School in Hong Kong

Hi all,

We’re here at QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School, Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong! Larry is teaching English here, and he invited us into their class for the students to get to practise their English! We read from the Wizard of Oz, me narrating, Quene as “Dorothy” with Larry as the “Scarecrow”. Then some of the students asked us some questions, we showed them the blog, when they saw the photo of the school in India, they realised how lucky they were to have this excellent new school. We had a great time, and here are some photos!

Espanol

Estamos aqui en el cole QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School, Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong! Donde Larry esta ensenando Ingles, y nos ha invitado hoy a su clase para que sus alumnos practiquen un poco de Ingles con nosotros . Hemos estado leyendo el Mago de Oz , James de narrador , yo como Dorothy y Larry como el espanta-pajaros . Ha sido muy divertido. Despues nos han estado haciendo preguntas e incluso han estado viendo la pagina , les ha dado mucha pena que en India no tengan tanta suerte como ellos. El nivel de educacion en Hong Kong es realmente bueno… como veras en las fotos…

82 Responses to “School in Hong Kong”

Mr Finnerty 11 November 2005 at 5:03 am #

(I guess that I put that message in the wrong place so here it is again and I’ve used the opportunity to get rid of the typos)

Larry here! Has been refreshing having the two guys over in Hong Kong. I’m enjoying it as much (probably more) than they are!!?

The lesson today was a real treat for the kids and an eye-opener as well I hope. I am going to run with this theme of travel and let the kids know what’s going on with James & Cristina as they go along in their travels and hopefully get them to post some comments on the site too!! Some of the other teachers at the school have also expressed an interest in using the site for educational purposes.

Anyway thanks for coming out today. Cristina was great as Dorothy, James a flawless narrator; so good in fact that the ‘real’ teacher lost his head and forget his own lines at the end!!! But not to worry!!!

I think that the kids enjoyed the lesson. The loudest cheer was reserved for the fact that their dictation test was cancelled on account of us having our special guests in the classroom!! I also didn’t have time to give out their homework, and that was part of the reason that they scarpered out of the room so quickly at the end!!! But don’t worry, I’m gonna visit their home rooms later and make sure that they get it!!!

They truly empatized with the kids and the teacher in the classroom in India. The looks on their faces were heart-warming!! Made me feel good!! But then again I already knew that they were a great bunch of kids anyway!! And they really took it all in. We had some big smiles for the ‘cow on the beach’ photo and a shout of ‘so ugly!!’ for the photo of the Indian woman!! Well they are only kids, and not perfect!! You can’t beat the honesty ehh!!??! Was a funny comment I thought 🙂

Lastly we had the kids interview both James and Cristina and this may have actually been the first time that these kids talked to an English-speaker in an informal manner. We held the interviews in the canteen and offered free drinks as a ‘sweetener’ (motivator). It worked!! I’m not sure what was said but they seemed to really get into it!! And will give us some more material to talk about in class next week and to ensure that they don’t forget our two special guests in a hurry!!!

Well that really is all!!! I’ve written a lot!!!

Hope that your travels provide plenty more eye-opening experiences!!

We will keep in touch.

Larry
agustin 11 November 2005 at 5:05 am #

Se ve que es otro mundo, incluso superior al que hay en la escuela publica española. Seguro que ahi no pegan a los maestros . A proposito os ha servido de algo el librito de chino que os di ?.
agustin 11 November 2005 at 5:24 am #

Congratulations for Larry and the “travelers company” for his performance.
¿Which is the main lenguage en Honkong? Chineese o english? I mean on the streets
Karen 11 November 2005 at 6:58 am #

Hello, I am one of teachers in QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School. I would like to say “Thank you very much” to James, Quene and Larry. I think the English lesson must be very meaningful and fruitful to students. They are so lovely and active. Am I right? I hope that you would enjoy this visit in our school. ^.^
Would you come again to join our musical “the Wizard of Oz” in coming April?

For Agustin: In Hong Kong, Cantonese is our first language. ^.^
calenco 11 November 2005 at 7:42 am #

Hi Karen, Larry, James, Cristina and all these lovely students,

this is Cristina’s sister, from Spain.

A huge hug over seas and lands.

We are traveling together with James and Cristina. They are enjoying their trip and sharing it with us. That is being amazing, deep.

Elio, my 9 year old boy, has marked in his map the city of Hong Kong, where you are all now. Greetings from him.

How do you say “blessings” in cantonese?

Blessings for all you.

*
calenco 11 November 2005 at 7:49 am #

26 kisses to all these smiling faces in the picture!

Hi kids,

greetings from madrid, spain.

You look great and healthy and happy.

Let’s go around the world with James & Cristina !

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Frankie 11 November 2005 at 8:35 am #

Hi,James and Cristina,i am the student of Mr Finnerty.
Frankie 11 November 2005 at 8:37 am #

The photos are very beautiful.I like them very much.
Frankie 11 November 2005 at 8:45 am #

Please reply.Thank you
“|||||||”
>
calenco to Quene 11 November 2005 at 8:46 am #

Recibí ayer las postales de Gandhi, la de tela y la del olor. Casualmente estaba Beatriz, y pudimos comprobar que el perfume continuaba !

… levemente, pero sí. Un perfume que ha atravesado millas…

Me encantó la postal de la tela, y entendí entonces el asunto cuaderno, una estupidez por mi parte… ¿Qué puta falta me hace a mí un cuaderno más? Bella lección de la vida.

tq

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Carol 11 November 2005 at 9:31 am #

Hi,James and Cristina!I am the student of Mr Finnerty !Thank you for visit us,you are very nice! I feel happy today!

Carol
agustin 11 November 2005 at 11:50 am #

This is Agustin, the Cristina Father. from Spain. I feel as that you dont know.

To all english students of the QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School I would like to say that they look like wonderful boys and girls.

And I hope you improuve the international English lenguage .

It is very nice can to speak a spaniard with chineese boy and girls in a intermediate lenguage. If you have oportunity to learn other lenguages go on.

It is very interesting to speak with people from other countries of the world, to seek the peace and the fraternity

My best wishes to Mis Karen, Mr. Finnerty, to all wonderful students and , of course to Quene and James .

This idea of the fraternity you can comunicate to mass media (TV) of the cities where you go. You are front page. Kisses for all.

Agustin from Madrid (Spain)
calenco to QESOSA pupils 11 November 2005 at 9:00 pm #

Hi all, hi Frankie and Carol,

now that in Madrid is almost 12 in the night, there in Hong Kong is amost 7 in the morning.

Now you are going to live hours that will come slowly
over the surface
of the earth
and
in a little
we in Spain will be living the hours you lived before us.

So… i had this idea: Let’s try it.

You will have to try to live all those hours that will come to us in a very happy mood, thus
when the hours get here to Spain, they will be smiling and enlighted.

And then they will go to Dublin, when Jame’s family lives, and we will have to live our hours in a very happy mood,
so they will get
to Rebecca and Lion
like smiling stars.

It’s such a responsability to be happy, you see !

Greetings for all you…
Quene & James 12 November 2005 at 8:01 am #

Hi all,

We are overwelmed by all the messages, we hope we can find a cibercafe In HK or Beijing and we can show you more photos from Hong Kong, this city is very impresive.
Thanks Larry for letting us stay in your place and bringing us to the school.
To all the students and Ms Karen , Frankie we had really good time in the school. we go tomorrow to Beijing, but we will come back to HK in a few weeks
Thanks again everybody..!!!
One Tallagh Mary 12 November 2005 at 9:23 am #

; )

One Tallath Mary demands a little post about Hong Kong la nuit… Which music, which people…

*
agustin 12 November 2005 at 9:46 am #

To quene and james . No me habeis dicho si os ha servido de algo el librito de “Chino ” que os di. Espero que dentro de la frase no digais de seguido “buenos dias-buenas tardes-buenas noches”. cuando dentro del lenguaje figurado aparecen varios conceptos juntos.
Recuerdo de un amigo chino que tenia en la Facultad , que se llamaba SHi-song-Tau, que me enseño alguinas palabras. Una vez casi se muere de risa conmigo. Intente pronunciar “Vaca” y a el le sono como “ratoncito”. Espero que vuestro intento de pronunciacion figurada tenga mas éxito..
Comeros el mundo tios.
Paloma dice que no solo nos estan encantando las postales sino toda la narrativa del viaje. Esto parece la vuelta al mundo pero en vez de ochenta dias cutro veces mas largo. La diferencia esta en que gracias a esta maravilla de la tecnologia podemos todos disfrutar del viaje..
Con lo que a Paloma le gusta viajar le estais proporcionando unas maravillosas vacaciones fuera de temporada, porque cada foto , comentario o postal le llevan a esos paises maravillosos.
Ademas si llueve, cosa que como sabeis no le gusta , no se moja.
Cada vez admira mas la estupenda organizacion de que estais haciendo gala. Un beso muy fuerte, y que sigais disfrutando del mundo como hasta ahora y gracias por compartirlo con todos.
Si veis u ois alguna catastrofe echaros hacia un lado.Besos PALOMA

To the English students of QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School, I would like to say I remenber that once a friend of mine of the Faculty of Journalisme named Shi-song-tau (from china), teach me some words in chineese, but when a was repeat the word “cow” them I pronounce a sound like “litle mouse”, it was very fancy.
I hope Quene and James have beter pronunciation of the chineese lenguage than me.
Quene and James , HURRAY, RA-RA-RA
B 12 November 2005 at 9:52 am #

hola quene y james. donde ireis despues de china.ah y gracias por las postales
elio 12 November 2005 at 9:59 am #

b era yo, elio la postal de seda es muy buena, la abuela y yo nos vamos de manifestacion esta tarde.
Mr Finnerty 13 November 2005 at 6:30 am #

Hi all!
Good work Frankie and Carol. I’m very happy that you had a look at this site. Cristina and James told me that they had a great time at the school today. Thanks to you!!
Karen thanks for your words of encouragement.
Well James and Quene left for Beijing a few hours ago. They will be coming back through Hong Kong on their way to Thailand so maybe they can visit the school again and share their experiences with the students? If it is possible guys, then please come again.
To all their family and friends, you are lucky to have these two great people in your lives. It’s a pleasure to know them.
🙂
All for now.
Karen 14 November 2005 at 3:22 am #

Dear Friends,

「大家好！」(i.e. “Hello, everybody” in Chinese)
You’re always welcome to Hong Kong and our school. ^.^

「香港歡迎你」（”Welcome to Hong Kong” in Chinese)
Ruairi 14 November 2005 at 8:46 am #

You guys,
I hope you’s took the cable car up over Hong Kong, and had a look down on Hong Kong, thats a cool view too. And the skyscraper light show was cool too at night.

Bejing is completely different to Hong Kong, different end of the spectrum!! Grey and cold (though we were there in winter so it was feckin freezing and we were one of the few tourists about, people were staring at us in our summer clothes shivering and shaking)….
Plain-clothed police, segregated internet cafes (half for locals/the other half for tourists with tourist prices to match), state-run TV, McDonalds and Burger King(theres no escape and you will end up eating in one of them), battered old city buses you can take a ride for 10c, Ju-Ju and gooey rice for breakfast, youths whispering ‘cd/dvd’ in your ear, Schmolexes (fake Rolexes, they’ll last about a week), the little red book, Chairmen Mao watches, early morning Tai Chi, singing and poker cards in the Temple of Heaven park and then some amazing big, big monuments, you know the ones I mean…
We went to the Northern bus station, I think it was, wandered around till a local came up to us and offered us a return trip to the Great Wall(as they do). So we got in a little battered mini-van belching smoke, and he brought us out to one of the farther sections of the great wall, took about an hour, the section that has a metal tobogon run down from the wall?!!! great fun that was. Mutianyu it was called, meant to be the best section, not too many tourists if you go early in the morning.
Great place to see, damn to be travelling again.
Shang-Hai is a great stop over too, to see another side of China, the affluence and neon bright lights, its like New York.
Have fun, great to be reading these pages, good job!!
Chow,
Ruairi.
Jason 14 November 2005 at 9:42 am #

Hi,I am Jason.I am the student of Mr Finnerty ,too.
In that day,I am so happy.
I hope you can come to our class later. Thanks!!!!!
Hei 14 November 2005 at 11:23 am #

Hi,I am Alan.I am a student of Mr.Finnerty.I want travel around the world like you!What do you think about Hong Kong?
Hei 14 November 2005 at 11:25 am #

Hi,I am Alan.I am a student of Mr.Finnerty.I want travel around the world like you!What do you think about Hong Kong?
Hei 14 November 2005 at 11:27 am #

Do you think Hong Kong’s food delicious?
Frankie 14 November 2005 at 12:01 pm #

Is it very cold in Beijing?Can you take some photo for we?Thank you.
I know you will come again,i hope i can see you later.>.
Rose Lee 14 November 2005 at 12:20 pm #

Hi!My name is Rose.I am class in Mr.Finnerty.I was happy because they were traveled in hong Kong.Hong Kong is a beautiful place.It is a interesting place ,too.What do you think? I hope they will happy to travel around the word.
Quene 14 November 2005 at 12:30 pm #

Agustin ,
We didn’t use the book in Hong Kong because they speak in cantonese and all the signals are in cantonese/ english.
Here in Beijing is another story , only few people speaks English, today we were using the book to have a breakfast and to look for the toilet, the metro was in English/ Mandarin so was easy enough for us trying to recognize the symbols.
Here is freezig , dry cold like Madrid. Hong kong was nice temperature we wish we were there again.
Agustin,
En HK no utilizamos el libro porque hablan cantones y todo el mundo incluso las senales estan en Ingles y cantones , aqui en Beijing vamos con el libro por todas partes y intentamos pronunciar si no nos entienden les ensenamos el libro y se rien.
Hace un frio que pelas aqui , frio seco como Madrid , en Hong Kong hacia un tiempo bastante agradable ,
Quene 14 November 2005 at 12:30 pm #

Agustin ,
We didn’t use the book in Hong Kong because they speak in cantonese and all the signals are in cantonese/ english.
Here in Beijing is another story , only few people speaks English, today we were using the book to have a breakfast and to look for the toilet, the metro was in English/ Mandarin so was easy enough for us trying to recognize the symbols.
Here is freezig , dry cold like Madrid. Hong kong was nice temperature we wish we were there again.
Agustin,
En HK no utilizamos el libro porque hablan cantones y todo el mundo incluso las senales estan en Ingles y cantones , aqui en Beijing vamos con el libro por todas partes y intentamos pronunciar si no nos entienden les ensenamos el libro y se rien.
Hace un frio que pelas aqui , frio seco como Madrid , en Hong Kong hacia un tiempo bastante agradable ,
SHIRLEY 15 November 2005 at 8:15 am #

Hi, my name is Shirley Chan. I am the student of Mr Finnerty .How are you!
Ramasamy Lakshmanan 16 November 2005 at 8:59 am #

Dear all…

When I am browsing, I happened to see this page.
You are saying that ….”Then some of the students asked us some questions, we showed them the blog, when they saw the photo of the school in India, they realized how lucky they were”

I am really felt bad on reading this. Please change your mind. You know in INDIA we are having world class schools and colleges. And so many intelligentes are coming out of it. Please don’t mislead showing a bad school.

India is a big country. Our main aim is to educate all, what ever infrastructure is there we are not minding it.
Mr Finnerty 16 November 2005 at 10:46 pm #

Dear RL
I think that the message was to appreciate how lucky they were in comparison to the less fortunate people all over the world. We are studying at a brand new school (2 months old) and the school in the picture happend to be of a school with little resources, so that’s why the point was made. The school happened to be in India. We also mentioned how important education was to the people of India and how many great schools they were. These are 12 year old children, please try to understand the positive message we were trying to send out.

You have great pride in your country! I’ll be sure to show the same students your comments.
admin 17 November 2005 at 6:12 am #

Dear Ramasamy,

I am well aware of the world class education system in India, having worked for well over 2 years with a team of colleagues based in Bangalore.

The aim of the post was not to highlight any particular type of education system or anything of the sort.

We got to know a teacher in Goa, who ran this pre-school in a small village. We are giving personal experiences of our trip across India, and other places. So what we show here is from our personal experience. I’m not sure where you get the idea that we think all Indian schoolls are like the one we visited.

We and the rest of the world are already well aware of the very high standards of the schooling system in India.

Maybe this discussion might further highlight to people that no matter where you come from, the opportunity is there to further your education to the highest level, and who knows what these children will turn out to be, maybe Doctors or Scientists, even Polititians!

Regards,
James
Quene 17 November 2005 at 11:42 am #

To Mr Lakshmanan,
We are reaaly sorry that that particular photo disturb you, for sure it didn’t to the rest of the people.
I don’t think that picture shows a “bad school” as you said in your comment , this was a school for not so fortunate kids.
All schools are good because they try to improve childrens lifes , good education is giving ALL children the opotunity to have a better life/ job, etc.
I hope one day those kids can travel as we are doing now and can teach other kids in India or the rest of the world.
All my best wishes
Quene
calenco 17 November 2005 at 5:27 pm #

To Ramasamy Lakshmanan:

hope you are reading this.

I’m following the blog as Im related to them.

I did not see anything poor in the picture of the Indian School. I saw an infinite tenderness.

Lately im watching with my 9 year old boy Satjajiv Ray’s Apur Sansar. I love the trilogy. I love the story.

In these 3 movies you can see that learnig is not a matter of going to school, but to be sensitive.

There’s nothing more beautiful than Apu and Durga going to school when Apu was little and Durga alive.

Yes, there’s something more beautiful than that: Apu smiling…

So please, no matter how expensive is education or the school or the teaching rooms:

Keep the tender of that picture with my sister with the kids of the dreaming eyes.

Best regards,
calenco 17 November 2005 at 5:29 pm #

Please, excuse me: Namaste.

*
Larry 16 March 2007 at 3:33 am #

Test……
jenner 16 March 2007 at 3:39 am #

hello test~~~~
Larry 16 March 2007 at 5:13 am #

test…..
Riki 16 March 2007 at 5:27 am #

HI!My name is RIki.
Larry 16 March 2007 at 7:35 am #

Hi, this is a test.
sky 16 March 2007 at 7:38 am #

is a test
Anson 16 March 2007 at 7:43 am #

test……..test……..test……..test……..test……..test……..test……..test……..test……..test……..test……..
J & Q 16 March 2007 at 12:27 pm #

Hi Larry, Jenner, Riki, Sky and Anson,

We got your test messages, hehe!

Hope you are doing well!

Larry showed us the pictures of your school play “The Wizard of Oz” you guys looked great, very professional, you’re all going to be big movie stars some day! Keep up the great work! We remember all the fun we had practicing in the classroom…

And come back to the blog soon, we miss you guys lots!

Bye for now.

James & Cristina
Dicky Wong 16 March 2007 at 1:09 pm #

Hi everybody,
I am one of the F.1 student in QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School. I’m very hope my school will act the wonderful musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ again! It is because I am the one of the people who will make the musical. So that I want to experience how the musical wonderful and meaningful.

Hope everybody will be invited for watching this musical.

Dicky Wong

Spanish:

Hi todos,
Soy uno del estudiante F.1 en la escuela secundaria de Kwok Wah de las pinzas de QESOSA. ¡Soy mismo esperanza que mi escuela actuará el `musical maravilloso el mago de la onza’ otra vez! Es porque soy el que está de la gente que hará el musical. De modo que desee experimentar cómo el el maravilloso musical y significativo. La esperanza todos será invitada para mirar este musical.
Peto Wong

Japanese:

こんにちは皆、
私はQESOSAはさみのKwok Wahの中學校のF.1學生の1才である。私は非常に私の學校がすばらしいミュージカル再度「オズの魔法使い」に機能する希望である! それは私がミュージカルを作る人々の1才であるのである。私がいかに音樂的なすばらしいのおよび意味を持った經驗したいと思うように。希望はこのミュージカルを見るために皆誘われる。
Dicky Wong
Gloria 16 March 2007 at 1:22 pm #

Hello, I’m Gloria.I am thirteen years old. I livein Hong Kong. I study at Tong Kwok wah Secondary School. I live with my family members. I am in class1D. My calss teachers are Miss Cha Miss Cheong znd Mr. Si To. My English is Mr. Firnnerty. My school life is very happy because I smil everday.
Gloria 16 March 2007 at 1:23 pm #

Hello, I’m Gloria.I am thirteen years old. I livein Hong Kong. I study at Tong Kwok wah Secondary School. I live with my family members. I am in class1D. My calss teachers are Miss Cha Miss Cheong znd Mr. Si To. My English is Mr. Firnnerty. My school life is very happy because I smil everday.
Maggie 16 March 2007 at 1:50 pm #

hello…My name is Maggie Lam.nrI am a QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School student.nrWe will have a test from 12-3-2007nrto 14-12-2007,I think the test is difficult to me.We had ‘The Wizard of Oz’ school play in last year.Could you see the play in school hall or in CDs?My school will play’Thw Wizard of Oz’ again later.I am not quite sure the performance will play whether or not in April.nrMaggie Lam
jacky 16 March 2007 at 2:13 pm #

Hi,I am study in QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School. I am study at 1R class. Our class is very harmonious. Our class teacher is Mr Finnerty. And I want to show our wonderful musical “The Wizard of Oz” , becaues our musical is very good to you see. Then now where are you? And what are you traveling now? I want to saw your photographs. jacky
Issac 16 March 2007 at 2:26 pm #

hi,I is Issac.I am qesosa TKWSS student.
How are you?In my school we will do a musical.I am not the character in the musical.
Do you will come to our school to see our musical?I hope you will come.In school I have many firend like sky,Anson…
How do you kown Larry?I hope you can tell me.