Onward and Upward|香港本地英語教育惹的禍?

除了還在讀書的小孩,也有成年人找我教寫作。我發覺我的成年學生有幾個共同點:(1) 大部分是四十歲上下的中年人,剛晉升到管理層,新崗位需要他們給領導層和國外的專業人士寫reports和proposals,也要需要給客戶發追數信、給老闆發要求加薪信等;(2)他們以前在本地學校讀書,英文寫作的知識主要來自會考和A level ;(3) 他們寫的英文,grammar沒大問題,但寫作風格囉嗦得很,能用10個字表達的東西他們會用20個字,總以為字數越多越能表現他們勤勞。

觀察完這些中年學生,再觀察我那些準備考DSE的學生,我仿佛在中年學生身上看到DSE學生的未來。每當我敦促DSE學生寫作要簡潔,他們都會說,考DSE English拿最高分的學生,文章都很長。的確,坊間流傳的考DSE English秘笈,經常提到作文字數要多。

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其實冗長的Business English,在時間就是金錢的workplace, 是效率的絆腳石。本來可以用一分鐘看完的email, 因字數過多要用2分鐘才看完,而且字數多還可能詞不達意,看這類email像做偵探,邊看要邊揣摩發信者想表達但沒能表達的意思。

我今周就拿在 DSE English past papers出現過的一條Buiness English題目來做説明。下面第一篇文章是被香港教育局評爲 Level 5的作文,第二篇是我寫的。我版本的字數,比Level 5版本少將近50%,但内容卻豐富很多。如果你是老闆,你兩個員工給你遞交這兩封信,誰會給你留下更好的印象?

DSE English 題目:

You work for the Park Hotel in Hong Kong. You would like to apply for a work transfer to the Shanghai branch of the hotel. Write a letter to Mr Wong, your manager. Highlight your work experience, why you would like to transfer and how your transfer will benefit the organisation.

Level 5 exam script

(541 words, 來自 https://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/HKDSE/subject_information/eng_lang/2020-Sample-ENG-Paper2.pdf

Dear Mr Wong,

I am writing to apply for a work transfer to the Shanghai branch of Park Hotel.

As an experienced staff member of the hotel, I am devoted to working in Park Hotel for six years. After my graduation upon university, I have joined Park Hotel. I am very proud to be dedicating myself to the hotel here in Hong Kong. Throughout the six years, I have been in contact with great variety of working affairs and fortunately have been assigned to several positions. For instance, I used to be tackling with customers’ reviews and demands. I have helped solving different problems focusing on customer service, such as explaining to customers about how to use our cutting-edge technology, SmartApp, and making records about complaints or suggestions. Apart from having a plentiful experience of working in different positions, I am also well-prepared to serve foreign customers or customers from mainland China, for example, the well-known soccer supremos Lionel Messi and the great musician Lang Lang. Therefore, I am confident about my experience and ability.

Aside from my work experience, I would like to provide a complete explanation about why I would like to have a work transfer. I will appreciate your understanding very much.The major reason is that I would like to broaden my horizon by visiting different locations. As the Shanghai Park hotel settles in a world-renowned dynamic city, I am sure that I can acquire new experiences and knowledge there, and these elements can assemble a better and fully-prepared person, shaping myself into one who has adequate wisdom and charming qualities. I always hold a belief on “he that goes for know more,” therefore I have great passion in striving to be a better one, thus I have a strong desire to give a shoot on work transfer. Besides, the other reason involves my family. As my family has decided to reside in Shanghai, I need to apply for a work transfer in case I can take care of them. By now, the best option I have may goes to be applying for a work transfer to Shanghai.

Nevertheless, my transfer is definitely beneficial to the organization, and I promise I will work wholeheartedly to serve every customer and the organisation. 

As the Shanghai Park Hotel has just finished its construction by last month, there may be a lack of manpower, especially for experienced staff member. Hereby I can promise that my arrival to the Shanghai Park Hotel will presumably contribute to its maintenance and high-quality service. I am experienced enough to deal with any kind of emergency and unexpected situations. Also, I can provide personal advice and tailor-made training to the new staff members, in order to nourish their ability and adaptability of serving a vast number of customers. What’s more, it is believed that I am able to act as a bridge among Shanghai Park Hotel and Hong Kong Park Hotel, by exchanging information and making further communication on administrative affairs. Therefore, the organisation can be benefited through my transfer eventually.

In a nutshell, I am really enthusiastic about having a work transfer to the Shanghai branch of the hotel. I deeply believe I can create satisfactory contributions to the organisation.

Yours sincerely,
Chris Wong

My response (287 words)

Dear Mr Wong,

When I finally tracked down in the private collection of a local tea expert the exact grade of vintage pu-er a mainland customer had requested, the sense of triumph that gripped me was memorable enough. But that feat was nothing compared to the time when an American guest  brought to the hotel her own Frette pillowcases to sleep on, and Housekeeping mixed up her white pillowcases with the hotel’s own white ones. As soon as I realized the mistake, I asked Lane Crawford to deliver their Frette stock; at the last minute, I was able to replace the lost pillowcases behind the customer’s back. 

The past six years I spent with Park Hotel Hong Kong have been drama-filled times; if they have taught me one thing, it is that I’m energized by unexpected requests and emergency situations. The fact that I’m able to find a profession to my liking a mere six years after graduation has made me the envy of my peers.

And now, as the opening of Park Hotel Shanghai is almost upon us, I’m writing to request a job transfer to the financial capital of China, where my knowledge of the capricious ways of the rich can continue to be put to good use.

I want to relocate for family-related reasons too: my Shanghai-based parents are getting on in years, and I want to be around them more.

You will be gratified to learn that I recently obtained my Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 Award. My knowledge of wines, along with my growing proficiency in Chinese astrology, will enable me to chat with Park Hotel Shanghai’s local and  international clientele on a wider variety of topics.

Yours sincerely,
Chris Wong

 

Michelle Ng

英國牛津大學畢業,前《蘋果日報》和《眾新聞》專欄作家,現在身在楓葉國,心繫中國大陸和香港。

聯絡方式: michelleng.coach@proton.me
個人網站: https://michellengwritings.com

逢周日英國時間晚上8時 / 周一香港時間凌晨4時刊出

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