Learning grammar and important vocabulary in tutorial classes were useful for this student’s DSE experience. He feels comfortable with his reading ability when using English textbooks at university.

University English lessons and subject-specific articles have helped this student develop the vocabulary of psychology. He has to read a lot of textbooks and one novel during the summer break.

Revisiting what has been taught in primary school English while at university was an interesting experience for this student. He has read the Harry Potter series, including the Order of the Phoenix more than 70 times. J.K. Rowling and Malcolm Gladwell are his favourite authors.

A summer internship in a law firm in the US immersed this student in an all English environment. He also used English during a bike trip after the internship. He read Tuesdays with Morrie for her HKCEE studies.

This student recalls listening to regional accents and learning slang in the north of England. He read material written by Robert Boyle for an assignment. He enjoyed a book on the Byzantine era by John Julius Norwich.

This student was surprised when a teacher said he spoke with a German accent. His reading has focused on Chinese texts, but he appreciated the difference when he was writing an assignment in English.

Listening to music by Westlife motivated this student to find out the meaning of the lyrics. He reads manuals on the Internet to learn about skills for online games.

Taking a university course in romanticism made this philosophy major fall in love with English. He likes the poetry of John Keats and Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.

A student from the Mainland who felt he had to raise his English standard in senior secondary read and communicated more with others using the language. He lists Harry Potter as one of his favourites.

Working part-time in IT while at university meant this Maths major had to read some technical documents in English. He says although English is not that important for his present studies, he’ll need it for his future career.

Learning foul language in secondary school was meaningful for this student because he now knows if someone is scolding him. He likes popular science books such as The Feynman Lectures on Physics.

English language courses in university for this Sports Science major involved learning job interview skills. She reads journal articles about her major.

A drama competition in secondary school was a fun competition for this student. She read the Harry Potter series when she was “very small”.

A five-week summer immersion trip to Canada increased this student’s English speaking confidence. She learnt a lot of new vocabulary while reading the Harry Potter series seven times. She appreciates English as a lingua franca.

During a summer camp in secondary school, this student met and talked with a lot of foreigners and learnt about different cultures. She can’t remember the name of a “thick book” suggested by her English teacher but describes the reading of which as enriching.

This Nursing major says her English had improved during a nine-day tour to Malaysia. She likes to read the English subtitles when watching movies. She reads English course material.

Rooming with a student from England during a study exchange in Korea placed this student in an English speaking environment. The Lord of the Rings is the first English book she has completed.

Watching British and American YouTubers has exposed this student to varieties of English. She has read John Green’s the Fault in Our Stars eight times and finds the story very touching.

This student used English every day while studying Primary 4-6 in Singapore. He started his own skim reading scheme with a target of three to four books a month focusing mostly on politics and philosophy.

English Day gave this Social Work major a chance to talk with a NET and some exchange students. She also enjoyed reading the books chosen by the NET in secondary school.

Motivated to learn more English, this student downloaded material from the Internet to improve his pronunciation during the second year of university. His reading focuses on textbooks.

The Internet is a self-study resource for this Engineering major. He also reads books related to his major such as Core Java and publications by Isaac Newton and da Vinci.

Making a presentation in a summer programme in Form 3 gave this student a different learning experience. He was exposed to new ideas and vocabulary while reading a university book In Dialogue with Nature.

Having group discussions and being critical while preparing for IELTS were new experiences for this student who felt he had been spoon-fed in secondary school. Reading Silver Linings Playbook touched his heart.

Performing in a Christmas play during secondary school boosted this student’s confidence. Reading Wuthering Heights in Form Three cultivated an interest in literature.

Attending university gave this student more opportunities to speak English. She loves children’s literature. Anne of Green Gables is her favourite book. She also reads research papers.

Communicating with people, whether they are foreigners or teachers, is a way to learn English according to this student. She subscribed to a reading service called English Channel during secondary school.

Learning more than English is what attracted this student to after-school tutorials with a NET. She felt she understood the story of Twilight more after reading the English version.

English media has been the best way for this student to learn the language. She believes English is important for her future work.

Watching TV and seeking help from university teachers have helped this student’s spoken English. He uses websites to search for information and entertainment.

An interest in bands led this student to develop an interest in inversion. While reading 1984, she felt like she became part of the story. She also likes Cloud Atlas.

A secondary school teacher encouraged this student to let English into his heart. He liked drama and poetry. He gets immersed when reading books such as Cloud Atlas and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

A secondary school teacher helped this student win a public speaking competition. She read Harry Potter within three weeks in Form 3. That was the first time she had been reading day and night.

A university English course allowed this student to become an active participant of the class. She had a horrible experience reading Shakespeare’s sonnets and recommends Charles Dickens for children.

Being on an exchange in Germany meant this student had to rely on English. She said the trip helped improve her speaking skills. She values English for her future career as an accountant.

A secondary school teacher asked this student and her classmates to discuss the use of language in a movie they had seen. JK Rowling is her favourite author while Lord of the Rings is her favourite book.

A family trip to England gave this student a chance to communicate more with native speakers. He reads the BBC news every day and also self-enrichment books. English is also used in his university courses.

This student had to work out how to get food and drink coupons during an English speaking day in junior secondary school. She read the newspaper in senior secondary.

TV programmes such as Hannah Montana and Art Attack allowed this student to learn English without pressure. She read the Harry Potter series and admired her favourite author JK Rowling’s use of the language in writing such a fascinating adventure.

English was the lingua franca for this student’s university exchange to Moldova. She read about a swimmer in the 2004 Olympics because she liked him.