Writing

Articles

Rowena's essays on teaching method, phonics, grammar, reading and character education.

All articles are published in Goodschool.hk 教育傳媒.

Teaching Method15 Mar 20265 min

Happy English Learning — Primary School Preparation

Using beads and strings as a metaphor for the vocabulary-to-grammar shift, with word-order examples.

Grammar15 Feb 20265 min

Jubilee Terms and Large Number Reading

Decoding English jubilee terms and bridging the Chinese 萬/億 and English million/billion gap.

Grammar15 Jan 20266 min

Do You Understand Number Vocabulary?

Introducing anniversary names in English and words like dozen, fortnight, decade.

Grammar15 Dec 20258 min

The Ever-Changing Uses of "Set"

Showing over twenty uses of "set" as a noun, verb and adjective.

Grammar15 Nov 20257 min

Order in the Chaos

Using the 430 uses of "set" to show English one-word-many-uses, with twelve s/no-s pairs.

Grammar15 Oct 20257 min

Words With and Without s: Very Different Meanings

Listing ten word pairs with and without s, showing how adding s changes meaning.

Teaching Method15 Sept 20256 min

What Learning Mode is Most Effective?

Using the Wordle craze to reflect on curiosity and learning methods, with Newton, Edison and Einstein.

Grammar15 Aug 20256 min

The Ultimate Use of the Devilish s

Using "chair" to show noun-verb overlap, uncountable nouns, and yours sincerely/faithfully.

Grammar15 Jul 20255 min

The Devil [S] Sequel

Continuing the letter s: noun plurals, verb singulars, and fixed spellings.

Teaching Method15 Jun 20256 min

English Learning: Think More, Integrate More

Using the etymology of Halloween and Christmas to show how suffixes -ful, com-, be- form new words.

Grammar15 May 20257 min

Mastering Tense (Part 2)

Showing that tense also expresses voice and number, using lay/lie to distinguish meanings.

Grammar15 Apr 20257 min

Mastering Tense (Part 1)

Using the multiple meanings of "saw" in a tongue twister to show how tense distinguishes verb meanings.

Grammar15 Mar 20255 min

The Spelling Secret Everyone Must Know

Explaining how single vs double letters change pronunciation, e.g. later/latter, diner/dinner.

Teaching Method15 Feb 20256 min

One Change to Meet All Changes

Using the word "book" to show how one word carries multiple meanings across parts of speech.

Grammar15 Jan 20256 min

English Expressions for Sports

Explaining sports vocabulary and the correct collocations of play, do and go with different sports.

Grammar15 Dec 20247 min

Drink Water, Remember the Source; Learn Words, Study Their Origins

Using suffixes like -aholic, -athon and -phobia to show how etymology aids vocabulary retention.

Grammar15 Nov 20246 min

Use the Right Method, Learn the Right Grammar

Using -ed and -ing to show how Chinese logic decodes English verb changes.

Teaching Method15 Oct 20247 min

English Teaching Must Integrate with Learning Thinking

Introducing the Amalgam method as a transformer integrating Chinese and English thinking, via vocabulary and tense comparison.

Teaching Method15 Sept 20245 min

Output is More Important than Input

Emphasizing the importance of output in English learning, and the tenseless nature of Chinese verbs.

Grammar15 Sept 20245 min

To Master English, Study Tense (Part 2)

A structured, comparative approach to sequencing tense teaching.

Grammar15 Aug 20245 min

Small Learning, Big Application

Using common abbreviations like a.m., p.m. and P.S. to show how prefixes inspire English learning.

Grammar15 Aug 20245 min

To Master English, Study Tense (Part 1)

When to teach tenses and the common difficulties learners face.

Grammar15 Jul 20246 min

The Art of Word Choice in True English (Part 2)

Using the Chinese zodiac to show how English animal names distinguish gender and age, highlighting the art of synonyms.

Teaching Method15 Jul 20245 min

To Learn English Well, Focus Correctly (Part 2)

Using look + preposition combinations to show why correct focus matters.

Grammar15 Jun 20246 min

The Art of Word Choice in True English

Comparing Chinglish and authentic English word choice, such as cost vs price and income vs revenue.

Teaching Method15 Jun 20245 min

To Learn English Well, Focus Correctly (Part 1)

Analysing the difference between for and to through a DSE writing prompt.

Teaching Method15 May 20245 min

How to Speak Fluent English?

Dispelling myths about fluency and focusing on imitation and mouth positioning.

Grammar15 May 20246 min

Must-read for Strengthening Vocabulary Memory

Continuing the twelve essentials of vocabulary learning, focusing on synonyms, antonyms through sentence-making.

Exam Prep15 Apr 20245 min

DSE English Scoring Criteria — Do You Know? (Continued)

Continuing the DSE scoring discussion: sentence structures, grammar and star strategies.

Grammar15 Apr 20247 min

Vocabulary Mastery Tips (Continued)

Explaining three of the twelve essentials of vocabulary learning: pronunciation, definition and spelling.

Exam Prep15 Mar 20245 min

DSE English Scoring Criteria — Do You Know?

Breaking down DSE English scoring levels and what it takes to achieve top marks.

Grammar15 Mar 20246 min

Vocabulary Mastery Tips

Covering parts of speech, collocation and grammar, with tips on nouns, verbs, adjectives and conjunctions.

Grammar15 Feb 20245 min

English Articles — Are You Using Them Correctly? (Continued)

Continuing the discussion of English articles a/an, pronunciation and misuse.

Teaching Method15 Feb 20246 min

The Myth of Vocabulary and Reading Ability

Analyzing the relationship between vocabulary size and reading ability, and the importance of word function and collocation.

Grammar15 Jan 20245 min

English Articles — Are You Using Them Correctly?

Correct use of the English articles a and an, and common mistakes.

Grammar15 Jan 20245 min

Not a Single Mistake

Improving spelling from the perspective of sound, showing how a single letter changes meaning.

Grammar15 Dec 20236 min

Way of Expression Cannot Be Ignored

Explaining the correct logic of answering Yes/No in English, avoiding Chinglish literal translation.

Grammar15 Nov 20235 min

Improving English Education: Start from Learning

Common Chinglish grammar errors, especially the difference between also/too and either.

Teaching Method15 Oct 20235 min

Hong Kong-style English

Examining the causes and impact of Hong Kong-style English, with directions for improvement.

Grammar15 Sept 20237 min

Another Blind Spot in English Learning — The Devil Letter [s]

Analyzing the blind spot of the "devil letter [s]", distinguishing noun [s] from verb [s], and the importance of curriculum sequencing.

Teaching Method15 Aug 20238 min

The Importance of Learning Methods (Part 4): Progress Starts with a Good Method

Reversing the blind spots of popular phonics, introducing the syllable phonics method and the secret of so-called "exceptions".

Teaching Method15 Jul 20235 min

The Importance of Learning Methods (Part 3): Start by Changing Patterns

Exploring the need to change learning patterns during the pandemic, and reflecting on the blind spots of popular phonics courses.

Teaching Method15 Jun 20235 min

The Importance of Learning Methods (Part 2): Starting from the Root

Continuing the importance of learning methods, using color theory as a metaphor to understand words from the root.

Teaching Method15 May 20235 min

The Importance of Learning Methods (Part 1): Enough

Starting from the concept of "Enough", explaining the importance of learning methods and a sufficient foundation.

Grammar15 Apr 20236 min

English and Chinese Grammar are Very Different

Comparing English and Chinese grammar, explaining the correct use of "not" and helping verbs.

Teaching Method15 Mar 20235 min

Breaking Free from Hong Kong-style English

How to break free from Hong Kong-style English by focusing on collocations.

Teaching Method15 Sept 20225 min

What Makes Students Desire Knowledge? Curiosity

How teaching models cool students' curiosity as they grow, with quotes from Einstein and James Stephens.

Grammar15 Jul 20226 min

The Ten Commandments of English Spelling

Ten spelling rules that help reduce spelling mistakes in English.

Exam Prep15 Sept 20216 min

Secondary School Preparation Tips: Adjust Your Mindset and Beat Dictation Anxiety

Three areas of preparation for secondary school, plus three tricks to overcome English dictation anxiety.

文法1 Aug 20195 min

The Little-Known Secret of "There is"

This article explores the common grammatical error of using "there have" instead of "there is" and explains the logic behind the correct usage.