After finishing middle school, this student took tutorial classes at the British Council which boosted his confidence and communication skills.

Using English to learn at university improved this graduate’s speaking and writing. Environment and motivation are important for English learning.

A graduate explains how she overcame her fear of speaking in English during a trip to Australia. She says students should practise and not be too self-conscious.

A student remembers how his teacher and mother used videos to help him learn English. He believes that immersion in an English speaking country is the best way to learn.

A student says she enjoys studying English drama at university. She enjoyed the English reading scheme in secondary school but seldom reads now.

A student feels she improved her English by joining a tutorial centre where they became immersed in the language through playing games and communication. She says school pressure leaves little time to enjoy reading.

A student says secondary school English prepared him for university. He mostly reads for his degree studies.

A student says it was stressful studying for the DSE. Although she has to read more now, she enjoys it because it focuses on her chosen field.

This student explains that learning tenses in English is different to Cantonese and Putonghua. She also believes watching a film adaptation helped her to appreciate A Tale of Two Cities.

A student attended a tutorial centre to prepare for the IELTS test. She finds reading boring but enjoyed The Hunger Games.

Studying for the IELTS exam allowed this student to build her spoken English. She seldom reads now as she is studying Chinese.

A student practised with her friends after classes when she was in secondary school. These days she enjoys reading material related to her major, Psychology.

A teacher used the alphabet and pictures to help this student build her vocabulary. She also likes reading Harry Potter.

A student says she gained confidence in speaking English by communicating with a classmate from Germany. She also enjoys reading related to her major, Music.

A postgraduate student with a bachelor’s degree in English found reading to be boring but feels knowing the language can broaden her opportunities.

Reading helped this student to improve his writing skills.

A trip to Australia helped this student’s English language skills.

Learning phonics in primary school helped this student with his reading skills.

Coming to Hong Kong as a primary school student was the best English language learning experience. Reading includes textbooks.

Learning English in university involved night clubbing in Lan Kwai Fong.

A university exchange to the UK helped this student with her conversational skills. She feels she needs to read more.

A church leader focused on communication and not grammar while teaching out of a textbook.

A summer camp led by native English speaking students built confidence because it focused on communication and not errors. Books such as Harry Potter and Tuesdays with Morrie are good for learners.

An accessible NET provides an opportunity for lunch-time chats. The Harry Potter movie created an interest in comics. Playing the violin involves reading English language textbooks.

A student needed to answer questions about the book ET as part of an entrance test for a school in Macau. He later moved to Hong Kong and remembers English was used in an activity-filled international summer exchange programme in New Zealand.

A Maths Teaching major from the Mainland says his secondary school was different because there were many foreign teachers. He also took part in an English summer camp in Hong Kong. He is now reading and studying in English at university.

A Maths Teaching major began to enjoy English after a teacher introduced videos and games. She wonders about the best language to teach maths as she learnt in English and Chinese.

A weekly NET class allowed students to learn in a relaxing environment. Reading past papers for the DSE is a must but new vocabulary makes reading difficult.

An impressive professor used songs and drama in an English class. Reading includes The Hunger Games, Reader’s Digest, and course material.

A visual arts major, who hates English, used English to communicate while holidaying in Nepal. Reading is a necessity for assignments.

Teachers helped this student with drama and reading star letters. She also read Twilight and a book by Roald Dahl. English is used as the MOI in university art classes.

A student who felt frustrated during an English language summer camp practised alone by talking to herself. Most of her reading was past papers for the A-level exam but she now plans to read Gone Girl.

A student communicated with Singaporeans during a senior high school travel programme. She says her teacher recommended some meaningful books to students.

IELTS preparation classes are important for this student who wants to join an exchange programme to the UK. The English reading week at her school involved sharing ideas about books with fellow students. She prefers E-books.

A “great” teacher left a good impression with this student. She bought Harry Potter but couldn’t finish it. She also did some reading exercises to prepare for IELTS.

A two-week exchange programme provided a chance for a student to experience Aussie culture. His reading has mostly focused on preparing for IELTS to secure a place in university.

A performing arts competition helped this student in the speaking part of the DSE exam. She also took part in the daily reading scheme during secondary school. She prefers printed books but also uses an e-dictionary.

Teachers helped this student and her classmates write a drama script which they also performed. She read books and newspapers during a scheduled time during secondary school.

Trips to Singapore and Australia raised a student’s awareness of accent. She has also read The Trumpet of the Swan, Reader’s Digest, and National Geographic. As an English Teaching major, she feels learning should relate to students.

A student from a CMI school appreciates the support from his teacher as he was afraid of facing the DSE exam. He has read a little of Harry Potter. He uses a printed dictionary.