Learning English through Drama 

As a Form Six student, you are considering educational opportunities after your HKDSE. One option you have selected is the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, as you want to take up an acting career. However, your parents would like you to pursue an academic subject at another institution. 

As the deadline for submitting the application is approaching, write an email to your parents, who are now on an overseas trip, to convince them to support your choice.

Dear Mum and Dad, 

How is your vacation? I hope you enjoy your trip in Scotland. Last time, we had a conversation about my future education. I expressed my wish to study acting at HKAPA. But you objected to my plan and advised me to study medicine at the University of Hong Kong instead. As the deadline for submitting the application to the education institutions is due next week, I would like to reiterate my decision to further my study at HKAPA.

I understand that you are both worried about the stability of the acting career. You said that the acting opportunities are much smaller now than the past because the television and film industry in Hong Kong is dwindling and the competition for the major actress role is unprecedentedly huge. However, times have changed. Unlike the late 20th century when Hong Kong television dramas and soap operas are mainly made and produced by the only TV channel TVB, with the rapid advancement of technology, there are now many worldwide platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Streaming where drama series and films are shown. It means that the entertainment market is still bustling and vibrant. It is possible that Hong Kong drama series and films can gain entry into these global platforms in the near future. Moreover, I intend to take a minor in directing at HKAPA and equip myself with filmmaking, directing and screenwriting skills so that I can make my own short films or short videos at a very low cost and then sell the productions to the producers. With both directing and acting skills, I believe that I am able to develop an amazing career path in the creative industry.  

Dad, I remember you once told me that your parents objected to your plan of becoming a journalist when you were young in light of the inappropriate proportion between salary and workload along with the uncertain political environment in the future. However, you insisted on going to study journalism at the university to follow your dream just because you have strong passion for telling stories. Despite the tough working environment and heavy workload, you have never given up on your dream and keeps reporting important news and covering influential articles in the newspaper industry. Your passion is what keeps you striding forward and conquers.

Do you know I am so proud of you? A persistent and successful Hong Kong journalist. You have set an excellent example for me to pursue my own passion and dream regardless of the difficulties along the way. Haven’t you taught me not to be afraid of obstacles but to have courage to overcome them? My strong passion for acting together with my endeavors will definitely lead me to success in the future.

Do you still remember that I won the best actress in the drama competition in the Hong Kong School Drama Festival two years ago? Isn’t it a proof that I have a real talent in acting? I really hope that I can follow my dream and become what I want to be, just like you Dad.

Yours,

Your daughter Amy 

Learning English through Workplace Communication

Many Hong Kong graduates complain about the lack of employment opportunities in the city. It has been suggested that graduates who fail to find a job in Hong Kong could look for opportunities in other cities in Asia. Do you support this suggestion?

• Write an article for your school magazine expressing your views.
• Give three reasons to support your views. Provide an appropriate title for your article.

Alternative workplace in other Asian cities

In recent years, the unemployment problem of Hong Kong graduates has raised concern in our society. Many Hong Kong graduates complain about the lack of employment opportunities in the city. It is suggested that they could look for jobs in other cities in Asia. In my opinion, it is advisable for them to go to other cities in Asia to look for opportunities. I will explain my perspective in the following arguments.

To start with, working in other Asian cities can help graduates broaden their horizons, gain international perspective and exposure. They can get a hands-on experience about different Asian business cultures and markets. It can deepen their sense and knowledge of how to do business with people from different ethnical and cultural background. Having such an exposure and insight is definitely a competitive edge and attracts decent job opportunities in multinational corporations in Hong Kong as well as in other Asian cities. 

What’s more, we should note that other cities in Asia provide legal ways for Hong Kong graduates who are bored with Hong Kong lifestyle and look for exotic and fascinating working experience. As we all know, they can simply apply for a work visa by taking part in working holiday scheme offered by other countries in Asia such as Taiwan, Japan and Singapore to work in their cities. At the same time, Hong Kong teenagers like a fun lifestyle. Some graduates said that working holiday is just like traveling because they can explore and enjoy the culture and lifestyle there when they get off work. Therefore, if Hong Kong graduates want to work hard and play hard, working in other Asian cities is a good choice for them.

In addition, it is worth noting that the culture of other Asian cities is, to a certain extent, similar to that of Hong Kong. As Hong Kong is a culturally diverse city, Hong Kong graduates will find themselves easy to integrate into the culture and lifestyle of these Asian cities. For example, as the people in Singapore and Malaysia speak in English, our Hong Kong graduates who have a good command of English can communicate with them with ease. Hence, they can work in these Asian cities without much difficulty.

In conclusion, it is a good suggestion for Hong Kong graduates to work in other Asian cities to tackle their unemployment problem in Hong Kong. I hope that they would consider the alternative option available.