Joanna (back row, third right) with staff and students sharing the joy of their students who received letters from Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle.
MIRI: Students from Ecology English Language Centre here were overjoyed last week when they unexpectedly received a letter from Kensington Palace, London in reply to their letters to His Royal Highness, Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle, congratulating them on their marriage in May 2018.
The Centre’s director of Studies, Joanne Bharatan said the students had recently competed in a letter writing competition for their level/class, organised by the Centre.
Reply from Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Kensington Palace, London to letters written by students from Ecology English Language Centre Miri.
“Over 100 students who competed in the letter writing competition with the students practising their creative writing.
“The Royals were given ‘expert’ marriage advice by the students, along with praise for Miss Markle, referring to her beauty,” Joanna told thesundaypost yesterday.
Winner, Elvina (foundation level) said she was happy to receive a reply, whilst Bee Zin said that he thought Prince Harry was very handsome!
Joanne added that the competition was part of a school-wide project on creative writing, using wide ranging 21st century teaching and learning skills that all staff are trained in.
“I am a teacher trainer from the UK, and for the past few years I have been training our teachers to use 21st century teaching and learning skills. This included showing teachers how thinking outside the box can also reap rewards beyond expectation – hence, an annual letter writing competition this year congratulating Prince Harry and Meghan.
“Writing to famous people is not just to promote English but to motivate children to write,” she emphasised.
Joanna added without anyone’s knowledge, 100 of the letters were sent to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Kensington Palace, in London.
She said last year, the students received replies from the longest living monarch in the world, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.