數學

自小便不喜歡數學，覺得難且不易明白，所以小學的數學成績較差。姑姐是小學數學老師，她教我數學時真火冒三丈，但仍耐心地陪我完成功課。到了高中，自己亦覺數學成績不好，只好用功力追，數學成績才較進步，而會考數學成績亦有合格以上。到了外國讀書，因英文較深才迫於無奈多修數學科目，但當時又不覺得特別困難。到了大學後的 discrete maths 才真的困難。

回到香港工作後，只要用加減乘除。以往所學的如 Calculus 及 Algebra 已忘記了大部份。記憶中只有一次覺得數學實用是睡在一張較短的床上，醒覺對角的長度較直角長，把身體平放對角，以較長的距離來容納自己。直到最近修讀市塲學而要學統計時才發覺數學很奇妙，想多讀一點。學數學最重要是肯思考。若你肯花時間思考，掌握了有關理論便可應用自如。數學除了公式外沒有標準課文及答案可背。對於只肯強記，不願理解的學生較困難。

其實數學可訓練邏輯分析能力，在工作上對人有幫助，亦能教人明辨是非。這較語文為優。

英文

無論香港的英語教育是好是壞，我們的學生要面對英語是世界語言已是不爭的事實。良好的英文能力能使你接通全世界，接觸最新的資訊，而且有較大機會在事業上取得成功。

就以資訊科技為例，英語是資訊科技的母語。若你是普通用家仍可用電腦的中文介面；但作為core tech 人員你必須懂得英語才能寫程式及管理網絡與資料庫。全世界沒可能有一個電腦工程師是不懂英文的，相信否？

以學術為例，學者必須懂得用英文發表其研究成果才可以被全世界欣賞。無論法文、德文、或西班牙文的作品，寫得如何出色都很難被其語系以外的人欣賞。只有用英文寫的作品或翻譯為英文才能供全世界所有人欣賞。

數月前往希臘一行更體會到英語的世界性。無論是在杜拜轉機時購物、在雅典自費吃東西、或是在飛機上與鄰座一位烏干達人溝通，都是用英語。若不懂英語，很可能因不懂得問售貨員或侍應而買不到或吃不到好的東西，亦只能在機上啞口無言。

因此，為了自己的前途，英文一定要好。由學語音開始，進而看文法書學習文法，再聽BBC學聽力及說話，背誦出色的演說詞，最後看一點文學，便可有小成。只要肯花一年公餘時間便行。

中文

語言是溝通的最重要工具，良好的語文能力能幫助你吸收知識及表達自己的思想感情。

身為中國人，我們不單應具備有閱讀中文報章及與同胞溝通的講寫讀聽能力，對中國文學亦應有基本的認識。自秦朝統一文字後，祖先文字便一直沿用至今。影响所及我們便較容易明白古文的意思。而中國以往數千年積慮下來的經史詩詞是人類思想文明的寶藏之一。懂得中文但放棄發掘此文明寶庫便猶如成了醫生後卻在街頭賣魚丸一樣可惜了。

可能我們會覺得古文較難懂，但我們不少現在詞語都是由古文流傳到現在。像「棄車保帥」、「緣木求魚」、「唇亡齒寒」等。閱讀古代文學能大大提升中文能力，對講寫讀聽都有幫助。上世記五四運動後，白話文取代了古文。這段期間不少流傳至今的作品都值得一讀，其水平比現代文學作品高了數倍，閣下一讀便知。在上世紀中期以後，港台值得花時間閱讀的作品已不多，北面的更不值一看，省得浪費光陰。

救救孩子

看似漫長的暑假又已過去，孩子們又回到校園。對大部份香港的兒童來說，功課繁重兼艱辛的日子又再展開。

由小學甚至幼稚園開始，學生們便要開始面對越來越多的功課。除了功課外，尚有補習班英文班，鋼琴、小提琴、繪畫、還有運動及什麼隊等。整個星期都排得滿滿的。不少家長都認為如此這般便能提升自己孩子的能力。况且其他家長都是如此，自己孩子若不如此便差了。但當中有多少是為滿足家長的願望大於孩子的需要呢？

可能有不少人認為多功課及學習班才可使自己的孩子進入好的大學，繼而出人頭地。但事實並非這樣。每年會考成績最好的一批學生都不是以上述方式培養出來的，這便說明繁重的功課及眾多的補習及學習班不會使孩子有一流的成績，他們只會有一個不快樂的成長。

再者，香港的大學從來都不是培育出頂尖人才的基地，而只會為政府及大商家大企業提供符合他們需要的職業訓練。若大家有留意的話，在香港的大學裏頂尖的教員幾乎全部都是在外國留學才真正變成一流的學人。是外國的大學才把這些人才變成真正頂尖兒，不是香港。「叻人就不會留在香港，留在香港的便不是叻人。」這句說話倒有點正確。

外國的幼稚園及小學的功課都是在上課期間完成，課餘孩子便可有時間感受及學習身邊的一切；中學的功課才較繁忙但總能應付，而課餘的時間孩子們便可隨自己意願學習及参加自己喜愛的活動。上到大學功課才開始繁重如山，使人感到艱苦。但這樣孩子便會有一個愉快的童年。

從小便要應付繁重的功課及學習班不會使孩子成才，我們的官員及大商家及不少中產人仕爭相把自己的孩子送往外國求學便是有力的證明。這證明了香港的教育制度是為平民百姓的子女而設的理想制度，但這個制度卻不是為官員及大商家及中產人仕的孩子而設。

為了孩子，我們便應從減少他們的功課開始，再提供有質量的活動，希望他們可以有一個快樂的童年。我們的官員總不能一邊抹着良知「唱好」香港的教育制度但另一邊便儘量把自己的孩子往外國送。救救孩子！

會考

又到一年一度中學會考放榜的日子。眼下電視新聞及大小中文報章都會報導共有多少人成為狀元，他們的讀書心得如何；又會訪問一兩位「失敗者」，記述他們對前路的打算。當然大小媒體更會附有不少成功人士、政府高官、演藝人員對會考生的鼓勵說話等。其實如果換了日期，拿十年前各媒體在會考放榜當日的報導相信亦大同小異。分不清何年何月，只是一樣沒思考的內容。

會考前夕，除了各青年機構設有求助熱線外，現在越來越多商塲、電視台都舉辨不少節目為應屆會考生"打氣"、"減壓"。壓力相信每名會考生都感受到，但不明白會考已完為何仍要"打氣"？在考試前夕"打氣"有鼓勵意義，但放榜前夕還"打氣"更似尊子漫畫中"香港一定得"般變成"香港一定得...把口"般假大空了。而且放榜前夕不準備就緒而仍留連各商塲聽歌吃喝便是否對會考生有益或是只淪為商塲推廣活動的報景板便不得而知了。

或許現在十六至十八歲應屆會考生的父母都是在八十年代香港經濟最高速增長時出身，對自己子女在物質及身心上定必保護周全，因此整個社會便隨着需求要為這些未來主人翁提供保護罩。但在温室呵護成長只會使人愈遲嚐到失敗及挫折而能再翻身站起的能力也越小。

外國不少為人子女在進入大學後就自然不再和父母同住，要靠自己張羅學費及生活費。而且在畢業後亦定必獨自謀生，不再向父母伸手拿一分一亳。在動物界無論是獅虎豹或豬牛羊，甚至飛鳥魚類等長大後都是獨自謀生，唯有一些人類(身心不健全者例外)到長大後仍靠父母供養，似乎有點不如其他動物了。

大學

相信大家身邊有不少親友在大學時所修的學系都是為了符合家長及職業需要，鮮有是為自己興趣吧。醫學、法律、金融、商業、及電腦都是一些熱鬥的"揾食"學科；文學、歷史、數學、天文、與考古都是"讀完唔知做乜"的學科。在香港一個大學畢業生的成就只有一項，就是他賺多少錢一個月。學識增長及個人興趣從來都不值一提。

記得自己在加國初進大學時，唸的是地質工程。這不是我的興趣，只是英文取錄要求較低。在學院取錄後由成績編入不同系，成績不是特別好便被派往易取錄的地質工程了。事實上，地質工程畢業生不難找工作。只要你願意往鑽油台或較少人煙的北方採礦，應有不差的待遇。不過，自己想到在畢業後要到上述地方工作三十年至退休，再沒有美味的中國菜兼遠離家人，我便知道這不是我想要走的路。自己應轉學系，去修讀一些自己喜歡的科目。

自小對歷史與政治較有興趣，所以便改修後者。不過我亦知道將來自己仍要吃飯，而且對電腦有些興趣，所以便再修電腦。後來證明這個組合符合所有人期望，自己修讀有興趣的科目之餘亦憑着電腦知識找到不錯的工作。

如果你還未讀大學，建議在修讀職業訓練學科之餘唸一些自己喜愛的學科，會開心很多。若已畢業了，便進修一些自己真正喜愛的科目，這是善待自己。

Hong Kong's Education System is in trouble - Part III

What is the relation between our education system and the "current and future government officials"? Our education system only prepares our students to become bureaucrats but not leaders. It emphasises on pragmatism; students are to become skilled workers in their undergraduate training. Research and Development are only for those who cannot find good jobs. Those who want a stable job go to the government. The Administrative Officers (A.O.) and Executive Officers (E.O.), in fact were only chief servants and servants of the British rulers - they were never leaders. I remember 陶傑 says that it is similar to a house owner (master) and his maid. No matter how smart the maid is, a maid can only follow orders. The maid does not have the power to design the house - it's the jurisdiction of the owner. The maid does not understand why the house is designed in such a way as the owner never teaches her how to design with taste. The result is that once the maid becomes the owner of the house, she can only follows the past design. She never knows how to re-design the house with taste. I think the maid needs to know how to design with taste before she actually starts to design but she did not learn it before. The maid needs to study again but she refuses to admit it. The maid would think that as long as the owner can do it, why not her?

A leader not only needs to have education, but also wisdom. Wisdom can be gained by reading the good ones. Do our government officials read more than one newspaper per day or only read the media summary? Do they read 明報,信報,International Herald Tribune,and Financial Times? We know the answer - their performance shows.

Phonetics

I started learning phonetics in May, and I realized it's a good tool. I can pronounce a word with confidence. I encourage all my friends to learn phonetics if they REALLY want to improve their English. The course at the International Phonetic Association has only 6 sessions but there are lots of materials. I need to practice what I have learned in class frequently in order to acquire the skills of phonetics. And they work!

We never learned phonetics while we were at primary school. If we had learned it, we would have been able to pronounce many English words with confidence.

A writer in Hong Kong says that "If we compare learning language with building a high rise, phonetics is the foundation of a language and grammar is the cement and steel. If the foundation is stable by going deep and the cement and steel are sufficient, the building can be built from bottom to top. If the foundation does not go deep and the structure does not use cement and steel, the building can go up to 4 levels at most... schools in Hong Kong shall teach English phonetics and grammar... phonetics and grammar should be learned in primary school and junior forms of secondary school respectively."

The website of IPA is www.ipa.edu.hk and the above writer above is 詹德隆. The quotes above are from his book 中通外直 Part 1 Culture.

Hong Kong's Education System is in trouble - Part II

We want our future generations to be bilingual, Chinese and English. Since the majority of Hong Kong people are Chinese, our kids should learn their subjects in Chinese. What about English? We do have English classes since nursery so all we need to do is to hire qualify teachers to teach them. The crux is to have our children to familiar with English terms in various subjects since primary school. We should put English terms in parallel with Chinese terms in textbooks so children know that "香港" is "Hong Kong", "北極" is "North Pole", "國會" is "Parliament", "星星" is "Star(s)", "獅子" is "lion", and "水" is "water". When they are in junior forms of secondary school, the medium should still be Chinese but textbooks should be bilingual so they can choose to read Chinese or English version. Once they are in senior forms, the medium should be switched to English and most subjects should only have English version. As a result, they can understand more when they are in post-secondary school.

When we want our children to learn history, geography, physics, or others, we want them to learn some knowledge, not English. They should learn English in their English classes.

Hong Kong's education system is in trouble - Part I

I remember that I read the followings when I was in the secondary school:

"universities in Hong Kong have minimal funding in Research and Development as they were never designed to be research-based universities. The government only wants the university to produce sufficient manpower (skilled labour) to help ruling Hong Kong."

Since the establishment of the first university in Hong Kong in 1912, the colonial government wanted it to produce a group of local elites to help the former ruling this tiny place. The university taught these elites to become skilled labour so they knew to follow standards and procedures, but not to know why and how these standards and procedures came from. Some of these skilled labour entered the government and later became senior officials. The problem is that: the ruler, in fact the British, had never taught these skilled labour on the art of making a decision. All the important decisions in Hong Kong before 1997 were made by the British and the Hong Kong elites were merely executing orders by the British. After Hong Kong became part of China in 1997, these local elites became governor and senior officials but they lacked the skill of making decision as they did not have a clue on it. It would have been fine if there had been nothing went wrong as these ruling skilled labour could simply follow the standards and procedures. If there had been anything unexpected, this new ruling class would not have the knowledge and experience to face it as they could not find solutions from standards and procedures. The past 10 years shows that without the master, these servants could make a mess of Hong Kong.

Even nowadays - 10 years after 1997, universities and colleges in Hong Kong are still the same: keen on producing skilled labour but now they are for businesses and it is encouraged by the government. Finance, Tourism, Logistics, these are the "trends" in Hong Kong so many related programs and courses are available. The problem is - when these trends are over, how can these skilled labour survive? A university should educate one to know how to think rather than to become a model set by government or business sector. If our universities in Hong Kong can make their students acquire the skills of independent thinking, they will have the ability to decide their future and the future of Hong Kong; not just following orders from the ruling class.

For those who do not want their children to become skilled labour, including many senior officials in Hong Kong, they send their children abroad. They want their children to receive education, not vocational training.

When we look at our youngsters, we know that using mother tongue is the best way for them to acquire knowledge (not language) but many of us resist it. Why? Because we are worrying about their future. English is the international language and most universities in Hong Kong claim that English is the medium of teaching. Without a moderate English standard it is difficult for a student in Hong Kong to learn his subjects in university, no matter local or overseas. The dilemma is that many students in Hong Kong are not capable to acquire knowledge in their second language, such as History, Economics, and Physics. I still remember that when I started my secondary school, all subjects except Chinese and Chinese History were in English but my primary school was a Chinese medium school so I had a hard time to learn other subjects and I had a feeling of failure as I did not understand the content of most subjects. How can we resolve this dilemma?