Getting a good grade on the DSE is about knowing the right formula according to this Product Design major. Apart from learning the formula from her teacher, she prepared by watching YouTube videos and listening to music at home.

Being in the drama club, this Interactive Media major had to write scripts and act in English without feeling shy. She also reads magazines such as Marie Claire due to her love for fashion.

While studying in the US, this Engineering major courageously asked a lecturer to speak slowly. She overcame her fear of using English by being part of the crowd in Washington DC.

An English camp led by British students from Oxford and Cambridge inspired this Nursing major. She started tutorials for the first time in order to prepare for the DSE. She read with an exchange student in Form Four. Reading in English takes longer because she needs to check the vocabulary.

Teachers in secondary school asked this Social Work major to write reflections after watching movies. Comedic movies are her favourite because they make her laugh. Watching the movie of A Christmas Carol helped her better understand the text.

Chatting with the host family after a day at school complemented this Engineering major’s English learning during an exchange to Australia in Form Three. The Golden Compass was required reading but it was made easier by watching the movie.

Attending a tutorial with small classes helped this Nursing major improve his language skills rather than examination skills. He read Lord of the Flies for a book report and found the text very meaningful.

Relatives recommended this Nursing major to attend an English learning centre during her primary school. She read Matilda for her exams and prefers books with movie adaptations.

Doing dictation, past papers, and grammar exercises made up most of this Property Management major’s secondary school life. He read The Witches for a book report but doesn’t want to read anymore English books.

This Chemical Technology major expressed her creativity in a drama class during secondary school. Watching The Hunger Games and Twilight motivated her to read the books.

Watching Titanic and writing a report was relaxing for this Chemical Technology major. The exercise helped improve his pronunciation. He also wrote a book report on Forrest Gump.

Thinking of the future, this Biology major’s father enrolled him in an English learning centre to ensure he could speak and communicate in the language when he ventures in the world. He mostly reads English course material.

Secondary school English classes made this Biology major wonder if the language is for communication or exams. He found classes boring and useless as they were exam-orientated.

Interactive classes with a NET helped this Computing major’s communication skills but English subject teachers provided the knowledge to pass public exams. She plans to read 1984 as she wants to know more about politics.

Doing past papers is the best way to prepare for the public exams in Hong Kong because the assessment method is similar every year. This Computing major found the English novels in school too difficult.

Studying English in university was better than secondary school for this Psychology major. Due to her interest in psychology, she enjoys reading her textbooks and course material.

Attending an academic conference in South Africa gave this Radiography major an opportunity to use English. He has to read a lot of manuals for his field.

There are more English speakers on campus so this Engineering major can practise using the language. He reads about fishing in English and would need to know the terms if he were to travel overseas.

Switching from a local school to an international one allowed this Hotel Management major to be fully immersed in an English speaking environment. Being interested in social issues and human rights, her favourite books are A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner.

Starting off in an international school, this Fashion Marketing major faced problems when switching back to the local system as teachers preferred using Cantonese. She read works of Shakespeare for her literature class, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Attending an EMI school was a very good environment for this Counseling major to learn English. She primarily reads books related to her major.

Primary and secondary school education was the longest period of time that this Biology major studied English. He feels university education only allows him to learn about his major. He mainly read books regarding biology.

Playing clarinet is a way for this Applied Maths major to learn English. To better understand music, she would check the meaning of lyrics and search for the background of composers. She read The Hunger Games but didn’t find it useful.

Given topics to brainstorm rather than using textbooks during class helped her develop more ideas and build up vocabulary. This proved to be useful for the public exam. This Applied Maths major read Frankenstein for the SBA.

A new principal proactively organised English learning activities such as debates and discussions in secondary school. This Nursing major has read The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

To improve her English, this Engineering major attended tutorial classes during secondary school. She wishes she attended them earlier and practised the more as poor results are causing problems in her academic career.

English teaching in Hong Kong is assessment-oriented with the focus on textbooks and exam skills rather than activities according to this Social Work major. She read The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Oliver Twist for the SBA.

Being able to talk and interact with NETs in class motivated this Optometry major to learn English. He found Lord of the Flies inspiring and also reads sports news on the Internet.

Attending an international high school allowed this Hotel Management major to speak English with students from all over the world. She studied Shakespeare and has read Tuesdays with Morrie as well.

Having started learning English late, this Fashion and Textile major’s secondary school teacher gave her tutorial lessons. She read books for school assignments.

As a punishment in primary school, this Biology major had after-class lessons until he could pass an English test. He also had to repeatedly do dictations until he passed. The school reading scheme aims to motivate students but he preferred to do other things.

When the teacher played English songs during class, this Civil Engineering major learnt words that wouldn’t be found in textbooks. She has read popular books such as Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter.

Starting primary school marked the beginning of this English major’s language learning. Due to the small class size, the teachers were able to give her more time.

English Week in secondary school encouraged this Occupational Therapy major to develop the habit of speaking the language. He is a slow reader but sometimes picks up a newspaper.

Learning to write under pressure in secondary school has paid off in the workplace as this Engineering major can respond quickly to customer emails. He likes reading detective stories.

English was used at an international camp for Girl Guides at the London Olympics in 2012. This Accountancy major watched a movie during the reading sessions in secondary school.

Being fluent in English and able to converse with foreigners is important to this Biotechnology major. She attended an expensive tutorial class to improve her pronunciation. She skimmed books in secondary school.

A Shakespearean drama troupe that visited this Biotechnology major’s secondary school during English Week taught him acting and natural speech. He did a report on Superman after watching the movie and reading the book.

To help prepare for the public examinations, this Biotechnology major’s English teacher gave him one-on-one lessons. He read books such as A Christmas Carol, The Railway Children and The Diary of a Young Girl for his literature class.

Good teachers are very important according to this Hotel Management major as they raised her interest in learning English. She would like to read novels like The Hunger Games in the future.