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kjy05a_20191103s
400 400 FAMOUS_SAYING
Stories Behind Popular Sayings
2019.11.01
Cliffhanger
Do you love TV detective drama series? Since there is a “cliffhanger” at the end of each episode, people stay at home every evening, waiting anxiously to discover what will happen next.  An episode ending with a cliffhanger does not literally refer to a person hanging from a cliff in the episode. The expression“cliffhanger”is a plot device which puts the audience in suspense and keeps them interested in following the story. This method is widely used in films, novels and comic books to describe a character who is in dangerous situations.  The origin of this expression most likely comes from “A Pair of Blue Eyes” written by Thomas Hardy, a British author. Before the novel was printed as a book in 1873, it was first published in serial form in a monthly magazine. In the story, one of the main characters, Henry Knight, slips and hangs off the edge of a cliff. He is eventually rescued by a young woman.  While Thomas Hardy’s novel may have created one of the earliest cliffhanging scenes, it was not until 1931 that the first written version of“cliffhanger”appeared in an American magazine,“Variety”.  “Henry McRae, in charge of the cliff hangers, is searching for story material.”  In the above quote, Henry McRae, a film director and screenwriter, was responsible for producing some exciting plots for a film.  Nowadays, the expression can be used to describe an exciting situation with uncertain or unpredictable results.  The District Council Elections are going to be real cliffhangers (勝負難分; 充滿懸念) because there are many strong candidates.  Glossary  Drama series  連續劇 Episode  集 Cliff  懸崖 Plot  情節 Suspense  懸疑 Comic books  漫畫書 Screenwriter  編劇 Unpredictable  難以預測的  
kjy05b_20191013s
ifyouwere
If you were...
2019.10.11
What would you do if you were Jennifer ?
“I need to sit down so I can write on my homework book, but this tired pregnant (懷孕)lady seems that she can fall down any minute⋯⋯oh lady, please do not look at me with begging eyes(乞求的眼神), move somewhere , now everyone is looking at me⋯⋯”  It is already after nine at night and Jennifer just finished her ballet lesson. She is having a lot of extra practice for the show upcoming this weekend. On one hand, she is excited to be one of the performers, on the other, she is worried that all these nightly rehearsals will eat into(花掉)her study time. To make up (彌補), she has been doing her homework on the train. She is lucky that she can get on MTR from the Hung Hom Station and sit all the way to Tuen Mun, which is the very first stop to the very last. Sitting down, with her schoolbag on her lap(膝部), she can get so much done because the ride is over an hour.  Suddenly at the Tsim Sha Tsui Station a big crowd pushes into the train. There are many people holding onto the poles and a pregnant lady with the tummy of the size of a water melon stands right in front of Jennifer. Usually Jennifer will stand up without a second thought(不需思索). But right now she has so much to do before arriving home, and she cannot write anything while standing up. A scene(情景)comes to her mind(浮現腦海).  Recently there is this cartoon that has been passed around numerous times through Whatsapp and Facebook about a lame(跛腳的)young lady offering her seat to an old man. It is touching indeed since the ride is five hours and no other healthier person is willing to do so. The main message is that we should be ready to offer what we also need.     What would you do if you were Jennifer ?   I would ask the person next to me if he / she would be willing to offer the seat to the pregnant lady as I was not feeling at my best(不太舒服).  I would offer my seat to the pregnant lady while mentally(心裡)work on my homework or do some revision first. This would be a little sacrifice I’d be happy to make.
kjy05b_20190602s
ifyouwere
If you were...
2019.05.31
What would you do if you were Simeon?
Phineas suffers from brain paralysis(腦麻痺)he never leaves his wheel chair as he cannot stand on his own two feet. He followed his parents to Hong Kong after living many years overseas(海外). When he first started at this school, everyone looked at him oddly(奇特). Sad to admit(承認), even some teachers found him quite unusual and stared(注視)at Phineas out of curiosity(好奇).  Now most of the term is over, everyone agrees that Phineas is very easy going and humorous(幽默). He can make up a great joke without smiling while delivering(說出來) it. He has high potential to be a poker-faced comedian (冷面笑匠). Classmates love to hang around with Phineas, but whenever it is PE lesson, he is always by himself. Simeon, sitting next to Phineas, has observed this for many weeks now.  Simeon's heart melts when he sees the hankering(渴望)in Phineas’ eyes. He can tell how much he wants to participate. One time, he bravely asked the teacher if he could spend some time with Phineas by holding his friend’s hands to shoot a basketball into the ring. The teacher a c t u a l l y appreciated(欣賞)Simeon and permitted him. But there were grudges(怨聲)from the basketball team. They were supposed to practice as a match was up coming.They needed Simeon to be with them but Simeon only focused on Phineas. Simeon wanted the practise with Phineas could be longer, though not even one successful shot took place. It was impossible to shoot from the level of the wheel chair.  In a few days it would be PE lesson again. Simeon wanted to listen to his heart and be with Phineas so the paralyzed classmate could also participate in sports. How meaningful! Yet, he knows his teammates would be angry with his act(舉動)at this crucial(關鍵)time.    What would you do if you were Simeon?   I’d explain to my teammates that winning or losing a game would not be as important as helping someone to be happy. Victory would not last long but friendship would. I would ignore my practice and do what I believe in.  I’d explain the case to my teammates and suggest those not practising basketball to spend time with my sick friend. This would satisfy all parties concerned, I’d practise, others would have a chance to take care of the needy. Thinking out of the box is important. 
kjy01_20190519s
400 400 專題報導
小學專題
2019.05.17
深井天主教小學 馮朗老師 以音樂與科技 教英文
(本報專題)天主給予我們每人不同的才能,有些人擅於唱歌,有些擅長運動,有些則精通電腦科技;深井天主教小學英文科主任馮朗便運用自己的音樂才能與電腦知識,去引發學生的學習興趣。 小時候,我們都曾想像「我的志願」是甚麼、將來的我會是怎樣的人。馮朗說他並非從小便立志成為教師,雖然他大學時修讀英語教育,但成為教師的志願,是大學二年級時萌芽。當年,他初到小學實習,意識到與學生溝通時的愉悅,來自「以學生的思維和角度與他們聊天」,故此便希望可以帶更多新事物給小朋友。 馮朗認為,小學生不像中學生般有面對公開試的壓力,「不用趕課程、操練試卷」,於是他除了跟著課程教授,「還在課堂上播歌曲和影片等」。 修讀特殊教育 應用到大班教學 大學畢業後,馮朗便到英國諾丁漢修讀特殊教育碩士課程。他說這課程最大的得著,就是「幫助有特殊學習需要(SEN)學生的方法,但其實這方法適用於所有學生」。他舉例說,老師會為有特殊學習需要的學生播放更多影片,但其實普遍學生都喜歡這種教學方法。故此,他便把在英國學會的教學方法,應用於大班教學中。 回想小時候學習英語,馮朗說平日愛聽英文歌曲、看外國劇集,以及閱讀書籍。在小學六年級時,他便開始閱讀二百多、三百頁厚的《哈利波特:神秘的魔法石》,用電子字典機查書中生字,並記在簿上,以便重溫。 他說是從爸爸身上感染閱讀習慣,爸爸下班回家後,便會手持書本閱讀, 「閱讀的時候會笑」。這引起馮朗思考:「我在閱讀中也會找到樂趣嗎?」他自小一起閱讀不同書籍,深深體會這份閱讀樂趣,「爸爸等候看醫生時都在閱讀;所以我去看醫生前,都會帶著一本書」。 尊重學習自主  讓學生選曲學歌詞 在馮朗念中三時,外籍教師在英語課上播艾薇兒(A v r i l Lavigne)的歌曲《Sk8er Boi》,讓學生聽歌的時候填上歌詞。馮朗認為,「在課堂上講授娛樂的事物」,方法新穎,而音樂更可讓人放鬆。他說「朗讀同一篇文章十次會沉悶,但聽同一首歌十次並不會悶」,而每次聆聽都會比之前領悟更多的內容。 馮朗懂得彈奏結他,也喜歡「披頭四」樂隊(Beatles)的歌曲,所以在上學期的英文課上,用結他彈奏披頭四樂隊的歌曲,並由學生來演唱。他認為這樣學生可以「從歌詞學習文字的感覺,而不像教科書般平鋪直敘的教英文」,在一些生活化的文化題材下, 如一些與愛情、戰爭及和平相關的歌曲中學習語文。 他認為在學習的過程中,要讓學生自主,才可以提升學習動機。故此他在深井天主教小學下學期的英文課堂中,讓學生選出喜歡的外國歌曲並在課堂上播出,以寫出歌詞、分析歌詞的意思。他說,「學生希望聽艾倫沃克(Alan Walker)的歌曲,而這就是他們的學習動機」,所以更容易投入其中。 電腦科善用教材  學生為編程式雀躍 馮朗除任教英文,亦兼教電腦科。在兩年前,他進修一個編程課程時,第一次從導師口中認識「Micro:Bit」,「它的外形讓我想起小時候的數碼暴龍機」。Micro:Bit是微控制器,也是電腦教育工具。他說,Micro:Bit與其他編程軟件不一樣,在編程後可直接運用於實體上,電路板會顯示內容。而後來在遠赴英國與當地教師交流途中,他首次接觸當時尚未在香港普及的Micro:Bit,而一位英國教師亦送贈了三塊給他。 回港後,馮朗邀請了幾位五、六年級的學生,舉辦一項三天的課程。學生首次見到Micro:Bit的時候都十分雀躍。在馮朗簡介了數句後,學生便主動上網鑽研更多相關知識。「我沒有逐一告訴他們該怎樣做,因為當他們有興趣,便會自動學習」。當天學生自行在網上已找到相關資料,並學懂一些簡單的編程。 許多編程的資訊都要用英語寫成,馮朗指因為學生對編程感興趣,都會主動閱讀相關資料。除了認識課本以外的生字外,在編寫程式的時候,學生亦要運用「First」、「Next」、「Then」等次序詞,並會學懂「If……would」等文法結構,從學生的興趣著手,讓他們學習英語。 相信少年各有才能  帶領學生參與展覽 「學生各有不同才能,我會嘗試從各方面給予他們成長機會。」馮朗記起曾經一位學生因與同學爭執而心情不好,站在走廊不願回課室。他說這位學生雖然語文成績不好,但在電腦課堂上非常主動學習。當刻,馮朗便邀請該學生到電腦室,跟他說:「你可以寫一個程式給老師看嗎?」在學生寫程式期間,馮朗在旁啟發他:「為甚麼這圖案會動?」「為甚麼你選擇這個圖案?」在對答中,學生亦開始冷靜下來深思,開解心結。 在早前舉行的學與教博覽,馮朗便讓學生介紹自己的創作,分享校內成果。他說,若然學生在某領域上有所成就,他們便會有動力繼續學習,鑽研更深。除了校內活動,他亦帶領學生外出參加比賽及展覽。他與深井天主教小學校學生參加了兩年的「學與教博覽」,把學生的發明帶到展覽中,與此同時,學生也運用Micro:Bit 製作智能家居產品,如智能雪櫃。在展覽的過程中,學生需要向其他學校的教師和外國的教授,「用中文和英文簡介作品」,培養溝通技巧。(吳)