“Survival instinct” pushed this Korean student to learn English when she had to make friends and study in a Mainland international school. She is focused on reading course material because it results in a transfer of knowledge rather than a pastime.

A teacher used different ways, such as group projects, to make this Fitness major’s learning fun. Biographies chosen by teachers were boring.

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.

A university English class that included peer reviews helped this Engineering major develop her academic writing. Tuesdays with Morrie had a great impact on her.

Watching movies in secondary school conveyed everyday life to this Business major. Bridge to Terabithia was a required text in high school.

Chatting with foreigners allowed this Chinese major to discover elements of the language that she didn’t learn in formal lessons. Reading Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom taught her about the lives of people in other countries.

A NET in high school praised and encouraged this Human Resource about her language skills. The course material in a university exchange taught her some new theories and vocabulary.

Apart from textbooks, an inspiring teacher in high school used interesting materials and examples to illustrate the use of English. This Language major seldom reads except for academic readings.

This Japanese major watched movies with friends. Her favourite is Love, Rosie. In secondary school, she read The Five People You Meet in Heaven and did a book report.

Primary school vocabulary lessons involved making a food-themed poster with a recipe on it. This Information Management major read The Perks of Being a Wallflower because of the movie and the popularity of the book.

Watching TV and listening to people speak helped this Computer Science major learn English. He prefers to read non-fiction books.

A teacher stirred this student’s interest in English through activities such as field trips and debating. She also read the Phantom of the Opera.

Having to memorise grammar rules was difficult for this Cultural Studies major when he was in high school. She had to read some course texts a few times to understand them better.

Watching movies and playing games in a secondary school English Language Centre allowed this Sports Management major to learn in a comfortable atmosphere. Watching movies before reading the printed books enhanced her understanding and interest.

Watching TV dramas such as The Big Bang Theory helped this Nursing major expand her vocabulary. Her favourite book is Pride and Prejudice. Reading helps with her writing skills.

Getting familiar with the vocabulary in the textbooks increased this Computer Science major’s reading speed.

Arranging English classes for his son had made this Nursing major more aware of his own language needs. He feels his standard of English has affected his life’s direction.

Primary school drama classes allowed this student to practise her English skills. She read Harry Potter after a friend recommended it to her. Later she watched the movie.

In university English literature lessons, this Accounting major read poems and stories. She read The Pillowman.

Participating in an English camp provided an opportunity for this Finance graduate to practise speaking. Reading reference books is helpful for exams but not for speaking.

Interacting with tourists and foreigners in the city enabled this Actuarial Science major to improve her English during primary school. She read The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins which contained many unfamiliar words.

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.

Getting a good grade for writing and producing a video for an English language course in university is a highlight for this Computer Engineering major. He uses Google and Wikipedia to search for definitions. He watches YouTube videos with English subtitles and reads reference books.

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.

Watching dramas and movies expanded this Social Work major’s everyday vocabulary but it didn’t help with the formal English requirement of the DSE. She read parts of Twilight.

This Business major did a lot of test papers to prepare for the Gaokao. At first, she was worried about the many readings in a general education course but then she realised that she could understand them.

Learning in an English learning centre allowed this Chinese major to have contact with teachers from different cultures. She learnt vocabulary that would not normally be taught in class while reading Harry Potter.

A university English course led by a foreign teacher allowed this Engineering major to exchange ideas with students from other disciplines. She was required to read extensively in a university course on China.

Subtitles in the movie Sherlock Holmes taught this Engineering major slang and difficult words. His favourite book is The Downing Street Years by Margaret Thatcher.

A foreign teacher in Beijing helped this student communicate confidently. She pursued English to pass the Gaokao and IELTS. She reads Chinese language books.

English lessons with a NET in Form One were memorable for this Accounting major. She liked the interesting activities and the English speaking learning atmosphere in class. She interacted with classmates during a secondary school reading session.

A teacher in secondary school asked this Business Administration major to make a class presentation. He read some e-books to prepare for his studies.

It’s more comfortable using English with foreigners than locals because there is too much focus on accuracy in Hong Kong. This Electronic Engineering majors exchanged stories with other tourists in Berlin. She likes comics and science fiction novels.

Exposure to English was limited during this student’s kindergarten and primary years. It changed when she studied in an EMI secondary school which had extra-curricular English activities.

Going on a study tour to Australia with his friends was enjoyable for this Mathematics major. He read A Christmas Carol under the teachers’ guidance, and had discussions with classmates in secondary school.

An English course in Australia provided this Philosophy major with the opportunity to talk to native speakers and learn everyday English. He finds it difficult to understand some course material.

Watching the YouTube channel danisnotonfire exposed this New Media major to new vocabulary. She read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green as it was recommended by many YouTubers.

An exchange to Liverpool made this student more aware of her vocabulary and accent. She liked how the characters communicated in Fifty Shades of Grey.

Debating in university gave this student an opportunity to prepare speeches and arguments. She has read Jane Eyre and Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. She finds the latter exciting.

Watching movies or TV programmes helps prepare this Accounting major for interviews. She watched Harry Potter, Gossip Girl and The Flash. She hates reading but working in an accounting firm required her to read difficult documents.