When you are a PSLE teacher, every day brings about new revelations.
So, in the course of teaching my students this year, I have become more attuned to word clines. For example, ‘dismay’ means ‘upset’ whereas ‘distraught’ means ‘very upset’. Similarly, ‘thrilled’ means ‘very happy’ whereas ‘ecstatic’ means ‘profoundly happy’.
Sharpening my sensitivity is all well and fine, but how should I impart such knowledge to weak writers who are unable to recall the spelling of these words under exam conditions? Today, I saw ‘immense’ in the Stellar Reader. An idea struck me.
“Immensely sad works as well,” I declared sagely.
Think about it. A wave of immense joy washed over me. Immense sadness surged through my body. I was immensely angry, steam pouring out of my ears. I heaved an immense sigh of relief.
One single word can make a significant impact.
Someone actually used ‘immensely sad’ in her Oral response in the same lesson!
I was so tickled pink by my brainwave that I taught immense to my son this evening.
When you are a PSLE teacher, every day brings about new revelations.
So, in the course of teaching my students this year, I have become more attuned to word clines. For example, ‘dismay’ means ‘upset’ whereas ‘distraught’ means ‘very upset’. Similarly, ‘thrilled’ means ‘very happy’ whereas ‘ecstatic’ means ‘profoundly happy’.
Sharpening my sensitivity is all well and fine, but how should I impart such knowledge to weak writers who are unable to recall the spelling of these words under exam conditions? Today, I saw ‘immense’ in the Stellar Reader. An idea struck me.
“Immensely sad works as well,” I declared sagely.
Think about it. A wave of immense joy washed over me. Immense sadness surged through my body. I was immensely angry, steam pouring out of my ears. I heaved an immense sigh of relief.
One single word can make a significant impact.
Someone actually used ‘immensely sad’ in her Oral response in the same lesson!
I was so tickled pink by my brainwave that I taught immense to my son this evening.