LISTAJOURNAL

1. A chat with Dr. Gaye Gould 2. DEBUNKING UNIVERSITY

MYTHS 3. Rediscover Hong Kong

4. AWARD-WINNING CREATIVE WRITINGS 5. Claudia Mo

talks to the English Society 6. PEEK-A-BOO: Other peoples iPhone first page
by the english society,a.a.h.k.u.s.u., 2010-2011

1 About us
What is so noble about the English Society?
Get to know the English Society and list form, and there - are the pride of the English Society.

8 2

Shes artistic

What does promotion secretary do? How to do it well? Tips and sharings from the experienced art appreciator and photoshopper.

Debunking university myths

Rumors. Word on the streets. Reports from other people. Heres what its really like. A year with the English Society
A recap from September to July.

10

2 Around us
The other side of Hong Kong
A year was enough for us to rediscover Hong Kong.

13

3 Ways of English
Can you write like them?
Winners of Write Outside the Box, English Societys creative writing competition.

We ask, they answer - Dr. Gaye Gould

Read what your professor read! In this rare chance hear what one of the favorite professors in the School of English has to say.

16

We ask, they answer - Claudia Mo

Experienced journalist and English user, Claudia gives timeless advice to students. Listen up!

4 Lets get geeky

Smartphones first page showdown
Were in the smartphone era everyone carries one! Have you found the one app for you? Or maybe two.

18

Editorial Foreword

Yannie Chan Journalism and probable English Studies major. Music at the moment: Passion Pit, Suede, Arctic Monkeys. Current obsession: Google Docs.

I have always been fond of lists. I have this little red notebook I carry around that I make lists with... Lists like Random Thoughts After Watching Harry Potter (Snape is donning a ton of eyeshadow, isnt he?), and Writers that I DONT want to be friends with (Mark Twain, anyone? Dont know if I can handle his sarcasm). And that is how I came up with the LISTAJOURNAL idea. Lists are easy to read, and are very inclusive. I love how theyre so versatile. My favorite list in this journal is The Other Side of Hong Kong. Since going to university, Ive discovered so much about Hong Kong that I realized Ive been mistaking it for some other place entirely. Hong Kong is a lovely and diverse city, only if you know where to look.

I rst thought to be quiet and shy, is actually rm and has great ideas. He gets the job done. Michelle is cute and very literary, which isnt something you realize upon seeing her. Her writings are thoughtful and beautiful. James is possibly the funniest person in the society. I never see him panic, nor get agitated when tired. He seems to be one of those person who always appear relaxed while actually doing a lot. Theres an artist in Curtis, I think. Hes into good music and good movies. And when he reveals his inner self, hes sincere, gentle, and innocent. He has a way of making people around him like him.

Elisa is stunning, and very capable. She loves everything British, and is very consistent. Patricia is so unique I dont think my words can describe her. She thinks so creatively and is so willing to Another thing Id like to talk about is step up and make herself heard. It just being an EXCO member of the English makes you feel easy when shes so Society. The most distinctive feature of comfortable in her own skin. this session is how different everyone is, and yet we know how to appreciate Joey, oh, Joey. Hes got some rebellious each other. If you dont mind, lets hear genes in him, I think, and yet hes so about each EXCO member from my reliable. Throw anything at him, and point of view. hell make it perfect. Mavis is introspective and its satisfying chatting Wanto is crazy about every little detail, with her. Angel, I dont know what and insists of perfection. I often nd more I can say about her - talented, myself amazed at his ability to look at supportive, resourceful, and always things in a macro outlook. Ricky, who overreacting.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | ways of english | 1

We ask, they answer Claudia Mo

A journalism and English Studies graduate from Carleton University in Canada, Claudia Mo is passionate in so many areas - social justice, English, authoring, radio... She worked in Agence France-Presse, Hong Kong Standard, and TVB. Her impressive resum confirms that shes the one we need to speak to concerning English usage.

What are your top ve English authors? I go by authors and would suggest contemporary novelists like Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham and Dan Brown, in that order, as they're 'closer to life'. When you are reading, do you tend to be impressed more by the storyline, or the language? Both. What are some of the common grammatical or simply English mistakes you spot in Hong Kong? "Think in Chinese, speak in English". Like when you don't belong to a group, and you're asked, "You don't belong here, do you?" Nine times out of 10 Chinese students would say, "Yes (should be 'No'), I don't belong here." Suggest 3 "golden English rules" when it comes to English writing. No secrets, just use it more. Get yourself a little note book and jot down new words and unusual grammar, on a daily basis. What is English to you? A communication tool and an eye opener to the rest of the world. Why and how did you become so good at English? Use it all the time.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | about us | 2

shes artisticw
e l

r s e c r e t a

What is the theme for Vintage Fairs designs?

Since the theme was Vintage Fair, I decided to use lomography and lm camera photos as a central idea. I used vintage lters to make pictures feel "instant"

The English Societys designer, Angel has designed every poster and society products. Her designs have received such positive feedback from students. Shes also doing some part-time photoshop jobs.

Describe your design style?

Spontaneous.

p r o m o t i o n

What is the idea behind English Festivals poster?

Celebration and spring, so I used a lot of owers and decorative designs.

The design for the Write Outside the Box posters are so cute and fresh. Whats the idea behind?
Well, it is the one that takes the most design concepts. It also inspired the tagline "everyone is a writer"! The "everyone" that I used is outside of the box themselves as well so to follow the spirit of the original name of the competition.

How did you come into contact with designing?

I was doing painting at rst then the Visual Arts course in Certicate Level forced me to take some designing. Naturally I had to learn photoshop, and thats where it all begun.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | about us | 3

How do you come up with an idea?

I go tumblring or just random searching on some artistic resources sites that I used to go then just let things inspire me by themselves. It is much easier than starting with a blank le and set your own expectations that actually limits instead.

What was the happiest moment, designwise, in the English Society?

When I see things from thoughts to products and at the same time when the job is done of course.

How do you deal with it if people dont like your design? I mean, every designer and artist must come across this.
I ght and defend for my design because I am already giving up my aesthetics when Im working outside.

Which is your favorite design and why?

I dont like it most because of the design but the joy I feel when I see everyone wearing and buying them, especially my fellow EXCO members. I seriously cannot forget how touched I felt when I saw everyone putting them on for the rst time together while working during bazaar.

What is the the most important things when it comes to designing and being creative?
May be two things...The boundaries and the freedom. Usually there is a setting given for designers to work with and that setting should be open enough for creative ideas. Freedom that will allow you to be inspired in the most unusual ways. I realized how important that is after joining the English Society. I certainly cannot enjoy the same setting and freedom working for my advertisement company, which honestly, just cannot compare - its less challenging and more boring.

If someone is really interested in designing but has no relevant experience and skills whatsoever, what would you advice him/her?
Having those skills is not a must; but having a vision and an aesthetic will be. So do not be afraid to try! You never know until you see it in your own designs. And it denitely takes time to search, but if you truly love design or art, you wont mind searching. It is a very enjoyable, albeit painful process.

Is learning to use Photoshop as hard as people think?

NO. I learnt it without referring to any tutorials, but pure trial and error. It might take time but it's a software that allows you to be self-taught so it can't be too difcult. And even now I am using very simple tools. It really depends on how you put things together and execute your idea instead of how skillful you are at photoshop.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | ways of english | 4

can you write like them?

winning pieces of the annual creative writing competition, Write A year 3 medicine student in the University of Outside the Box
First place Keedon Wong
Hong Kong, Keedons writing journey began as a compulsory entity in school, called an 'Essay', even though he won in Write Outside the Box, he still doesnt regard himself as a good writer. J.K. Rowling is a good writer, I am not. Keedon said. William Shakespeare was a good writer, again I am not. The name list goes on and soon you will get my point.

S Block, 6th Floor, QMH

It was back in 2008. The same elevator. The same gentle hum of the mechanics. I was with my grandmother. She wasn't ne at all. S t a g e 4 L u n g c a n c e r. Adenocarcinoma. Purpose of her visit: replenish her already depleted pallative medication, and perhaps even a daring little hope of a miracle. My duty: take care and accompany my grandmother in the long epic wait at the outpatient ward.

Outrageous content, yet sadly truthful I thought. "Granny, if I become a doctor one day, I will not treat any patient like the way that doctor did!" I comforted her. A caring heart was my promise to a dying mentor. She passed away few months later... 3 days after I left HK at the end of my holiday. -------------------------------'6th Floor, Internal Medicine'- chimed the elevator. It is 2010 again. As the metallic doors open carefully, I knew where I was going, for I had been here before...

Back then I wasn't a medical student. But I wanted to become a doctor. My granny knew this all along. As we strolled into 6th oor, we reported to the front desk and was given a call number. The e t e r n a l wa i t b e a n t i c i p a t i o n g a n . The place smelled the same. 156....157.....158..... the counter ashed, The counter is still ashing. The patients are still waiting. crawling slowly towards our number: 488 Time is rather unique, for it can permeate through almost anything. As we waited, excitment became. Anticipation became participation. Participation became frustration. Frustration became submission. Submission to her ill luck of a crowded day, as well as her inheritance of cancer. To keep her mind off the trouble, I would talk to her about my ambition of being a doctor. I could still recall how my granny would point out a few doctors present at the ward, rating their standards of professionism in parallel. She was a regular in this ward. "You see that doctor over there? She is mean. Told me to give up hope and take morphine instead, so I can leave this place quickly".

But I, I am different. For today, I am a medical student from The Hong Kong University. And my mission is to learn how to become a good doctor. .....and all these began with a promise. If only you are here Granny, you would see what I have brought along. A caring heart. ============= In memories of my mentor, my love, my grandmother. A Reective Piece: "S block, 6th Floor,

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | ways of english | 5

Second place Hau Ka Wai, Israel

The Pursuit of Perfection

This pursuit of perfection started when I was just a month old, if not earlier. When Mom fed me with milk she knew she had to be extremely careful. 8 ounces. No more, no less. A sip less and I would cry as if I hadnt had any; if I had had a sip more I would throw up immediately. Where do I learn this? I sometimes ponder. When I was a little older, barely speaking, my mom used to play me Peter Pan everyday in order to keep me from crying or messing around. One day when she came out from the kitchen to check if everything was okay. She was shocked: I was sitting next to the window, reading out the lines between Peter Pan and Captain Hook as they were speaking word by word, perfectly. As a matter of fact, I still remember a few lines to this day. Since then my mom tried another few cartoons like Lion King and My N e i g h b o r To t o r o . I d i d n t disappoint her. I recited the lines, quickly and accurately. character I love was Cookie Monster though). I coloured all the characters with the exact ones from TV. But ifand this is a big if I picked the wrong color pencil, or the colour pencils had deceived me by pretending to be some other colours (which happened mostly), Id tear off the sheet. Id stay upset until Mom bought me a new one. Id put the perfectly done ones on my walls (the grass green Peter on the right of my bed and the blood red Captain Hook on the left) and appreciate them like a connoisseur.

by one to nd that I lack $20 cents for my hamburger; then putting them all back into my pocket (or wherever you keep them) while handing the impatient staff a $20 note. I spend them, by all means, within the day. I will pick the dish that will cost me all the coins, or order a cold drink which costs $2 more in a winder day. And if there are still a few surviving coins before the end of the day, I will intentionally leave the stinky coins on a Starbucks table or a bus seat for a gift. I spend time like I spend money. I will only start a work when the clock strikes the number 12 or 6. If I miss it, I will wait another 30 minutes or so. I cannot bear the incompleteness, otherwise. I need to know if I have been working on my essay for an hour or an hour, and a half, and how much longer will I continue, exactly. I say to myself, Lets start writing the paper at 22:00, realizing that its only 21:48 I go on Facebook and start surng. And when I look at the bottom righthand corner of my computer to nd that its already 22:02, I say to myself, well, 2 minutes past 10 now. I will start at 22:30 then. More than often I end up doing nothing the entire night but witnessing time slipping through. There is a price to pay in pursuit of perfection. I admire the certainty of the word perfect. You can hardly nd any synonymy or antonyms (well you can say imperfect but it leads you nowhere), not even a comparative formyou can have nothing better than perfect so there is no perfecter; if it is less than perfect than it is not perfect. It is absolute. It is unique, and I love it. I love everything clear and certain, that you can lean on its surety without worrying about it falling apart.

Then it came my golden age for TV games. I loved (and still love) playing Winning 11, a football game series that renews every year. (It has been 7 years since I rst played it and I just bought the latest edition last Wednesdaysome things never change.) I could easily beat the computer with a scoreline of 8:0. When I, however, conceded a goal that I considered unreasonable 8:1, game over, for meId delete the whole game record (which had taken me months to build). Indeed, A big cartoon fan like me I still do. had a lot of homework to do even before I went to kindergarten. I have never had a coin bag. I had almost all the books of my I d e s p i s e c o i n s . T h e y a r e favorite cartoons, from Lion King incomplete, chaotic. I hate the to My Neighbor Totoro, from Peter process of putting all the coins on Pan to Sesame Street (the only my palm and counting them one

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | ways of english | 6

2 weeks ago I was cleansing my room for Chinese New Year. I love cleansing my room, and making minor changes to freshen the whole room: replacing the world map that lies dusty on my desk with a desk calendar. A bronze lampstand that my friend bought me from Israel looks good after some polishing. I am tempted to go beyond that. I pull out my drawer. It is stuffed with pages of different sizes, white and yellow, lined and plain. They hold my past. Some of them date back to ve, six years ago. I take them all out and put them on my bed, randomly picking one and start reading. I cannot connect myself with the author of these notes. Was it me or someone else? I scan through the 50 something sheets and found little sign of myself in them. I keep a few memorable ones and throw the rest into the semi-full, big, black plastic bag by my side.

dwells. Every time I go to a movie I put the receipt on top on the pile. Are there a hundred? Or two? When I started Id put the UA tickets in the bottom, for they are the biggest in size, then MCL, then AMC. The IFC ones stayed on the top. IFC my most favorite cinema of all and I consider my second home. I used to have two piles, one for those I watched with friends and another for those I watched alone. The latter always outnumbered the former, of which I was proud. They sometimes repeated for I like watching the good ones twice. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, No Country for Old Men, and P.S. I Love You I watched 3 times. At some point the two merged into one, due to the lack of space. The order was soon brokenI just put the latest on the top and thats it. I throw the whole pile into that black, bottomless bag.

I can feel the weight inside that layer of think black plastic I then discover a dozen though I can see nothing from the envelops scattered in all parts of outside. No one can see through my drawer. They have been its darkness, I suppose. covered by my note sheets. Some of them are letters from my friends The removal of chaos delights me. oversea; some birthday cards and I gaze at the voluminous black Christmas cards, others were some bag, forbidding myself to look into special cards from some special it. Then I allow myself to have the last look of everything that ones, like this one which reads: happened in that ugly, dirty bag. I Perhaps we should never see approached it and tied it with my againfate has its own way to go. strengthless, stinky hands. I have found the resolution of pursuing Some of the writers I still my ideal, perfection: Dump the know, most I dont. Some I am imperfect clutter! very glad to know in my life, most I am not. Only a few I consider close friends now, others, like their letters, scatter. I bind them all with an old, yellow rubber band, and feed the hungry plastic bag with them. In the corner of my drawer a thick pile of movie tickets

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | ways of english | 7

Third place Kennis Lam

Orange Sky
Last night I saw the sky turned orange, when the wind blew in and told me to shut the window. But I couldn't. Cause the orange sky seemed to tell me, that it knew what's going on, and it showed its feelings with the shade of gold. I could not agree more. Then I decided to go and capture the moment, and all of a sudden I was amazed by the calmness the orange brought. It lighted up the round streetlights that glowed like the moon; the soft reflection of the redness of the muddy pond; the waterdrops on the leaves that shimmered like crystals, while playing a song of the drizzles falling onto the grounds doing their tap dance; of the breeze that whistled the tune of the moist spring; of the cars occasionally flew by as if they were being chased. Everything was orange and gold.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | about us | 8

What is so noble about the English Society?

1. The killer posters you see all around campus!
page 2

Preface

2. Weve been around since the university first started.

Type: Arts Association Founded: Location: Fong Shu Chuen Amenities Center Area served: Students in the Bachelor of Arts Focus: Promoting English Method: Through out events, and facebook page. No. of Executive Committee members: 11 Members: 250+ Past achievements: Website: https:// www.facebook.com/pages/TheEnglish-Society-AAHKUSU/ 143910358996362

3. Youd think English is boring. But aha, were going to prove you wrong with our fun events in the past year where the love of English is spread through books, films, forums, and writing contests.
page 9

4. Celebrity alert! Raymond Wong () is our External Vice Chairperson! Oh no, hes just a look-alike. 5. Despite being the English Society, not all of us is the literature nerd or Shakespeare lover youd think well be. Some of us studied Science in high school, and write beautiful Chinese poetry. page 10 6. The English Society has one advantage over every other societies - our giant poster wall outside the society room. 7. We are the famous fried chicken legs society! The Swire Canteen at Fong Shu Chuen Amenities Center offers fried chicken legs at tea time. With our society room right next to the canteen, one of our society functions is to go and enjoy a fried chicken leg during tea time!

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | about us | 9

A year with the English Society

September 2010
University rookies

January 2011
Intermediate university students, know too well what to expect

May 2011
Call us university students

1. 2. 3. 4.

1. Getting lost in campus 2. Going to the English Societys recruitment meetings 3. Decision made. We are going to be a part of the English Society, in Chinese - sheung jong ()

A long holiday! Charged. School started. Bazaar meetings. Gradual formation of Write Outside the Box. 5. TUTORIAL REGISTRATION hands sticking to the refresh button until the exact time.

1. Examinations. Its like the Advanced Level Examinations all over again. 2. Meetings. 3. Holidays. Normal life resumes!

June 2011

Students on leave

February 2011
Intermediate university goers that are overwhelmed

October 2010

Still university rookies that is getting overwhelmed

1. Society meetings deciding our positions 2. Society meetings, AGAIN!, about putting together our year plan. 3. Being late to our 930 classes. 4. (Some of us) Hall. English Society. Hall. Englist Society. School. 5. We were surprised we can manage with so little sleep. 6. OFFICIALLY A ENGLISH SOCIETY EXCO MEMBER!

1. Chinese New Year holiday 2. Class visits - bazaar, Write Outside the Box - talking in front of the whole class 3. Assignments. 4. Drafting of LINK 5. Preparation of BAZAAR - stock buying, packing stocks, standing in counters 6. ENGLISH SOCIETY HOODIES 7. Everyone walking around in them. 8. BAZAAR A SUCCESS. Way to go Joey and Patricia!

1. Travels. Meetings. 2. RESULTS OF WRITE OUTSIDE THE BOX. 3. Friends. 4. The endless summer holiday. 5. Interns. 6. Application of credit cards. 7. Orientation camp meetings. 8. Games. Tasks. FUN. 9. Exploring the city.

July 2011

EXCO members

March 2011
University experts

November 2010
Beginner at doing university

1. CAES 2. First essay due! 3. Cleaning up the society room... packed with posters, files, and banners. 4. Inauguration rehearsal - nothing seemed to work 5. INAUGURATION CEREMONY, an ultimate success. Cheers, Mavis! 6. Our first society dinner at Canada Restaurant. 7. Executive Committee meetings, Internal Affairs Meeting 8. READING WEEK

1. 2. 3. 4.

Reading week. The birth of LINK. Mid-terms. Book fair - the chilling cold wind, yet glad we are seeing each other every day again. 5. Academic Forum, the most noble stage. 6. Group projects. 7. Academic Talk - suit up!

1. Angel is back from exchange! 2. Summer courses. Intern. Census. 3. Books haul from the Annual Book Fair! 4. Orientation preparation fired up! 5. Pre-camp. Seeing fellow EXCO members first thing in the morning. Walking in the night alone. 6. Course selection.

August 2011
Advanced at dealing with university

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Registration days. Course enrollment. Orientation camps. Guiding incoming freshmen. Orientation night.

April 2011
Still feels like a beginner even though we know most there is about university... why does the work never end?

September 2011
Sophomore

December 2010
Rookies, again, in the face of examinations and term papers

1. 2. 3. 4.

Library, wikipedia, MLA, and APA Super pass dinner! Examinations. Term papers. Meet up with friends, catch up on TV series. 5. Meeting on Society Products.

1. Term papers. Presentations. Examinations. 2. Running towards school office to hand in paper in time! Starting to appreciate when professors accept papers online. 3. HOORAY when exams were over. 4. Meetings.

1. Picking our next session of the English Society. 2. Concentrating on our studies. 3. Be ready to say good bye to the English Society. 4. No longer binded by society responsibilities to meet with fellow EXCO members.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | about us | 10

Debunking university myths

things you thought you knew

At the English Society, we are all English freaks (Shakespeare lover/ poetry nerd).
Rule breakers Stereotype -

Angel
Promotion Secretary of the English Society, the arts lover is far from a English freak. Instead, Angel is the ultimate arts freak. I love arts. Angel said. I think Im pretty much born an arts student and a perfectionist (Im a scorpio).

Elisa
Her favorite Shakespeares play is the Midsummer Nights Dream. I love the surreal, chaotic, and magical setting of the play. Elisa said. And yet its theme still transcends to modern times.

Wanto
Though he admits that hes very into drama and literature, Wanto, the Internal Vice-Chairperson of the English Society, was actually a science student in high school. I didnt actually intend to go for Bachelor of Arts in HKU, said Wanto. But I couldnt get into medicine.

The course of true love never did run smooth, Elisa quoted Shakespeare. How it still resonates with modern lovers! Words are around us, Elisa said. But literature...... It reveals the beauty of words. Literature is like a avoring of life, said Elisa. It adds imagination and color to my everyday.

You have to study English Studies or are in the Bachelor of Arts to go into the English Society.
10 out of 11 of the English Societys Executive Committee members are Bachelor of Arts students. 8 out 11 of them took the English Studies introductory course. 7 of them is majoring in English Studies. But....

Amusing and meaningful quotes by Literature Masters

Mark Twain:
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.

J. D. Salinger:
It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

Rule breakers -

Yannie
is a journalism major (from the Faculty of Social Sciences).

is majoring in European Studies and Media and Culture Studies.

Mavis

Virginia Woolf:
Humor is the first of the gifts to perish in a foreign tongue.

Charles Dickens:
Vices are sometimes only virtues carried to excess!

Mavis actually decided

to go for the Bachelor of Arts because of European Studies. I wanted to know more and deeper about Europes culture, society, politics, etc when I was in Form 6, said Mavis.

Oscar Wilde
Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | about us | 11

You have to want to be an Executive Committee member of a society because you want to gain experience.
Foreword Being an Executive Committee member of a society is no easy job. And people are going to ask you why. But you dont necessarily need to have a good and sound reason.

Why did you decide to run for the English Society?

Elisa:After joining the English
Society Orientation Camp, I further wanted to devote myself into the society. The camp was fun, and more, some of my good friends as well as good 'sheung jong' were met there.

The honorables:

Ricky:I was determined to

major in English once I was admitted to HKU so I want to make some contributions to students studying English. Also, I want to know how life would be after going for a society.

For friends:

The ambitious:

Angel: The position as

promotion secretary is why I went for the English Society - even though I do paintings and designs, the leadership roles that I took up in high-school didn't really make use of them. This is a last chance to showcase my ability to a greater audience and this position denitely attracted me.

Michelle:I want to meet friends

and enrich my university life and it sounds cool to have a group of jongmates striving for the same goal there.

Joey: In addition to my decision

to major English Studies, the experience gained during the orientation camp organized by the English Society last year also makes me become one of the Exco members of English Society today.

Yannie: Once I found

out what the publication secretary does - producing three dierent publications for public distribution - I WAS SOLD. Where else could I ever have that opportunity??

Because English Society sounds good:

Wanto: It cannot be denied that

joining a society that is characterized by nobility, elegancy and long history is irresistible. Inspired by my "sheung- jongs" (Executive Committee members of the previous session) and instigated by my buddies, I threw myself into the society.

Fate:

James: I had no intention to

work in any society at all but I was persuaded by an EXCO member of the previous session... I just asked myself "why not?" and then just gave it a try. Yes it's childlike I know.

Patricia: The name itself

sounds good. Can I say noble? I wanted to be loyal to English.

Mavis: Ummmactually its

a dicult question for meI cant clearly gure out the reason why I am here in English The Society. I never thought of studying English Studies. Maybe being one of the committees is just one of my random thoughts. :P

absolute stereotype:

Curtis:I wanted such kind of

experience.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | about us | 12

Those who participate in societies () are really demanding and ambitious people.

Being part of a society is merely about organizing various events.

Rule breakers -

James
The nicest and most laid back person in the English Society, James never gets angry, and always manages to crack a smile on the people around him. James likes...watching Pokemon! And singing karaoke.

There are more to sheung jong (being a EXCO member of a society) than having meetings, organizing bazaar, orientation camps, academic talk, and designing promotional materials.

Rule Breakers:

Ocean Park Voyage!

Patricia

A person with many interests (music, dance, theatre, sport, travel, shopping, economics, business management, philosophy, literature, astrology, numerology, sleeping, daydreaming), Patricia is straightforward in the gentlest way.

Becoming part of a society will be the funnest and most fulfilling experience youll ever have.
TORTURE. You will lose some things, but you will also gain some things. And those gains - you can never get it any where else.

Jong dinners

The truth is.... it will be One of the rst things you realize after being an EXCO member is HOW LITTLE SLEEP YOU CAN SURVIVE ON.

Joining the English society is denitely not the best thing you can do to your health, said Wanto jokingly. Yannie agreed. Sleep is optional in university, I guess?

The laughters, the nights that we stayed together till late on campus, the bittersweet working process are all overwhelming, exclaimed Elisa. Joining the English Society for a year is taking a great lesson for life. We devote, and we share the I lost the time to sleep and bliss of success! We all do what I like, said Ricky. learnt, grew up, and win a bunch of friends! You will also lose something On the year-end reection of more. As Mavis said, I our jong year, most of us found myself losing some precious things like friends, relished the fact we made some of the closest friends in family, health and even the society. study. There will also be times when you dont get along with your fellow EXCO members. We argued, we got depressed at some points..., BUT THERE IS A BIG BUT. Everything comes with a price, and so does becoming an EXCO member. I have been learning how to cooperate with other Exco members to organize events. and most importantly I can nd my good friends here! Joey said.

Where we talk about our lives, our troubles.. ourselves. We laugh at each other - Patricias eccentricities (more like uniqueness in my words), Joeys fondness for watermelons and chickens, and Wantos excruciating LCOM project.
But no one said it better than Angel and Ricky, with their honest and detailed answer. If it (the year) did turn out to be what I expected, it would be less of a meaningful experience. Angel said. To me, the most precious thing I learnt (lets skip those general ones) is setting up your own priorities. It doesn't mean planning a timetable nor schedule but to decide on a certain standard or line in different aspects of uni life that you want to fulll. Of course I had less free time but it is the part of the experience - it can still be very contenting while you cannot have it all. Lastly, friends, what else could I ask for? I was initially disappointed, confessed Ricky. But during the period to prepare for the orientation programme, it turned out to be what I expected as I can take the initiative to organize a function. I started to learn how to cooperate with others and work as a team.

I also learnt that I should not look down on my Its kind of complicated. opinions but voice them out no matter they are Jong-yau's support is the key for me to overcome any adopted or not. Ricky added. hardships and troubles. said Wanto.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | around us | 13

emerging like GINGKO HOUSE. It is a unique mix of business and social responsibility, set up with elderly employment in mind. Founded by social workers, Hong Kong is one of who noticed the elderly the most densely losing direction after retiring, populated cities in the Gingko House only employs Things you didnt know about Hong Kong - the world, with 6,480 the gray-haired. stereotyped economy-heavy city with only persons per km2, with Gingko House takes skyscrapers and banks. (And things I only found skyscrapers, malls, s u s t a i n a b i l i t y s e r i o u s l y. out in the past year.) and housings all Knowing that a restaurant crammed together in ultimate draw is its food, city areas. Gingko House is committed Chong Hing Water Sports I t s e a s y t o Employers to offering top-notch dishes a s s u m e t h a t o n l y Center at the West Sea Cofferdam with quality ingredients. arent a c t iv i t i e s s u ch a s of the High Island Reservoir in Sai First opened in shopping, eating, and Kung offers you complete isolation necessarily Scrooge- Central, Gingko House now going around the city from the city where you can sail, like: Gingko House, owns two other branches in are available. But windsurf, canoe, sampan row, and business with a Jordon, and Prince Edward. there is so much to color boat paddle. It is also extending Hong Kongs rugged hills, conscience. Hong Kong than that. its branch to a central 67 per cent of islands and islets also make for Hong Kong has one of the kitchen and an organic Hong Kong is made s u p e r b h i k i n g t r a i l s . We l l - b i g g e s t i n c o m e g a p . farm in Sheung Shui. up of woodland and maintained trails ranging from According to a 2009 United Its simple, really. there are 41 amazing gentle family walks to challenging N a t i o n s D e v e l o p m e n t We never had very wellbeaches around its ones for the adventure-seeking. Report, Hong Kong has the planned scheme, said Start from the Upper Peak highest income gap among Joyce Mak, CEO and one shores for sports and natural activities such Tram Station if you are a rookie, or the 38 countries with high of the founders of Gingko as hiking and water climb the Ma On Shan if youre a human development. B u t House. We want our sports. professional! t h e r e a r e s i g n s o f customers satised, and i m p r o v i n g , w i t h m o r e our employees with a job. sustainable businesses Thats really it. There are amazing organizations that

2/3 of Hong Kong are actually made up of woodland.

THE OTHER SIDE

OF

HONG KONG

are trying to save Hong Kongs unique street culture.

Hulu Culture, a non-prot cultural organization, aims to preserve local heritage while inspiring creativity that is unique to our city. It organizes out-ofthe-box exhibitions such as a district-oriented series, Heritage X Art X Design Walk. It focuses on one district a time. Central and Sheung Wan got their special treatment. And Sham Shui Po is the next, launching in July and August in the Jockey Club Creative Arts Center. The exhibition includes cultural tours, workshops, and design products specically designed with characteristics of the district. Hulu Culture also does subject-oriented exhibitions. The Look of H o n g Ko n g H o m e s & Households in 40 Years Exhibition explained Hong Kongs cultural changes through home displays, furnitures, and decorations. Look forward to one a b o u t H o n g K o n g s craftsmanship and handicrafts in the near future! Hulu really wants more people to understand

the communitys culture through these exhibitions, said Iman Fok, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Hulu Culture. Through allowing people to explore the district, and through workshops where students use their own creativity to represent the district. The Fringe Club, a non-prot organization aiming to promote and preserve the local arts scene, is located at "Old Dairy Farm Depot" at 2 Lower Albert Road in Central. I n s p i r e d by t h e Edinburg Festival Fringe,

which is probably the biggest art festival with the whole city getting involved, the Fringe Club is trying to do the same in Hong Kong. It holds the City Festival each year, aiming to p r e s e r ve l o c a l c u l t u r e through arranging local and international performances in both the Fringe Club and all over the city. The Fringe Club also opens up rent-free performing venue for local artists. This is especially in Hong Kong where rent is sky-high and land is very limited.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | around us | 14

Busking (street performances) is becoming a unique culture in Hong Kong.

You must have heard this since primary school: Hong Kong is a cultural desert. But youll know Hong Kong somehow is the exact opposite if you know where to look: Sai Yeung Choi Street South. Every weekends, street performers ood the now busking hub - Sai Yeung Choi Street South and take up a block of the street. WingLo, a street performer and music producer who performs outside a store which sells jeans, jokingly said, Those people working in the store now saves up the space for me every weekend. They said my performance actually boost their sales! Last year saw a great leap in street cultures development, where the audience, people in the neighborhood, and even ofcial parties has come to understand more about busking as an art, and becoming more tolerant of it. When busking rst began in Hong Kong, it was met with criticism and even hostility. In 2001, when WingLo moved the stage onto the streets, he received warnings, then eventually the SWAT team actually got to the scene and threatened to arrest him. In 2006, a facebook group called Kick FM Theatre Power () out of Mong Kok was created by netizens, who complained that the street performers were too aggressive. FM Theatre Power, at that time, was viewed upon by the press and public as more like a bunch of young people trying to get attention. But as time gone by, Ken Fung, Assistant Artistic Director of FM Theatre Power and the head of their busking team, said, Sai Yeung Choi Street South is now to a certain extent the most tolerant street towards busking. We were among the rst to perform here, and we witnessed it transform into this street of cultural arts - basically there wont be anyone stopping you from performing. Fung also found out a unexpected perk of busking to the community. The old woman selling traditional Chinese candies downstairs took a personal affection for them and helped them save space for their performance. The local diners recognized Fung and gave him a free soy milk when he went there for lunch. The cable internet sales in the area have become friends with Fung. This to me is really the difference between theatrical and street performance, said Fung. You are connecting with the community. Busking is a unique art form slowly taking form in Hong Kongs narrow street, where audience interaction can be maximized. Fung, for one, is making great use of this special feature of Hong Kong streets. In Show Me Your Colors, Fungs major performances, he stands still and lets passers-by paint on him. I love it because Show You Some Colors is not merely a show, but where a performer can interact and share some things with the audience. Fung said.

WingLo playing the guitar in his studio.

Fung (on the right) and the rest of the busking crew of FM Theatre Power.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | around us | 15

Love books, have a lot of them, and want a place to share them, for value? Go to one of Hong Kongs second-hand book stores!
Second-hand book stores, inexplicably, always pull book lovers in. Its not about the value price. But perhaps, its the treasure hunting feeling you get when youre in one. And that you can share your books to fellow book lovers in that often tight and crammed space. Second-hand book stores are easy to nd in other big cities Tokyo, New York City, London. But in Hong Kong, the big brand name book stores Commercial Press, Page One, etc always shroud the delicate voice of the small-scaled secondhand book stores.

Fun facts about Hong Kong

- that you probably didnt know either.

Spirit Bookstore

One of the oldest used book stores in Hong Kong, it sells the widest range of used books. The book store is painted with a bright green color, with neatly arranged book shelves. Selling point: Largest collection of used textbooks and supplementary materials Inside information: Go to the North Point branch for a larger number of books and more extensive variety of books.
G/F B store, 28 Whitting Street, Sai Wan, Hong Kong G/F 7 store, Kin Yip Mansion, 24 Java Street, North Point, Hong Kong

1 /5

Hong Kong has 8 H&M stores, and 110 Starbucks.

Singapore: 0 H&M, 69 Starbucks. Barcelona: 11 H&M, 17 Starbucks. Paris: 11 H&M, 35 Starbucks. Stockholm: 35 H&M, 1 Starbucks. Tokyo: 5 H&M, 262 Starbucks! Sydney: 0 H&M, 9 Starbucks. Copenhagen: 8 H&M, 2 Starbucks. Helsinki: 4 H&M, 0 Starbucks.

The Collectables

H&M is European-friendly, and obviously Europeans dont like Starbucks very well. Cafe culture is mature in the Europe, with a coffee house in every corner. This also points to... GLOBALIZATION. We may be drinking and wearing the same thing. But hey! As long as you have your personal style.

Since 1992, the Collectables has been trying to collect second-hand books, CDs, records, DVD, and musical instruments. Their used book collection mainly focuses on literature, music, history, humanities, and quality ction. Selling point: The largest vinyl collection. If youre a music junkie, youll nd some vintage vinyl to your taste.
2/F, 11 Queen Victoria Street, Central,Hong Kong http://collectables.jrstation.com/index.html

2/5

Hong Kongs population is very homogenous.

Even though Hong Kong boasts itself as a cosmopolitan and international city, its population is 95 per cent Chinese!

3 /5
Other secondhand bookstores
San Ya Book Store (Biggest chinese second-hand book store, with a large collection of literature, history, philosophy book)

Hong Kongers enjoy 104.4 sq m per person!

While people in Barcelona only have 17.76 sq m per person; Singapore 66 sq m per person; Paris, 11.3 sq m per person; Melbourne, 46.1 sq m person; Munich, 35 sq m per person.

Well then, I guess Hong Kongs not really a concrete jungle, just problematic-urban-planning city.

Hong Kong now holds the region largest art auction.

Businesses seem not to dominate the the city anymore, with the selling and buying art in Hong Kong becoming more prominent. Hong Kong may have the titleart hub in its pocket.

Rebook (Under the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups,

Room B, 2/F, Lai Kee Mansions, 523 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon

5 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Rm 1606, Goodhope Building, Mong Kok, Hong Kong

4/5

Hong Kong has 35 cases of murder and 4,543 domestic break-ins last year.
...compared with 9 murders and 2,673 domestic break-ins in Vancouver, and 19 murders and 896 domestic breakins in Singapore.

Hau Yau Book Store (Collects all kind of books, just call them - 28032840, and theyll come collect your books!
Shop 6, G/F Kensington Mansion,353 Queen's Road West, Hong Kong http://www.hauyau-bookstore.com/

5/5

Hong Kong has over 340 electric car charging points

...compared with 39 in Fukuoka, 6 in Singapore, 184 in Barcelona, 37 in Tokyo, 90 in Berlin, and 16 in Zurich.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | ways of english | 16

We ask, they answer Dr. Gaye Gould

Passionate and inspiring, Dr. Gould is an example to many Bachelor of Arts students who took her introductory course to English Studies. On the Inauguration Ceremony of the English Society, Dr. Gould underlined one of the mission of the English Society - to promote the use and love for English. Here, in an email interview with the English Society, Dr. Gould shares her favorite authors, her view on English, how she knows the language so well - and of course, valuable tips for students if you want to impress Dr. Gould with your writing!

Visiting Associate Professor of the School of English, Dr. Gould is the first professor you meet if you want to major in English Studies. She teaches the English Studies introductory courses ENGL1009 and ENGL1010. She is known for her loving strictness, insistence for formatting, and a passion for literature.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | ways of english | 17

What is English to you? Primarily a method of communication, but also the vehicle for some of the great literature ever written. What do you enjoy about it? How all the different Englishes (HK, British, American, New Zealand, Singaporean, etc.) reect their own individual cultures (in literature, song, oral histories, etc.) but still manage to be mutually intelligible (mostly!). What are your top ve English authors? Jane Austen: her wit. Shakespeare: his understanding of the human condition; his contributions to and manipulation of English; his mastery of iambic pentameter. Thomas Hardy: everyone should embrace one "dark" author and Hardy can be very dark indeed! Byron: his many moods; he's both brooding and multidimensional.

What are some of the common grammatical or simple English mistakes you spot in Hong Kong? Leaving the 3p "s" off verb endings is probably the most common, and also the most infuriating because all HK students seem to know the "s" is needed; and yet they don't use it. Many errors come from Cantonese interference. There are plenty of articles written on this subject.

I like Orwell's rules best, especially the one which says if it's possible to delete a word, then you should delete it.
And how do you feel when you come across them? It depends. If I'm talking to someone, I ignore his/her speech errors as I hope s/ he will ignore mine (no one speaks grammatically). But, errors in academic writing are less forgivable. "Academic English" is a separate language and should be treated as such. Suggest 3 "golden English rules" when it comes to English writing.

...errors in academic writing are less forgivable. "Academic English" is a separate language and should be treated as such.

I like Orwell's rules best, especially the one which says if it's possible to delete a word, then you should delete it. He also says you should not use a long J.K. Rowling: imagination and language; word if a short one will do. But, his last made reading "fashionable" for a whole is best: break all the rules rather than generation. What better contribution say anything outright barbarous! could an author make than to encourage young people to read when there are so Why and how did you become so good many other media to absorb (waste?) at English/ such a good English usertheir time? writer? When you are reading, do you tend to be impressed more by the storyline, or the language? Both equally. Neither can exist without the other. If you constantly read "good" literature, your writing will improve. (I favour the 19th-century writers for this purpose.)

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | Lets get geeky | 18

Smartphones rst page showdown

Angel
Favorite App: 360, It is one of the best apps that have put photoshop functions into easy usage and its really so simple! Love to use it for landscapes and especially during travelling ;) The App you cant live without: Tumblr, Got too much from Google and too fed up with Facebook. Tumblr is where I nd inspirations and share mine to strangers but who care. One of my GPA killer as well of course.
Having trouble nding useful apps among the thousands in the iTunes App Store? Dont want to cram your iPhone with seemingly good apps? Heres a peak at our iPhone rst pages, and the English Society dish on our favorite apps, and the ones we cant live without. (That sounds exaggerating, but its the information age!)

Wanto
Favorite App / The App you cant live without: Maps, I am really "good at" getting lost in streets.

360 in action!

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | Lets get geeky | 19

James
Favorite App: Actioncam, It allows u to take several photos and combine them as one! There maybe some other similar apps but this is the rst one I came across! Maximum with 3x3 squares! The App you cant live without: Facebook, It is indeed a thing that I cant live without. I dont know why but I cant help refreshing the news feed page every single minute.

Curtis
The App you cant live without: Any texting app, Actually there is no apps I can't live without. Just that it is the most often used apps. I chose them because I text every day.

Elisa
Favorite App / The App you cant live without: Facebook App, This handy app keeps me updated with the latest activities of my friends. I can always keep the closest contact with anyone I know anytime, anywhere - simply by Facebook app.

e n g l i s h s o c i e t y | Lets get geeky | 20

Joey
Favorite App: Super 7, It tests one's mathematical ability and response. The App you cant live without: Hero Princess, It is a very "chur" but simple game and it takes you around 20 minutes to nish a round. It's a perfect app to kill time.

Honorable mentions
Best to-do app: Wunderlist, It is simple, elegant, and award-winning. Games: Tiny Tower, Very similar to Facebook games like farmville and Restaurant CIty, but with a twist. It is not as demanding, and its pixel characters are just the cutest things. Google series Google Places: Automatically categorizes places into restaurants, ATMs, cafs. Wherever you are, just click, and youll know whats around you. Google search: It doesnt seem to differ with google search in Safari. Just that it works so much better. You can restrict your search to news, or images. And you can even search with an image you took on your iPhone! Google docs: Not exactly an app, but a web app, meaning the site has been tweaked for better use in smartphones. Edit anything, anywhere. Photo sharing: Instagram, Simple, and elegant way to instantly share beautiful photos with your friends. Instant messaging: Whatsapp, Most popular instant messaging tools free texting when you have internet access! It allows photo, audio, video, and location sharing. Mobile Usage: If youre a 3 user, this app will be very useful, providing information on your call minutes, data usage, mms, and sms.

Yannie
Favorite App: Camera+, a one-inall perfect camera app! You can take pictures with it, apply effects, then save it to your camera roll. It can even stabilize during phototaking. Its effects are just amazing. It is just THE camera app. The App you cant live without: Instapaper, I read a lot. Newspaper, features, blog posts... A tons of them. Instagram saves online pages ofine, so just with a click, I can save what I want to read in Instapaper, and then read it anywhere and anytime I want on the road. It is also super easy on the eyes!

last words

ENGLISH SOCIETY, A.A.H.K.U.S.U.

https://www.facebook.com/ pages/The-English-SocietyAAHKUSU/143910358996362

ORIENTATION CAMPS

August 10 - 12. Come join us in this magical entrance into college. Give Ricky a call at 65713805 if you have any questions or if you decide to join the fun last minute!

ORIENTATION NIGHT
August 15. Meet new friends and explore the campus. Great food, nice friends, exciting tour of HKUs campus.

Want to write for LINK?

FEEDBACK/ SUGGESTIONS?
email yanniegreen@gmail.com and well get you published.