Problems of Education System in Hong Kong

Under the new academic structure of '334', students are allowed to choose more subjects which they are interested in than before.  Compared to the old system, I think this let students know what they are good at and hence further pursue their study in related field.  Further, extension to 4 years of university study encourages teenagers to learn in a more comprehensive way at an earlier age, as well as for a longer period of time.

As I havne't experienced the new system, I hav nothing to comment on it.  Rather, I would like to say something about SPACE.
First of all, we are required to take at least 11 courses (Japanese stream) within 2 semesters.  Most courses are accompanied with course projects and tests.
Personally, I don't reject to examination-oriented teaching system as I think this is the most effective way to evaluate students' ability and effort. 

However, what I want to point out is that, first, I think courses are too much and too many.  It is somehow meaningless for an Arts student to take courses like Food and the Body or Quantitative Analysis.  I have to clarify here that I am not weak in memorizing long biological or chemical words.  I don't think that Food and the Body is a difficult course.  However, I really don't understand the meaning of the course behind.  I do agree that it is somehow necessary for us to know more about nutrition and body health, but I see no point of memorizing how food is digested in duodenum and how it is absorbed in the small intestine!  For Quantitative Analysis, it is even more rediculous that I forgot everything already although I scored B+.  If the school thinks statistics and calculation is important, statistics should be made as a compulsory course which students have to take this in 4 semesters!  So that students can learn in a more systematical way. 

Second, apart from knowledge gained, what also important is to teach students the way to behave in society.  As many peole know, what one learns in the university is usually unrelated to one's future occupation.  However, what usuful is that to teach students manner, inter-personal relationship, etc.  This is something we can use in our whole life.  Many youngsters don't know the basic manner when talking to a person.  It is very disappointed that a higly educated graduate is actually selfish and impolite with poor communication skills with others.  Further, teaching students emotion controlling method also helps as this let students know the proper way to face and solve problems when they encounter difficulties.  Teens are too much spoiled nowadays.

In short, I suggest fewer courses to be taken in order to enhance efficiency in learning in each of the other courses.  Redundant courses should be deleted from the course list.  Lastly, concerning about all-round development, effort on education on manners and behaviour should also be paid.

Survey Project Reflection

We have done research on how Japanese think about Hong Kong and people in Hong Kong.  We have gathered information on a few aspects.
1) about food in Hong Kong
2) about people in Hong Kong
2) about culutral practices of Hong Kong people
3) general impression to Hong Kong

On the whole, we expected positive reponse on questions.  After proccessing 25 pieces of feedback, we found that it turns out to be more or less the same as what we expected.  Apart from our choices provided, many people kindly drop us lines about their own comments.  We appreciate it as it make our survey more comprehensive.

We also receive feedback from classmates.  One major difference is found  on the question of ''When we talk about Hong Kong, you will think of...''.  Classmates tend to give response on ''shopping'', while reponse from Japanese is mostly ''night view''.  Perhaps it was true that Japanese come to Hong Kong mainly for shopping 20 years ago, it is no longer the case now.

As mentioned in the previous blog, I suggest more instructions of doing survey for better outcome of the questionnaire, so that we can gather information in a more systematic way, and hence be able to draw conclusion base on what we observe from the data.

 

I suggest meeting Japanese and try to communicate with them.  We may get more information we want by doing so.  Some other projects may also be assigned, such as research on difference in culture, language, living styles, business, etc. between Japanese and Chinese.  Also, as a means to assist our learning of Japanese language, translation of part of the Japanese songs is also recommended.

About the Questionnaire Project

It is interesting to know how other people think about us.  One of our aims is to understand demerit of ourselves through other people’s comments.  Therefore there are choices which carry negative meanings e.g. Hong Kong people are arrogant.  However, it is glad that we receive more valuable comments left by people doing the survey.  This helps us to consolidate our ideas and generates a ‘positive’ result.

Many other classmates did their masterpieces based on topics which they are familiar with, such as comics.  Personally, I seldom read comics and know little about it.  However, after their presentation, I think that I have to spend more time on reading it as the comic culture accounts for a representative position in Japanese culture.  Also, I admire their sincerity in accomplishing the project.

Although we try to avoid questions which may lead to difficulties in drawing conclusion, there is still unclear content e.g. MTR and inappropriate concept that we presupposed Japanese to be familiar, no matter if they had been to Hong Kong or not.  Therefore, more instructions of doing survey is recommended for better outcome of the questionnaire, so that we can gather information in a more systematic way, and hence be able to draw conclusion base on what we observe from the data.

Leaving comments on other’s blogs and peers’ presentation help us to train up the skill of communication.  Conversation is carried out through the expression of one’s feeling, and in turn interaction of the other party is essential for the continuity of the conversation.  This is the way how Japanese communicate with each other.  This is what I learnt these years. あいづちをうたないと絡みづらく思われてしまいます。

Pronoun Project

I am going to introduce different uses of 4 pronouns.
They are 'I', 'You', 'He/She' and 'They'.


1) I


Used By Male
わたし   (general)
ぼく        (general)
おれ      (informal)
わし       (by old people)
わたくし (formal)

Used By Female
わたし(general)
あたし(informal)
うち　(general, especially by Kansai people)


2) YOU


あなた (general)
あなた (intimate, to partners)
あなた (to inferior)
あんた (intimate/to inferior)
おまえ  (to inferior/informal)
きみ     (to inferror/informal)


3) He/She


かれ       (general)
かのじょ (general)
こいつ    (informal/to inferior)
あいつ    (informal/to inferior)


4) They


かれら    (general)
あいつら (informal/to inferior




-In general, we call ourselves 'わたし' , 'ぼく' or 'おれ'.  However, Japanese tend to skip the 'subject' (I)   when talking to others.
-When we call others, we can notice from above that it may result in rudeness or insult towads him/her by saying 'あなた'.  Even 'きみ' is not an ideal way to call others.  That is, if we know his/her name, we normally call by the name, btu not the pronoun 'you'.

P.S. THIS BLOG IS EXTREMEMLY HARD TO CONTROL ( AT LEAST IN MY COMPUTER)
        IT TAKES ME OVER AN HOUR TO TYPE AND RE-TYPE AND UPLOAD PICTURES
        AND MAKE ALTERATION.  EVERYTIME WHEN I SET EVERYTHING WELL ON
        THE SCREEN, WHEN IT COMES TO BE PUBLISHED, IT TURNS OUT THAT EVERY-
        THING IS IN WRONG POSITIONS AND WRONG FONT AND COLOUR...
  
        THEREFORE, MAYBE IT IS A BIT WEIRD TO PUT PHOTOS AT THE END,
        HOWEVER, I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ARRANGE THEM IN RIGHT  
        ORDERS BELOW CORRESPONDING PARAGRAPHS.  SORRY FOR THAT.

Japanese Geography Project

Changing to 東急東横線 in Shibuya, a nice place with a blend of tranquility and vogue is found.  Guess where!

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NAKAMEGURO!　中目黒!

It is close to Shibuya and Harajuku, however, the atmosphere is totally different there.

Similary, you can see many fashionable youngsters and discover romantic cafes there.  What makes Nakameguro different is the level of quiteness which is totally opposite to that of Shibuya or Harajuku.

Singing favorite songs when walking along the MEGURO GAWA 目黒川, I took some photos of sakura growing along two sides of the river.  Along the river, you can sit down and have your bento 弁当.  It is one of the most relaxing spot that I have been to.

When I passed some apparel shops scattered near the river area, I felt like I was checking and choosing my clothes in my wardrobe as it was so quiet that you can hardly see a gang of teen shouting and yelling on the street.  In stead, people were choosing their favorite clothes carefully ( as there are simply too many choices).

I used to walk from Ebisu 恵比寿 to Daikanyama 代官山, and from Daikanyama to Nakameguro 中目黒.
Shops selling fashionable clothes, interior design products, furniture, and even 雑貨店 (grocery??)... can easily be found in the above three places.  I enjoy it so much.  Yes, it's my character.^^

JAPANESE WRITING PROJECT 1

<A> KATAKANA
1. 水アカ - Emphasized words
It is originally 水垢 or 水あか.  However, as 垢 is not a commonly used words, Japanese people nowadays tend to use hiragana in stead of kanji.  But the case now is not hiragana.  it is further changed into katagana.  The reason is that the producer wants to highlight the ability to 'clean' the 'dirt' and draws consumers' attention.

2. ゴシゴシ・キラキラ - Onomatopoeia
Originally it is written in hiragana.  However, nowadays it's a habit for the Japanese people to use katakana in words which is used to express the status of particular object or feeling or ambience, etc.

3. バススポンジ - Loan words
It is loaned from the word 'bath sponge'.

Apart from the above exapmles, sometimes we use katakana fro names of animals, plants, etc.
Also, some Japanese (especially the younger generation) thinks that katakana is 'cuter' and more 'stylish'.

.<B> KANJI
男性用、落とす、磨く...
Kanji is used to express more directly the meaning instead of just using hiragana which may carry two or more meaning resulting in confusion.

<C> HIRAGANA
落とす、磨く、しっかり...
They are symbols which represent single sounds.  They are generated from Chinese words and used widely
nowadays together with katakana and kanji

自己紹介

はじめまして、賀来謙と書いてKAKU YUZURU とよみます。よろしくお願いします。
こっちの人は’’ず’’が発音しづらいので、簡単に’ゆ’って呼ばれています。
もうすぐ２５になりますが、仕事から逃げるために、とりあえず勉強をします。

趣味はたくさんありますが、日焼け、水泳、バドミントン、バレー、マージャン等
それに、週３~４回ジムに通っています。ちなみに、先週からHKUのジムに通いはじめました。

簡単な自己紹介はここまでです。
詳しく知りたいかたは僕まで。　＾O＾

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