This is not really new, CNN ran a story at the end of 2009… but then Kings recently got to know two fresh grads who had attended these classes at high school level (separately, yet both gave us very similar accounts of their experiences) and we happened to be talking about it recently…
“We were not there to learn, we were there to get exam tips. It’s what we pay the money for.”
Among others, the teacher studies trends in exam questions over umpteen years and predicts what’s going to come out this year. Apparently it’s quite effective and lots of students do get results from doing this.
(But then predictability in exam questions isn’t that unique to Hong Kong – Kings says his London School of Economics exams were quite predictable too. Ditto my conclusion on the Cambridge A Levels (at least for Economics and Literature) in my year. Dale Carnegie needs to add an extra chapter: How To Win Friends And Influence People And Please Examiners.)
Anyway. As described to us, there are so many students that a lot of the time you’re sitting in an “overflow room,” ie you’re just sitting in a room with a tv screen.
No “government” in these tuition classrooms? Wouldn’t all the kids be talking all the time? Uh, no. Attending students are generally really serious about getting everything they can out of these sessions because of the money they’ve paid for these tips and exam strategies. Also, there is no “repeat telecast”- if you miss the tip, it’s gone.
(Oh, but if you watch these clips, you do find some teenaged girls saying they’re picking the tutor because he’s so good looking.)
So here it is: What The Local Tuition Scene in Hong Kong Can Be Like. Or The Unlikely Profession That Pays Better Than Investment Banking (But Not Quite As Much As Being Brad Pitt. Yet.)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8660KuGP49Q]
They have their own TV commercial too (oh, and website)…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiKn_H0TiUw]
Oh, and he’s the guy who tests Ms Hong Kong hopefuls’ English!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsiNxJ15XlA&feature=related]
Richard Eng, rock star (there are Youtube videos of him singing too, btw)…
At some point (not so very recently) students stopped caring about learning as they came to prize scoring. Oops, we did that. Society greatly rewards top grades. Too greatly, to the detriment of actual performance. There’s even a Cantonese saying about top grades without any actual ability to do anything.
Thing is, if I thought the string of As would get me to the interview table (at least in first, before it was sink or swim time), I’d also do it in a heartbeat (though it’s just not the only thing I’d do). For fear of not even being called in for a first round.
Because before I get to tell people how smart and capable I really am, I first have to speak the language. The one that has lots of As in it. It’s a vicious cycle that’s just starting younger and younger these days.
Next Up: LEARNING TO READ – How to Help Your Child which I attended at Rockstar’s kindergarten…
And no, very much NOT “exam tips”…
and his last name is ENG? hehe
Have you heard many of the other “celebrity English tutors” speak in English? There’s a reason why most of them rarely use English to communicate in their classes and it has NOTHING to do with the low(er) abilities of the students! However, they have done a great job with the help of having employed marketing and PR people and stylists too. I can share more of my stories of these so-called “tutors” next time we meet?
I don’t think they ever use English to teach… It’s all about giving tips to the students on how to predict what questions are likely to come out. And usually these classes are conducted in cantonese.
Below is an example lesson he did on youtube:
Richard Eng on Youtube.
Oh right, you’ve been in the local high school circles a long time! Yes would love to hear more war stories…
(oops sorry I meant Cheeky Angel of course)
I have been a foreigner teacher in Mainland China for quite a few years. It never ceases to shock me about the business of education throughout Hong Kong and China. Where students have no idea about life skills; but can recite to you cover to cover of their text book beaming with pride at that ability. Where they are able to recite, but lack any comprehension of the words.
w