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The following is issued on behalf of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR):
Celebrities from all walks of life, including President of the Legislative Council the Hon Mrs Rita Fan, Chairman of HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education Board of Directors Mr Linus Cheung and Founding Member of Children's Cancer Foundation Mrs Eleanor Morris recommended interesting English books to young readers in a television programme commissioned by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR).
Titled "English Festival 2006 - A Bookworm's Choice", the TV programme is a new initiative of SCOLAR's "English Festival 2006" to introduce quality books and promote English reading.
At today's (April 4) premiere, SCOLAR Member and Chairman of the Festival's Organising Committee Mr Stephen S K Chan said SCOLAR believed there was a strong correlation between a student's reading habits and his or her motivation for language learning and achievement in language subjects.
"The more a student reads, the more likely he or she will attain higher language competence. Therefore, we put in great efforts in promoting reading," Mr Chan said.
The books recommended in the "English Festival 2006 - A Bookworm's Choice" include:
- Richard Bach's "Illusions" recommended by Mrs Fan;
- Charles M. Schulz's "Peanuts Treasury" by Mr Cheung;
- Enid Blyton's "The Famous Five" by Mrs Morris;
- Jenny Alexander's "How to Have a Green Day?" by Mr Lu Kwong Fai;
- C S Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" by Ms Alice Yuk;
- Richard Bach's "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Dr Rebecca Lee;
- Terry Deary's "The Villainous Victorians" by Dr Lo Wing Lok;
- Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by the Hon Jasper Tsang;
- Alexander McCall Smith's "The Girl Who Married a Lion and Other Tales from Africa" by Mr Ko Ting-lung;
- Marcia Brown's "Shadow" by Professsor Cheng Kai-ming;
- Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie" by the Hon Alan Leong.
It is the first collaboration between SCOLAR's English Festival and Asia Television Limited (ATV). ATV's Senior Vice-President - Programme & External Affairs, Mr Kwong Hoi Ying, Mrs Morris, and host of "English Festival 2006 - A Bookworm's Choice", Mr Geoff Wong, also officiated at today's premiere.
After the ceremony, Mrs Morris and a group of students exchanged views on English reading.
Starting from Thursday (April 6), the "English Festival 2006 - A Bookworm's Choice" will be broadcast on ATV Home Channel at 3.45pm every Tuesday and Thursday, and re-run at 10.45am every Friday.
Funded by the Language Fund, the English Festival was first launched in 2005 to raise public interest in the learning and use of English. There will be seven school-based activities, ranging from drama, debate, games, music, painting, to writing, to be held and two television programmes to be broadcast between April and May this year.
More details of the English Festival 2006 are available on-line at http://www.englishfestival.hk.
Established in 1996, SCOLAR advises the Government on language education issues and on the use of the Language Fund.
Ends/Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:45
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