letters

Normal dictionary or an electronic one?

Dictionaries are very important. Choosing a good dictionary will help improve our studies. We could select a conventional dictionary or an electronic version.

A conventional dictionary will give us lots of ideas. They often contain several meanings for a particular word and examples of how to use them. But using such a big book can be time-consuming because we may have to look through a lot of pages before we find what we want.

An electronic dictionary will possibly be a bigger help because of the ease and speed with which we can search for a word.

But electronic versions often only give us limited information about a word, its meanings and usage. So it's up to us.

But whatever option we choose, we cannot do without a dictionary. They are a treasure trove of words.

Chan Sing-leong, STFA Tam Pak Yu College

The importance of being proactive

Grades are not the only important thing when applying for a job or a university place. This is because interviewers will also be interested in your interpersonal skills.

A person who comes across as being proactive, willing, cheerful and positive during an interview will always leave a good impression on potential employers or an academic selection panel. When you show your leadership abilities, speak fluently and behave well, you will be remembered by the people in authority.

Also, people will be attracted by those qualities and be willing to help you through any difficulties.

If you have a positive, proactive attitude, you can develop problem-solving skills and go on to impress others. All these qualities will help you to overcome future challenges.

It won't take long for you to discover the benefits that being proactive will bring to your life.

Janet Ching Hoi-man, Pooi To Middle School

Freedom linked to economic progress

The mainland's economic growth has increased sharply in recent years. But its social and political policies have often been criticised.

I want to comment on the case of Zhao Lianhai. He was jailed after speaking out about the children, including his own son, who became ill after drinking melamine-tainted milk.

Zhao, who was released in December last year, has since spoken out about the detention of artist and dissident Ai Weiwei. It is clear that the mainland has some political problems.

Deng Xiaoping launched economic reforms more than 30 years ago which benefited China. But those reforms did not include freedom of speech.

The cases of Zhao and Ai are only the tip of the iceberg. Recently groups of people have gathered in Beijing. This shows that mainlanders are angry about the government's oppressive policies. In the long term, China cannot maintain political and social stability if revolutionary sentiments continue to rise in response to such repression. If there is unrest, economic development will suffer.

I think mainlanders should unite on behalf of their country. If we all stood up for freedom of speech, I believe Beijing would not be so oppressive.

Edelweiss Tuet Tsz-ching

'Friending' your parents on Facebook

Some of my friends are worried that their family members will request they become Facebook 'friends'. A survey has revealed that 40 per cent of teenage Facebook users ignore their parents' 'friend' requests because they fear they will lose their privacy.

Many teenagers don't want their parents to know what's going on in their social circles. They want to be independent. They don't want their parents to know who they are dating or how naughty they have been in class.

Yet, a minority of my friends have a close relationship with their family and are willing to share things that are happening in their lives. They believe Facebook can help their parents understand them better.

I don't mind if my parents want to know more about me through Facebook.

I always communicate with my cousins through Facebook.

However, I think parents should respect their children's wishes if they are not willing to be Facebook friends with them.

Kathy Chan Ching-lam