I know several people that use their cell phones for all their English-Chinese dictionary needs. New dictionary apps for the iPhone abound, and Google’s Android is sure to have no shortage of dictionary apps; maybe even official Google Translate dictionary functions. While online dictionaries can be a useful tool as well, and can provide a quick definition for most words, they are generally not as complete as a book edition. One thing I have noted about the online dictionaries, for example, is that they don’t give important grammar and usage information, nor they provide example sentences.

Yet, for language learners, example sentences are even more important than definitions. A definition does one job: it tells you what a word means. But example sentences perform at least three important tasks. They let you check if you’ve understood the definition correctly. They show you how to use a word in sentences — how to connect it with other words and with grammar structures. And most important of all, they “program your brain” to produce correct English sentences.

Software dictionaries that you download to your computer are usually better, because they are simply replicas of their printed counterparts, and they offer audible pronunciation, a striking feature a printed dictionary can never present!

As with all technological advances, I am not sure the most accurate paradigm is "either/ or."  I hope we are not put in a position where we have to choose between an eDictionary and a traditional one.  Rather, a more healthy and viable alternative would be to ensure that both mediums are present. 

If we seek to prepare students effectively, we must teach them skills at reading traditional books and ebooks, as both fluencies complement one another, making for stronger and more competitive students.

A review of my book was published in a Czech linguistics journal known as "Slovo a slovesnost" in Central Europe. I can’t read the Czech language but a professor from Prague told me the review was very positive, so I am delighted! Does anyone of you who knows Czech or Slovak please tell me what it is all about. ﹕)

http://dlib.lib.cas.cz/6732/

What can be done to promote reading habits?

I was asked this question by The Parents’ Journal (育兒天地).

There’s a feeling that books somehow "can’t compete" with computer games, and the "I don’t like to read" syndrome has become much more serious than ever.

So what can we do?

There’re no definite answers, but parents absolutely cannot depend upon schools to inculcate love of reading in their children. If a parent is lucky, he or she will have a teacher who knows and loves books – but don’t count on it.

To be absolutely certain that your child develops a love of books, you must do the job yourself. Every bit of advice that you’ve ever read or heard about reading aloud to your pre-schooler is absolutely true. Five years is a very short time out of a lifetime, and not a minute spent reading aloud to your child is wasted.

It is a bond that will never wither.

I am proud to announce that the first edition of Common English Errors in Hong Kong has sold out! I want to thank everyone who purchased a copy of the first edition – I am very appreciative and honoured, and hope you enjoy it!

For those of you who still haven’t gotten a copy, the publisher is currently preparing to print a second edition. I will let you know when that is available.

I cannot say *THANK YOU* enough to all people who provided this massive support. This is so motivating!

Why are multiple read-throughs important?

Because, last time I checked, I was human and I miss things.

Example: We walked though the dense jungle.

What’s wrong with the above sentence? That’s very obvious!

So, changed "though" to "through" and all was right with the world. Okay, all was right with the sentence. The world, last time I checked, was in sore need of some fixing!

So, multiple read-throughs of a manuscript are important because we – I – miss things. For me, that’s the Number One reason not to jump the gun and submit a first draft of a manuscript for query. You – I – are going to miss something, and that something (though vs. through) could make the difference between my publisher saying Yay versus Nay.

In order for me, nobody else, to do that best, I need the multiple read-throughs. I need the slow and steady pace to ensure that when I do query, when the editor asks for my manuscript, I am submitting the best manuscript I can to her. I want her to come across the correct sentence and somehow – fingers crossed – know that I take this writing journey seriously.