Dear Mita,
I am a student of Class 10 in a district town. I want to learn to speak and write good English. But there are no good coaching or English learning centres here. We don't get many English newspapers or magazines either, and I cannot afford to go to a coaching centre in Dhaka to learn English. What should I do to be able to learn to speak and write proper English?
HK

Dear HK,
The only way you can learn English is to speak, read and write as much as possible. You could have it checked by a relative or family friend who has some expertise. Reading an English Newspaper aloud is also a good way to learn English. You should consult the dictionary if any word is unfamiliar. Like any other thing, the more effort you give the more result you will get. You should approach this with self confidence, telling yourself that even though this is not your first language you will master it someday.

Dear Mita,
I am a student of class 10. I have fallen for a guy who reads in honours 1st year. His house is right in front of mine. I try to tell him my feelings by cell phone. I called him a few times over the phone but while I was doing this some of my friends got hold of his phone number and started calling him up day and night. Now he can't tolerate me because he thinks I made them call him up. What should I do?
X

Dear X
It was not very clever to call him by cell phone and then sharing it with friends. Your friends are being immature and silly and it not surprising that the young man is upset. You should apologise to him to him right away and request your friends not to disturb him. At present there is not point in pursuing your infatuation with this person.

Dear Mita,
I am reading in Class 9 at an English Medium School. Recently I have come to learn from my friends that they think that I am a show off. But I don't think so. Sometimes when my relatives come from foreign countries they bring expensive things for me. I take those things to school and that has given them the impression that I am a show off. But I never think that way. Just a couple of days ago one of my favourite friends broke my watch, which I got from my uncle from a foreign country. Am I showing off, please help me?
Sad Boy

Dear Sad,
I don't think you are a show-off at all. However, you should refrain from taking your gifts to school as this gives a wrong impression to your friends. Please do not take this too seriously, your friends will soon find out that you are actually not what they think and treat you the same as they used to before.

Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2006