Looking for language partners (English, Cantonese, Japanese) Hi, my name is Josh. I grew up in Hong Kong and can speak native Cantonese. I've been learning English and Japanese when I was around 5 so I speak both languages rather fluently. I can also speak intermediate Mandarin, by the way.

If you're keen to learn any of these, I'll be very happy to help. I also look forward to someone who is able to help with brushing up my spoken English.

Modern Technology at Work (IETLS Task 2) Hi all - I look forward to receiving your feedback! Question: Modern technology is now very common in most work places. How do you think this has changed the way we work? Do you think there are disadvantages to relying too much on technology? Response: Nowadays, cutting-edge technology is frequently applied in business settings, and has a very profound impact on how we work on a daily basis. In my opinion, not only has technological advancement improved work efficiency, it has also reduced operating costs substantially which would otherwise have arisen. Nevertheless, it is also my belief that over-reliance on technology will lead to undesirable consequences. First and foremost, I think that work efficiency is significantly enhanced with the application of modern technology. In particular, since messages in various forms can be delivered electronically to our intended recipients almost instantly with the use of internet, it can foster instant communications between people miles apart from each other to take care of matters requiring urgent attention. In addition, as employees no longer need to travel long distance for business meetings and negotiations, multinational corporations can save costs and resources, including flight tickets, accommodation, travel allowance, etc. Nevertheless, it almost goes without saying that excessive reliance on technology will do harm to us. Despite the convenience an email system may bring, it is not uncommon for employees to complain about their personal lives being encroached upon as they are often required to check work emails with their portable gadgets after working hours. Furthermore, office employees are more vulnerable to muscle fatigue and other occupational diseases if they concentrate too much on computers with poor sitting posture. To sum up, it is my firm conviction that technical improvement has brought a lot of convenience to us. Nevertheless, its potentially undesirable impacts should not be overlooked. (257 words)

Obesity (Aim for IELTS Writing 8.0) Question: Some people think that the Government is responsible for the rise in obesity in children, while others think it is the fault of the parents. Discuss both sides and give your opinion. Response: Nowadays, an increasing number of school children are suffering from the problem of overweight. While the Government is often criticised for failing to curb childhood obesity effectively, others believe that their parents should instead be blameworthy. In this essay, I shall discuss both sides of the arguments as well as my view on the issue. Criticism against the Government often arises from the poor supervision and regulation over children’s diet and its food suppliers. It is not uncommon that Governments in many countries have failed to intervene by proposing new laws or financial disincentives to discourage the introduction of junk food to the market. As a result, fuelled by the force of globalization and effective marketing campaign, junk food – which often contains high fat and sugar contents while poor in nutritional value – is introduced as part of children’s regular diet in chain stores set up by multinational fast-food businesses. Such non-intervention policy will, in turn, increase the likelihood of youngsters suffering from obesity. On the other hand, other critics believe that poor parenting is a major reason for the soaring number of obese children. For instance, parents often allow their children to indulge in their portable devices for an entire day and hardly regulate their usages. Since these youngsters become less physically active to participate in sports and cardio exercise to burn the calories, it is very likely that they will become more prone to getting overweight. I strongly believe that the Governments shoulder a greater responsibility for the worsening situation. While nation-wide legislation and policies that impose stricter punishment will have a greater impact on society, the Governments should introduce healthier diets in school and a curriculum that places more focus on physical education for the well-being of our children. To conclude, despite the divided opinions as to the role of the Government and the parents in causing childhood obesity, it is my firm conviction that the former should have a greater role to play. (326 words)