Holidays mean a chance to relax and unwind, but don't spend the whole time on your sofa or in front of the computer. The Young Post team has compiled a list of things you could learn this summer.
1 Speak in a different tongue
Summer is the perfect time to brush up on your foreign language skills. Spare Time Study Centre offers courses in Japanese, Korean and more. The Goethe Institute specialises in German. Alliance Francaise de Hong Kong organises intensive French courses for teens. Visit hkftustsc.org, goethe.de and alliancefrancaise.com.hk.
2 Unveiling your drama talents
If you want to unleash the actor or actress in you but don't know how, worry no more. Black Bird Theatre offers an eight-session course on acting and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts will run summer courses on a variety of crafts from stage managing to acting. Visit
www.blackbirdtheatre.hk and
www.hkapa.edu.
3 Go against the current
Among all the traditional summer activities - sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling - you can discover a touch of winter at Slope Infinity. The facility offers snowboarding and skiing courses with the assistance of professionals. Sign up for a summer session and you can get a discount. For more information, visit
www.slope8.com.
4 Capture all that's around you
There is no faster way of learning the basics of photography than by using a fully manual half-frame film camera. You will have to learn to set exposure values correctly, and the unforgiving nature of film also means you will think long and hard before taking shots. You can buy a cheap second-hand camera at
www.ebay.com.hk.
5 Beautify a cake
Complete Deelite hosts Wilton cake decoration classes for people of all ages and levels. It's a great way to learn new baking techniques as well as master the art of frosting. You could take a friend with you to share the experience. Visit
www.completedeelite.com for details.
6 Let the artist in you speak up
Dip your paintbrush in colour and swirl it upon a canvas. This summer and all year round, Studio 83 offers painting classes. You can learn to paint life-like or impressionistic images of what's around you: people, plants, pets, or whatever is important to you. Visit
www.studio83.com.hk to sign up for a session.
7 Challenge yourself
Learn to test yourself physically and mentally by embracing the outdoors with or without your parents. Thanks to Outward Bound School, you can spend a few days in the wilderness, become a crew member on a yacht, or climb rocky slopes. Visit
www.outwardbound.org.hk/youth.html to choose your very own adventure.
8 Argue and speak confidently
Hong Kong Polytechnic University is offering public speaking and debating summer classes. You can practise your leadership and communication skills at an 11-day workshop and emerge with style and confidence. For more information, visit medc.polyu.edu.hk/event/JE2011/sc2011_eye_pse.html.
9 Create and animate
10 Mix, match and design your own glass handicrafts
Glass beads, glass cups, glass vases - they are everywhere. If you feel like making your own glass art, take a trip to Lamma Island. Depending on how much time you have and how much you are willing to pay, you can make a range of goodies from glass frames to jewellery to vases. Visit
www.sellingpoint.com.hk for details.
