Mrs. Anson Chan on Learning English

Summary of Mrs. Anson Chan talk on Learning English to F2 students at the F2 English camp on 13.7.2005 at Wu Kai Sha

Need for English

• Increase competitiveness
• English is foundation for communications in workplace and future study in HK as an international city
• Chinese, English and Spanish are the most important languages

Attitude

• Determination to learn is key
• Have to learn it in top-notch manner, no point to do it half-hearted

Ways to improve English:

Reading

• Anything you like
• Read several books in summer vacation
• Paper to drop down new words and study afterwards
• Discuss the book with friends
• Magazines like Times, Economist
• Build up the vocabulary and increase your confidence

Listening

• BBC or other English radio
• When asked what to do if the news commentators are speaking too fast, she advised WYOFF or even herself will find out and recommend some commentators or programmes
• Listen to English songs to learn English. Oldies are recommended because of their better English.
  

Speaking

• Assign one day (or sometime) to speak with each other in English
• Practice makes perfect
• Go to an oversea English study tour if you can afford, as it will also widen your exposure and understand other countries and cultures. WYOFF could sponsor some of these tours.
• Participate in English-Speaking Union (http://www.esuhk.org/) activities

How to become a better person

• Learn to have a sense of duty and service
• Can participate in Federation of Youth, UNICEF youth programme, Police Cadet programme, Scout, Red Cross, etc.