Sharing with 吳明德 my views (1) on the state of English education in Hong Kong and (2) what Hong Kong students who have emigrated abroad can do to adapt to a western-style education.
My writings
College application essay makeover
I came across this personal statement on the website of a mainland college prep agency that specializes in writing such documents on behalf of university applicants. Since the company displayed the piece to give prospective clients an idea of what they can offer, they must have thought of it as well-written. I found it severely lacking in style and voice, though. I’ve come up with a better version, one that is 20% lengthier but packed with much more personality and content
英國升中試的閱讀理解到底有多難？
“我有個朋友，兩個兒子的母親，她老公是英國人，家裏說英語，孩子們在Harrow International School讀書，按理說英文應沒問題？但他們去考11 Plus ，也沒法駕馭英文卷裏的閱讀理解!” 有學生家長曾跟我說。
“An infinite capacity for taking pains”
“Didn’t you know there’s a difference between ‘indicate’ and ‘point out’?” my tutor at Oxford University fired this question at me after noting I’d been using both words interchangeably. The class was supposed to be on philosophy, but back then, my sensitivity towards English was so wanting that my tutor would often opt to teach… Continue reading “An infinite capacity for taking pains”
Triumphing over Hong Kong’s education system
“You teach so differently from my teachers at school!” is a comment I often hear from my students.
港式與英式的英文寫作教學，有什麽區別？
港式的英文寫作教學，注重grammar 要正確，注重用的vocab要深，注重寫的字數要多，但不注重措辭是否優美，見解是否獨到, 風格是否鮮明。本地學校教的其實不是寫作，而是writing formula application, 按five paragraph format寫就可以了，所以學生寫出來的文章千遍一律，像麥當勞規模化出產的漢堡包。 接受過這種教學方式的港童，到了英國後寫作上不適應再正常不過了。
Personal Statements that Work
For students aiming to enter university in the fall of 2024, December is often the last month they have to work on their personal statements. I’ve helped many students navigate the tricky business of personal statement writing. Among the most common pitfalls I’ve seen is a violation of the principle all how-to-write-better books talk about: show, not tell
My daughter can’t figure out what’s in the picture. I can’t either.“
“My daughter can’t figure out what’s in the picture. I can’t either. Can you you teach her how to write an essay when pictures like this appear in exams? Thank you” 前幾天，一個女兒在英國就讀Year 5的家長，跟我吐槽女兒Mock Exam裏的一條看圖作文題目有多難。 英國中小學給學生發的看圖作文題目我接觸過不少，的確，那條學生家長也難倒的題目, 可能是我見過的看圖作文題目裏最難的: 這麽沒有 meaning 的圖片，怎樣write a story based on it? 我建議可以好好運用聯想力。圖片中的少男，讓我想起我曾經的住所的附近，傍晚經常能看到少男們展示滑板花式，估計這個年紀的男孩喜歡通過展示體能確立自我。他脚下的木條讓我想起我小時候到泰國旅行觀賞的bamboo dance。另外，我注意到少男的背後毫無人烟，所以我可以把故事設在清晨。 Below is my response to the question： Finally, all… Continue reading My daughter can’t figure out what’s in the picture. I can’t either.“
寫 narrative essay 的竅門
英國學校有時求學生寫narrative essays, 而經常出現的narrative essay topics之一是游記。 下面這篇來自Year 6 學生的游記， 犯了典型的錯 - 把旅游當天的所見所聞平鋪直敘地說一遍就了事。所以縱使學生grammar和 setence structure方面掌握得不錯，要確保能拿到高分，最好還加插旅途中的心靈體會。我的rewrite 演示了如何這麽做。 My day at the Lake District Student The clear blue sky was filled with pigeons, a peaceful sight for me to behold as the boat I was in swung me back and forth. A gentle freeze blew in my face. When I went… Continue reading 寫 narrative essay 的竅門
Come Write Like Michelle 