Blogging Your Learning Experience

To make yourself learn better, you need to develop a study plan and share how you make the plan work. The plan is crucial to motivate and help you to learn and enhance your English skills in a long run. You also need it for record-tracking your learning journey. The record can help you see how you reach your learning goal so you are more aware of the responsibility for your own learning.

Blogging can help stir up your desire to learn. The desire can fade out without a support from others. Using the blog can easily gain the support. Start by sharing your experience in learning some new phrases everyday. Talk about something that impacts your daily life. Use the blog to record your thinking, this helps you express better in writing. Share the blog with your friends as much as possible.

Most importantly, no man is an island. We can't really isolated ourselves. We enjoy learning and sharing. We want to grow both intellectually and spiritually. We can't grow without learning. Learning takes a life time. Learning a new language also means appreciating some new culture and value that you may not have encountered before. Take myself as an example, I am Christian. I read Holy Bible every day. I did it ritually and didn't gain much insight until I started switching the language mode from Chinese to English. I now gain a lot more insight from the Words in the Bible. It impacts me immensely, because I can make a better reflection when memorising and mediating the Words in the second language.

Playing Dual Roles: Teacher and Student

You will have a lot of fun if you can play dual roles being a teacher and a learner to enhance your English skills. The ideas below provide some tips.

• Use audio materials to teach yourself. If possible, help yourself listen to learn before you will read to learn.
• Make yourself answer and respond to the listening and reading tasks. So, you will engage in deep learning not the superficial learning.
• Get into the details. Learning happens when it touches on the great details of the subject. So, read and listen to something that you are immensely interested in. Your study will also satisfy your intellectual thirst.
• Take time to show yourself the learning materials as many times as you can. It is necessary to repeat the listening and reading. Give yourself a break if you are bored by the reading.
• Record your own reading or speaking. You will see your own progress in the process.
• Tell yourself that you appreciate and value your effort. Believe in yourself and your ability of learning English.
  

Can and Can't

I can eat, but I can't cook.
I can swim, but I can't dive.
I can run, but I can't skate.
I can jump, but I can't fall.
I can ride, but I can't drive.
I can make, but I can't create.
I can walk, but I can't fly.
I can sit, but I can't nap.
I can kick, but I can't hit.
I can take, but I can't steal.
I can close, but I can't lock.
I can hike, but I can't climb.

How about you?

Fill in the blanks.

I can eat, but I can't _______.
I can swim, but I can't ________.
I can run, but I can't ________.
I can jump, but I can't ________.
I can ride, but I can't _______.
I can make, but I can't _______.
I can walk, but I can't _______.
I can sit, but I can't _______.
I can kick, but I can't _______.
I can take, but I can't ________.
I can close, but I can't _______.
I can hike, but I can't _______.
I can ______ , but I can't ________.

Reading Project - Triangle of Life

Yesterday I received an email message regarding the earthquake safety. It is known as "Triangle of Life" by Doug Copp. Read the message below. The picture below can help you better understand the article. The picture was downloaded from the link http://shehui.club.xilu.com/bbs/chinabox/newsview-950432-642104.html . You will also see the Chinese translation of the message if you follow the link.

However, the validity of the advices has been questioned by others. Read the research article you will find at the link http://www.cert-la.com/RejoinderToDougCopp.pdf. You may also use the Google search engine to search for the related articles by typing in the key words "triangle of life".

Write your comments by comparing the two techniques: "Duck and Cover" and "Triangle of Life".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation (UNX051 -UNIENET)
for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

In 1996 we made a film which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul, University of Istanbul, Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test.

We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did "duck and cover" and ten mannequins I used in my "triangle of life" survival method.


After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results.

The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions, relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover. There would likely have been 100 % survivability for people using my method of the "triangle of life." This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA, Canada and Latin America on
the TV program Real TV.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under their desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time know that the children were told to hide under something.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the "triangle of life". The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using
this void for safety will not be injured.

The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building. They are everywhere. I trained the Fire Department of Trujillo (population 750,000) in how to survive, take care of their families, and to rescue others in earthquakes.

The chief of rescue in the Trujillo Fire Department is a professor at Trujillo University. He accompanied me everywhere. He gave personal testimony: "My name is Roberto Rosales. I am Chief of Rescue in Trujillo. When I was 11 years old, I was trapped inside of a collapsed building. My entrapment occurred during the earthquake of 1972 that killed 70,000 people. I survived in the "triangle of life" that existed next to my brother's motorcycle. My friends who got under the
bed and under desks were crushed to death ...I am the living example of the "triangle of life". My dead friends are the example of "duck and cover".

Tips from Doug Copp:

1. Everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE is crushed to death -- Every time, without exception. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are
   always crush.
2. Cats, dogs and babies all naturally often curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void.
   Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3. Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. The reason is simple: the wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If
   the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
4. If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed.
5. If an earthquake happens while you are watching television and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.
6. Everybody who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the door jam falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
7. Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building
   continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
8. Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible. It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
9. People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles, says the author. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
10. I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
    

Love-driven Acts in Sichuan Earthquake

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love always protects.
Love always trusts.
Love always hopes.
Love always perseveres.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7407927.stm



The acts of love can easily be seen in Sichuan after the strong
China Earthquake. Kindness, patience, protection, hope, perseverance are names for the caring acts. These love-driven acts have eased the pain and lifted people's spirit.




"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
(Corinthians 13:4-7)

Benjamin Franklin's 13 Principles of Success

Benjamin Franklin, a seventeen year-old boy, arrived in Philadelphia, USA without a penny in 1723. At age 42, he retired, wealthy. Few men, before or since have ever been as successful as Benjamin Franklin. He gave credit for his many inventions and business successes to the list of 13 principles of success below.

1. Temperance: Eat not dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself, avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have it's time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no harmful deceit; think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes; forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, nor at accidents.
12. Chastity: Be chaste in matters with the opposite sex.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

M-o-t-h-e-r Poem

Mom is the name I call you.
Oh, I wish you always stay strong and young.
The love you give me is uncountable.
How much contribution you have made on my life?
Ears and eyes are two things you train me with.
Reading Bible everyday is what makes you shine!

Thank you God for giving me the wonderful mother.
I love you, Mommy!
I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day!

A Reflection

We all experience the fact that we don't have enough time to finish the assigned work or meet the deadline. Maybe we can reflect on the following questions:

• Do we know what we need to do or to study each day?
• How often do we study or do thing without a clear focus?
• Do we keep track of our time?
• Do we spend time improving our capablility?

Planning the time is a difficult task initially, but once we get used to it, we'll see how much time we actually have!
You can be successful, not just academically, but in every area of your life. One of the requirements, though, is that you learn to make every moment of your day worthwhile. I'm sure you have a lot to finish, so make it happen. Doing so always leads you closer to your dreams than ever before.

Reading Fast and Increasing Comprehension

Reading fast can also help to increase your comprehension if one can fulfill the following conditions.

1. Read the material that meet your level of language proficiency.
2. Read and never lose your wonder in seeking meaning. Read with a purpose, follow the argument/s or story plot/s not the details.
3. Have fun in reading, time your reading if you have a clock around. By reading faster, one can make the reading process more challenging. Reading fast can also keep you awake because you must concentrate more.
4. Use a pencil tip to help your eyes scan the text in phrases, and always move forward as fast as as possible.
5. Speed up your reading by practise reading, reading, and reading. Progressively learn to see and comprehend more and more words ( i.e. from 3 to 10 words) at a time.
6. Target yourself to read at an average speed of 200 words per minute to a more advanced speed of 800 wpm.
7. Seek professional help if you find the suggestions can't help you.

Add your comment below if you have something to share!

Sentences in Passive Forms

The photos were taken in March, 2008 when Terri and her family visited Danxia Mountain. Located in the northeast of Shaoguan city in Guangdong Province,Danxia Mountain is called "Red Stone Park of China",45 kilometers away from downtown Shaoguan.

Because of the brilliant red color,the red stone group covering a total area of 282 square miles is called "Danxia Mountain", meaning "red rays of the sun" in Chinese word. Formed of the red sandy rock, Danxia Mountain area is characterized by the red steep cliffs with precipitous landform of even peak, sheer body and flat valleys.

In geography, it is also the name place of "Danxia Landform", which refers to the sort of landform similar to the Danxia Mountain. Since 1988, Danxia Mountain has been successively appointed as National Scenic Spot, National Natural Protection Zone for Geology and Geomorphology in China, Grade AAAA National Tourist Spot, and National Geological Park of China.

Extracted and adapted from the website Shaoguan Travel at the link:

http://www.sgtravel.cn/english/01_news_list.asp?Nno=118

Relative Clauses - A Practice Task

A relative clause is a subordinate clause that begins with a question word; e.g. who, which, where, or that. We can use it to modify a noun or pronoun.

Now read the sentences below and learn the structure of a relative clause.

Poor character (a.) // sets(b.) // the environment (c.) // that breeds the death of any good relationship (d.). by Robb Thompson
(a. Subject)//(b. verb) //(c. object)// (d. relative clause )

Now read the paragraph below and expand the imcomplete sentences (3-6) using the sentence structure with a relative clause.

Secondary school education is our fundamental cornerstone of learning. It is important to help students to understand the factors which influence personal development, interpersonal relationships, values and beliefs; and to devlop self-understanding and self confidence.

1. School education // is // the cornerstone //that helps students with self development.
2. Schools // can provide // a learning environment //which develops students' value and beliefs.
3. Education creates manpower that ....
4. Most school graduates have received the education that ...
5. Studying at university ....
6. Learning different languages equips students with language skills that ...

-----------------------------------------------------------

More sample sentences

• Students who can develop independent learning skills often achieve good academic results.
• A university is a place where people pursue advanced knowledge in specific academic disciplines.
• What’s the name of the person who/that first landed on the moon?
• The student who achieves the highest score in this school will be awarded a scholorship of $20,000.
• Computer games that involve fighting and shooting apparently have a negative effect on young people.
• Albert Einstein, who put forward the theory of relativity, is considered by many as the most intelligent person in human history.
  

Reduction of relative clauses. You can sometimes reduce a defining relative clause to create a more concise style. You cannot reduce a non-defining clause.

• Half of the training sessions (that are) arranged for the athletes have been cancelled due to bad weather.
• The foreigner (who/whom) you saw at the party last night is Giorgio Armani!
  

Tea 'healthier' drink than water

Do you know why there are two quotation marks quoting the word, 'healthier' on the title?

See the examples:
1. I am healthier than my parents.
2. Tea is 'healthier' than water.

Do the two examples give you some clue?
Can you explain why?

Read the article extracted from the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5281046.stm.

Summarise in three to five sentences why you think tea is a better drink than water.

Yes, when you read don't forget to search for the three adjectives or noun phrases (key words) that give you reasons why tea is a better drink.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The researchers recommend people consume three to four cups a dayDrinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers.

The work in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition dispels the common belief that tea dehydrates. Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers, UK nutritionists found. Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promote health.

These polyphenol antioxidants are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been shown to help prevent cell damage. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it .

Public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton, and colleagues at Kings College London, looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption. They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack.

Some studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer, although this effect was less clear-cut. Other health benefits seen included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening.

Dr Ruxton said, "Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it's got two things going for it."

Rehydrating
She said it was an urban myth that tea is dehydrating. "Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid. "Also, a cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth," she added.

There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health. However, research suggests that tea can impair the body's ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anaemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes. Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink
Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation Dr Ruxton's team found average tea consumption was just under three cups per day. She said the increasing popularity of soft drinks meant many people were not drinking as much tea as before. "Tea drinking is most common in older people, the 40 plus age range. In older people, tea sometimes made up about 70% of fluid intake so it is a really important contributor," she said.

Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation said: "Studies in the laboratory have shown potential health benefits. "The evidence in humans is not as strong and more studies need to be done. But there are definite potential health benefits from the polyphenols in terms of reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancers. "In terms of fluid intake, we recommend 1.5-2 litres per day and that can include tea. Tea is not dehydrating. It is a healthy drink."
The Tea Council provided funding for the work. Dr Ruxton stressed that the work was independent.

HKCEE and Sound-based Approach of Learning

As a matter of urgency, some students who are taking the HKCEE next month ask for a quick-fix learning method to prepare for the exam in May.

Language learning takes time; practising with past papers, reading newspaper articles, revising grammar points and usages, watching or listening to English news, attending examination preparation tutorials will take you enormous amount of time.

Can a quick-fix learning strategy work in a month time? Well, if the traditional method cannot provide a quick-fix solution, you may want to try a relatively more natural learning method to speed up your learning. The method is called a sound-based approach of studying English.

The sound-based approach can speed up your learning by increasing for you the audio channel of learning input and output. The following provide some ideas and guidelines for implementing the sound-based approach preparing for the approaching exam.

1. Repetition - The essence of sound-based learning approach bases on its natural language techniques, i.e. we learn a language when repetitively listening to and understanding sounds and utterances of the language.
2. Input Comprehensible and Visible - The other essence of the sound-based approach is that language acquisition involves differentiating and associating sounds with corresponding meaning using your imaginative mind.
3. Be a Keen Learner - Be like a little child trying to learn to control his world by listening to the repeated instructions of adults, so listen to some read-aloud passages repetitively until you fully understand the audio messages and be able to act and use them accordingly.
4. Use your Right Brain - Listen to the video or audio recorded news as many time as possible until they unconsciously embedded in your right brain with the audio (such as different tones)and visual clues (such as mind map). You must learn to attach to the message with some visual clues when you repetitively listen to and watch the news.
5. Maximise your Resources - Some past-exam audio tapes, read-aloud texts can be good resources, you can recycle and use them for means and ends to facilitate your audio input and outputs. Make sure the audio resources must be a quality production, in other words, quality input results in quality output.

HKCEE Writing Task 2 - a Letter to Editor

'It is more important to be clever than beautiful or handsome.' Do you agree?
Write a letter to the editor of the Young Post giving your opinions. Start your letter 'Dear Editor' and sign it 'Christ Wong'. Do not write address.

Dear Editor

I am writing this letter to express my view point regarding the topic, “It is more important to be clever than beautiful.” Beauty and cleverness are two things all of us want to get. However, if we can only choose one of them I would prefer cleverness to beauty. I will explain my reasons.

As a saying goes, it is important to be clever. Cleverness can help to solve many difficult problems in our daily live. For example, without good knowledge, people's lives become more and more challenging. Without knowledge, it is also more difficult for people to handle problems.

The lack of intelligence can not only affect our life quality, but also personal relations. With knowledge and understanding, people become cleverer in solving their own problems. Lives become easier. This is why clever people are usually happier people.

As for beauty, it will not last long. People look young and handsome when they fall within the age range from eighteen to thirty. When people are over forty, their faces show more wrinkles. Beauty will leave them gradually. No matter what people do, they can not really change their process of aging.

The life span of a normal person is about 80 years, their beauty looks will not last forever. On the contrary, cleverness should not disappear with age. When one increases in age, his life experience will also increase. Ages and time can help some people gain more wisdom.

In conclusion, I believe that it is more important to be clever than to have handsome looks. Intelligence can make life more beautiful but not the superficial beauty.


Yours Faithfully

Chris Wong
Chris Wong

(268 words)

• B – 5
  Highly meet the task requirements,
  Highly relevant content,
  Ideas very well developed,
  Very well written sentences,
  Highly accurate grammar,
  Very wide range of vocabulary,
  Very good organization,
  Very good cohesion,
  Very good idea link,
  Very good style,
  Very well achieved aim,
  Highly sensitive to reader’s needs.

------------------------

Original Letter
I am writing this letter to express my view point regarding the topic It is more important to be clever than beautiful.’ Beauty and cleverness are tow things all of us want to get, However, it we can only choose one of them I would prefer to choose cleverness. In the following content, I will explain the reason.

As the saying goes it is useful that you have cleverness. Cleverness can help you to solve many difficult question which appear in your life. For example, there are some people always let the problem more and more trouble. The reason is also they are not clever enough to handle the questions. For a long time, it is not only affect their own’s working quality, but also be bad of their personal relationship. However, if you are clever, many questions will leave you naturally. That is why clever people are also happy every day.
Generally speaking, the most beautiful term of one person is among 18 and 30. While you are over 40, you skill will be

Slack, the face will appear many wrinkles, you will not be beautiful again. No matter what you do, you can not change this fact. If you can think it carefully, one of a normal people who just have about 80 life, the beautiful term just occupy their lifes little. In contrary, cleverness should not be disappeared by age. Also your life experience is a good thing to help you to be more and more clever.

In conclusion, I agree that it is more important to be clever than beautiful or handsome.’ It is because cleverness can help you to solve many questions, a great life is followed by it. Moreover, beauty will be run off by time, you can not possess forever. Finally I want to say that if you want to be beautiful, you must have a good heart.
(315 words)

HKCEE Writing Task 1 - A Boy’s Love

David fell in love with Amy the first day he saw her and he thought that Amy was very beautiful. So, David asked Amy, ‘Amy, would you like to go to the cinema with me on Saturday?’ Amy was also fond of David, so she accepted his invitation.

Amy was planning to make herself look more beautiful. She read many fashion magazines to learn how to create a stylish look. In order to meet her demand, she visited many fashion houses and hair salons.

On Saturday morning, Amy got up early and was very excited. She spent nearly half a day to dress herself up. She asked her mother if she looked beautiful again and again. When it was about 6 o’clock, she left home. Her mother said, “Have a nice time!”

That evening, Amy arrived the place they had agreed to meet. Amy waited for about five minutes before David arrived. When David saw Amy, he looked so shocked and said loudly ‘Oh my god! Who are you? You are not Amy, Amy should look very beautiful! Amy cried at once and said ‘I hate you, I don’t want to be your friend any more!’ Then , Amy ran home.

(203 words)

• C - 4
  Meet the task requirements,
  Relevant content,
  Ideas well developed,
  Good sentences,
  Accurate grammar,
  Wide range of vocabulary,
  Good organization,
  Good cohesion,
  Good idea link,
  Good style,
  Well achieved aim,
  Sensitive to reader’s needs.

---------------------------

Original Version

Boy Heart like a weather
David fell in love with Amy the first day he saw her and he feel that Amy is beautiful. So, David asked Amy, ‘Amy, would you like to go to the cinema with me on Saturday? Amy is also interested in David, then she consented him. She was planning how to be more beautiful after she went back to home. She read many fashion magazine so that she wanted to create a new style. In order to achieve her aim, she went to many fashion house and hair salon.

On Saturday morning, Amy got up early and was tense very much. She had used a half day to dress up. Moreover, she asked her mother is it beautiful again and again. It was about 6 o’clock, she left home at last. Her mother said that , “Have a nice time.”

That evening, Amy arrived the place which they had meeting. Amy waited about 5 minutes, David arrived. When David was seeing Amy, she was loud to say that ‘Oh my good! Who are you? You are not Amy, Amy is so beautiful ! Amy cried at once and said that ‘I hate you forever, you don’t find me in the future!’ Then , Amy were running after he said.

(214)

HKCEE Writing Task 2 - Essay Competition

Do you want to work with a famous fashion designer?
The answer to the question is a “yes” to me and most young people who are interested in fashion and design. This is the reason I decide to take part in essay competition.

I have a great interest in fashion industry. If I have the opportunity to work with a famous fashion designer, I can learn not only knowledge but also get some experience out of the textbook.

If I graduate from the secondary school, I will choose to work for the fashion industry. The work experience will therefore be a valuable thing for me. I believe most fashion companies will favorably consider applicants with work experience apart from good academic results. With the opportunity, I can learn how to design the clothes and improve my communication skills.

I know that the salary or pay for fashion designers is not high, especially when they are new. It is also difficult to be a successful designer without hard work and talents. With the opportunity to work, I will follow instructions, and keep my good manner to work with colleagues to serve consumers. I will also be responsible and go to work on time. Having the part time job will also help me become more independent and learn to solve the problems.

If I earn some money, I will buy a computer to help me improve my design skills. I will also save the money for oversea trips during holidays. I also love to visit Milan which is an outstanding city for top trendy fashion productions.

Finally, I hope that I will win this essay competition that will help to make my dream come truce. I will definitely treasure this experience. (282 words)

• C - 4
  Meet the task requirements,
  Relevant content,
  Ideas well developed,
  Good sentences,
  Accurate grammar,
  Wide range of vocabulary,
  Good organization,
  Good cohesion,
  Good idea link,
  Good style,
  Well achieved aim,
  Sensitive to reader’s needs.
  

HKCEE Writing Task 1 - An Embarrassing Experience

One day after the lesson, Peter, a shy boy invited Amy, his beautiful classmate to go to the cinema with him on Saturday .Amy was very happy to accept his invitation. She was very excited, too.

On Friday, Amy went to a Fashion House to buy some new clothes. She also went to Hair Salon to have her hair cut. Now, Amy looked very different now.

When Saturday arrived, Amy wore her new dress to the cinema. Her mother told her not to be too late to come home.

Amy met Peter at the entrance of the cinema, but she was very embarrassed. She saw many of her classmates sitting around Peter and her. Peter felt embarrassed, too. Both of them would like the movie to finish as soon as possible. (132 words)

• C - 4
  Meet the task requirements,
  Relevant content,
  Ideas well developed,
  Good sentences,
  Accurate grammar,
  Wide range of vocabulary,
  Good organization,
  Good cohesion,
  Good idea link,
  Good style,
  Well achieved aim,
  Sensitive to reader’s needs.

HKCEE Writing Task - My Visit to Hong Kong

Last summer you were a tourist visiting Hong Kong for the first time. One weekend you went swimming and had a horrible experience. You are now back in your own country and are writing an account of your experience for your school magazine, Say what happened and how you felt about it.


Dear Editor

I went to Hong Kong last summer, and I had an unhappy tour in Hong Kong. I would like to share my experience, and I hope my readers can feel my anger and disappointment.

I went to Hong Kong with my friends. When I arrived there, I saw a crowd of taxi cars waiting next to the airport, I chose the first one and got onto the taxi. But the driver did not know English, he did not understand what we said, so we got off the taxi, and waited for another driver who knew English. Half an hour later, we finally got into a taxi that took us to the hotel we booked.

When we entered into the hotel, I saw a sleepy porter, and we had to open the door ourselves. When we got into the hotel room, we wore our swimming suits and walked down to the beach near the hotel a few minutes later.

We were terrified by the view of the beach, no one was swimming there, there seem to be a lonely place. We could find rubbish everywhere, and we could also smell the polluted air around us. We walked near the sea, some rubbish and fish bodies were floating on the water. We could not bear the place like this, we had to leave. Unfortunately, I cut my foot with a piece of sharp glass that hurt me so much. My friends called the ambulance and I was brought to a nearby hospital.

I stayed in the hospital for three days. I had to delay my plane to fly back. I was so disappointed could not visit any places in Hong Kong during my stay.

(281 words)

• C - 4
  Meet the task requirements,
  Relevant content,
  Ideas well developed,
  Good sentences,
  Accurate grammar,
  Wide range of vocabulary,
  Good organization,
  Good cohesion,
  Good idea link,
  Good style,
  Well achieved aim,
  Sensitive to reader’s needs.

HKCEE Writing Task - HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN HONG KONG

Revised Version

I am writing to share a fearful experience of my first visit to Hong Kong. Last summer, I joined a three day tour to Hong Kong with my girl friend. We have a pleasant beginning but with an unhappy ending.

On the first day, when we arrived at Hong Kong international airport in the morning, I felt very excited. Then, we went to Tsim Sha Tsui to the hotel that we stayed. In the afternoon, we went to buy some souvenirs for our parents., we arrived at the harbor city. I bought a new mobile phone for my dad because his mobile phone was broken. My girl friend bought a lot of brand cosmetic products, such as Doir, Fancl and Tommy. They were very expensive.

When we finished shopping, we went to Aberdeen for dinner. Aberdeen is one of the most popular places for sea food in Hong Kong. We ordered three dishes of sea food, such as shelter sauté crab and sauté lobster. They were very delicious and I was interested in trying them again.

On the second day, we went swimming in Repulse Bay in the morning. We also bought some bread and chicken wings for our barbecue trip. When we arrived at the barbecuing site, we saw few teenagers leaving some decanters on the ground. Also, they did not throw the rubbish into the litter bins .They threw it every where . My leg started bleeding when I stepped on the broken decanter .We called the ambulance immediately. So, all the activities were cancelled in the afternoon. I felt very unhappy about the unexpected accident.

I must say I feel very disappointed with the Hong Kong tour because the unexpected event happened. I also had a horrible experience when I went swimming in the beach. I wish the Hong Kong government will do more to protect the environment.

• C - 4 ( a low C after the revision)
  Meet the task requirements,
  Relevant content,
  Ideas well developed,
  Good sentences,
  Accurate grammar,
  Wide range of vocabulary,
  Good organization,
  Good cohesion,
  Good idea link,
  Good style,
  Well achieved aim,
  Sensitive to reader’s needs.

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Original version


HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN HONG KONG
I am writing to share my fearful experience of the first time visit of Hong Kong. Last summer, i joined a three day tour to Hong Kong with my girl-friend. We have a pleasant beginning and unhappy ending.

On the first day. We arrived Hong Kong international airport in the morning. I felt very excited when I arrived .After that, we went to Tsim Sha Tsui to check in the hotel. In the afternoon, we would like to buy some souvenirs for our parents. Therefore , we went to travel harbor city. I bought a new mobile phone for my dad because his mobile phone was broken. As for my honey, she bought lots of branded cosmetic such as Doir, Fancl and Tommy. It is very expensive .When we finished shopping, we went to Aberdeen for our dinner. Aberdeen is the most popular place to provide sea food. We ordered three type of sea food. For example, shelter sauté crab and sauté lobster. It is very delicious because i was interested to try again.

Second day, we went swimming in Repulse Bay in the morning. We also bought some bread and chicken wings to barbecue. When we arrived the barbecue, we saw few teenager who fell decanters on the floor. Move rover ,they did not throw the rubbish into the litter bin .They threw it on the floor.Suddenly.my leg was blooding because it made by broken decanter .We needed to call the ambulance immediately. So, all of activity will be cancel in the afternoon. I felt unexpected accident.

Lastly, I felt very disappointed in the this tour because i unexpected event was appear. Besides I have a horrible experience about swimming. I wish the government will be done more protection of environment.

HKCEE Writing Task 2 - a Letter to Editor

The idea of “keeping fit “is being overemphasized these days. There are girls and ladies going to fitness centre and beauty salon to slim down. Do you think it is a good thing?

Dear Editor

I do not think that being slim is the only standard / criterion for beauty. l also do not think ladies or girls going to fitness centre and beauty salon to slim down is a good thing. Slimming is surely being overemphasized by our society. There are three reasons to explain the situation.

Firstly, we can see slim teenagers have been received better than fat boys and girls. So, we can see people always play tricks on their fat classmates or employees. Being bulky or fat is a mark of being foolish and lazy. On the other hand, being slim with a good body shape can give people a good impression. This is why so many girls or ladies visit salon and fitness centre to slim down.

Secondly, girls and ladies need to spend a lot of money to help them keep fit, when they visit the fitness centre to slim down. It costs them a lot because the fitness business charges them a lot to advertise their products to the consumers; for example, they may employ famous stars to do it and the advertisement expense will automatically be transferred to customers.

Lastly, I believe there are many other ways to keep fit. For example, we can do more exercise that is more effective way to slim down. This is also a healthy way and it can save money.

To sum up, I think having a slim body can enhance the competitiveness of girls and ladies. But it does not mean we must visit beauty salon and fitness centre to slim down. Exercise and sports can also help to improve the beauty of our body.

Yours Faithfully
Chris Wong
Chris Wong

• B – 5
  Highly meet the task requirements,
  Highly relevant content,
  Ideas very well developed,
  Very well written sentences,
  Highly accurate grammar,
  Very wide range of vocabulary,
  Very good organization,
  Very good cohesion,
  Very good idea link,
  Very good style,
  Very well achieved aim,
  Highly sensitive to reader’s needs.