My son is in secondary school. His English is weak. His pronunciation is very poor. What can I do to help him as I want him to go to a North American university in two years when he has finished his secondary school education in Hong Kong?
Education consultant Florence Robertson replies:
What you need to do is help your son realise that he must take responsibility for improving his academic work over the next two years if both of you want him to go to a North American university.
You should talk about what he needs to do and help him identify the steps that need to be taken.
Avoid telling him what to do, though. Instead, help him articulate what he thinks needs to be done. You should ask specific questions that will help him to identify what is needed, such as how he rates his level of English fluency and English pronunciation.
Help him to develop a critical path with goals for improving his studies. He should look at a long-range plan and then break it into smaller sections such as a month's plan and then a weekly one. At all times, try to avoid telling him what to do but instead have him clarify what he should do.