Letters

Say 'no' to gambling

Many people hope to get rich by gambling, but it doesn't happen. Gamblers who bet heavily on horse racing, football or anything else generally don't end up any richer.

In fact, some of them lose all their money, and some even lose their families.

Gambling might be a hobby for some, but for others it can become an addiction.

If you think you have a gambling problem but are uncomfortable discussing it with others, you might try a counselling service hotline, which will provide you with anonymity.

I personally discourage gambling. My advice is, just say, no.

Nicole Leung Wing-tung, Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College

An unforgettable experience

I recently spent a month in Vancouver. I loved it there because the environment is great, the air is fresh, there are trees everywhere and the weather is nice - it is not as hot as Hong Kong in the summer.

I joined a summer camp at Simon Fraser University with my friends and it was a great experience.

The camp lasted nine days. I made new friends at the camp. Some of them were from Korea, and others were from Germany, Hong Kong and Canada.

The teaching method in Vancouver is totally different from in Hong Kong. It is more active, and doesn't involve just sitting and listening to the teacher.

The last thing students are going to do is fall asleep in class because the classes are exciting and fun.

I learned about the brain and behaviour, media and broadcasting, computer science and sport.

Apart from the subjects I studied, I learned many other things during my trip, such as how to better co-operate with others and how big the world is.

It was an unforgettable experience and I hope I can go again.

Ho Chun-sing, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School

Government action needed on neglect

Some parents do not care about their children's safety and are not risk conscious - they don't realise leaving children alone at home is very dangerous.

I think there are many ways to improve the situation.

The government should introduce tougher penalties for negligence and, at the same time, better educate the public about the dangers of negligence.

Lee Wai-yee, Our Lady of the Rosary College

Take responsibility for your learning

I think it is difficult for a native Chinese-speaking teacher to teach spoken English in Hong Kong.

Many local teachers have not had the opportunity to live in an English-speaking country, so their pronunciation may not be totally accurate.

All too often, teachers place too much emphasis on written work, and neglect the oral language. Teachers should teach students phonics and encourage them to use a dictionary.

Students should also take the initiative to look words up in the dictionary and, if they have learned phonics, they can teach themselves how to pronounce new words.

I think teachers should not rely on dictation.

Instead, they should let students talk more to help develop their oral skills.

As the saying goes, 'practice makes perfect'.

Natalie Leung Wai-ming, Po Leung Kuk Lee Shing Pik College

Life is what you make it

We have the task of making the best out of our lives.

Life is like a window from which you may see people from all walks of life trying to play the 'game of life'.

Sometimes it may seem the mountain ahead of us is hard to climb but I believe God will not forsake us.

No matter how hard the difficulties we face, if we are prepared for them we will be able to accomplish our goals with flying colours.

Ryan Lai, STFA Tam Pak Yu College

Being thin is not always best

Many girls in Hong Kong think being thin is the most important thing in their lives, but I really don't agree with this.

I don't think they have ever thought being too thin can actually be a big problem.

I would like to use myself as an example. Since I was a child, I have been the thinnest one in my family and my relatives have teased me about it.

When I was younger, I felt sad about this but now I'm used to it. I also tend to get sick easily, whether it is summer or winter.

In the summer, most places indoors are fiercely air-conditioned, which makes me feel very cold and I usually need to wear a jacket.

I know my mother worries about my health, so I hope I can put on weight and become healthier.

Being thin has caused me a lot of problems and I don't want other girls to be like me.

So, treasure your body and don't become too skinny.

Lam Chung-yan, Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School

Drink more water for better health

Doctors say we need to drink about eight glasses of water every day because drinking water is good for the health.

However, many people in Hong Kong do not drink enough water.

The most serious problem is among children, who often do not drink enough water because they think it's tasteless and boring.

Parents should think about encouraging their children to drink water by adding natural flavours to make it taste better.

Make sure you drink enough water.

Karen Lo