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A monthly newsletter to help you stay in touch with activities at Ascend

We have new students from all over the world

joining us at Ascend every time. It’s a different

experience for each student, living in a new country and for most, being away from your family and friends. Let’s hear

about the experiences, thoughts and feelings from some of our students!

News @ Ascend

To motivate our learners to communicate with confidence. May 2015

This is my third time in Singapore. I came to Singapore twice last year. This time I'm here for studies.

I like Singapore. It's safe and clean. And I like the weather.

But I can't live long in Singapore because it's so stressful here. The people are nice but they don't have time....

-Arif, Kashmir

I like Singapore and my school. Singapore is

greatly different from Japan .like the road signs, food, buildings, scenes, etc...

My favorite part is that there are many people from different countries who live here. There are

various religions, culture, food and fashion. It is great!

Singapore is a small country but the people have

big hearts. However, I think the law is too severe!

-Kei Tokashiki, Japan

There are many things that I like in Singapore.

The first is the weather and the second are the clean streets. There are many good people who I always meet and there are a lot of good restaurants.

There are much less bad things, Maybe, the food in the supermarket is expensive and there is a very small selection of quality products. But generally, I like this city very much. -Vira Daniielian, Ukraine

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in Ascend! Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. It is a

time to honour mothers, grandmothers and great-

grandmothers for all that they have done for the family.

Flowers and gifts are usually given to mothers on this special

day. As a special feature for this day, we have included the

different languages of the word ‘Mother’ or ‘Mom’ in the word

cloud. Is your language in it?

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It’s Vesak day on June 1st (Monday) which is a public holiday in Singapore. This means another long

weekend for all you hardworking people!

Staying in Singapore but been to Sentosa and all the other usual attractions too many times? Here are some recommendations on what ELSE you can do on the island!

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS..

There are actually many exciting activities that you can do in

Singapore for the adventurous-hearted. Some of these

activities might be a little aggressive but rest-assured you

will be taken care of if you’re there!

1) Forest Adventure

Where: Bedok Reservoir Park

Price: About $50 per person

Website: forestadventure.com.sg

If you like nature, climbing

and exciting challenges,

you HAVE to try this activity.

Do it with a group of

friends. It’s awesome!!!

3) TreeTop Walk

Where: MacRitchie Reservoir

Price: Free

Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/~/media/

content/gardens-parks-and-nature/diy-walk/

diy-walk-pdf-files/treetop_walk_eguide_lres.ashx?la=en

(For more information and pictures: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/macritchie-treetop-walk-guide-110500159.html)

You like nature but you don’t want to climb around. Well, check this place out! Spend 2-3 hours

walking through the forest and have a chance to see some interesting wildlife! You might also want to

go to this website to see similar walking trails in other parts of Singapore.

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/

walks-and-tours/going-on-a-diy-walk

2) Wakeboarding

Where: Punggol Marina

Price: About $120 per boat per hour

(maximum 5-6 people on the boat)

Website: www.waketime.com.sg

Tel: (Marcus) 90487060

Love the water and snowboarding? You might

just love wakeboarding! If you like extreme

sports, this is definitely for you!

things to do this

long weekend!

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SINGAPORE…

4) Singapore Tour

When: Saturday & Sunday (Check their website for more details)

Where: City area and Chinatown

Price: Free

Website: singaporefootprints.com

These are 2 tours done by a group of university students in 2 different locations. They are free but you can

donate any amount of money to them if you are happy with their services!

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FOR NON SUN-LOVERS…

6) Busk Stop

When: 29 May, Fri: 5.15 – 7.15pm

30 & 31 May, Sat & Sun: 3.30 – 6pm

1 Jun, Mon, 4 – 6.30pm.

Where: Around the Esplanade

Price: Free

Website:http://www.esplanade.com

/whats_on/programme_info/

flipside_15_0529_busk_stop/index.jsp#tabs

OK, you aren’t a fan of the sun. Why not visit the

Esplanade over the long weekend and enjoy (or take

part!) in this event? A ‘busker’ is a street performer.

At this event, you will see a few buskers moving

around at the Esplanade, putting on shows for you

for free!

The Esplanade also has free performances by

musicians every weekend on the waterfront at

between 8 to 10pm. Check their website for more

information!

http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/esplanade_

presents/series/on_the_waterfront/index.jsp

IF YOU LIKE MUSIC AND BEING

OUTDOORS..

4) Lion Steppaz Soundsystem Party

When: Saturday, 30th May, 3-9pm

Where: The Training Shed, 8 Port Road

Price: Free entry. Buy food and drinks at bar.

Website: http://sideshow.sg/portfolio/the-

official-launch-of-lion-steppaz-soundsystem/

The Training Shed holds similar outdoor,

family-friendly parties about once a month.

This month’s party is on May 30th - perfect

for the long weekend! Enjoy the music as

you lie on the grass lawn near the bar and

soak-up the sun. The bar serves food and

drinks.

For a similar, outdoor style fun that’s less

expensive, go to Singapore Botanical

Gardens or Marina Barrage! Bring some

picnic food, a portable speaker for music,

and you’re all set!

Staff Profile

Name: Belle Nationality: Filipino Birthday: 22nd

April

I love: ..listening to music whenever and wherever I

can (it’s my stress reliever). I enjoy watching tv series

like Supernatural, Once Upon a Time & Arrow. I also love

Nicholas Sparks…and tigers…and penguins!

I would like to: ..visit Venice, speak fluent Italian and eat all the pasta I

want while I’m there!

If I wasn’t working…I’d be a flight stewardess!

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May 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Labour day

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Module 2

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Written and

Speaking

Speaking

31

Starter

Li min

Huang xiaolan

xiao haipeng

Legend:

New module

Exams

Public holiday

Birthdays

*Alex (Starter) - 2/5

*Masahiro (UI) - 4/5

*Only (Pre-Int) - 5/5

*Rachel (Teacher)

- 8/5

*Ha (Starter) - 6/5

*Arif (Elementary)

- 15/5

*Nicole (Starter)

- 17/5

* Sirikwan (Elem)

- 21/5

*Daisuke (Pre-Int)

- 21/5

*Tsukasa (Pre-Int)

- 24/5

*Yumi (Int 1) - 25/5

*Zee (Teacher)

- 27/5

*Yan Lin (Int 1)

- 28/5

*Mintra (Pre-int1)

- 22/3

*Hiro (UI) - 31/5

Pre-

Intermediate

Kawagachi

Masahide

Intermediate 2

ayu delfira

Picture courtesy of mped Facebook

Advanced

jiang jiamin

luisa frisso

Intermediate 1

Sasha Moroz

Upper Intermediate

yang weipeng

kim sun myoung

starter

Li min

Xiao Haipeng