英名私校開班教入劍橋牛津

elbar

【明報專訊】去年獲英國《泰晤士報》選為全英排名第一的私校Cardiff Sixth Form College，今年首次來港舉辦考入牛津劍橋攻略研習班，教導港生寫個人簡介，及如何應戰面試，5天課程收費共1.38萬元。

校方期望明年再辦時，可為部分清貧學生提供學費半免或全免資助。

5天收1.38萬元

Cardiff Sixth Form College提供兩年制預科課程，每年學費、宿費連考試費，約37.7萬港元，該校去年的高考生，有94％應考科次獲A*或A級（相當於本港舊制高考的A至C級），畢業生中有11%入讀牛津或劍橋大學、15%入讀倫敦皇家學院、25%入讀倫敦政治經濟學院。

該校約一成學生為港生，Cardiff國際關係總監Mark Bruce表示，港生不傾向主動舉手答問題，報讀大學寫個人簡介時，亦只填基本資料，如「我有學鋼琴」，卻不會突顯自己如何出眾，「大學不是要機械人，要見到你對報讀的科目有熱情」。

Cardiff與英識教育在港合辦的入名校研習班，將於7月底舉行，接受14至17歲的學生報名，名額200個，中四、中五學生優先，教導報名大學須知、學習技巧、如何藉課外活動裝備自己等，周日起接受報名。

Fate

Q. 2 on P.37 of 'Passing Oxbridge Admissions Tests',

http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/ ... itle=productsSearch

The table below shows the percentage of males and females by area of employment within the professional services sector.


                                        Professional Services Sector

Male      Area of Employment                                                         Female

29.7       Training Business and Recruitment Consultants                     35.8

24.5       Construction Professionals and Property Consultants              8.2

17.8       Legal Services and Solicitors                                                   15.9

13.7       Banking, Finance and Accountancy                                         12.7

  8.9       Media and Marketing                                                                22.1

  5.4       Insurance                                                                                    5.3


The difference between the percentage of women and men employed in Legal Services and Solicitor, Media and Marketing, and Insurance is :

A    12.1

B    -2.9

C    6.1

D   11.2

E   75.4


Have fun.


Best wishes
Terence
Everyone Can be Better of THEMSELVES
Twitter : @longyinfather
www.myboysmyboss.blogspot.com

Fate

annie40,  No offence taken. I know you're a good mum.

Although you said things just happened, Logic indicates something must have already been Planned and Arranged : enough money must have already been in the bank, schools have already been considered, chosen, contacted and confirmed with evidences, your girl must have already been tested/interviewed etc., before your girl is to fly to her chosen UK school this August. I'd like to think that you're just being humble.


bobbycheung,  

You/re absolutely right - indeed, there's more than one road leads to Rome!  I'm sure your child is to arrive the destination, Colosseum in Rome ! (i.e. your child is to reach the Goal in Life in theory)

I'm sure you know in Reality, there are many people have No GPS ( i.e. No Plan), not bother to read a map (i.e. NOT using their brain/skills AND NOT do the hard work), because these people just think that they're good enough and know everything, so they get lost and never find their destination, never arrive Rome!

Please just have a look of the people around you next time you walk on a street, then ask yourself a question, 'How many of them LOOK Very Happy and are ACTUALLY Very Happy?'

Please ask yourself another two questions, 'Do you think Bruce Lee just woke up one day and became an 'All Rounder Martial Artist?'  'Do you think 周潤發  just woke up one day and became an 'All Round Actor'?

They both had a DETAILED Plan AND Work Hard EVERYDAY to get where they're.

Although I agree with you that some Personal Qualities are more important than the Academic Results, the FACT is the employers simply do NOT have the time - there are too many applications and employers HAVE to draw a line or they'll never finish reading all application forms!

So, no matter how 'All Rounder' a person is, if they do NOT have the MINIMUM Academic Qualification, they will NEVER be invited to attend a test/interview in the FIRST PLACE, and therefore will NEVER have the chance to show their All Round Ability!

Just have a look of the Reality below - 2 years on, the job market has got worse, not just in UK, but also in HK and in fact, EVERYWHERE!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9375897/Graduate-jobs-Do-graduates-need-a-first-class-degree-to-get-a-good-job.html

Just to give another 2 local examples.  2 years ago, my local Tesco recruited about 200 workers - mainly serving at tills, mainly on minimum wages and there were over 800 applicants!  A year ago, a local pub recruited 2 bar attendants, within the first  2 hours of advertising the post, it got over 50 calls and the owner had to hang up the phone!

Do NOT take my words for it, go and visit a job fair in HK next time - see for yourself if there's any decent jobs around and how difficult to even get a not so decent job! (Assuming you'll get up very early to beat the very long queue!!)

One may argue studying is NOT for getting a job. In that case, these parents better save this HK$400,000-$500,000 A YEAR on schools fees + living expenses for 5-7 years study in UK = a MINIMUM of HK$ 2 Millions = buy a flat in HK, rent it out and give their child a steady income for life!

And I could tell you if one does NOT have a job, a PROPER job, their life is RUINED - I know this because I once was unemployed for 2 years and had to sleep on the floor of my parents' tiny public housing unit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJNIY3mLHU8




HKTHK,

The answer to your question (43# refers) is C (41# refers).  I got this one wrong, though our elder boy got it right - he's kind to explain, point by point, to me how I should have analysed the information!



POLISH PARENTS

I'm sure you're old enough, experienced enough and smart enough to know that why some say what they said - these are what I call, Persuasive Parents.

Persuasive Parents try their best to persuade the unsure parents NOT to do anything with their child, while these Persuasive Parents DO everything behind others' back, enabling their OWN child to have everything, leaving unsure parents' child with nothing!

In Australia, a parent once told me she's happy with her child's current school. You could imagine how red her face was when I bumped into her during an Open Day of another school!

In UK, I once overheard a UK parent saying to other parents, '....grammar school is too pressurised, just work, work, work, I won't want my child to be there.....'  But  I later found out she's trying to get a private tutor for her child to prepare a grammar school's entry test!

Although my younger boy was to take the same 11+, I preferred him to be surrounded by equally 'determined to do well' children, so I started a thread to help those parents not having the money to hire a private tutor like the above Middle Class parent,  and was hoping to start a free study group and DID share some practical tips openly,

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=24341&sid=78d7ea8cbb1b0189ec321d4166a444a1

(I was the 'Average Dad' - I also showed others on how to teach those Abusers, Cyber Bullies, a lesson)


Have you not have that experience?  Your colleague kept saying, 'I'm happy with where I'm.  I'm not bother with any promotion', and yet one day, you saw them sitting outside the office corridor waiting to be called into the Promotion Interview Room!

I therefore always remind our boys, 'It's NOT what one says but what one DOES that count.'


I'm also sure you lot know that FINE DETAILS is the Key - the Key to Great Success.

You can't cook a delicious dish just by knowing the ingredients - you've to cook with the EXACT proportions to make a great tasty dish!

You can't present a report by just concluding sales will be up by 20% - you've to present the EXACT cost/price/volume/time etc. to JUSTIFY your conclusion.

As much as I'd to share more with you, I've used up my monthly quota for HK (e.g. FB, Email too) - I've a 15-hour a week GLOBAL Voluntary time - I really have to go (before my wife kills me for ignoring her!) and start preparing my coming talk in HK (may never happen)

But before I do, I'd love to give you a gift,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ehE9nDo-ng

Remember, 'Never, Ever, let the Persuasive Parents MISLEAD you' - it's never about getting your child into Oxbridge, but about getting your child's Potentials out!

Remember, '環境由你一手創, 世界任你子女闖' !

Have another great week, every week!

Bye for now.


Best wishes
Terence
Have the Edge or Have the Regret
Twitter : @longyinfather

bobbycheung

回覆 annie40 的帖子

條條大路通羅馬. 大家各施各法.  只要敎出一個正直及自強不息的孩子己是成功. 這些遠比學業重要.
孩子逐漸長大, 你想做"阿四", 佢都未必要你. 好好享受做"阿四"的時光吧.

annie40

這兩天很忙，來不及回复。關於思維訓練，因為見識了好朋友的萬般努力，很容易聯想到差不多的情境和結果，並非有意大力反對你的理論和好意的，請多包涵。

這裡常有朋友問我具體的教育方法，特別是傳遞知識的經驗。對不起，平日只跟孩子到書店，圖書館，沙灘，公園，送她接她去玩，其他真的沒做。孩子從沒甚麼超強項術科，卻有非常堅強的性格，自學能力高，肯吃苦，開心友善。

從來是滿意香港的學校，孩子出洋是個意外，on line application 由她自己寫，出外的大好處是見識與及跟多種族朋友互動，跟追求學術成績無關的。由我選，早就提議她去俄羅斯，她自己話去東歐，后來當教授的朋友，平日十分老子，竟然叫我做人要點 practical,唔好任孩子話事。然後上網見東歐學校的設施有限，才叫她自己再想清楚，最終選了英國和美國，德國。咁岩英國有位就去英國了。

讀書是漫漫長路，我知道的不會比孩子多，她想做的，譲她自己嘗試和努力，終究可以做到。家長有很多知識，能否轉化給孩子，因人而異的。自問沒本事，惟有継續做「阿四」，其實每日去買生果給女女吃，已經很開心了。

Fate

annie40 發表於 14-5-31 23:07
父母有父母的獨特性格，喜歡鑽硏IQ題否，因人而異。個人而言，較享受投入媽媽的角色，那管家長在外是學富五 ...

Thanks for sharing with us, to you, an example of Pushy Parents.

Since you've raised some good points, I trust you don't mind me using some of your points to explain my points. After all, you're a BAD parent!

Please don't jump conclusion.

You're such a Balanced, Able, Devoted (= BAD) parent!

FACT 1 - Most of us like to hear what we want to hear, see what we want to see

Because this makes most of us feel Better/less Guilty about ourselves for taking/not taking any action(s).

I once used the fact that many non-smokers die of lung cancer to justify my smoking - why give up smoking?  But when I'd a serious problem in breathing after a jog, I quit immediately.

I once used the fact that many alert drivers die of car crash to justify my tired driving - why bother to take a break? But when I'd hit the kerb during a tired driving, I started parking aside to take a break when too tired.

So, all this 'Don't worry, you die if you're meant to die' saying was only my Excuse for not giving up smoking/not taking a break when tired.   

So, applying the same logic, would it be the case that some parents seeing what they want to see (i.e. Pushy Parents doing IQ test) to justify them not taking a 1-1, 15-minute a day Positive Stimulation/Interaction with their child?


FACT 2 -  Many schools don't give everything a child needs

If a school really knows what a child needs to learn, it won't be having so many subjects, giving so much homework etc.  This is a sign of NOT knowing for sure, so go for MORE, hoping they've taught the children what they need - just like when us the  parents trying to get our first job, we'd send out as many as application as possible, hoping one would be accepted!

In fact, if a school doesn't even bother to give the most basic and yet most important information to parents, do you think the school has the best interests of a child in its heart?  Visit your child's school website & see if you could find all the following :-

- the qualification of teachers (it's in the news in UK/HK, many schools hiring Unqualified teachers)

- the experience of teachers (many schools hiring less experienced/recently qualified teachers just because they're cheaper)

- the time that teachers have been with the school (some schools have a high turn over rate of teachers)

- the university destination of the students & the degree the students taking (some schools have a very low successful rate)

- the sick leaves of teachers (some schools have a high sick leave or even some on permanent and yet long sick leave)

See what you think after reading the following article, 'The case for NOT leaving Education to the teachers'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26480053


FACT 3 - Not every school is the same

You must have noticed from Edu-kingdom site, there're so many parents seeking advice on which pre-school, primary, secondary, uni in HK or overseas etc., confirming everyone knows every school is NOT the same and every parent wants a better one for their child.

Everyone accepts that the Happier people, Wealthier people, Healthier people, More Successful people, More Powerful people etc. are always in Minority, so applying the  same logic, excellent schools are also (and always) in Minority.

In view of the FACT 2 and FACT 3, I'm afraid  I've to disagree with your claim that '在校內已有上佳的思考訓練' .  Moreover, the fact that your child is soon to study overseas has, I'm sorry to say, Contradicted your claim - if the existing school in HK has been giving your child '上佳的思考訓練', so why is your child leaving the HK school?

Your action has also confirmed, beyond all reasonable doubts, that there is a difference between the education system in HK and UK, and there is a difference amongst UK schools etc. (And HK' schools too - you didn't just put your child in a school nearest to your HK home?)

The action of the following UK mum also reminds every parent  NOT every school is to give a child, '上佳的思考訓練',

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10862979/I-will-send-my-children-private-if-I-cant-get-them-into-a-grammar.html



FACT 4 - Not about What is being done but WHY and HOW it is done

For example, different parents encourage their child to learn piano for different reasons :some just want to show off, some want to stretch their child's Imagination, some want a better personal profile to help their child to get into a better secondary/uni etc.

But for me, I'd like my boys to be stimulated by music, have a better 'emotional outlet', enjoy doing something alone (Alone does not = Lonely) etc.  I won't  stop encouraging my boys from learning piano just because some parents doing it, to me , for the 'wrong' purposes.

I therefore don't see IQ game is the problem - the problem is the Way the IQ game is being presented/played. As long as a game (IQ game or not) is for Stimulation rather than Labelling others, it's one of several games rather than the ONLY game, it's played when people wanting it rather than being FORCED upon to do it etc.


FACT 5 - Most of us know what 'NOT to do', but not  'What to do'

Everyone is good at identifying others' weakness but not OWN weakness.  But does spending so much in finding others' weakness, and then even more time in attacking others really help one to become Better?

Why do we not spend our limited time in learning the Good Practices, something tried and worked, to help our child to become Better of Themselves at their OWN pace?

There are plenty of Good Parents out there that we can look upon, learn from - why don't we try to apply/modify the Good Practices to tailor-made for our child?


FACT 6 - Brain needs Exercises

Everyone knows that a healthy body comes from regular exercise. The same logic applies to our brains, which need constant exercises too, be it Sudoku, Chess, Crossword, Books, Music, IQ games etc.  

Why there are some parents constantly against the idea of having some 'brainy' games to stimulate Thinking, Imagination, Creativity, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Time Managing etc.?


FACT 7 - Parents leave everything to chance, leaving their child with little chance

If everyone has Self-Discipline, there will be No Policeman.  

(Last time I checked, there were plenty of policeman on HK streets!)

Let's be Honest. When your boss isn't in office due to sickness/overseas trip, do you not feel more relax....and then become slack off, gossipping in office, come to work late, leave office early etc.?

Which Group of activities do you think most if not all children would pick if children are left to do whatever they want?
Group A : read a book/write a  diary/watch a scientific documentary/read a newspaper etc., OR
Group B : on mobile/FB/Twitter/texting/playing computer games/watching tv etc.

A snapshot of what these children will be like one day?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2294249/Graduates-lack-basic-skills-interested-job-offer-employer.htmlchildren


Have you noticed we've more & more children Talking about BIG issues like Global Warning, Third World Poverty etc. and yet never seem to be bother to tidy up their writing desk/own bedroom, setting up the table for meals (oh, yes, these are domestic helper's job!). We've a Talking but NOT Acting Generation (i.e. Talk Big, Do Little)

Children need to be reminded, 'Thing won't happen unless they make it happen, unless they put in effort today and every day, otherwise, their Dream will NEVER come true.'  

(Many children think that they could have life the Easy way : just become an actor/singer/footballer etc. overnight,  'minimum effort, maximum money', when in reality, even actor/singer/footballer etc. still require years of hard work/training too!)


FACT 8 - Life is NOT just doing what one likes but more about dealing with one does NOT like

Everyone does good at something they like. It's the Ability to do equally well in something one does NOT like that makes the difference.

I always reminds my boys many Facts about life, some of which are quoted below :-

- your teacher may not give you the homework/class duty etc. that you like;
- your boss may not give you the project/trip/pay etc. that you like;
- your friends may not say/do things that you like...

Ask yourself a question, 'For the last 5 years, did everything you like happen AND everything you dislike didn't happen?'

If one can't deal with the things they dislike, they're most likely ending up using something to 'escape' like Binge Drinking, Drug Taking etc.

Like it or not, the situation will get worse, people with a good degree from a good uni still can't find a proper job,

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/overqualified-and-underemployed-britain-faces-youth-talent-crisis-as-new-figures-reveal-more-than-a-million-young-people-working-menial-jobs-9198044.html?origin=internalSearch

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/9977803/Top-university-a-great-degree-but-as-for-a-job-dream-on.html

(This's why parents need to 'Top Up' their child's education)


I can go on and on but you get my point and also, I don't have unlimited time and would like to stop here.  ('8' is a lucky number anyway!)

Annie, I trust you understand that I'm not here to cause offence but just would like to Balance your argument - you DID put forward a strong case in advocating  'parents do Nothing, let children do everything they want'.

I'm also only here to support the Polish Parents - don't be frustrated when Punish Parents accusing you doing too much and Pushy Parents accusing you doing too little, because you're Totally Focused, because you look beyond today, working Unselfishly to help your child to realise their Dreams by helping them to become Better of Themselves at their OWN pace.

Polish Parents, just to let you know that I showed the following documentary to elder boy to stimulate him, which you may also use it for your child - I started a causal chat over dinner after him watching it, first by asking him 'How did you feel about the documentary?' He raised some very good points. Another question I asked him, 'If you're the father, when would you stop?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZbJhIhiRu0

Polish Parents, I trust you agree with me that Life is about making the Right Choice.  And you lot have indeed made the Right Choice. Because you've been HONEST TO YOURSELF. And I'd like you to remember this : somewhere out there, someone is somehow supporting you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJNIY3mLHU8


May all the children (including those of Pushy/Punish Parents) make their Own Dreams come true.

(Have to go - prepare the coming Good Schools Guide interview, http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/, see you lot in a week's time - if I'm still welcome!)



Best wishes
Terence Lai
5P : Promoting Proactive Positive Parental Participation

Once dropped out of Uni,
Kicked out by family;
Burnt out at company,
Cash wiped out suddenly.
Now a knock-out with students,
Helping Gifted & Gutted children;
Because in Life we all have a Mission :
Motivating our future generation

ANChan59

乜牛劍只考 lQ 題？第一次聽！

annie40

bobbycheung  到時仲會唔會有passion就唔知, 不過這兩位女兒見到老豆就想嘔就一定會.  仲有人肯出席這位爸爸嘅敘會, 依D朋友真係唔話得.  發表於 9 小時前
xxxxxxxxx
比你講中哂啦！好朋友是閃得就閃，其中幾位是大學講師，佢地真系好驚一路食飯，一路要玩牛津面試題啊！

佢地考人考得多，邊位背定標準答案呢interview的，答得過份有板有眼的，好易分得出喎！

annie40

父母有父母的獨特性格，喜歡鑽硏IQ題否，因人而異。個人而言，較享受投入媽媽的角色，那管家長在外是學富五車，才高八斗，在家能當位稱職的媽媽便足夠了。我相信素來有基礎實力的孩子，例如價值觀，自律，自信，堅持，自強，自我審視。在校內，在社會媒體上，生活中，已有上佳的思考訓練，那怕是新舊事物，必有獨特的見解。這些獨特具有創造上的意義。

家長們的衡常過度啟發，弄得好孩子會答出色（出色而依然稍欠創造力），弄不好，來去就是老而土，四平八穩，老想別人所想，欠了自我。

兩位妹妹，現在一位念高中，一位念初中，成績算是不頼，可惜依舊常常講慌話，例如跑第五，回家話跑第一，英文功課取B,就話是A, 總之是要盡力打發爸爸。不然阿爸又要加把勁來幫他們補補IQ了。無時無盡的思維啟動，可以十分嚇人的，還未算長期的中數kum on,五種語文。

如果孩子喜歡玩IQ或思維練習，送他們幾本書好了。偶然比佢地考考，又答不上嘴，讓他們教番老豆，也是非常好。當然爸爸很喜歡玩，搶住玩，亦未嘗不可。為免影響孩子，儘量把意見留給自己，非必要不用說出來，聆聽孩子的發揮為上，反正沒有標準答案，父母講得多，潛意識地便變成孩子的標準答案了。
xxxxx xxxxx
以上是一位唔識，亦唔會跟孩子操練IQ題的媽媽的個人意見。爸爸不同意亦是平常的。

Fate

annie40 發表於 14-5-30 19:49
有位朋友不論茶敘，晚飯，即席會出IQ題給在座朋友回答，少不免有不少牛津面試題，佢兩位女兒從小學就要陪爸 ...

In short, we'll surely know the answer to the question of  '會唔會去到高中無咗面對挑戰的passion,只是記得答案？'  in a few years time. (i.e.  when the sisters in senior school)


In fact, should we focus our limited time on what work with our child, helping our child to release their unlimited potentials? (i.e. avoid being pre-occupied by 'what NOT work')


In reality, should we use this Oxbridge Admission Test as another tool to help our child developing certain Personal Qualities? (i.e. NOT about memorising Q & A)


Remember, this Oxbridge Admission Test is never about getting the answers right, but  more about how to help our child developing  the Right Thinking Methodology, enabling our child to apply the same Methodology to answer many different questions on paper as well as resolve various problems in real life.


Perhaps, it's worth mentioning what happened when I first asked my elder boy to have a go at this Admission Test - the Build Up.


I casually said to him during breakfast,

'Well, you've 1 week half term break. I know you're busy in revising your GCSE, but could I have one 1-hour & two 30--minute intervals from you - I've got something special for you.'


He's CURIOUS, therefore interested and accepted my offer. And he did demonstrate he's on target to attain certain Qualities, some of which I now quote below.


Ready to seek Clarification

Many children don't bother to ask/are afraid/ashamed to ask questions when facing a task, even though they need to know more about the task.  I intentionally didn't give elder boy ALL details to first 'stir up his Curiosity' & second, to see if he'd ask the right questions - he did.


This could imply, in the future, he'd seek Essential information from his line manager when given a project to ensure the task is properly done. (e.g. asks what resources are at his disposal)



Negotiation to Plan Better

After me giving him the essential details, elder boy then Negotiate which day/time he'd like to do the challenges. His arguments : 'better watch a documentary after meal when one's relaxing' , 'better do the test in the morning when one's refreshing' etc.


This could imply, in the future, he could Negotiate a better deal for himself to ensure a better outcome for everyone.


When the Admission Test was done, the Follow Up.

During the conversation held in dinner, I causally asked elder boy,
'How did you find the Test?'

His reply confirmed he's on target to attain certain Qualities, some of which I now quote below.


Attention to Fine Details

He'd noticed half of the questions were actually Maths questions.

This has also reinforced what I always remind him of the need to be good at Maths : not just about answering questions but about having a better life, because two of the most important things in life are Maths related, Time & Money.

This could mean, in the future, he could find the most relevant information, within the shortest duration, to make the most important conclusion/recommendation for himself for a better life, or for his firm for a better return.


Discussion to Advance Further

He'd also noticed a few questions were very hard to actually 'answer correctly' as 2 answers appearing to be both right.

I then started a discussion to take him to another level - how barristers using carefully chosen sentences/words/examples to create Doubt, to interpret the scenario to their advantage etc., and he'd raised some very good points.

This could mean, in the future, he could read beyond the words, clear the confusion, balance the arguments and find the right way forward for himself or his firm.



Comparison with Other Applicants

He asked what the Oxbridge Admission Test 'Pass Mark' was.  

I then reminded him the concept of 'Relative' - the Pass Mark mostly depends on what other applicants of his same pool getting, and the concept of 'Absolute' - the Pass Mark shouldn't be a problem if his mark is Absolute above the majority (e.g. 90% right).

Also, a Written Test is about 'Elimination' - filter out the 'unwanted' applicants, and the subsequent Interview matters most as it''ll then about  'Selection' - choosing the right applicants.

This could mean, in the future, he'd focus on what skills he needs to develop/polish to ensure he's always ahead of many, to ensure he's to be given the opportunity.



4 weeks after the taking the Admission Test - the Catch Up.


I'm to give elder boy another 10 questions from the Test, to see if he can Remember what he's learnt from the last 10 questions, and if he could Apply what he's learnt.

So, it's always about the Process, the Journey and NOT just one test in itself.

And it's always up to you, the parent, to make the most of any test, to bring out your child's very best.

All the best.


(Have to go - to start a casual talk over lunch with elder boy about him taking a part time job)


Best wishes

Terence
Most Criticise...so they stay at the back
Some Copy...so they stay at the front
Few Contribute...so they stay on the Top
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaiyU2Zptjg

HKTHK

回覆 annie40 的帖子

But these questions shouldn't have "standard" answers, right?

annie40

有位朋友不論茶敘，晚飯，即席會出IQ題給在座朋友回答，少不免有不少牛津面試題，佢兩位女兒從小學就要陪爸爸玩，已經玩到喊咁口，會唔會去到高中無咗面對挑戰的passion,只是記得答案？

Fate

I'm always interested in finding out how top institutions recruiting their targeted candidates : how a top bank recruiting its new executives,  how a top school recruiting its new intake etc.

Being a parent of two UK secondary school students, I'm particularly interested in finding out how the world's top 2 universities, Oxbridge, is recruiting its new students.

http://www.timeshighereducation. ... /reputation-ranking

http://www.topuniversities.com/u ... stars=false+search=


It's not because I'm  'pushing' my boys to get into Oxbridge, but because I'd like to remind them that if they can pass Oxbridge selection process, they shouldn't have any major problem in passing any other university selection process.

My Curiosity has made me to borrow this 'Passing Oxbridge Admissions Tests' (Author : Rosalie Hutton and Glenn Hutton) from the library, so that my boys and I  could have a go at the (Chapter 4) 'Thinking Skills Assessment Practice Test' -  a friendly  Father Vs Son competition!

You can have a go too!

P. 37, Question 1

Thousands of home are burgled every year in the UK. Only a small percentage of homes are alarmed.  If more homes were alarmed the number of burglaries would significantly reduce.

Which one of the following statements best represents the flaw in this argument?

A.    It overlooks the possibility that  alarms can be deactivated.

B.    It assumes having an alarm will deter burglars.

C.   It implies that there is a relationship between burglaries and the lack of an alarm.

D.   It ignores the fact that there are other deterrents available.

E.   It ignores the fact that millions of households are never burgled.


Enjoy new challenge.

Enjoy friendly competition.


Best wishes
Terence
Together We Become Better
www.myboysmyboss.blogspot.com

Fate

I'm glad that some of you feel I've made your day.

I hope I now can make all of you focus for the day, after me reading a report.

Remember, being Positive doesn't mean Only look at Positive things, but also look at Negative things too and learn something Positive from them.

Remember as a parent, we're here to help our child to deal with all scenarios. Yes, if our child is good enough and want to, we help them to get into Oxbridge. And yes, if our child isn't ready in Life, we help them NOT to 'jump off the bridge' - just look at the recent event in USA.

This incident reminds me of another type of P Parents - Posh Parents :  the Rich & Famous that could 'buy' a place at Oxbridge for their children by giving BIG donations.  The killer's father is a director of 'Hunger Games'. So Successful that this father must have been very busy every single day.

If you look at the killer's self-confessed 7-minute video, titled, 'Retribution'  (attached below), you would wonder what this Posh Parent has done, or has NOT done, for the last 6 years : 15 minutes a day having 1-1 talk with his problematic son?

Shall we talk?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOnS0skSDfI

Have we as parents learnt something Positive from this Negative event?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ ... dy-crime-spree.html


Terence
No Regret as Parents try their Best
Twitter : @longyinfather

annie40

回覆 Fate 的帖子

wow, you make my day.   The duck mother seems so wise .

Fate

Oops.....just realise I'd forgotten to include the following clip in my last sharing.

Rather than spending HK$13,800 for a course, you may wish to spend $0 to learn from.......a.......mother duck.......a Polish Parent!

She DID keep a reasonable distance - let her children to keep trying + trying + trying and they ALL succeeding!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHy6bBKu0j4


Best wishes
Terence
Let Go, Stay Close,  Everything Grows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIjxXurqkY

Fate

I feel I'm obliged to share a bit more because the Life has given me a second chance - I was almost killed by Stress.

Everyone knows there has been a GFC, Global Financial Crisis, and all governments have to 'rebalance'  their economy.

But does everyone know there has been a BIGGER crisis, the GPS?

The Global Parenting Crisis, and we as parents have to 'rebalance' our relationship with our children.

The world has changed so much for the last few years, so as our children, and we as parents have to change too - change for Better, or we are to become Bitter.

Pushy Parents - Push their child to the Edge, as they stand too close to their child, leaving their child with no breathing space.

Punish Parents - Punish their child by NOT letting them to develop the Edge, as they walk away from their child, leaving their child with no basic skills.

Both types of parents are to,  I'm sorry to say, significantly increase the risk of their child committing suicide.  Because Pushed children are so Stressed Out, they want a 'Way Out'; Punished children are so Bored, they want a 'Final Call'.

Unlike the Polished children, the above two types of children mostly have little Problem Solving Skills. So when the reality hits, they can't handle it, and then, after being brain-washed by their computer games for so many years, they go for a 'Game Over' rather than a 'Starting Over'.

I suggest the above two types parents to try something new, following the example of the Polish Parents, in helping their child to develop the Edge to live Happily & compete Globally by keeping a sensible distance from their child, let their child Try, Fail, Learn, Try again......, while the parents watching carefully and patiently, and are ready to share with their child of their previous experience to keep their child motivated in trying and trying.

Perhaps, Pushy Parents could consider letting their child to decide what activity their child should do this weekend - let their child to have More Say in their OWN Life to encourage Self-Independence and Self-Discipline, giving the often tensed relationship a new twist and possibly a new life. Everyone takes a Breathe.

Perhaps, Punish Parents could consider making a deal with their child : 30 minutes of what their child wants to do ONLY if the child agrees to do what they SHOULD do (e.g. homework, tidy up bedroom) in the next 30 minutes, to remind their child of the Reality : 'Life is a Give & Take', 'Life is about Growing Up, Facing Up, Stepping Up and NOT Giving Up' etc. Everyone does their Duty.

Perhaps, some parents may have been asking, 'If I can be so Successful in my career/business, why I can't be a Successful parent?'  

Yes, you can, if you can treat your child as your Most Important Client!

Yes, you can, if you can give 15 minutes 1-1  a day to your child!

Yes, you can, if you can STOP giving orders to your child or finding Excuse for your child!

Never ever wait until the day you see your child lying in a A & E bed due to binge drinking, drug overdose, knife fighting etc., or staying in a Police Cell before you Regretting NOT having been spending 15 minutes a day in Communicating with your child.

Have to go and talk to my elder boy - he is to tell me his holiday plan for the half term break, and his study plan for his remaining GCSE examinations.

Be Good....... then be Rewarded.


Best wishes
Terence Lai
A Good Ending comes from Good Parenting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATuhdhfdURw

Fate

回覆 Fate 的帖子

Thanks, Shootastar, annie40 and slamai, I'm sure your child/ren are all doing great because children learn mostly from what their parents do and say - and you lot have indeed shown your child/ren a very positive model : Appreciating others.

annie40, I DID write a book, though it's an E-book (for a charity) ..... and more - you can find out more yourself by using google search, type in 'terence lai child genius'. (My younger boy and I agreed to appear on a UK TV series to show what 'Polish Parents' are)  Hope you'll be pleasantly surprised.


I made a Youtube for my fellow Hongkongers (in Cantonese), '香港父母系列之 '子女有潛能、凡事有可能' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHJi0mloqsA


And I Aim to finish another one for my fellow Hongkongers before the end of next week, sharing how much impact an '環境' is on children development and parent/child relationship.


Have to go, wife shouting - I need to do the washing after breakfast!


Best wishes
Terence
Together We Share, We Care, We'll all be There

Ruby1219

same here !  而家等paasport renewal 同學校CAS, meantime 同佢照定肺， 然後就做visa!