Conversation with the mountain
There is a saying: “Mountain climbing is
talking with the mountain”.
Richard Qian, a Foundation Programme
student coming from the Mainland, had a
chance to understand this saying during
the last summer holiday. He climbed the
Huangshan “Yellow Mountain”, one of the
most attractive scenic spots in Anhui
Province of China. “This exercise was a
test of the climber’s stamina,” said Richard.
“Spending all my energy on climbing, I
could hardly talk to other people.” The air
got thinner as Richard climbed higher. He
could hear only his own heavy breathing,
which was comparable to talking with the
mountain.
Terry Xu, a classmate of Richard in the
English class of the Foundation
Programme, likes mountain climbing very
much. He went to Suzhou with some
friends in the summer holiday. They
organised an activity, which gave Terry an
experience quite different from Richard’s:
a mountain climbing race. All the
participants were boys and the girls were
waiting for them at the top, ready to cheer
for the winner. It was an extremely hot day
and everyone tried their best. Terry won
the race. “That was one of the most
wonderful moments during my vacation!”
he said.
After the race, the group communicated
with the mountain. They enjoyed the beauty
of the mountain; and in response, the air
of the mountain blew gently on their faces
and ears, giving them another wonderful
experience.
Learn something new
What did you do during the summer? Go on holiday? Get a job? Play a lot of games? Well, Benson from
Haining, and Sheria from Hungchow both learnt to swim – and both did it for the same kind of reasons.
Taking advantage of the first summer without a lot of school work to do, both were encouraged by their
parents to learn to swim, partly for exercise but also for safety – but let’s hope they don’t fall in the sea
while they are in Hong Kong! In fact neither have swum in the sea yet, but they have been enjoying the
pool in the student hall.
CILL
The Centre for Independent Language
Learning is getting busier as a self-study
element has been added to many of the
ELC’s courses, but there’s still plenty of
space for you to come and use the
facilities. Have a look at the new Learning
Pathways – these have been specifically
written for the ELC’s English Language
Enhancement Programmes (ELEP) but
can be used by any CILL members. They
are lists of recommended units in books
and other materials to help you with
particular areas of English.
English Language Enhancement
Programmes (ELEP)
These new courses run by the ELC are
proving to be really popular with students.
They all focus on a specific area of
English, so that you can study the area
that you want to improve. If you're not
studying an ELEP course this semester,
you may want to join one in 2006. Visit
the ELEP website to find out more
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/ELEP
Studying hard during admit that last year I did not try Jimmy has just been admitted to
hard enough, as can be reflected a BRE course on Building
the holiday
Some students spent a lot of their
summer days on studying.
Shirley, a full-time merchandiser,
has been doing an ITC part-time
evening course in the PolyU. She
is now in her second year of the
course and time management has
been a problem for her. “I have to
by my results. There is always a
struggle between work and study,”
said Shirley. “I will devote more
time to my study and wish all my
hard work will pay off at the end.”
Shirley hopes she can finish work
every day before 7 pm so that she
can be more punctual for the
evening classes.
Technology and Management. A
good part of his summer holiday
was spent on reading books of
western philosophy. This was to
prepare for an entry test for a
philosophy course in another
university. Despite his hard work,
he did not pass the test. He has
not decided yet whether he is going
to try it again.
Travel tips
What is the first issue that most students need to consider when they plan their summer trips?
Destination? Accommodation? Travel expenses? Yes, all of these issues are probably important, and
three of our own students, Brian, Jim, and Pierce, have kindly agreed to share their tips on how to
spend little, visit several destinations, and make friends.
Travel to several countries on the same trip: If you are planning a trip to a South-East Asian
country, why not visit several of them at the same time? Brian and Pierce went to Singapore, Kuala
Lumpur, Penang, and back to Singapore within a period of twelve days. Of course, they had to spend
time arranging their tickets, reading up about the different cities, and figuring out the costs, but, as
they say, it was well worth it.
Take an overnight bus: Taking a bus overnight saves the money which would otherwise be spent
on accommodation. Make sure to have something warm with you because it was very cold on some of
the buses that Brian and Pierce took when travelling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (even colder
than in Hong Kong offices, they said!).
Stay in an international youth hostel: There is a network of youth hostels all over Asia (and other
parts of the world). Hostels are not five-star hotels (the hostel in Kuala Lumpur where the boys stayed
was rather bad, with no hot running water, with a broken window and smelly beds). But hostels do
provide cheap alternatives and are a great place to meet other travellers.
Make friends with other foreigners: In one of the hostels, the boys met Rodney, a backpacker from
the US. The boys and Rodney found several things in common and talked for hours. The boys understood
only 50% of Rodney’s speech collectively (i.e., 25% by Brian and 25% by Pierce), but being able to
communicate with a native speaker was the highlight or “the happiest experience” of their summer.
Visit friends of friends: Jim and Pierce, while in Taiwan, stayed with a friend of a friend. Not only
did this help them to save their money, but they also met some wonderful people. They were amazed
at the Taiwanese hospitality and would want to treat their new Taiwanese friends the same way when
they decide to visit Hong Kong.
Try local snacks: Snacks, just like in Hong Kong, are usually cheap and delicious!
Join the Guards
you guessed it - “Where’s the
toilet?” Is it dangerous being a
Oscar joined a security firm and guard? Well, luckily Oscar didn’t
worked as a guard in the summer. find any thieves, although his
Most of the time he was in a partner did catch one.
supermarket in Kwun Tong. It
sounds like a tough job – 9.00am Patrick was a lifeguard at a private
to 9.00pm – mostly standing at the swimming pool in Shatin. He’s a
entrance and sometimes patrolling pretty good swimmer and trained
around the supermarket. What’s as a lifeguard last year. Lifeguards
the most common question that do half-hour shifts, and then have
security guards get asked? Yes, a half-hour break. According to
Patrick, sitting watching the
swimmers can get boring but the
breaks were fun because his
workmates were so funny. During
the summer he jumped in only
once – to rescue a little girl, but
her father got there first and
complained that the guards were
too slow! Of course, the lifeguards
have to assess whether someone
is in trouble or just playing.
A Testing Experience!
made of the right stuff and quickly approval. The drops had to take
vanished in a cloud of smoke. Poor place at ten second intervals from
exactly the same height. And in
A lot of students had jobs during Pooh!
case you’re wondering, he wasn’t
the summer, but how many were
paid to set fire to toy bears? Simon Other duties included cutting open able to cheat because there was
worked for a testing company for soft toy dolls to check the quality an assistant to check that he did
two months and one of his tasks of their stuffing and pouring it properly. 647 648 649 …
was to check whether items were chemicals onto moon cakes to test
safe to be sold on the market. One their ingredients. Perhaps the most So, if you’re in a particularly
particular day he received a lovely tedious job was pen testing. Have destructive mood next summer,
golden Winnie the Pooh bear. He you any idea how thoroughly your why not get a job as a tester?
put on protective clothing, took it pen is tested before it is passed
into a special room and heated it for sale? Simon had to drop a pen Have you ever had an unusual job?
up with a Bunsen burner. Sadly, onto a table SEVEN HUNDRED Let us know.
our favourite honey-eater was not TIMES before it gained the seal of
The EDC members would like to express their thanks to Richard and Sunny, the advisors of the EDC, as well as to other
ELC teachers and SK Lee. Video recordings of both the student and teacher versions of the play can be found in CILL.
EnglishClub
English
Club
If you love fun, making friends
and meeting people from diverse
cultures, then English Club is
the club you have to associate
yourself with. We hold various
Welcome Party
activities during the semester,
semester break and the summer holidays. Last
summer the club was in Mainland China on the
Voluntary Language Service Programme (VLSP), this
offered PolyU students an opportunity to serve and
to share their knowledge – speaking English with
primary school students and teachers in the Mainland.
Those who participated surely can’t wait for next
summer. In addition to the VLSP, the Club also hosted
students from Korea. Their visit turned out to be
another memorable English Club activity.
A lot has been lined up in the new semester. As usual,
we will run the Big Mouth Corner every Thursday
evening at 6:30pm on the EF podium, where you will
have a chance to chat in English and exchange cultural
experiences with young people from all five continents.
Join us for a City Orientation if you feel you know
a lot about Hong Kong and would like to introduce
the city to foreign students. You should not miss the
experience of teaching Cantonese to international
students if you feel confident about your home
language.
We are the English Club - “Unlock your passion and
spread your wings”. For more details about our
activities, visit us at
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/englishClub
Reading Group
During the summer break, we invited two members of the Reading
Group to make a video sharing their thoughts of the books they
read. You’re welcome to visit our web site at
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/readGroup/ and click on “one-minute
reading videos” to watch them.
We held an information night on 14 September 2005 introducing
the Reading Group to all PolyU students. Almost all attendees
signed up right away to grasp the opportunity to improve their
English, and broaden their general knowledge in a relaxing and
friendly small-group environment. If you have missed out this
time, you can join us in the next semester. We have also adopted
a quotation from Edmund Burke “To read without reflecting is
like eating without digesting” as the Reading Group motto.
EAS
EAS
The English Award Scheme gives you the chance to go on a
study trip to the USA or Canada. Last summer one group of
students went to York University in Toronto and another to UCLA
in Los Angeles. If you are a UGC funded student, you can join
the scheme. Demonstrate your motivation to learn English by
doing all kinds of learning activities and keeping a record of them
in a portfolio and you may be one of the lucky ones selected.
Visit the EAS website http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/EAS for more
information.
BRICKERS
BRICKERS, the ELC Band, performed
on Friday September 9, on the podium.
This performance introduced two new
members of BRICKERS; Fei on
keyboards and Walter on bass. It also
featured BRICKERS' first ever drum solo
by the band’s leader and ELC teacher
David. David was really excited about
doing this and played the solo in his
favourite ‘jazzy style’. The same song
also included a bass solo by Walter and
a guitar solo where Wilson really showed
off his lead guitar technique. Other
highlights included James singing Oasis’s
Don’t Look Back in Anger, a long time
Brickers favourite, and Kay singing an
up-tempo and rocky ‘BRICKERS version’
of the Carpenters’
Top of the World.
ELC staff members
Voyce and Nick
sang a duet, which
also featured Nick
playing harmonica. BRICKERS take a bow
PIFS
PIFS had a great success last semester. Not only did we attract more than 260 new members, but many
staff members also shared their views with us. Among the five screenings we showed, ‘Bad Education’, with
96 in the audience, broke the all time attendance record. Many of our participants enjoyed the discussion
sessions as well as the movies. Exchange students are an important part of our society, making up one
third of our membership base. They help to create an international atmosphere and communicate vividly
with local students. Meanwhile, after moving our movie library to CILL, we received a good response from
our members.
In this semester, PIFS will continue to present movies and various activities to benefit more people. We
welcome everyone to join and share happiness with us. For further information, please see our website:
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/filmSociety