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 credits his teachers for helping him reach what he calls a satisfactory level of English. He remembers reading Roald Dahl because he had to.

A student recalls how she read the South China Morning Post to improve her vocabulary.

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 fondly recalls English Week in his secondary school as an opportunity to practise speaking outside the classroom. He enjoys reading autobiographies.

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.

This postgraduate student improved her English during her first degree by attending an English Corner in her university. Her favourite book is The Little Prince.

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 Cantonese soap operas to teach grammar to this student. She read the Young Post and the South China Morning Post in secondary school because they were free.

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 student had two overseas English language speaking experiences. The first time in Canada she couldn’t make friends but later in Wales she gained confidence when her new friends were more understanding.

A student recalls how her NET tested her speaking skills by giving her only a few minutes to prepare for a presentation. Another teacher encouraged her to read BBC English news websites.

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

A sister-in-law helped this student improve his English. After he improved he felt more comfortable reading books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

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

A class drama exercise helped this student with his presentation skills.

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

A foreign domestic worker helped this student learn English.

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 PhD student recalls watching Mr Bean videos in secondary school.

A postgraduate student praises his middle school teachers and explains he continues to learn English through online open courses and Wikipedia and that all master’s classes are in English.

A student had to catch-up when she transitioned from the Mainland to Hong Kong in Primary Four. She says her reading ability is affected by dyslexia but reads books about classical music to write an essay.

A school visit to a university hotel helped build this student’s vocabulary. He read about Coco Chanel during the SBA. He’s an NBA fan and plays video games in English.

Preparing for the DSE English exam is a part of life. Students can be encouraged to read by watching movies first, just like Gone Girl. The novel Annie John is different to other books.

Winning competitions can boost your confidence and encourage you to read more. Harry Potter and books by Dan Brown such as the Da Vinci Code are favourites.

A teacher brought a recipe writing class to life by allowing the students to cook. Number the Stars is a memorable book.

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

Crazy English teaches students to communicate. Preparing for IELTS involves careful reading. She read TIME magazine.

Shakespeare exposes students to exaggeration and similes. Good movies make books interesting.

A NET inspires with drama and musicals. Craft books are interesting and beautiful.

The accent and teaching style of a NET is more appealing. You can learn through watching movies.

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.

The passion of a recently graduated teacher helps after-school. Reading is difficult for someone who prefers pictures to words.

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.