Lesson observation

I had a very good lesson today. The EDB official came to the school to check if their money is worth spending on our school. They checked necessary documents as well as observed my lesson.

To be honest, being observed by others, I had to do extra preparations. I had prepared different games and, with the help of the power point, I had prepared lots of visual aids like colourful pictures to help them learn. Our students have different learning difficulties therefore lots of visual aids are needed. By the way, I did not like the response of one of the games very much. I am going to try it again in the next lesson. I am expecting a better result.

The official of the EDB appreciated the lesson. She was impressed by the response of the students throughout the lesson. She said the students were trying hard to learn and to do better. She said the lesson was challenging but the students could manage it. She felt there was so much different our students were compared with those of the main stream school. She was amazed by the tacit collaboration of me and the co-teacher, Mr Rowntree in the lesson. I hope she realizes that our students have their own learning difficulties. I hope she realizes that our students are far difficult to take public exam.

Anyway, today's lesson is very encouraging. I wish I could spend more time preparing lessons for the sake of the students' bendfits.

I hate 'Road show'

If you want to lead a peaceful life, stay at home. I start to be disturbed by the public media early in the morning. When I get on the bus, I usually go up to the upper deck because it is not so crowded. I also like to enjoy a better view from the top window so going up becomes my habit. Unfortunately, I have to tolerate the noise from the roadshow. Some are not so noisy but some really reach an annoying level.

I look around the deck. Most of the passengers are sleeping or simply closing their eyes. I can hardly see anyone watching it. The first time to come across something may be interesting. But For a regular customer, watching the same thing day after day is like your brain being washed and your mind being controlled.

To avoid the noise, I have to use the noise to cover the noise. That is, I put my ear-plugs on to listen to the radio or MP3 to stop the irritating noise entering my ears. It is like an ostrich burying the head in the soil. What an enjoyable journey!

I have found out from my friend recently the sound is mute at the lower deck. I wonder why there are more passengers there. The fact is nobody like the roadshow, at least early in the morning. Then I asked why the driver did not turn it off. The answer is it is not allowed because the bus company is paid to do it.

There are roadshows on the bus and on the MTR. There are TV shows in restaurants or in fast food shops. There is even a huge TV screen with loud noise at the corner of the crossroads near where I am working.

Well! You can never win.

It's sad but true

Just click on the following web site. It is sad but true about Hong Kong's future. (it is in Chinese version)

http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/ed-sigh

My nephew, Martin

My brother took his son, Martin, to the golf course where he works on 'Take your kid to work day'. This day was originated in the United States where employees invite his/her prepubescent-aged girl to spend a day in their workplace. The aim is to expose the girls to various career opportunities. The programme was expanded in 2003 to include boys. The source is from WiKipedia.

Martin is 15 years now. He was born in Canada and has been living there ever since. I have met him twice. One when he was about three years old and another one when he was about nine, I think. Time really flies. He is a big boy now. I am looking forward to seeing him again.

Feeling cooler

Today is the first day to feel cooler in this season. It is about time to feel cooler. The temperature is about 20 degrees C. On earth, the temperature increases each year because of global warming.

I like the weather in Hong Kong because we can experience all the four seasons in a year. And again, autumn is my favourite season :-)

My sister's new Flat

My sister bought a new flat in Cityone today. She saw the flat in the afternoon and the deal was made within the same day. I hoped she had made the right choice. At this present moment, if you have extra money with you, I think to buy properties is the right choice. People do not feel secure putting money in a bank. Moreover, the interest rate is so low and the money 'will shrink' in the bank. Other ways of investment are no longer secure. So putting money in properties is the right time now.

Goodbye, Mr Wu

I heard a shocking news today that my former teacher, Mr Wu Tat Sung (he was a lab tech but I regarded him as my teacher) died in a traffic accident today :-(

The accident happened when he was riding his moterbike on Bride's pool Road near Chung Mei towards Sha Tau Kok. He lost control on his motorbike and swayed to the opposite lane while a car was coming towards him. He slid into the bottom of that car and was certified death half an hour later in hospital. What a tragic accident!

I remembered once he gave me a lift on his motorbike when I was at school. I was in the cycling club at school and we had an outing on the bikes one Saturday. After cycling with my school mates in Tai Po, he rode me back to Hunghom because we were in the same neighbourhood. He was very kind and that was my first chance on a motorbike. He was a good motor cyclist and I enjoyed the ride.

I regretted that I missed the chance of saying 'Hello' to him when I met him a few years ago at St. Catharine's.

Here I would like to send my condolences to his wife, Miranda Wu, my ex-teacher, for the loss of her beloved husband.

Mr Wu. I'll miss you forever.