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14/9/2017 - From Past to Present

I always believe that how you learnt influences how you teach, and how you teach influences how your students learn.

Reflecting on my previous learning experiences in secondary school, I would summarise them into two stages.

Stage 1: Junior Forms
During my time in junior high, the most terrible memory was about grammar and vocabulary drilling as teachers put emphasis on how we should master grammar and language items in order to prepare us to attend HKCEE & HKALE. This memory wasn't pleasant at all especially I always scored super low in my grammar and usage tests.

However, I also met an inspiring teacher. Instead of drilling (which she also did), she encouraged student-led learning by motivating us to explore and present our ideas. This is when I started exploring the English Language.

Stage 2: Senior Forms
When it came to senior forms, teachers' main objective was to equip us with the skills & knowledge we need for HKCEE & HKALE. Despite the boring lessons, I should admit that I learnt a lot from my English teacher at that time.

How she taught was very different from others. She focused on concepts and structures (like text analysis); while brought out the talents of every each of the student in class. The way she taught English Literature was also inspiring as she trained our analytical skills apart from language ability.\

From Past to Presemt
The teacher whom I met in senior forms also taught me how to teach; and I do believe that I am strongly influenced by her - especially on how to stretch the potential of my students and how to learn & teach in a structured yet communicative way by involving high-order thinking as well.

My teaching approach is still developing. Perhaps I am still strongly affected by my previous teachers, but I believe that I will find my own style one day.

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