After three days in Italy, we headed to Switzerland (瑞士). On the way, we could see beautiful natural [adj. 自然的] landscapes [n. 風景,景色] which could hardly [adv. 幾乎不] be seen in Italy. Then we had the most exciting activity in the journey - going up to the top of Mountain Titlis (鐵力士雪山) in Engelberg (英格堡). Mountain Titlis is over 10000 feet [n. 英尺] high!
We went up to the top of Mountain Titlis by cable car. The cable car system was divided into three sections. In the last section, we could have a 360-degree look of the glacier [n. 冰河] on the mountain as the floor of the cable car could rotate [v. 旋轉]! The experience was thrilling [adj. 令人興奮的] as I had never been so high above the ground. Yet I also felt upset as I learnt that the glacier was shrinking [v. 變小] , probably because of global warming [phrase 全球暖化].
Finally we reached the top of Mountain Titlis, 10000 feet above the ground! Don't think that there was nothing to do or see at the top of the mountain. Actually we then had Chinese lunch (unbelievable [adj. 令人難以置信的]) in a restaurant there. We could also visit a glacier cave [n. 洞] and go shopping (so "high"). We could even go out to the open area to stand at the top of the mountain and play ice. With only a few jackets, I felt extremely cold outside. I was particularly [adv. 特別] delighted since it was the first time I touched real ice. Though I only stayed at the top of Mountain Titlis for about 2 hours, that part of the journey was unforgettable [adj. 難忘的].
Leaving Engelberg, we arrived in Lucerne (硫森). In that Swiss city, we could visit the Lion Monument (獅子紀念碑), Wasserturm and Kapellbrücke (教堂橋及水塔) and Swiss watch showroom to buy the most famous souvenirs [n. 紀念品] in Switzerland – watches. Although I didn’t really spend over 10000 dollars on only one watch, I spent several hundred dollars more rationally [adv. 理性地]. I felt more satisfied [adj. 滿足的] because there I could buy more things I liked than in Italy. At night, we had a walk in the city and then went to sleep. We needed enough rest to get ready for our next destination – France.
9.25.2007
9.20.2007
A letter to my students
Dear Jodie, Bowie and other students,
Thanks for telling me your ideas. Your ideas help us to have better lessons.
Jodie and Bowie, of course I can see that you put up your hands. I was happy when I knew you tried to answer questions. But, many students want to answer questions, so I had to be fair to the whole class. I told the class a rule - I will follow the order of group number to pick students/ groups to answer me. If you have a chance to answer me but you don't put up your hand, I can only pick the next group, and you have to wait until it is your turn again.
Keep trying. I will ask you to answer me at last. Trust me!
About speaking in English in lessons, I will try to speak slowly. But I have a lot of things to teach, so sometimes I speak faster and faster. Forgive me! Tell me if you don't understand anything. I am happy to repeat things so that you can follow me!
After I am back to home, I often think of my students, that is you! When I know you enjoy my lessons and you work hard, I am happy. When I know you have unhappy things, I am also unhappy. So, just tell me honestly. Then we can have a happy school year.
I love you!!! (I can feel that my wife is coming to hit me….)
God bless you!
Mr. Chow
Thanks for telling me your ideas. Your ideas help us to have better lessons.
Jodie and Bowie, of course I can see that you put up your hands. I was happy when I knew you tried to answer questions. But, many students want to answer questions, so I had to be fair to the whole class. I told the class a rule - I will follow the order of group number to pick students/ groups to answer me. If you have a chance to answer me but you don't put up your hand, I can only pick the next group, and you have to wait until it is your turn again.
Keep trying. I will ask you to answer me at last. Trust me!
About speaking in English in lessons, I will try to speak slowly. But I have a lot of things to teach, so sometimes I speak faster and faster. Forgive me! Tell me if you don't understand anything. I am happy to repeat things so that you can follow me!
After I am back to home, I often think of my students, that is you! When I know you enjoy my lessons and you work hard, I am happy. When I know you have unhappy things, I am also unhappy. So, just tell me honestly. Then we can have a happy school year.
I love you!!! (I can feel that my wife is coming to hit me….)
God bless you!
Mr. Chow
9.18.2007
Appreciation
It's been a long time since I wrote about English language only in August.
"Appreciation" is a noun. "Appreciate" is its verb. Get the meaning of the two words from your dictionary if you don't know their meanings.
Boys and girls, I appreciate you, if you now understand the meanings of the two words.
I highly appreciate you, if you do something to try to get higher marks and improve your English, though you may hate English.
I appreciate you happily, if you can try to read all the messages and replies from my friends or students.
I appreciate you more, if you can tell me the good things and the bad things of our English lessons by replying to this message.
I apprecite you even more, if you can talk about your feelings to my friend's birthday party, when my message is about the party.
Lastly, I show great appreciation to you, if you read up to this sentence, understand (or try to understand) and FOLLOW what I have said in this message.
"Appreciation" is a noun. "Appreciate" is its verb. Get the meaning of the two words from your dictionary if you don't know their meanings.
Boys and girls, I appreciate you, if you now understand the meanings of the two words.
I highly appreciate you, if you do something to try to get higher marks and improve your English, though you may hate English.
I appreciate you happily, if you can try to read all the messages and replies from my friends or students.
I appreciate you more, if you can tell me the good things and the bad things of our English lessons by replying to this message.
I apprecite you even more, if you can talk about your feelings to my friend's birthday party, when my message is about the party.
Lastly, I show great appreciation to you, if you read up to this sentence, understand (or try to understand) and FOLLOW what I have said in this message.
9.15.2007
My Friend's McDonald's Birthday Party
Yesterday I attended my friend's birthday party in a McDonald's restaurant in Central. Although we are all over 20 years old, we had fun in the party.
My friend and I have never had our birthday party in McDonald's before. So the feeling is special when we have one now - when we are no longer children. But when we played games which were suitable only for children, we still enjoyed them and were very happy when we got presents from McDonald's MCs.
Memories of childhood can be great!
My friend and I have never had our birthday party in McDonald's before. So the feeling is special when we have one now - when we are no longer children. But when we played games which were suitable only for children, we still enjoyed them and were very happy when we got presents from McDonald's MCs.
Memories of childhood can be great!
9.13.2007
Destiny
After reading Professor Chan's article, I have deep thoughts about destiny. Now I share with you his key points and some of my opinions.
閱畢陳耀南教授的文章後，對命運一題大有感觸，現將他的重點加上自己的少少見解與大家分享。
Do you believe in destiny?
你信有命運嗎？
Ecclesiastes 9:11 …under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
傳 9:11 …日光之下，快跑的未必能贏；力戰的未必得勝；智慧的未必得糧食；明哲的未必得資財；靈巧的未必得喜悅。所臨到眾人的是在乎當時的機會。
傳 9:12 原來人也不知道自己的定期。魚被惡網圈住，鳥被網羅捉住，禍患忽然臨到的時候，世人陷在其中也是如此。
世人都認為有很多運數，要贏波要講球運，要家宅興旺要講家運，要發達要講財運，要升官要講官運，國家要強大要講國運。
那麼人又如何呢？毛澤東曾說：「我們自己的命運，完全應當由我們自己來掌握。」
當真？
人生不能自決的因素有不少，例如先天的性格、氣質、外表，後天的教育、成長背景等等。
動物、死物也有不同的機緣際遇。月球注定要環蹺地球轉，狗在不少地方成為人類的寵物，但在一些地方卻可能成為人的食物。
即使偉人也不能主宰浮沉，例子包括拿破崙、亞歷山大大帝、劉備等。三國時代蜀國先主劉備，親手建立帝業，奈何其子阿斗愚蠢無能，斷送江山。不少有才幹的人甚至英年早逝，壯志未籌。
Ecclesiastes 2:18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,
Ecclesiastes 2:19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
傳 2:18 我恨惡一切的勞碌，就是我在日光之下的勞碌，因為我得來的必留給我以後的人。
傳 2:19 那人是智慧是愚昧，誰能知道？他竟要管理我勞碌所得的，就是我在日光之下用智慧所得的。這也是虛空。
中國人認為 “一命二運三風水”比”四積陰德五讀書”重要。然而，風水最好的，莫如帝殿皇陵，但內裏的寶物尚且被人偷盜。千算萬算，尚且會有差池，那麼人可以靠誰呢？
Isaiah 45:11 …the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
Isaiah 45:12 I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
賽 45:11 …耶和華以色列的聖者，就是造就以色列的如此說：將來的事，你們可以問我；至於我的眾子，並我手的工作，你們可以求我命定（原文是吩咐我）。
賽 45:12 我造地，又造人在地上。我親手鋪張諸天；天上萬象也是我所命定的。
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
林前 4:7 使你與人不同的是誰呢？你有甚麼不是領受的呢；若是領受的，為何自誇，彷彿不是領受的呢？
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
箴 16:9 人心籌算自己的道路；惟耶和華指引他的腳步。
人生在世，還是抱著以下的態度比較實際。
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change.
Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
(Reinhold Niebuhr)
上帝啊！請賜我安詳寧靜的心，
去接受我不能改變的事物；
請賜我以勇氣，去改變我能夠改變的東西；
以及請賜我以智慧，知道當中的不同。
閱畢陳耀南教授的文章後，對命運一題大有感觸，現將他的重點加上自己的少少見解與大家分享。
Do you believe in destiny?
你信有命運嗎？
Ecclesiastes 9:11 …under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
傳 9:11 …日光之下，快跑的未必能贏；力戰的未必得勝；智慧的未必得糧食；明哲的未必得資財；靈巧的未必得喜悅。所臨到眾人的是在乎當時的機會。
傳 9:12 原來人也不知道自己的定期。魚被惡網圈住，鳥被網羅捉住，禍患忽然臨到的時候，世人陷在其中也是如此。
世人都認為有很多運數，要贏波要講球運，要家宅興旺要講家運，要發達要講財運，要升官要講官運，國家要強大要講國運。
那麼人又如何呢？毛澤東曾說：「我們自己的命運，完全應當由我們自己來掌握。」
當真？
人生不能自決的因素有不少，例如先天的性格、氣質、外表，後天的教育、成長背景等等。
動物、死物也有不同的機緣際遇。月球注定要環蹺地球轉，狗在不少地方成為人類的寵物，但在一些地方卻可能成為人的食物。
即使偉人也不能主宰浮沉，例子包括拿破崙、亞歷山大大帝、劉備等。三國時代蜀國先主劉備，親手建立帝業，奈何其子阿斗愚蠢無能，斷送江山。不少有才幹的人甚至英年早逝，壯志未籌。
Ecclesiastes 2:18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,
Ecclesiastes 2:19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
傳 2:18 我恨惡一切的勞碌，就是我在日光之下的勞碌，因為我得來的必留給我以後的人。
傳 2:19 那人是智慧是愚昧，誰能知道？他竟要管理我勞碌所得的，就是我在日光之下用智慧所得的。這也是虛空。
中國人認為 “一命二運三風水”比”四積陰德五讀書”重要。然而，風水最好的，莫如帝殿皇陵，但內裏的寶物尚且被人偷盜。千算萬算，尚且會有差池，那麼人可以靠誰呢？
Isaiah 45:11 …the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?
Isaiah 45:12 I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
賽 45:11 …耶和華以色列的聖者，就是造就以色列的如此說：將來的事，你們可以問我；至於我的眾子，並我手的工作，你們可以求我命定（原文是吩咐我）。
賽 45:12 我造地，又造人在地上。我親手鋪張諸天；天上萬象也是我所命定的。
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
林前 4:7 使你與人不同的是誰呢？你有甚麼不是領受的呢；若是領受的，為何自誇，彷彿不是領受的呢？
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
箴 16:9 人心籌算自己的道路；惟耶和華指引他的腳步。
人生在世，還是抱著以下的態度比較實際。
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change.
Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
(Reinhold Niebuhr)
上帝啊！請賜我安詳寧靜的心，
去接受我不能改變的事物；
請賜我以勇氣，去改變我能夠改變的東西；
以及請賜我以智慧，知道當中的不同。
9.07.2007
Tour to Europe - Part 3
[Students, thanks a lot for your messages and opinions. But don't be too shy and please tell me your name. Keep reading and writing more! Your English will become better and better.]
In the morning, we had a tour over the river in Venice, which let us have a quick view of the beautiful scenes. Famous tourist spots in Venice include St Mark's Square (聖馬可廣場), the Doge's Palace (杜奇皇宮), Bridge of Sighs(嘆息橋) and St. Mark's Basilica (聖馬可大教堂).
What was funny was that when we bought some food to feed pigeons in St. Mark’s Square, some pigeons flew and stood on my body! I remained calm [adj. 鎮靜的] and had a photo with a pigeon, as you can see. The pigeons were clever that they knew I was a nice man. Then we went to have our lunch in a local restaurant. A special dish, black spaghetti, made our lips and teeth black after eating!
Then we headed to Milan(米蘭). There we could see the great Milan Cathedral/ Duomo di Milano (多奧莫大教堂), The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (埃馬努埃爾拱廊), La Scala (史卡拉歌劇院) and the Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (達文西像). All the above tourist spots are nearby and there we could see many shops. That part of journey was the one I really looked forward to [phrase 期待], because I could buy official [adj. 官方的] football club kits [adj. (運動等用的)服裝,用品] in the shops there. In other cities in Italy, what I could see were only fake [adj. 假的;冒充的] football club kits. However, at the end of the day, I didn’t buy anything because the prices of the kits were much higher than those in Hong Kong, and the shops were closed too early when I really would like to buy a cheaper shirt. So disappointing!
In the morning, we had a tour over the river in Venice, which let us have a quick view of the beautiful scenes. Famous tourist spots in Venice include St Mark's Square (聖馬可廣場), the Doge's Palace (杜奇皇宮), Bridge of Sighs(嘆息橋) and St. Mark's Basilica (聖馬可大教堂).
What was funny was that when we bought some food to feed pigeons in St. Mark’s Square, some pigeons flew and stood on my body! I remained calm [adj. 鎮靜的] and had a photo with a pigeon, as you can see. The pigeons were clever that they knew I was a nice man. Then we went to have our lunch in a local restaurant. A special dish, black spaghetti, made our lips and teeth black after eating!
Then we headed to Milan(米蘭). There we could see the great Milan Cathedral/ Duomo di Milano (多奧莫大教堂), The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (埃馬努埃爾拱廊), La Scala (史卡拉歌劇院) and the Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (達文西像). All the above tourist spots are nearby and there we could see many shops. That part of journey was the one I really looked forward to [phrase 期待], because I could buy official [adj. 官方的] football club kits [adj. (運動等用的)服裝,用品] in the shops there. In other cities in Italy, what I could see were only fake [adj. 假的;冒充的] football club kits. However, at the end of the day, I didn’t buy anything because the prices of the kits were much higher than those in Hong Kong, and the shops were closed too early when I really would like to buy a cheaper shirt. So disappointing!
9.06.2007
God's Glory - Narrow Door
After the new school year started, a question may come to students' minds: “Why do we have to work hard in our studies/ in this subject (this year)?” Teachers (at least including me) try to give an answer to their students so that their students won't neglect [v. 忽視] their teaching subjects.
After reading the below story from the Bible, I get some insights [n. 深刻的理解; 洞見].
Luke 13:23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
路 13:23 有一個人問他說：「主啊，得救的人少麼？」24 耶穌對眾人說：「你們要努力進窄門。我告訴你們，將來有許多人想要進去，卻是不能。 25 及至家主起來關了門，你們站在外面叩門，說：『主啊，給我們開門！』他就回答說：『我不認識你們，不曉得你們是那裡來的！』26 那時，你們要說：『我們在你面前喫過喝過，你也在我們的街上教訓過人。』27 他要說：『我告訴你們，我不曉得你們是那裡來的。你們這一切作惡的人，離開我去吧！』28 你們要看見亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各，和眾先知都在神的國裡，你們卻被趕到外面，在那裡必要哀哭切齒了。
Many students in TTC are lucky that they can know a lot about God when they are still young. However, I suspect [v. 猜想] many students may think if there is really a heaven [n. 天堂], they can enter because they 'know' God or 'read' Bible a lot, and the result will not be so cruel [adj. 殘酷的] that they have to go to hell [n. 地獄]. But the above paragraph tells us that the fact is actually 'cruel'.
Similarly, many students may think that they don't have to be so hard-working and get too good results because it will not be so difficult for them to pass all subjects in HKCEE, study in F.6 or at university. However, F.6 and university places [n. 學位] are really very limited, and the picture is very different when you sit for [phrase. 參加(考試)] open examinations [n. 公開考試] together with many bright students from other schools. The marking schemes [n. 評分系統] can also be unpredictable [adj. 出乎意料的]. As a result, each year when HKAL or HKCEE results are released [v. 發表], disappointed students are far more than happy students.
Let's grasp [v. 抓住(機會等)] the chance to believe in God now! Let's take the opportunity [n. 機會] to make efforts in your studies, fight for your future and let God give you the best things!
[P.S. This year I don't teach any F.1 classes. And, feel free to give me negative but honest comments. :P]
After reading the below story from the Bible, I get some insights [n. 深刻的理解; 洞見].
Luke 13:23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
路 13:23 有一個人問他說：「主啊，得救的人少麼？」24 耶穌對眾人說：「你們要努力進窄門。我告訴你們，將來有許多人想要進去，卻是不能。 25 及至家主起來關了門，你們站在外面叩門，說：『主啊，給我們開門！』他就回答說：『我不認識你們，不曉得你們是那裡來的！』26 那時，你們要說：『我們在你面前喫過喝過，你也在我們的街上教訓過人。』27 他要說：『我告訴你們，我不曉得你們是那裡來的。你們這一切作惡的人，離開我去吧！』28 你們要看見亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各，和眾先知都在神的國裡，你們卻被趕到外面，在那裡必要哀哭切齒了。
Many students in TTC are lucky that they can know a lot about God when they are still young. However, I suspect [v. 猜想] many students may think if there is really a heaven [n. 天堂], they can enter because they 'know' God or 'read' Bible a lot, and the result will not be so cruel [adj. 殘酷的] that they have to go to hell [n. 地獄]. But the above paragraph tells us that the fact is actually 'cruel'.
Similarly, many students may think that they don't have to be so hard-working and get too good results because it will not be so difficult for them to pass all subjects in HKCEE, study in F.6 or at university. However, F.6 and university places [n. 學位] are really very limited, and the picture is very different when you sit for [phrase. 參加(考試)] open examinations [n. 公開考試] together with many bright students from other schools. The marking schemes [n. 評分系統] can also be unpredictable [adj. 出乎意料的]. As a result, each year when HKAL or HKCEE results are released [v. 發表], disappointed students are far more than happy students.
Let's grasp [v. 抓住(機會等)] the chance to believe in God now! Let's take the opportunity [n. 機會] to make efforts in your studies, fight for your future and let God give you the best things!
[P.S. This year I don't teach any F.1 classes. And, feel free to give me negative but honest comments. :P]
9.02.2007
New School Year
New school year comes!
To my students who visit this blog for the first time, I welcome you!
Don't be afraid. Yes, I write mainly [adv. 主要地] in English, but you should [v. 應該] be able to [phrase 能夠] understand me easily.
Read more, learn more!
I have written some essays [n. 文章] here. I will be very happy if you can try to read them.
I will be excited if you can write me back something.
To those who have visited the blog before, I have to say sorry to you!
I am sorry that I start to be busy and I update the blog less quickly, but I will continue, especially [adv. 尤其] my sharing about my tour to Europe.
I am really satisfied [adj. 感到滿意的] that exactly [adv. 精確地] 100 people have just visited this blog (according to my internal [adj.內部的] statistics [n. 統計]). Come back to TVB more and give me a reply when you have time.
To my students who visit this blog for the first time, I welcome you!
Don't be afraid. Yes, I write mainly [adv. 主要地] in English, but you should [v. 應該] be able to [phrase 能夠] understand me easily.
Read more, learn more!
I have written some essays [n. 文章] here. I will be very happy if you can try to read them.
I will be excited if you can write me back something.
To those who have visited the blog before, I have to say sorry to you!
I am sorry that I start to be busy and I update the blog less quickly, but I will continue, especially [adv. 尤其] my sharing about my tour to Europe.
I am really satisfied [adj. 感到滿意的] that exactly [adv. 精確地] 100 people have just visited this blog (according to my internal [adj.內部的] statistics [n. 統計]). Come back to TVB more and give me a reply when you have time.
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