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文學，是可以補習的

A common mistake that IGCSE students usually make: Not directly responding to the essay questions. Focusing on answering the essay prompts is the first and foremost important exam skill that candidates should abide by.

"I admit that twice two makes four is an excellent thing, but if we are to give everything its due, twice two makes five is sometimes a very charming thing too." Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky Since this is the Theory of Knowledge essay season, let me introduce you to the world of Dostoevsky, the second author who has made me fallen in love with literature. Fyodor Dostoevsky is an 19th Century Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journa

年輕時，我大部份的學術研究其實都在電影研究的範疇。最初全是因為對電影藝術的喜愛，及個人天資的發揮；沒想到，出來教書以後，會變成教學上難得的獨有技能。 這十五年來，教得最多的應該是Stanley Kubrick 和 Christopher Nolan的電影和 Auteur Theory。魷魚遊戲和 Black Mirror 也有教。儘量貼近潮流和年輕人的口味吧。 記得十五年前第一次到香港中文大學講課的時候，分享的是一套關於在塔利班政權底下Afghanistan 女性的紀錄片。奈何，很少學生對這部電影感興趣。當時是感到很無奈的，原因大家應該猜到一二，在這裡便心照不宣了。 在往後的日子，我便儘量找一些年輕人有機會看過的電影來教授，希望多一點共鳴。 除了大學生需要懂得欣賞藝術的心和基本的分析能力以外，作為一個 IB 學生，這個能力更是必要。在所有的 Language A 課程裡，都有電影和電視劇作為文本，學生需要懂得分析導演如何透過拍攝手法來傳遞對方的世界觀和藝術理念。 這也是我為何喜歡教IB的原因。 #電影研究 #F

Teachers at school often teach students to say "positive diction" or "negative diction", but this is still too vague and imprecise. When I teach my students and daughter, I always remind them to use specific adjectives to qualify the kind of positivity or negativity that they feel with the author's choice of diction. Is it jubilant diction or glorifying diction? Is it violent diction or pejorative diction? There are intrinsic differences among these word choices and the more

The hood made me realize that crime succeeds because crime does the one thing that government doesn't do: crime cares. Crime is grassroots. Crime looks for the young kids who need support and a lifting hand. Crime offers internship programmes and part-time jobs and opportunities for advancement. Crime gets involved in the community. Crime doesn't discriminate."

近年很慶幸能遇上十分幫得手的助教們，先帶領一些學生打好學術底子，再由我把學術能力提升。最近那些學生們都明顯成績有進步，有人還拿了 Level 7 呢。

In training students to prepare for their IBDP English A exams, I put strong emphasis on their abilities to produce an impressive introduction and topic sentences. IB prefers candidates to demonstrate immaculate organizational skills, so the first step to success in IBDP English A exams is to cultivate the capability to conjure up an essay plan that's analytical, logical, coherent, and focused. IB does not like repetitions, so candidates should avoid going around in circles

The Thirtymile Fire: A Chronicle of Bravery and Betrayal by John N. Maclean

天花板級的School Carnival @CDNIS

After identifying the 10-12 key points in Insert B, candidates must reorganise them into a clear, logical order.

Things Fall Apart has truly been extremely influencial on contemporary African literature. When you read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ama Ata Aidoo, you would see glimpses of Things Fall Apart glacing through their works. I also can't help but think Achebe's writing has ignited the literary sparks and talents in African ladies, inspiring them to pursue a career in writing. Other than cultural imperialism explored in Things Fall Apart, Achebe also reflects on the problems of h

我今年多了很多IBDP的學生選擇報讀獸醫這個專業，是之前的年份沒有出現的新現象。 為什麼呢？獸醫比其他的醫學專業更容易考進嗎？ 在外國的大學，確實是比考進MBBS的難度低一點，但在香港便不是了。香港城市大學開辦的「獸醫學學士學位課程」，是香港唯一一所大學有此課程，每年只收30至40名學生，IBDP學生的分數要收到43分了，跟香港大學的醫科一樣呢。 We need more ethical healers in this world. 看著學生們有清晰的志向，願意為世界的眾生付出，不只為爭名逐利，不是那裡搵錢最多便去那裡的情操 （起碼我沒有學生跟我說想入投資銀行工作），令我對自己的工作感到更有意義、更安慰。 #獸醫 #獸醫學 #獸醫系 #醫療專業 #EthicalHealers #VeterinaryMedicine #FutureVets #IB升學 #升學規劃 #升學諮詢 #職涯選擇 #ChooseCompassion #PurposeOverProfit #IBDP #IBLearnerProfile #I

Students should summarize only 10-12 key points from the given text, avoiding explanations or examples. The summary is marked on clear, coherent, grammatical presentation of main ideas.

"There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood." By Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

上周六提到，對於想留港或到非美國的國家攻讀大學的IBDP學生來說，學校發的Predicted Grades (PG)著實是頗重要。

Tip of the day IBDP English A demands far deeper, more structured analysis than IGCSE.

"We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks."By Zohran Mamdani, newly-elected mayor of New York City

究竟 Predicted Grade 有多重要？（一） 香港大部份國際學校及有提供IBDP課程的直資學校，都已經把Predicted Grades (PG)發給了 Year 13/Grade 12的學生了。 家長常常會問，究竟PG 有多重要？對想到美國升讀大學的同學來說，確實是非常重要，因為美國的大學（除了SAT/ACT成績、個人陳述及課外活動外），都是看高中生的PG 來出 offers的。我有很多到美國讀大學的學生，在復活節前拿到了心儀大學的offers 後，便不理五月份的全球統考，天天在家睡覺，因為真是不再需要最後的成績了。 但如果是想留港或到其他國家升讀大學的IBDP學生呢？

我常常聽見有些學生們說，Theory of Knowledge (TOK)是「亂吹便行」。一定行，如果你的目標是拿 3/10的話 （每年確實有超過40%考生， 在TOK的10分內只拿3、4分）。