Austen Term 2021

i-Learner Austen Term

News ewsletter letter Skills to Go

Global

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Contents: Sneak Peek: Stuck in the Mud Pt 2 拼音下的中國語文 粵語學中文 Are you a 21st Century Learner?

The Art of Soft Skills in a Global World 中文徵文比賽優秀作品 The Visual World of Graphic Novels Skills for a Globalised World 中文裏的大道理 帶著中文探索世界 Sharing Skills Books We Recommend Fun and Games

p3 p4 p5 p6-7 p8-9 p10-13 p14-15 p16-17 p18 p19 p20-21 p22-23 p24-25

Message from Ms Pun

The Importance of Going Global When travelling to a different country, we can learn about the language, the culture and the people who live there. Not only is travelling fun, but it’s one of our best tools for learning. My students and friends are all talking about how much they want to go travelling. But with the ongoing pandemic, it looks like that won’t happen anytime soon.

Until we’re able to fly again, there are plenty of other things we can do to achieve the effects of travelling.

We can talk to different kinds of people, learning about their stories and understanding their perspectives.

Talking to a wide range of people, even those around us, expands our horizons. The childhood tales of an elderly neighbour, for example, can take us out of our own world to a completely surprising place. Isn’t that exciting?

We can also read in order to travel as far as our imagination can take us. This summer, we can all travel with i-Learner’s Chinese tutors through ancient dynasties and around modern China. Over the span of thousands of years, amazing things have happened! We can also travel with writers to places that inspired them. Feel Xu Zhi Mo’s love of Cambridge in his famous poem! Discover new places or different perspectives on familiar ones.

Finally, we can travel with the help of technology. This summer, you can travel around the world with Dr Lili.

She’ll take you on a virtual tour to different corners of the world, learning about new languages, civilizations and the links between places. What’s more, our ongoing virtual lessons let you visit i-Learner teachers’ homes all around the globe.

Join us this summer to explore the world and to learn about ourselves!

Kemmiss Pun 2

The full series of Bugbug’s Library is OUT NOW! Read one of the Level 4B stories, inspired by the wildlife in Hong Kong.

t h n i e M k c u u t d S Chapter 2 There were lots of small, red creatures running around her feet. And every one had a huge claw!

‘They’re fiddler crabs!’ said Jack. ‘They’re special creatures, but they’re not my fish.’

‘Look at their claws!’ cried Nick. He stopped to watch them.

‘The fish I saw are better,’ said Jack. ‘Come on!’

The children walked through more mud and stopped by a waterfall. Something climbed on Nick’s foot.

‘What’s that?’ he shouted.

‘It looks like a crab,’ said Meg. ‘But it’s not a fiddler crab.’

‘You’re right,’ said Jack. ‘That’s a horseshoe crab. It’s big, round and special too. But the fish I saw are better. Let’s go!’

Meg and Nick stopped and looked at Jack.

‘There are lots of crabs here,’ Meg said.

‘But I can’t see any fish in the mud. Are you sure we’ll find them?’

‘Yes, I saw them!’ cried Jack. ‘And look! There are some there now!’ He pointed to a place next to the waterfall.

Something was moving in the mud.

‘Well done, Jack!’ said Meg. The children went to look.

To continue reading, get your own copy of this book from the Bugbug’s Library Level 4B set in the i-Learner Education Centres or buy it online!

The next instalment of this story will be published in the 2021 Summer Term newsletter.

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拼音下的中國語文 走進你我，走向世界

楊環 中文科老師

拼音是學習中國語文知識的有效工具。學習拼音能讓我們直觀 地讀出漢字的讀音，當遇到生字詞時，我們能夠通過查閱字典瞭解 字詞意思的同時將其讀出，還可以矯正讀音，培養自主學習能力。 拼音是借用拉丁字母（以英文字母為代表）的形式而制定的一種拼 注符號。雖然拼音跟拉丁字母看起來一樣，但在讀音和用法上有很 大區別。為甚麼要用拉丁字母，而不用其他字母或自創一種符號做 拼音？這要從拼音的發展史說起。 古代沒有拼音，人們使用「反切」，將兩個認識的漢字，取第 一個字的「聲母」及第二個字的「韻母」拼合起來。而當時的回族 人不學漢字，學習阿拉伯語，於是他們利用阿拉伯語的字母來拼寫 漢語口語，這是中國最早的拼音。從元朝到明朝再到清末，中文拼 音經過不斷的演變和整理，最終出現了用簡單的古字表現漢語語音 的拼音方式。到了近代，隨著東西方文化交流的深入，拉丁化拼音 字母開始在中國出現。中文拼音方案最早可以追溯到 1906 年的《江 蘇新字母》和 1908《中國音標字書》，這些漢字拉丁化方案都為中 文拼音的制定提供了基礎。新中國成立後，由政府制定了《中文拼 音方案》，決定採用拉丁字母作為中文拼音的符號系統，以便於國 際間的交流和合作。 如今，拼音從國家規範發展到國際標準，是小學生識讀漢字、 學習普通話、培養和提高閱讀及寫作能力的重要工具，也是積纍中 文知識，培養文化修養的有效途徑。

普通話拼音班 「普通話拼音班」教師均通過普通話水平測試， 並獲得二級甲等及以上水平認證，發音標準。 「普通話拼音班」課程內容將結合拼音教材、閱 讀篇章、口語練習和 GAPSK 普通話教材，系統 講解拼音知識、拼寫規則；練習普通話發音；學 習有趣的表達方法，例如兒話音，輕聲等。同學 還能拓展詞彙，學習如何用普通話去寫作。通過 膾炙人口的普通話童詩、歌謠、繞口令等，激發 學習興趣。 我們會在課前進行能力評估，根據學生具體情況 安排不同程度的學習教材。 我們會針對香港學生 的發音難點︐提供強化練習。

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粵語學中文 粵教中從不失優勢 「兩文三語」是自香港回歸，一直以來的語文教育政策核心目標， 為能提升香港人在國際間的競爭力。「普教中」還是「粵教中」的成效 更高，一直是被關注的焦點，甚至早年有質疑說 :「全球的中文發展是 以普通話為主，以粵語學中文會失去優勢。」這種把粵語及普通話兩極 化，好像非得要二選一，選擇錯誤就淪為輸家的說法，無疑是天方夜譚。 先不說把源遠流長的粵語文化貶為次等方言，是何等荒謬，再者，學習 語言並不是互相排斥的過程，沒有人會認為學習了中文，就無法學習英 文，而失去優勢吧 ?

陳諾霖 中文科老師

粵語是香港人的母語，一個人自幼習得的語言，通常是其思維與交 流的自然工具。因此，以母語學習中文有其不可忽視的天然優勢 : 能達 到無障礙思考。以粵語學中文不但能消除學習時的語言障礙，減省思考 語言轉換的力氣，學生普遍更能有自信地表達意見及提出問題，達更佳 的學習成效。 粵語有深厚的文化底蘊，保留了古音中入聲、一字多音等特點，在 教導唐詩宋詞時，用粵語去讀更能體會到當中的聲律美及平仄。古文用 語也更偏似粵語，如白居易《長恨歌》中「含情凝睇謝君王」、李煜《虞 美人》中「問君能有幾多愁，恰似一江春水向東流」，句中的「睇」及 「幾多」便是粵語日常用語。亦因粵語的聲調比普通話更多，在區分字 音及字義上更易掌握，如「的、地、得」，以普通話讀全是同音字，對 幼童而言難以分辨。 以粵語學中文從不失優勢，若只為少數從多數，甚至把母語拋棄， 我們的下一代又如何能重視粵語文化呢 ? 今年青年文學獎首次增設「粵 語小說公開組」，為的是提倡粵語也能應用到書寫中，希望培養更多優 秀的粵文創作者，也好讓新生代承傳粵語這非物質語言文化。

愛上語文班 在幼兒階段，課程通過唱誦兒歌、朗誦童詩、 閱讀故事和遊戲等方式，幫助學生提高詞彙量、 掌握基本的語文知識，並獲取中文閱讀的語感。 在小學階段，通過豐富有趣的繪本、故事、少 年小說等類型的篇章，提升學生的閱讀能力， 培養學生的閱讀興趣。小學四級以上的課程會 加入古詩和文言篇目，幫助學生熟悉古漢語， 為未來的學習打下良好的基礎。 在「愛上語文班」，我們會和同學們一起走進中文 的世界，在不同的書本中流浪，從中學得一手流利 的中文。「愛上語文班」旨在讓學生在提高語文能 力的同時，培養對語文的興趣。

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在中學階段（中一至中三），帶同學在日常中 熟悉考試的模式。我們也會挑選古今中外的經 典名篇，延續文化熏陶，培養學生對語文的興 趣。

Are you a 21st Century Learner?

We’re always looking for new ways to help you at i-Learner.

This term, we asked our students and teachers to think about their skills and strengths.

Christine Theron English Teacher

We conducted a survey for this.

Did you see it in your VLearner platform?

It asked all about the skills we need to thrive in the modern world, such as problem-solving, flexibility, communication and collaboration.

What did we find? feel You're not alone if you change. worried by stress and

55%

Our students are future-re

ady.

78%

feel calm and organised under pressure feel good when things change

61%

We're great at independent

70%

Our students are fully engaged in learning and cultural exchange.

79%

agree that they can easily use computers, tablets and other kinds of technology

thinking.

feel able to solve a problem by themselves

enjoy learning new things

78%

Take a look at the skills our students and teachers value the most. Do you think these are important too?

are happy to learn about people and places in other parts of the world

．Understanding and helping others ．Independent problem solving ．Learning new things ．Being helpful ．Being calm ．Working well with others ．Being tech-savvy

ring ady nurtu e lr a e r a We skills. our soft

74%

thers ise with o th a p m e can w they rstand ho and unde feel 6

How can we improve?

We can see from the survey that i-Learner students and teachers value soft skills such as empathy, lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity, independence and problem solving. We also aim to have a balanced life by doing things that we enjoy. That’s great!

There are also some things that we still need to work on, such as managing stress and being a team player. Check out our tips for these key skills below.

Tips for managing stress in a constantly changing world:

Tips for boosting initiative and leadership abilities:

1. Make sure you manage and organise your time effectively.

2. Create a suitable study environment that’s free of distractions so you can concentrate.

3. Be proactive and find a stress management technique that works for you, for example regular exercise or meditation.

1. Practise turning your ideas into action.

2. Work on building your confidence - believe in your abilities.

3. Focus on working as a team.

4. Request feedback from others and learn from it.

5. Maintain a positive attitude - failure can be a learning experience too.

6. Keep trying - how else can we measure our progress?

Language Cities Are you ready to go native on a trip to famous places around the world? Our Language Cities courses will give you the fantastic opportunity to become a polyglot and start speaking important global languages - both ancient and modern!

Learn Latin in Rome Get Grounded in German in Berlin As precision is everything in German, it's no wonder it's a recognised language for science and technology.

Want to boost your grades by building up your mathematical reasoning? Try ein bisschen Deutsch on our Berlin course.

Latin is the cornerstone of many European languages and forms the origins of a good deal of English vocabulary. So sign up for the opportunity to build up your English knowledge and get familiar with Romance languages. Plus, if you want to learn about gladiators, Roman gods and Rome's military might, this is the trip for you!

Speak Spanish in Buenos Aires

Ace Ancient Greek in Athens Want a blast from the past?

Learn all about the origins of western civilisation and pick up the Greek alphabet in our Athens course. This is the perfect class if you want to know where Greek gods, mythological monsters and the Olympics all come from.

Polish Your French in Paris

¡Hola! If you fancy speaking something sunny, try Spanish in Buenos Aires. One of the two languages with the most native speakers in the world, Spanish is a sure pass to communicating in many places around the world.

Want to get to know one of the most beautiful cities in the world? Fancy a croissant and un petit café crème? Sign up for some French joie de vivre on our Paris course.

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The Art of Soft Skills in a Global WorlD

Matthew Hui

English Teacher In the age of globalization, soft skills are becoming more important for university entrance and employment opportunities. There are many reasons for this shift from hard to soft skills, but the easiest way to understand this is to think about the world we live in. Because of technology, the world is becoming smaller - we are able to connect and communicate with people and places all over the world. We therefore need skills which help us to understand and collaborate with others in personal, educational and professional situations.

What are soft skills?

While hard skills are teachable or learned skills that are easy to measure, soft skills relate to our internal strengths, which people can’t always see. Soft skills include personality traits, social skills and behaviours that allow us to get along easily with others. Soft skills also include our ability to adapt to changing and challenging circumstances - something we often have to do!

Communication

Leadership Self Motivation

Teamwork Responsibility

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Ability to Work Under Pressure and Time Management

Problem Solving

Flexibility

Decisiveness

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Why are soft skills important in a global world?

Think about education and going to university. If you wish to get the full benefits and experience out of studying at a top school in the UK or elsewhere, it is no longer enough to only focus on academic excellence.

Schools now prioritise other kinds of knowledge and experiences, such as collaboration, leadership, public speaking and the ability to empathise with others.

When I attended the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, students were encouraged to lead tutorials and challenge themselves. We were also expected to work as a team on projects outside of the classroom, such as theatre and charity fundraising. Experiences like these were great preparation for our future careers, but some students found them difficult because they were lacking soft skills.

If you need to build up your soft skills, here are a few things you can do: ．Observe others around you ．Be open to learning from others ．Be open to feedback (and apply it!) ．Communicate often ．Step out of your comfort zone and try new things

Whether you are preparing to go to high school or applying to universities in Hong Kong or abroad, practising these skills will equip you with everything you need to become a capable and responsible learner in a global world.

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中文徵文比賽結果公佈 恭喜以下參賽者在智愛學中文徵文比賽中取得優異成績！ 獲獎者可得到本中心出版中文書籍及獎狀作為獎勵。

初小組優勝者

劉穎澄 聖保祿學校 （小學部） 三年級

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高小組優勝者

樊芊彤 嘉諾撒聖瑪利學校 四年級

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高小組優秀入圍者

林峻希 保良局蔡繼有學校 五年級

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中學組優秀入圍者

王思華 沙田循道衛理中學 四年級

中文寫作班 我們的中文寫作課程一方面教授孩子不同文 體的寫作方式，和提升作文可讀性的寫作技 巧；另一方面，也通過腦力激蕩、故事接龍、 角色扮演、字詞積累、範文閱讀等豐富的形 式，幫助孩子建立起自己的素材「寶庫」。 課程從即將升入小學的 K3 階段橫跨中學， 無論您想幫助子女寫出正確、完整而具體的 句子，熟練掌握各種文體、實用文格式和修 辭技巧，還是寫出優美的小小說、戲劇乃至 嚴謹的專題小論文，這裡都有為您子女量身 定做的課堂。

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The Visual World of Graphic Novels Literacy used to be the ability to read and understand words.

However, the world has become increasingly visual as we are bombarded by emojis, memes, billboards, video games, infographics, and many other forms of graphic media every day. The meaning of being literate has expanded to include the ability to decipher images, so now is the time to pick up a graphic novel and get visual!

Lina Leung

English Teacher

How do graphic novels and visual literacy help us learn a language?

Reading books that are a combination of sentences, paragraphs and engaging images trains our minds to comprehend multiple layers of content at the same time. Graphic novels merge literary and visual elements, which gives us a better understanding of both the drawings and the words, especially unfamiliar ones. This means that we can spend less time looking up words in the dictionary and more time enjoying the narratives. These associations also boost our memory so that we can recall new vocabulary much faster. You could compare graphic novels to watching a movie with special subtitles that we can pause, rewind and enjoy anytime.

Why read graphic novels to learn about the world?

Before graphic novels, we had to rely on translations to enjoy literature in other languages, and no matter how wonderful such interpretations are, some magic may still be lost. Thanks to the universal language of graphics, half of the novel needs no translation - graphics are created exactly as they were imagined by the illustrators.

Graphic novels ‘teach’ us through stories. They introduce us to new worlds, especially those that we don’t often get to see in traditional classroom materials. Common themes in graphic novels include cross-cultural and immigrant experiences, which have grown more relevant as we travel and immigrate. These novels give us a wider understanding of alternative lifestyles and worldviews, while also empowering us to embrace our own unique cultural identities.

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Here are a few suggestions to get you started on your graphic novel journey.

Book title: American Born Chinese Author / Publisher: Gene Luen Yang / First Second Books Suitable for: P5 and above

Book title: Anya’s Ghost Author / Publisher: Vera Brosgol / First Second Books Suitable for: P4 and above

Discover how American-born Chinese Jin Wang, the Monkey King and all-American Danny explore life and who they really are.

Follow Russian-American Anya as she finds out what happened to a mysterious ghost and learns what it actually means to be a good friend.

Book title: Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal Author / Publisher: G. Willow Wilson (Author), Adrian Alphona (Artist) / Marvel Suitable for: P5 and above

Book title: The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir Author / Publisher: Riad Sattouf / Metropolitan Books Suitable for: S3 and above

Meet Kamala, who is struggling to juggle her superhero, social, academic and family responsibilities as a muslim teenager.

Explore the real-life childhood of FrenchSyrian Riad in his comical memoir about cross-cultural experiences and life under a dictatorship regime.

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Skills for a Globalised World Holly Fung

Globalisation may sound complicated, but we actually experience it every day. Globalisation involves increased movement and exchange all around the world. This movement and exchange includes goods, services, and of course people and culture. Thanks to technology, we are also able to interact and communicate with people and places all around the world too.

English Teacher

In a world that is so connected, it is important to think about our role as citizens. Global citizenship refers to awareness of and care for the world around us. Global citizens have the knowledge, skills and values needed to engage with the world. They are responsible and do their best to make the world a better place.

?

What skills do we need in a global world?

In an interconnected world, we need to be able to communicate well. Here are some ways to improve our communication skills to be better global citizens.

1. Languages If you’re reading this, then you already have a good understanding of English. But remember that knowing a language doesn’t mean you’re able to use it effectively. When we speak and write in English, we need to be able to use the correct tone and language for specific situations. It is also a good idea to learn other widely spoken languages, such as Spanish and Hindi. This deepens our knowledge about different cultures and improves our ability to communicate with people all over the world.

Learn to speak like a global citizen with our Global Speaking Passport course. Our Love to Write course provides excellent writing training in different genres. i-Learner also provides Latin, Spanish and German classes to boost cultural awareness and communication skills.

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2. Multi-perspective Thinking Miscommunication often happens when we are unable to understand someone’s point of view.

Having knowledge about how people live and think gives us a wider perspective about the world.

This helps to build our tolerance and empathy towards others, which makes a big difference in how we communicate with people who may be very different from us.

i-Learner’s Critical Reading and Writing course emphasises analytical skills, which allow students to develop independent and reflective learning. At higher levels, our Voyage and Discovery courses encourage students to engage with texts, cultures and concepts across the range of human experience.

3. Strategic Thinking Being strategic means thinking about long-term success. If we want to be successful in a global and competitive world, we need to make smart choices. By being open to learning and seeking advice from others, we are able to analyse and be critical of our choices and decisions. We should start with our academic decisions - choosing the best study path can influence our present and future. Strategic thinking puts us on the road to becoming analytical, responsible and authentic global citizens.

The Overseas Education Services (OES) at i-Learner provides professional academic consulting services for students who wish to study abroad. From academic planning to continued support in a new environment, our team provides tailor-made plans to ensure students reach their full potential.

Visit our website for more information about study abroad opportunities.

Are you going to stay in your comfort zone or explore the world as a confident global citizen? It’s never too early to begin connecting with the rest of the world and to start making your valuable contribution as a global citizen!

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中文裏的大道理

王雪儀 中文科老師

談到學習中文，人們總會想到漢字的結構、詞語的組合 和裝點文字的修辭手法等技巧方面的知識，似乎中文就是語 言文字排列組合的遊戲。其實不然。我們學習中文不僅僅是 在學習一門語言，還能從文章中學到文化、歷史、藝術、哲 學…… 早在先秦時期，文人墨客已經開始對人生議題提出各式 各樣的想法，他們從不同角度探討社會和生命中的問題，各 種學說、思想湧現，為中華文化奠定了深厚的基礎。以孔子、 孟子為首的儒家提倡入世，重視培養人們的品德修養，提倡 教化民眾，從而建立仁、恕、誠、孝的社會風氣。從今人的 眼光看來，儒家思想富有人文主義精神。以老子、莊子為首 的道家則推崇出世，主張「順其自然」，輕視物質與法規， 以心靈的自由、世間萬物和生命的連接作為最終追求，與現 代自由主義觀點不謀而合。 在閱讀諸子百家的作品時，我時常為先人深刻的思考和 激烈的碰撞感到驚訝，他們提出的許多想法直至今日仍熠熠 生輝，能為迷失在忙碌生活中的現代人帶來反思、指引方向。 儒家思想讓我們珍視人性中的真善美，鼓勵我們成為「仁」、 「義」、「禮」、「智」兼備的全人。道家思想讓我們仔細 感悟自己最真實的感受，聆聽心靈的回聲，鼓勵我們解脫於 世俗的追求，做自由快樂的人。學習中文，我們便能從中國 古典哲學思想中吸取養分，融會貫通，以豁達而積極的態度 面對人生。

文言文與寫作班 本課程以每級十二課的方式，藉精選之經典篇 章滲透必備的文言知識和文化常識，幫助學生 閱讀文言文時更有系統和技巧性，使學生能夠： ． 增加文言實詞和虛詞量，精確翻譯文言字詞； ．了解文言句法； ． 掌握直譯文言句子的技巧； ． 辨識古文常見寫作手法和篇章結構； ． 掌握分析技巧和閱讀策略； ． 理解中國古哲先賢之思想； ． 練習考試常見題型； ． 將文言文與日常傳意連繫，提高學習的樂趣。

不少學生視文言文為洪水猛獸，苦思入門之法而 不得。本課程正希望鞏固學生的文言基礎，搭建 學習文言文的橋樑。

* 中五中六之十二課為 DSE 範文

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帶著中文探索世界 我們在探索未知世界的過程中，在探索成功的路途上，常常會 有許多的困惑。學習語言是一盞可以照亮前路的燈，是能夠點亮我 們人生探索之旅，引領我們前行的火把。中國的歷史悠久，文化博 大精深，學習中文成為當下不論是小朋友還是成年人都追求的一種 探索世界的方式。

吳雪純 中文科老師

雨果曾經說過：「人生最高的幸福感，是會覺得自己有一個崇高的目標，只要堅持不懈 地追求就會成為一種壯舉。」眾所周知，我們不可能只在心裏做夢，而不采取實際行動。我 們在學習中文時可以設定一個崇高的目標，也許是能理解古文的含義，也許是能出口成章。 在我們學習中文的過程中，可以跟隨各色作者，一起從基礎拼音入手，到小篇幅的文章 選段，再到領略中文從古至今的韻律之美。正如古詩名句：讀書破萬卷，下筆如有神。這是 一種極好的學習中文，同時探索世界的方法。閱讀時，我們會跟隨書中角色的腳步，到訪不 同的商店、公園、動物園，甚至超越時空，穿梭到古代與未來， 也會去探索神秘的魔法世界。我們還能與書中的角色分享美食、 共賞美景、一同探險，從中學習與人相處，並認識自我和周邊的 世界。連貫的角色及反複出現的句子結構將幫助同學逐步掌握美 麗的漢語。 通過我們的漢語小徑學習中文不失為一個 極好的方式，漢語小徑作為專為中文初學者而 設的學習平台，內容涵蓋生詞、文法，以及國 際漢語能力標準化考試，漢語水平測試（YCT） 所要求的語言功能。透過融合這些元素於七百 六十八本電子書中，我們能輔助讀者在豐富語 境下閱讀有趣的故事。讓我們一起帶著中文去 探索這個有趣的世界吧！

中文基礎及考試班 中文基礎及考試班針對各年級的教學重點，由淺 入深地講解不同語文知識，此課程亦參考校本中 文教材，透過大量貼近學校試題的練習，幫助學 生鞏固知識，使學生能夠： ．辨識漢字部首和結構，寫出正確的筆劃 ．熟練運用關聯詞 ．正確使用標點符號 ．了解詞句辨識的技巧 ．增加詞彙量 ．各種修辭技巧 ．掌握文章的閱讀策略和技巧 ．練習模擬考試試題 ．了解各種文體的寫作技巧

考試一詞讓學生聞而生畏，但聚沙成塔，只要把 中文基礎一步一步鞏固起來，考試成績自然能更 上一層樓。

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Sharing Skills At i-Learner, we value learning and are always thinking about how to develop our skills. We asked Ms Yamon and Ms Dorothy to share their experiences of studying abroad and the skills they learned.

Ms Yamon

English Teacher

Ms Dorothy

English Teacher

What skills do you think today's students need?

Apart from language skills, creativity is really important. Students should try to nurture their creativity, which will help them to develop problem-solving skills.

It’s important for students to learn to think for themselves, especially in an ‘out of the box’ way.

In my opinion, students need critical thinking skills. There is so much information coming from different media outlets, and students have to be able to analyse information, think independently and filter the information they receive. Having critical thinking skills also means that you are able to empathise with others, which is especially important nowadays.

What skills do you think students need when studying abroad?

The reason why many of us study abroad is for new experiences and an opportunity to interact with people from different countries and cultures.

Social skills as well as language skills are really important to be able to interact and communicate well. Another essential skill is independence, as students will need to take care of themselves. Being mature and having a strong character also contribute to independence and the ability to take care of yourself and live well.

Classes at overseas universities are quite different – professors aim to inspire students and challenge them to conduct and analyse their own research. It is also important for students to be flexible. Interactions can be very different abroad as people deal with issues and react in different ways. It is important to keep an open mind and not to set boundaries for yourself.

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What was your study abroad experience like?

What were some challenges and how could you manage them?

I studied abroad in two countries - Hong Kong and the US - and the experiences were quite different. Even though US culture was more familiar, I still experienced culture shock. In both cases I developed skills that I might not have learned if I hadn’t studied abroad. I had to develop practical skills like opening a bank account and cooking for myself. I also had to be mentally strong as the change of culture and environment was difficult at times.

Having good social and communication skills definitely helped, especially in learning how to adapt to different kinds of interactions.

It was hard at the beginning. I had to adapt to a new living environment as well as a different learning environment. I was used to the convenience of Hong Kong, but in Canada, the pace of living was much slower. I had to plan things and manage my time better because I could not do things at the last minute anymore.

Have you continued to develop your skills after university?

If so, how?

Yes of course! We are all students and lifelong learners, and we should continue to develop our skills. For example, after university we enter the workplace, where we need different skills as we have more responsibilities.

Yes, through taking a series of exams and courses. I like to give myself a reality check and to stay competitive as it is easy to feel complacent when you work in the same environment for a long time.

What do we need to stay motivated to learn?

I think our motivation is influenced by our interests. If we find something that we are really passionate about, then it is easy to stay motivated. I think awareness is also important. Even though we have finished a course or learned something new, we should remember that we are not experts and we should always be open to learning.

I set goals so I know that I am working towards something. Also, when there is a lot of work and things feel overwhelming, I usually plot my progress to stay motivated. This way I can see how far I’ve come when I need a quick boost of motivation and enthusiasm.

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Books We Recommend 老師推薦書籍 書名：《間歇高效率的番茄工作法》 作者：（意）法蘭西斯科．西里洛 適合年齡：S1-S6

謝燿壕老師 謝燿壕老師喜歡能給他帶 來啟發的書籍，他總能從 書籍中學習新奇有趣的生 活小技巧。

西里洛對考試讀書不太堅持，常常分心。無意中，他發現廚房裏的番茄 鐘計時器可以令他平靜下來。他用十二年時間逐步發展出有系統的「番 茄工作法」，研究番茄鐘的成效和原理。經過驗證與實驗，他發現：工 作廿五分鐘、間歇休息五分鐘，是對心理精神比較健康而且最不會令效 率下降的時間管理方式，十分適合像作者一樣覺得靜心學習有困難的中 學同學參考。 喜愛理由： 可能有人覺得要進入專注的狀態很難，不明白這套工作法為甚麼建議工作廿五分鐘便休息。但按 照我們自己的學習經驗，會發現自己有時卡在某個段落、或停在某種狀態，很難記住學習的內容， 卻消耗我們很多的能量與時間。這時候，如果能像作者建議那樣暫時抽離，讓自己間歇地衝刺、 休息再衝刺，反而能更堅持、更專注。 推薦受眾： 我想把這本書推薦給不太懂休息的中學同學，看電腦、滑手機其實同樣會導致精神疲勞。這本書 裏有各種休息方法：吃點健康的零食、談談天、發發呆……看看這本書，或許能啟發你找到有創 意且適合自己的休息方法吧！

書名：《小王子》 作者：（法）安東尼·聖修伯里 適合年齡：P4-S2

宓煒頤老師 宓煒頤老師從故事中領悟 人生，她會反覆細讀喜歡 的故事，每一次都能看見 不一樣的風景。

故事講述一個飛行員因為飛機故障而被迫停在撒哈拉沙漠，在這裏他遇 見了小王子。小王子來自 B612 星球，在那裏有一朵他最愛的玫瑰花。 但他還是展開了一趟星球旅行。在各個星球上，他遇到了形形色色的人， 也結交了新朋友 狐狸。他們互相需要，也留下了美好的回憶。在故 事的最後，小王子還是選擇了離開。 喜愛理由： 「人唯有用心靈才看得真，重要的東西用眼睛是看不見的。」這本書告訴我們對一個人、一件 事、一個東西付出時間、精力和情感後，你也會得到不一樣的收獲，如果你用心去看、去對待 一個人，你將會看到他更美好的一面。 推薦受眾： 每一個小朋友在成長的階段總會有感到迷茫的時刻，對人與人之間的關係感到失望的瞬間。透 過這本書，我們可以思考如何面對人生的抉擇，與身邊的人重新建構一段更豐滿的關係。因此， 這是一本適合大人和小朋友閱讀的書。

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Book title: I Am David Author: Anne Holm Suitable for: S1-S3

Ms Ceri Ms Ceri enjoys reading exciting books and cooking with friends. She thinks it’s important to have hobbies that are relaxing and prepare you to put maximum effort into everything you do.

David's entire life has been spent in a prison camp in Eastern Europe. He doesn’t know anything about the world outside of this horrendous camp. He gets a chance to escape, which begins an incredible journey across Europe to find freedom. David's story shows readers how to be resilient in the face of challenges.

Why do I love it?

I love the beautiful, descriptive language in this book, which makes me appreciate the world around me. Although David's journey is far more epic than anything we might experience, he teaches us how to be confident and brave, even when life is difficult.

Who would like this book?

If you enjoy reading books that change your perspective of the world (with a bit of history thrown in), then this is one for you.

Book title: Being a Happy Teen Author: Andrew Matthews Suitable for: S1-S3

Ms Athena Ms Athena enjoys books that surprise her. Fiction with a plot twist and interesting non-fiction (about anything really) are her favourites.

As you grow older, you might begin to wonder why everything suddenly seems so challenging. Whether you have questions about friendship, family or school, this book gives many practical tips on dealing with tricky situations. There is even an ‘in a nutshell’ perspective at the end of each section that clearly summarises the topic, which is very convenient for a quick read.

Why do I love it?

I like the way that this book is written. Its style is informal and friendly, like having a conversation with an adult who understands you. It’s insightful and hilarious.

Who would like this book?

If you start having doubts about yourself, your family and friends or even life, this is the book for you. If you simply want a good laugh, then this is also an entertaining choice.

Book Title: Marcovaldo Author: Italo Calvino Suitable for: S1 or above

Mr Tom Mr Tom loves reading and writing stories about strange and peculiar things. He believes in observing the world around him to have a better understanding of ourselves and others.

Marcovaldo is a collection of twenty absolutely hilarious short stories.

These stories are about the life of a poor man called Marcovaldo, who lives with his family in a big industrial city in northern Italy during the 1950s-60s. We learn about how he manages to overcome difficulties with creativity and style.

Why do I love it?

What’s not to love about a funny book? With all the stress and seriousness in life, it’s good to have a laugh from time to time. Marcovaldo will surprise you with his brilliant silliness. Also, Italo Calvino is an exceptional writer.

Who would like this book?

Anyone who is up for a good laugh!

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Bookworm Comic

Bookworm Game

Find 5 differences between these pictures from Maya Adventure, a Level 5A book from the Bugbug’s Library series.

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中文遊戲 猜字謎 根據文字提示，破解漢字謎語。 快來猜猜看吧！

1.

提示 : 象牙藏在洞穴裏

答案 : 2.

提示 : 車子旁邊插旗子

3. 提示 : 二人同坐土地上

答案 :

答案 :

4.

提示 : 鏡中人

5.

提示 : 一家有四口， 還有一隻狗

答案 : 答案 :

6.

提示 : 你我各一半

8.

提示 : 一加一不是二

7. 提示 : 昨日不可留

答案 :

答案 :

答案 :

10.

9.

提示 : 一口咬去多半截

提示 : 我沒有他有， 天沒有地有

答案 :

答案 :

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i-Learner Austen Term

News ewsletter letter

P.24 答案：

P.25 答案： 1. 穿 2. 陣 6. 王 7. 乍

3. 坐 8. 伐

4. 器 9. 也

5. 入 10. 名

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