Bring English to life

Re: "Rethink English class", (PostBag, Dec 26).

Learning to speak a foreign language in a school classroom is difficult. As a teenager, I did not learn to speak French and German adequately in a good British school.

Many years ago (around 1970) I watched on Thai television a series of films called Guten Tag, teaching viewers to speak German.

It was excellent.

Remembering a little from my school days I was able to understand everything from the action in the films.

Repetition in the dialogues enabled me to learn and speak some of the phrases and sentences used.

These old films are still available on YouTube.

They show what kind of experience is needed for beginners to learn a foreign language.

A single project, managed by high-level experts, providing a series programmes of this type on Thai television would bring the English language to life for both children and teachers.

Robert Exell

Let's talk Turkey

Re: "The Kurds: Betrayed once more", (Opinion, Dec 23).

The article includes baseless allegations. First and foremost, the so-called "Syrian Democratic Forces" are dominated by PYD/YPG which are nothing but an extension of the terrorist organisation PKK.

They share the same leadership, organisational and military structure, modus operandi, strategies and tactics.

PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation not only by Turkey, but by many countries and international organisations around the world, including the US, EU and Nato.

PYD's "congresses" are organised in PKK camps under the guidance of the PKK. The link between the PKK and PYD, hence YPG, has also been well established by independent academic and international institutions, such as the Henry Jackson Society, Nato's Defence Against Terrorism Review, the USA National Counter Terrorism Centre, and Europol.

Changing the name of a terrorist organisation to "democratic forces" does not make it any less of a terrorist organisation or democratic.

Turkey is determined not to tolerate any terrorist activity against its national security particularly along its southern borders, and will continue to act in exercise of the right to self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, whether it is DEASH, PYD/YPG or any other terrorist organisation.

Secondly, Turkey is not fighting any of its citizens but is fighting various terrorist organisations at the same time, including DEASH, PKK and FETO.

The terrorist organisation PKK's first victims were villagers of Kurdish origin who denied support and who confronted the ideology it imposed.

PKK has claimed the lives of more than 41,000 individuals from all walks of life since the 1980s, attacking indiscriminately civilians and security officers alike.

Turkey is and will be countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Thirdly, Turkey is not an occupying force in Syria.

Turkey's operations have been carried out in full respect of Syria's territorial integrity.

Turkey's military operations in northern Syria are based on its efforts to protect its people, its borders and to fight terrorism.

We must recall that hundreds of thousands of Syrian Kurds have taken refuge in Turkey, escaping from areas held by the YPG, PKK's Syrian affiliate, since the conflict broke out in the country.

Furthermore, during Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations, more than 4,000 square kilometres of land were cleared from terrorists. While Turkey is currently hosting more than 3.5 million Syrians who have escaped the ongoing conflict, almost 300,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned from Turkey to these liberated areas. To insist to use terms like "militia" or "fighters" to identify terrorists is undermining to much-needed genuine solidarity in the fight against terrorism.

Turkey supports a political solution in Syria and participates actively in Astana and Geneva processes. In this endeavour, Turkey will continue to support all political, military and humanitarian efforts to stabilise Syria, and to provide a better future for all components of the Syrian society, including Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens.

Evren Dagdelen Akgun

Ambassador of Turkey

CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

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