A tutor helped this Business major when he moved from Hong Kong to Canada in primary school. He was embarrassed by his level of reading at the time but it motivated him to improve.
5CK407
posted by admin
English pronunciation was difficult to remember for this Computer Science major. He hates English books because he was forced to read them in secondary school.
5CK422
posted by admin
The difficulty in speaking English in a summer camp motivated this Biological Science major to learn the language. She read To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye for her high school literature class. Her favourite story is the Twilight series.
5CK427
posted by admin
Being unable to express herself clearly in a study tour to Cambridge motivated this Business major to learn the language. The Hunger Games movies motivated her to read the original books.
5CK429
posted by admin
Watching a TV series expanded this Economics major’s vocabulary. Studying in the Netherlands has made him realise how much he benefits from previous English learning. Reading Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings in English exposed him to English linguistic culture.
5CK462
posted by admin
Learning English is a continuous journey for this Arts graduate. She read Twilight because her friends were crazy about it.
5CK481
posted by admin
A NET taught this Social Science major grammar outside class. He read newspapers to prepare for the DSE. Although he didn’t like this, it expanded his vocabulary.
5CK496
posted by admin
An SBA presentation made this Business and Law major realise his weakness, which motivated him to work hard to improve his English. In his presentation, he analysed the literary devices in a Nicholas Sparks’ book about the piano.
5CK509
posted by admin
An exchange to the UK taught this History major everyday English. He developed reading and analytical skills through studying history.
5CK534
posted by admin
The speaking test in TOEFL was difficult for this Journalism major. Reading material in a course was difficult, which makes him think he should practise more.
5CK535
posted by admin
Being unable to speak in a cultural exchange motivated this Applied Linguistics major to join a class which helped her build confidence. She didn’t have access to English books like novels in Mainland China.
5CK571
posted by admin
Moving to the US at the age of 10, this Finance major relied on guessing, gestures and a dictionary to understand other people. Reading children’s books improved her vocabulary and grammar. Brave New World is eye-opening.
5CK677
posted by admin
Playing video games with a dictionary let this Nursing major improve vocabulary and speech. After watching the Sherlock Holmes TV drama, she started to read the book. Although she had to check almost every word in the dictionary, she finished it.
5CK694
posted by admin
The different accents of secondary school teachers was difficult for this Law major to understand. She practised speaking with her brother. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest motivated her to study law.
5CK784
posted by admin
Integrated English learning involves years of reading and using the language for this Pharmacy major. He reads novels and used to read National Geographic all the time.
5CN030
posted by admin
Learning naturally from home and school was how this Social Science major picked up the language. She read the Harry Potter series in primary school as it was very popular then.
5CN036
posted by admin
While exploring synonyms in a university GE course, this student became aware that one must choose one’s words carefully. Eva Hoffman’s autobiography is similar to this English major’s experience of moving to Hong Kong.
5CN199
posted by admin
Failing the A-levels has remained in the memory of this Chinese major. She reads the newspaper.
5TT012
posted by admin
Pronunciation and grammar drills were annoying but ultimately valued by this student. He did multiple book reports on The Old Man and the Sea and wondered what problems the protagonist may face while reading the book.
5TT028
posted by admin
Settling into an international school in Grade 3 was a challenge for this Engineering major. He finished the Harry Potter series in one month during Grade 6.
5TT030
posted by admin
A tutor helped this Engineering major with the DSE by teaching him sentence patterns and expanding his vocabulary. The lessons were boring but effective. He also recalls not being able to finish the reading component of the DSE.
5TT045
posted by admin
Unhappy with her secondary school’s approach to teaching English, this Economics major learned on her own by reading South Morning China Post and BBC news and listening to the radio. She read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for a school presentation.
5TT054
posted by admin
Despite having little interest in English, this Science major listened to her teachers and did her homework to get through the DSE. She finds it difficult to read English.
5TT065
posted by admin
Learning English in university is more interactive and less boring than reviewing DSE past papers for this Science major. She also read the South China Morning Post and discussed the news with her teacher in preparation for the DSE.
5TT259
posted by admin
An “effective” teacher used movies, music and magazines in this Accounting major’s DSE English class. Although she was forced to read books or newspapers during high school, she found it useful.
5TT261
posted by admin
Although it was hard preparing for the DSE, this Mathematics major enjoyed support from his English teachers. After reading the Chinese version of The Hunger Games, he read the English one.
5TT270
posted by admin
Although learning English is boring, this Computing major knows the language is useful. She practises by talking with friends. She has read newspapers and finds academic articles difficult.
5TT336
posted by admin
This Geography major had a hard time transitioning from a CMI primary school to an EMI secondary school. She finally understood the book Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? after a few years of university studies.
5TT347
posted by admin
Despite the negative view on spoon feeding, this Spanish major felt she learnt a lot in secondary school. She read Animal Farm because she has an interest in politics.
5TT349
posted by admin
This Accounting major now sees the funny side of mispronouncing a word. She was a slow reader at first because she had to check new vocabulary, but she persevered and likes autobiographies.
5TT359
posted by admin
Memorising words for IELTS was tough but useful for writing and reading. Reading academic articles was difficult for this Urban Design major.
5TT414
posted by admin
Staying in Canada and China influenced this Linguistics major’s English learning. Reading Harry Potter was difficult at first but she did not give up. She also read The Great Gatsby after watching the movie.
5TT520
posted by admin
A NET helped this China Studies major analyse, modify and perform Shakespeare’s Macbeth in class. Although she regards Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter as a ‘heavy’ book for a Primary 6 student, it inspired her.
5TT537
posted by admin
Learning phonics in primary school taught this Politics major how to pronounce words. After reading Harry Potter she discovered that a single English word can encapsulate a life experience.
5TT566
posted by admin
Although she had to do a mountain of papers to prepare for the DSE, this Economics major relishes the fight. She can’t remember the titles of the books she read for the SBA but notes that they were thick.
6CK015
posted by admin
Using “English to understand English” was a breakthrough for this Social Policy major who had felt he was incompetent. In Form 6, he abandoned reading Chinese news in favour of the BBC which he credits for his improved English.
6CK023
posted by admin
Listening to his classmates speak in university English lessons shattered the confidence of this Finance major. A law course exposed him to difficult vocabulary.
6CK024
posted by admin
The language in law is special according to this Accounting major. She uses the dictionary.
6CK039
posted by admin
Although learning syntax is complicated, it helped this English major acquire a clearer concept of the language. Reading Shakespeare is difficult because the vocabulary is not commonly used.