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Elaine Yau

Name: Matthew Fung

Age: 31

Occupation: Outdoor instructor

Young Post: What  does your job entail?

Fung: I am responsible for organising the adventure programme for  students at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

I lead students in  different outdoor activities, such as rock climbing, diving and mountaineering.

YP: Is your job satisfying?

F: The most satisfying part of my job is that I can interact with young people.

Being a sports instructor is different from teaching academic subjects. If  a student is lazy, a Chinese or English teacher may only get to see that side of them.  But, as a sports coach,  I get to see their hidden sides.

People often show their true selves under the harshest conditions. When we are walking up treacherous slopes on high mountains, I am often impressed by the determination and  selfless spirit of my students.

In the face of adversity, they  take the initiative to help their teammates. When I see them overcome all the obstacles to reach the peak, I feel very satisfied.

YP: Are  there any bad  aspects to your job?

F: The frequent long-haul flights to different countries are exhausting. We may visit a mountain in Nepal this month and head for a diving location in the Philippines the next.

Also, my job is very stressful. I have to ensure the safety of all  the students on every trip. It is not at the peak of a mountain that I feel the happiest. What excites me the most is the moment when everyone descends safely to the ground.

YP: What  has been your most unforgettable mountaineering experience?

F: In 2004, I  took 22 students to climb Mount Qizi in Tibet, which is 6,206 metres high.

A few months before we set off, a girl had died of altitude sickness in Tibet. Parents of my students were so worried that they kept calling me throughout the trip.

As we clambered up the mountain, several students got  altitude sickness. Seeing some of my students vomit all night, I was worried.

But, in front of my charges, I couldn't show my anxiety as it would only have worried them more.

In the end, all students came back in one piece, but it was really an unforgettable experience.

YP:  Are some people more vulnerable to altitude sickness than others?

F: People who exercise regularly are more likely to feel sick in high altitudes. This can be attributed to both physical and psychological factors.

Physically, active people have well-built bodies with sinewy muscles which need more oxygen than flabby muscles.

As the air becomes thinner as we scale heights, strong people will suffer from a lack of oxygen, which will make them feel dizzy and nauseous.

Psychologically speaking, active people, who see themselves as fit, will have more confidence in themselves and tend to walk faster than inactive people. So, they may show signs of the sickness early on in the trek.

YP: Do you think the government has done enough to promote sports education?

F: Compared to overseas countries, Hong Kong lacks a uniform system to monitor training of sports instructors.

The physical education lessons at  schools also fail to arouse students' interest in sports. Students often have to queue to use facilities such as  trampolines or basketball  courts.

Diversity is also lacking in those lessons. Because of a lack of venues and equipment, most students in Hong Kong don't have the chance to play tennis.

With 30 to 40 students in a class, teachers don't have time to give individual guidance to students, and they may miss the opportunities to discover any sports talents in their class.

Resume

1994: Finished Form Seven

1997: Completed a degree in geography from  HKU

1997-99: Worked as a reporter for a local Chinese daily

1999-2000: Worked as a sports coach with the Construction Industry Training Authority

2000-03: Worked as a venue manager with a local sports stadium

2004: Joined  HKU's Institute of Human Performance as a sports and recreation officer

How to get there

Programme: Postgraduate diploma in exercise science and physical education

School: The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Duration: One year (part-time)

Characteristics:  Covers exercise and health promotion, theory and application of motor learning, exercise prescription and chronic diseases, and essential sports medicine.

Enquiries: www.cuhk.edu.hk/spe

Programme: Postgraduate diploma in education (secondary) programme (physical education)

School: The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Duration: One year (full-time)

Characteristics:  Trains students to become expert physical education  teachers  in Hong Kong secondary schools.  Students are expected to have a strong theoretical foundation in content knowledge and curriculum planning, as well as pedagogical knowledge of teaching physical education in secondary schools. Participation in an outdoor training camps to enhance their leadership and personal development is also required.

Enquiries: www.ied.edu.hk/acadprog/postgrad/prog/pgde/Secondary.htm

The path

Graduates can work in  education, recreation, health and fitness, and social services. They can work as instructors or coaches  and later take up managerial positions.    Sports stars may be recruited  for  training to represent Hong Kong in international sports competitions.



Scale new heights