
Secondary Education (IGCSE).
Registration Cambridge International Yip Song-Ling (mathematics), Lee Cheol
Hee (additional mathematics) and Sylvia
open NOW Diploma for Teaching & Ling Zeqi (chemistry and Chinese as a First
Learning (CIDTL) Language) made the school proud with the
Call 03 7883 0912
(HQ Office) to register Top in the World awards.
For Practicing Teachers, Trainers On the other hand, Asaad Ahmed Ghulam
for our next intake on & Lecturers
2nd July 2017. Nabi Athar (First Language English) and
Shreya Dristi (global perspectives) earned
the Top in Malaysia awards.
TIS Kuala Lumpur observes a few golden
Registration Deadline: 10 th June 2017 rules to provide its students with academic
excellence and a holistic experience.
Cambridge English For Life (CEFL) The first rule is to give passionate learners
delivers a programme of professional developmental training workshops
a learning environment to flourish. At TIS
Kuala Lumpur, encouraging students to be
enthusiastic, inquisitive and self-motivated is
the fuel that leads to a better classroom
experience.
Workshop 1: Module 1 Workshop 2: Module 2 Workshop 3: Module 3
The second golden rule is to cultivate
Design: Practice: Assessment: global citizens among students. To create a
Planning & Teaching & Learning Assessing Progress & better understanding of the world, TIS Kuala
Preparation in Action Achievement Lumpur emphasises the learning of global
themes.
Being a global citizen is about learning to
be culturally aware and a critical thinker
who questions why certain issues are
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
assesses the assignments for each module. Candidates who obtain a pass for each assignment
happening. To do that, you need critical
will be awarded the Cambridge International Diploma for Teaching & Learning (CIDTL) awareness and research skills, says the
schools principal Peter Wells.
Cambridge English For Life Sdn Bhd (386971-H) Another rule to live by is becoming a
A-1-11, Merchant Square, No 1, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1, PJU3, 47410 PJ, Selangor respectful and caring individual. Through a
T 03 7883 0912 | F 03 7883 0712 | E christine@cambridgeforlife.org | www.cambridgeforlife.org range of extracurricular activities at TIS
Kuala Lumpur, students learn to respect the
THE STAR, TUESDAY 6 JUNE 2017
Taylors International School Kuala Lumpurs
principal Peter Wells (second from right) with
Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards
recipients (from left) Yip Song-Ling, Shreya
Dristi and Asaad Ahmed.
community and environment.
Lastly, shaping resilient students is vital in
the TIS Kuala Lumpur learning
environment. Adapting to todays ever-
evolving environment requires students to
be articulate and analytical learners.
To nurture top achievers in an ever-
changing education landscape, it is the
responsibility of parents and educators to
see students as unique individuals and
mould them into passionate learners,
respectful and caring individuals, globally
aware citizens, resilient individuals and
responsible leaders
While the Outstanding Learner Awards
achievement continues to echo the hallways,
a strategy is underway to raise the bar in the
next IGCSE.
We have our teachers looking at
examiners reports, seeking feedback from
students and building upon what works. It is
about learning what weve done in the past
and continually pushing the boundaries
further. That way, we will continue to gain
success, adds Wells.
n For more information, visit
www.kl.tis.edu.my.