and ‘Ireland: An Exploration’. Students have found that
when improving their English, it has also been extremely
useful to have a firmer understanding of cultural
references. For example, the British traditionally love to
drink tea. Therefore we have many alternative expressions
for ‘a cup of tea’, such as ‘a cuppa’ and ‘a brew’.
Another way of celebrating cultures we have is to hold
events. Each year we host a Halloween event with a
particular theme. Last year the theme was Harry Potter.
For this there were many fun activities, such as a treasure
hunt. This year we chose ‘Murder Mystery’ as our theme.
This is certainly a major part of British culture which has
manifested through Agatha Christie’s books and the
‘Cluedo’ game, from which we drew our inspiration.
Additionally, we also had a Christmas exhibition, where
students could learn about all the surprisingly different
ways that Christmas is celebrated in our countries.
Lastly, we also have the English Café. More than simply a
place to practice language skills, it is also an opportunity
for a mutual cultural exchange between the International
Tutors and students. Tutors are on duty throughout the
week and wholeheartedly welcome anyone who drops by.
We have all learned a lot from these exchanges. The tutors
are able to get a valuable insight into life in Hong Kong
and China; learning about everything from local delicacies
to Korean pop music. This melting pot of cultures really
makes the ASLLC a unique place on campus and presents
students with a precious opportunity to gain international
exposure without even needing to leave Hong Kong. It is a
truly rewarding ‘place to gather’.
Gareth is originally from the UK
and currently serves as one of the
Senior International Tutors on
staff in the ASLLC.
JUNE 2017
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