academic English writing

I will start teaching academic English writing to asso degree and high-dip students in Beacon College's Mongkok, Kowloon Bay and Causeway Bay centers in Sept.

fight anxiety

讀書樂
《擊退焦慮和壓力》
7月初的時候在Amazon.com (亞馬遜書店) 有關健康類的100本最暢銷書中排行16位的一本書叫《擊退焦慮和壓力》(註1)。我們不少香港人為了追求理想的工作和幸福的生活，都患上了緊張生活帶來的焦慮症(註2)，我們的工作，社交生活和與家人的關係都受到極大的影響。嚴重焦慮症患者往往會【退隱江湖】，不願和外界交往。《擊退焦慮和壓力》這本書提供10大要點讓我們學習。 作者Margaret Wehrenberg是一位心理學博士，心理科醫生和精神科專家(註3)。她也是一位著名的演講家(註4)，之前Wehrenberg博士已經出版了4本與壓力管理和抑鬱症(註5)有關的書。 這本書提供的10點要訣和技巧(註6)包括：1. 更改服用的藥。 2. 要學習深呼吸。3. 學習靜修或禪修。4. 要懂得放下。5. 不要凡事都想到最差。6. 停止焦慮思想。7. 不要凡事擔心。8. 改變思想和生活習慣。9. 放慢生活節奏。10. 寫下計畫書一步一步實行(註7)。 簡介：《擊退焦慮和壓力》共256頁，由美國W.W. Norton & Compay出版社出版。 注 釋：(註1) 《擊退焦虑和壓力》=《The 10 best-ever anxiety management techniques: understanding how your brain makes you anxious and what you can do to change it》。(註2) 焦慮症= anxiety。Anxiety disorders包括panic (恐懼症), generalized anxiety （一般焦慮症）and social anxiety （社交焦慮症）。(註3) 心理科醫生和精神科專家=psychologist and psychiatrist。(註4) 演講家=public speaker。(註5) 抑鬱症=depression。 (註6) 技巧=techniques。 (註7) change your intake （更改服用的藥）; breathe （要學習深呼吸）; practice mindfulness （學習靜修或禪修）; relax （要懂得放下）; stop catastrophizing （不要凡事都想到最差）; stop anxious thoughts （停止焦慮思想）; contain your worry （不要凡事擔心）; talk yourself into changing behavior （改變思想和生活習慣）; control too much activity（放慢生活節奏）; implement a plan and practice （寫下計畫書一步一步實行）。 浸大財經新聞學士課程主任 b l o g ： d e a n f u n g e n g l i s h .blogspot.com

new books by victor fung

New books published in 7.2014

1.     读香港时事学英语  一丁出版社

2.      你一定要懂的字彙570  明报出版社

3.     這900個詞彙助我成為《南華早報》首位華人副總編輯  明报出版社

Legal wheels in motion in 'tug of love' toddler case

“Dean Fung English”

By Victor Fung

Legal wheels in motion in 'tug of love' toddler case Legal proceedings (法律程式) are under way （進行）for the return of an abducted （綁架）child to her Hong Kong mother after translated documents were handed over （交付） to French prosecutors. But James Middleton, an ex- Hong Kong police officer with expertise （專業知識） in locating crooks （騙子）who Interpol cannot find, said unless the father can be charged with an immigration or fraud offense, "I have to say at this stage (note 1) the status quo sits with the father and the odds are not good (note 2)  for the mother." At her flat in Mui Wo yesterday, Alyssa Cruz, an English language teacher who invoked（行使） the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, said she would fight to get back her two- year-old daughter, Lana Desiree Cruz Lopez. It occurred days after Lopez admitted assault（毆打） occasioning bodily harm to Cruz, for which he was bound over (note 3) for 12 months for the sum of HK$1,000. Birthday gifts for Lana now remain unopened (note 4) at her home and a cake sits in the freezer（冷凍櫃 ）awaiting her return. According to Cruz, she has physical evidence of beatings (note 5) she received in the two years she lived in France with Lopez and Lana. Pointing to a burn scar (note 6) on her right forearm, she said: "We were cooking rice and he got angry. He threw the casserole at me but told his parents it was an accident." Meanwhile, Swire Hotels said it will open three new restaurants in the second half of this year: PUBLIC and Ground PUBLIC in Taikoo Place and The Continental in Pacific Place.

From good to better English:

(note 1) at this stage=在此階段。stage=講臺、舞臺、時期、驛站；the disease now occupies the centre of the medical stage=這種病現在是醫學界的注意中心。

(note 2) the odds are not good=前景並不看好。odds=不平等、勝算、不和；the odds are against you=形勢對你不利；a good reason=正當的理由。

(note 3) bound over=簽保。Boundary=限度、邊界、區域；bound one's desires by reason=以理性約束欲望；he is over anxious=他太焦急了。

note 4) remain unopened=仍然未開封。remain=剩餘、逗留、擱置；remain at one's post=留在崗位上；unopened=沒有拆開的、封著的。

(note 5) physical evidence of beatings=毆打物證。physical= 物質的、身體的、自然的；evidence=形跡、證據、明顯；beatings=攪打、脈搏、拍打、打漿。

(note 6) a burn scar=燒傷疤痕。burn=燒傷、燒製、烙上；burn the midnight oil=做到深夜，開夜車；scar=傷痕、創傷、斑疤。

Victor’s view:

It must be heart-broken for a mother to be separated from her child. We should be grateful for the time we spend with family members, no matter how short it is.