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.

A teacher in secondary school used songs and lyrics to help build this Business major’s vocabulary. Her most memorable reading experience is the DSE reading paper.

This Finance major had to adjust to the learning environment in an international school. She read Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. She mostly reads financial articles from websites such as Bloomberg and Reuters.

This Philosophy major played the Joker in a high school drama based on the movie The Dark Knight. He says Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is elegant and dignified.

TV drama and movies taught this Chinese major how to use English. She didn’t enjoy doing a lot of reading exercises in secondary school.

Talking to an American exchange student was an enjoyable experience for this Maths major. He read TOEFL course material.

Group discussions and one-on-one teaching highlighted this Chinese major’s exchange to Britain. The English and Chinese versions of Kafka’s works are different. He reads about history and politics in TIME and the SCMP.

This BBA major attended tutorial classes that focused on exam skills to prepare him to re-sit the DSE. He also read newspaper articles which he found difficult.

This Business major spent her kindergarten years in Canada where she learnt English through pictures, actions and words. She read fiction in the library every day during primary school. Her favourite authors are Christopher Pike and Diana Wynne Jones. She now reads online stories and blogs.

A tutor used a unique teaching approach to change this student’s views on pronunciation of English. She was inspired by the content in The Hunger Games. She uses English and Cantonese in her General Studies degree.

A four-month university exchange in Canada required this Environmental Science major to use English more than usual. He also read a lot of online research papers during that time.

Presenting in English was part of this Business major’s role at a theme park. She read Matilda in English in Primary 3 after completing the Chinese version.

Watching hilarious movies allowed this Radiography major to learn and be entertained but reading was time-consuming. He read The Hunger Games after watching the movie.

A strict English only learning environment helped this student’s conversation skills. Her father encouraged her to read Harry Potter in English.

In Form Three, this BBA major had an English lesson in the kitchen and learnt English when cooking food. She reads English recipes and learns food names.

Watching movies and TV series enhanced this Business major’s vocabulary and speech. Although he read Harry Potter, he enjoyed the movies more because he didn’t need to check the dictionary.

Exercises to fill in missing song lyrics in secondary school boosted this Chinese Literature major’s listening skills. She finds liberty in choosing topics for writing assignments at university.

Conversations in movies such as Inception taught this Chemistry major English. In secondary school, she had enjoyed reading newspaper articles on health and lifestyle.

Doing a solo performance and being part of a choir meant this student had to work on pronunciation and fluency. She mostly reads academic books.

The experience of participating in a debate team let this Business Administration major markedly improve his English. He reads newspapers.

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

Watching scientific documentaries and movies helped this Science major build a good foundation in English. He used to bring novels to school and read them during breaks. He likes fantasy novels such as Eragon.

A trip to the UK gave this Engineering major an opportunity to immerse herself in British culture. She had to read the South China Morning Post every morning at school. Reading books that have been made into movies allows her to better understand the content.

English classes were compulsory in secondary school for this Early Childhood Education major. She attended tutorials in primary school. She chose English as a minor in university and has taught in a tutorial school.

Speaking with foreign students during university lectures is an opportunity to use English which was rarely found in schools. This Accounting and Finance major read The Hunger Games after watching its movie adaptation.

In junior high, this Education major read textbooks aloud and listened to the recordings to improve her speech. She also learnt New Concept English outside school.

Communicating with members of a host family and lessons with buddies were the highlights of a secondary school study tour in Australia for this Humanities major. She has to read some difficult course material related to her major.

Praised by a teacher in an English school at a young age encouraged this Social Science major to learn. Harry Potter was the first English book she completed.

Being encouraged to speak in university English classes is a positive difference for this Accounting major. He reads newspapers and has started Harry Potter.

Learning to translate a Chinese story to English made this student appreciate the differences in the two languages. Books by Nicholas Sparks such as Dear John and the Notebook have made this Translation major cry.

Interviewing tourists during a field trip to Tsim Sha Tsui in secondary school allowed this Maths Education major a chance to use the English he learnt in a classroom. He read Harry Potter because he loved the film.

A primary school teacher helped this Math Education major after-school and taught what he really had to learn. He reads software user manuals.

Studying in Dublin was like a three-month intensive English lesson for this Business major. She also taught English as a volunteer in Cambodia. She read the news and The Saga of Darren Shan.

Working with English-speaking clients has helped this Management major’s language skills. He uses English in contracts and reference documents.

Participating in a drama in secondary school helped this student learn English efficiently. He has to read essays on many different topics for his major. Film adaptations motivate him to read the book version.

Describing herself as the worst student in a tutorial class, this student caught up to her older peers with help from the teachers. The first time she read a textbook was in secondary school Biology.

A study tour to Los Angeles let this Urban Studies major learn English through culture, drama and sport. Influenced by her friends, she read Twilight and liked its lively descriptions.

Adjusting to an EMI secondary school required this Geography major to pay more attention in class and check the dictionary often in order to catch up. Reading stories during that period expanded his vocabulary. He now reads non-fiction books about science and geography.

Songs were used in secondary school to teach vocabulary and culture to this Accounting major. Completing Harry Potter in primary school helped her develop a habit of reading and learning through books.

Using English at school enabled this Business major to learn the language ‘unconsciously’. Although her teacher chose Of Mice and Men and The Merchant of Venice for IB literature she enjoyed them.