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Why am I writing in English?

- A story to share

文：Cogitatio

One of my friends criticized me for speaking in Cantonese but writing in English, though I am a hundred-percent Chinese. He thought that I was trying to flaunt my English standard in front of other people. I replied with a smile and continued to go my own way. Frankly speaking, I write in English not because I want to show off --- this friend has done me a great wrong! Over my primary and secondary school years, it has become a habit to take notes and write in English. If you ask me to write in Chinese, I would have to take a long time to figure out what I am going to write.

I spent my kindergarten years on the Lantau Island with my parents and a younger sister. I couldn't remember what I learned about English at that point of time. All I knew were the twenty-six letters and some common English dialogues. My English results were quite good and I often got the top positions in class.

When the time came for me to enter primary school, I was sent to my grandmother's home on the Hong Kong Island and I attended a Chinese primary school in Causeway Bay. I saw my parents occasionally, and they always encouraged me to study English. My aunts helped me a lot in my homework and studies, in particular English. They spent much time each day checking my English exercises books, making sure that I learned the correct grammar. Gradually the values of learning English were inculcated in my mind. It is an honourable thing to be able to express myself in English. If I know English, I would be able to earn money. I would become a "high-class" person in the society. Only educated people can master English. If I want to prove my ability, I must master the English language.

My (and my parents') effort was finally rewarded. I got into an English secondary school. I was allocated into a class in which all the students were graduates from mother-tongue primary schools. The teachers didn't say so explicitly, but we all got the same idea --- we belonged to the "worst" class in Form One because we came from mother-tongue primary schools. We were, however, not disappointed. The class teacher, who also taught us English, helped us improve our English standard. I kept a vocabulary book which helped me build up my vocabulary. Now I am surprised when I remember that I had once struggled with words like "special" and "extraordinary".

My writing skills are particularly strong. In Form 3 I won the championship in an English creative-writing competition. By the end of the junior secondary school years, I had overcome most of the difficulties in learning English.

I went straight for the Arts stream. I chose subjects like History, English Literature and Music. All these subjects were taught in English, and this was how I developed my habit of taking notes in English. The only chance for me to get in touch with Chinese was the Chinese lessons. I managed to keep up my Chinese standard by joining Chinese writing competitions.

The four years of senior high school education passed by happily and quickly. I entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in Music. Under the curriculum, it is compulsory for all Music students to study at least three subjects about Chinese Music. I had a hard time struggling with the lectures and taking notes. At first, I forced myself to write in Chinese. But when I found that I couldn't follow the progress, I wrote in English again. One of the professors noticed my habit and he asked me, "Why are you taking notes in English when I am teaching in Cantonese? Don't you think that this is a really bad habit?" I even tried to ask for the professors' permission to answer in English the exam papers set in Chinese! Professor Lau Kwok Ying, whom I met in the Leadership Development Programme of the university, kindly explained that the exam papers were set in both English and Chinese, and I could answer in English. But he scolded me rather strongly afterwards, "If you know that you are not very good at your mother tongue, you should take the time in this university to improve!" From then on, Professor Lau always introduces me to his friends like this, "This girl spoke to me in English at the very first time we met. Now she speaks fluent Cantonese in front of me." Up till now, English is still my preference when I read and write; but I don't mind reading and writing in Chinese if the situation requires.

In view of the current controversy over English or mother tongue as the medium of instruction, I think that each teacher and student should be given the freedom to choose the language they want to use. I can't force my friend to learn in English if he prefers Chinese. I also hope, however, that my friends would understand my preference to read and write in English. Language is not only a subject, but much more a habit. It's easy to "change your channel", but it's extremely difficult to change your habit.