Teacher comes home to share love of English
Nina Foo (left), English and test preparation instructor at The Edge Learning Center, says she loves her job because it offers her the chance not only to help students achieve their academic goals, but also to encourage and nurture in them an interest in English literature and language. Having left Hong Kong to study overseas after finishing Grade 12 in international school, she returned to the city to work because this is her home. She talks to Wong Yat-hei
What's your academic background?
I graduated with an English literature major from Tufts University, in Boston, and then moved to the UK to continue my studies at University College London, where I obtained my master's in medieval English literature
How do you start your day?
The most important thing for me is to be well prepared, so I usually start by looking over my student progress book, seeing what we covered in the last lesson, and making sure I have the relevant materials or lesson plans.
What does your job entail?
My teaching responsibilities are split between test preparation and English tutoring. Test preparation is for students planning to take standardised tests, such as the SAT, AP, GCSE or IB exam papers. English tutoring ranges from basic grammar and vocabulary building, which develops reading and writing skills, to literary analysis.
Any advice for interns?
Be flexible, patient, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable about your subject.
