Smart approach proves a hit
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCE did not stop a group of overseas Hong Kong teenagers from helping their less-fortunate counterparts in the SAR. The undergraduates from top foreign institutions organised a summer school to provide more learning opportunities for underprivileged children.
The programme, now in its third year, is one of the highlights of the non-profit organisation Access HK. It offered three weeks of free tuition to more than 180 Primary Four to Secondary Four students from Fresh Fish Traders' School and Lau Wong Fat Secondary School.
Summer school chairman Jason King, a Year Two student at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said the programme was aimed at stimulating students' interest in English.
'We want to help them realise that they are smart and they deserve encouragement,' he said.
With around 50 volunteer teachers from leading universities and colleges such as Cambridge, Harvard, Imperial and Oxford, King said the group hoped to expose Hong Kong youngsters to different cultures.
'Since we are living abroad without our parents, we told them to treasure their moments with their families,' Judy Chan Hin-huen, an architecture student at Nottingham University, said.
To arouse students' interest in language learning, the volunteers developed 15 teaching themes including etiquette, cookery and mythology. The curriculum also comprised activities such as outings and fashion shows.
Primary students Susan Sin Man-lee and Wendy Choi Lok-Ting said they enjoyed the programme.
'English learning is no longer boring as teachers use various methods to teach us,' Susan said. 'We learn things a lot faster.'
'I have to exercise my brain while playing those games,' Wendy added. 'And the staff are kind and caring.'
Organising committee member Bellita Ho said she was happy and thrilled to see the students were more willing to speak in English since attending the school.
'Some of them were very keen on using English to interview foreigners during an outing in Stanley,' she added. 'Apart from English, their self-confidence has been enhanced and their communication skills have improved.'
Imperial student Liu Ka-chun said fund-raising was difficult this year because of the Sars outbreak.
