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 student enjoyed writing poems and playing games in a workshop on Thanksgiving day at university organised by an international tutor. The workshop was different to secondary school because it was interactive. Although reading English books is hard, she was able to finish Matilda. [4CJ093]

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.

Watching American movies in secondary school English classes allowed this student to learn slang. He does not like reading but is required to use textbooks about electronic engineering.

English was used by this Social Science major when she attended a Girl Guides event in Norway. She read Billy Elliot in secondary school and is now enjoying a self-help book called the Power of Slow.

Joining the Big Mouth Corner at university provided a chance for this Investment Science major to speak English and meet foreign students. She finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie but prefers Chinese books which are less time-consuming.

Activities, PowerPoint, movies, and computers were used instead of textbooks in secondary school English classes. This Engineering major prefers Chinese books rather than English ones.

Classes at school provided an English learning environment for this Engineering major. Lessons included group discussions about topics in the news. She reads lecture notes.

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.

Making a presentation without cue cards tested this Philosophy major’s English skills. He learns new vocabulary while reading philosophy books.

A teacher used jokes and group work instead of PowerPoint to enable this Engineering major to learn academic English. She finds reading TIME useful because it exposes her to new vocabulary.

Learning from books without words was difficult at the beginning for this Marketing major. She learnt little in an exchange to the US. She mostly reads romance novels. Her favourite is Gone with the Wind.

A teacher told this Philosophy major that English is the language for connecting with the world. Reading Sherlock Holmes taught her practical English and sentence structures. She likes Oscar Wilde and Animal Farm.

University English classes using multimedia offered a much better way for this Business major to learn the language. Reading Harry Potter expanded his vocabulary and improved his writing. He reads financial news from Bloomberg regularly.

Performing drama in secondary school was different to reading books and memorising vocabulary for this trainee doctor. Reading books like To Kill a Mockingbird is more than words, it’s about interpreting the author’s intent.

Working with visiting British students in a camp taught this Marketing major idioms and English usage. She learns about world news by reading newspapers.

As a waiter in a Japanese restaurant, this Public Administration major had to communicate with his customers in English. He thinks the course materials from his studies are too difficult.