This Engineering major felt past papers instead of tutorial classes would have better prepared him for A-levels. A secondary school teacher advised him to use lyrics to improve his vocabulary. He likes Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars.

A communications major had to catch-up when she transitioned to Hong Kong in Primary 3. Initiating a speech club helped prepare for the DSE. She uses English when she has to and prefers to read Chinese.

This Marketing major would have paid more attention during class if high school English was more interactive. Tutorial lessons helped with grammar when she was young. She read The Shadow of the Wind and believes English is a requirement in business.

Writing exams is the main motivation of studying English for this Accounting major. She uses “basic English” in her programme and believes the most effective way to learn is to communicate with native speakers.

English is the only language of communication in Hong Kong for this Indonesian student. She uses Google and the thesaurus when she encounters difficulties reading journal articles.

“Survival instinct” pushed this Korean student to learn English when she had to make friends and study in a Mainland international school. She is focused on reading course material because it results in a transfer of knowledge rather than a pastime.

Responding to teacher’s questions in English class was a nervous experience. This Civil Engineering major works hard in the compulsory language courses for a better GPA. He reads course materials and believes English learning should start from kindergarten.

A student describes the interaction with a buddy during an exchange trip to the US, also sampling food and writing Chinese New Year lucky scrolls. He reads course materials and the news. He finds the English version of Harry Potter more colourful.

Tutorials provided primary school students opportunities to improve speaking skills. Secondary school English classes focused on formal writing styles. Now this biochemistry major writes lab reports, reads academic papers and improves vocabulary with the help of professors, dictionary, Google and Wikipedia.

Studying in Dublin was like a three-month intensive English lesson for this Business major. She also taught English as a volunteer in Cambodia. She read the news and The Saga of Darren Shan.

Competing in a secondary school Speech Festival expanded this Business major’s vocabulary. He used English textbooks at school and enjoyed the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

The university environment is a better place to learn English for this Business major. He credits the reading material and interacting with others. He reads websites related to his major.

English was the lingua franca during a trip to Mongolia for this Engineering major. Reading in English is limited to course material.

Reading newspapers and magazines were part of this Physics major’s DSE exam preparation. He feels English will be important in his future career.

Receiving an extra mark for singing a song in a university English class surprised this Engineering major. He feels comfortable reading textbooks in English.

Using English in secondary school was a change for this Nursing major. English reading skills are important because she has to read a lot of journal articles.

Being encouraged to speak in university English classes is a positive difference for this Accounting major. He reads newspapers and has started Harry Potter.

Extra-curricular English classes improved this Engineering major’s confidence and chances of attending a better secondary school. His teacher encouraged him to read a newspaper.

English is a lifelong pursuit for this Speech Therapy major. She used the language during a tour of Europe and also reads articles in English.

After travelling to England in Secondary 5, this Multimedia major improved his communication skills. He uses English to learn more about software.

A fresh grad, who works as a flight attendant, enrolled in an English course to improve her grammar skills. Research for her final year project involved reading academic papers with complex vocabulary.

Despite being afraid of NETs in primary school, this Tourism major worked more closely with them in secondary and now feels there are no barriers to intercultural communication.

University English classes are smaller and more interactive than secondary school for this Nursing major. She reads English material related to her major.

A primary school excursion required this Nursing major to interview foreigners in English. She reads material related to health and nursing.

Achieving good results in IELTS is a goal for this Fashion major who wants to travel after graduation. She recalls reading English passages in the DSE exam.

Taking a Cambridge English course exposed this Design major to a NET. He is forced to read course material in English because there are fewer Chinese texts.

English was a hobby in primary school and it became a necessity to gain a place in university for this Engineering major. He only reads English material if it’s required for his studies.

Preparing for the speaking section of the IELTS exam was part of this Engineering major’s plan to qualify for postgraduate studies in Hong Kong. Her English reading centres on course material.

English is used more often in this Engineering major’s university life as she communicates with fellow students and travels. She used the dictionary to read about Physics in English.

Chinese was used to explain English concepts during secondary school for this Engineering major. Her university courses are in English but her reading is limited to course material.

Talking with a foreign teacher in secondary school gave this Hotel Management major more confidence for the spoken part of the public exam. She prefers reading about topics related to life.

University English classes have given this Science major more opportunity to practise and improve. He needs to use the dictionary while reading university textbooks.

A university English club provides more speaking opportunities to prepare for the IELTS exam. This Automotive Design Engineering major read some English novels and articles to pass speaking tests.

Participating in an outward bound programme in which most participants were foreigners immersed this Accounting major in an English speaking environment. Reading a textbook on business law boosted his confidence.

Independent learning and logical thinking skills are key to excelling in IELTS according to this Social Policy major. As a postgraduate student in Hong Kong, she has used English more. She reads course material for writing papers.

Joining the English Corner in this Chinese Teaching major’s home town on the Mainland pushed her to speak more. She is exploring opportunities to mingle with foreigners to practise the language.

Producing drama in secondary school triggered this Engineering major to research into the area. Reading the South China Morning Post informed him about the world and grammar. Playing online games with foreigners has taught him slang.

Analysing news in front of the class in preparation for the DSE turned this Engineering major into a bold speaker. Comparing his performance with others during presentations at university motivates him to improve. Reading academic texts filled with big words can be intimidating.

After-school tutorials, a summer language programme, and an exchange programme equipped this Business major with everyday English. She reads mostly newspapers and course materials.

Going on an exchange programme to Canada in her childhood pushed this Chinese and Bilingual Studies major to speak English. She studies the Bible and cross-reads both its English and Chinese versions.