Equip with Life and Social Skills to Stay Cool!

University life is about striving for academic excellence, building social network and exploring future goals.

Want to stay calm in presentations when your trembling voice betrays you?
Try to meet deadlines but can’t keep up with the progress?
Long for friendships but feel uncomfortable with initiating a conversation with a classmate?

Learn the essentials of personal competence!

 

Effective Public Speaking (EPS1/19-20)

It seems that some people are just “naturals” when it comes to Public Speaking. They readily stand up in public, ooze confidence, instill enthusiasm and manage to say just the right thing at the right time. It seems they were born to be public speakers. Well, it’s not true. Nobody is born a “natural”. Public speaking requires practice. Some might be better than others but everybody has to acquire the skills through experience which over time brings confidence as well.

This course is for those who need to get out of their shell and get some experience under their belt. The course is entirely in English and will give all participants an opportunity to role play in a range of public speaking scenarios. It’s fun but at the same time challenging and rewarding. After this 6-hour workshop, you should become more proactive and confident when you have to stand in the limelight “on the stump”.

Note: Participants will need to wear semi-formal clothes. No shorts or flip flops to ensure a good first impression. Handouts will be issued for each activity. Mobile phones should be brought to class fully charged. One activity involves the use of smart phone video if students have this facility available.

Date: 22 & 29 Oct 2019 (Tue)

Time: 6:15pm – 9:15pm

Venue: Room G07, G/F, Main Building

Language: English

Class size: 15 – 25

Fee: $50

Deposit: $100

Trainer: Mr. Robert Barber

About the trainer:

Mr. Robert Barber has lived in Hong Kong for over 20 years teaching and training in the British Army and more recently at secondary and tertiary level. Born in London he was educated in Ireland and the USA. His lively courses focus on well-defined learner needs and established results based practices.

 

How to Say What to Whom (HSW1/19-20)

This workshop aims to help you speak up and out; presenting with conviction and clarity to truly gain the attention of your audience.

THE WORKSHOP WILL COVER:

• Voice
• Non-Verbal communication
• Body Language
• Gestures
• Speaking with objects and technology
• How to begin conversations
• Active listening
• Engaging the listener
• Tips on how to avoid an unsatisfied audience
• Structuring your Presentation
• Top Tips: e.g. What do I want my presentation to do? Inform, motivate, empower, entertain, educate?

The skills gained during the session are the basis for work in social, professional and public settings, giving you that confidence to speak up and out.

Date: 14 & 15 Oct 2019 (Mon & Tue)

Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm & 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Venue: Room 302, 3/F, Main Building

Class size: 12 – 18

Fee: $50

Deposit: $100

Trainer: Ms. Eimear Burns

About the trainer:

Eimear ‘Mimi’ Burns is a theatre practitioner, youth drama facilitator and actor from Ireland. After graduating from Trinity College Dublin holding a Drama and Theatre Studies Degree (BA Hons) Mimi went on to travel to Malaysia and Hong Kong working in Theatre and Education. Since then Mimi has developed skills as a director, actor and script writer in Hong Kong. Mimi continues to work for many companies in Hong Kong helping youth and adults develop their performance and public speaking skills.

 

Listening and Note-taking Skills (LNT1/19-20)

This compact workshop will cover two topics central to academic success. An ability to listen efficiently to what is being presented in lecture halls, classrooms, tutorials, meetings and seminars is essential to success at university. Coupled with this skill is the important skill of taking effective notes so that key information can be recalled in a timely manner. This workshop will cover both listening and note taking in a thought provoking, entertaining and practical manner. It is designed to assist attendees of all levels and disciplines to get more out of their studies.

The workshop will require active participation of all attendees and is supported by a wide range of materials and videos intended to illustrate key concepts to these two essential life skills.

AT THE END OF THE WORKSHOP, YOU WILL BE:

• Aware of the vital importance of active listening
• Avid and comprehensive note takers
• Aware of the importance of establishing a mindset for listening
• Likely to curate and update notes and materials for quick and easy reference

Date: 19 Oct 2019 (Sat)

Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm; 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Venue: Convocation Room, Room 218, 2/F, Main Building

Language: English

Class size: 15 – 25

Fee: $50

Deposit: $100

Trainer: Mr. Robert Barber

About the trainer:

Mr. Robert Barber has lived in Hong Kong for over 20 years teaching and training in the British Army and more recently at secondary and tertiary level. Born in London he was educated in Ireland and the USA.  His lively courses focus on well-defined learner needs and established results based practices.

 

[NEW] A 2-Session Workshop on Procrastination and Self-motivation (PSM1/19-20) 

“You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to become great.” – Les Brown

Many of you may want to enhance your productivity but are hindered by procrastination, a tendency to delay doing things and having difficulties to get started. You may feel more frustrated after finding out that neither time-management skills nor a well-structured “calendar” help solving the problem. It is time for you to gain better understanding of how your thinking habits (e.g. “I can get started when I figure out the perfect way to do it.”, “I will start to work on it after watching my favorite YouTuber’s videos.” or “I won’t do it well, why bother?”), and your mood conditions (e.g. anxiety, sadness, etc.) have been discounting your motivation.

This workshop aims at helping you to break your procrastination pattern step by step through interactive exercises and discussions.

AT THE END OF THE WORKSHOP, YOU WILL HAVE:

• Gained insights on your thinking habits and mood contributing to procrastinating behaviors
• Learnt ways to enhance your motivation through regulating your emotions

Date: 8 Oct (Tue) & 14 Oct 2019 (Mon)

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Venue: Room 302, 3/F, Main Building

Language: Cantonese or English (depending on participants)

Class size: Max. 15

Fee: Free

Deposit: $100

Trainer: Mr. Philip Li, Clinical Psychologist, CEDARS

 

[NEW] Self-understanding Workshop: The Power of Career Interest (CIW1/19-20)

自我認識工作坊：興趣的力量

進入大學以後，除了學習與玩樂，大家也開始反覆思量「未來」：
我想做一份怎樣的工作？我想過一個怎樣的人生？
我，想成為一個怎樣的人？

我們忙著計算成本效益與考量別人的意見，但有時候，卻習慣將自己的興趣隱藏起來。

為什麼我總對就讀學科提不起勁？
身邊的人已訂好精密的實習與進修計劃，為什麼我依然一片迷惘？
將興趣結合職業，是否完全不可能？
其實我喜歡甚麼？

這些問題的答案，或許能從自身的故事中找到線索。我們會一起回顧讓你滿足的經歷、享受的活動、自豪的一刻，甚至是日常生活瑣事，在當中發掘一個個故事，並透過說故事打開認識自己的一扇門，促進你了解自己的興趣，為未來的種種選擇作準備。

在這個工作坊，你將會：

• 從說故事當中探索自己的興趣
• 嘗試將興趣連結所讀學科及就業發展
• 重新培養動力與熱情

You may be struggling with finding your career path. Apart from considering the cost-effectiveness and opinion of significant others, have you ever explored the power of your interest? In this workshop, you will engage in a story-telling process through reviewing your experience of fulfilment, activities that interest you most, the moment you felt proud of yourself or even trivial memories in daily life. This discovery of personal stories will facilitate your self-understanding on career interest and enhance decision making in future.

AT THE END OF THE WORKSHOP, YOU WILL:

• Become clearer about your interest through story-telling process
• Connect your interest with academic and career development
• Start to rebuild a motivated and passionate self

Date: 25 Oct 2019 (Fri)

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Venue: Room 302, 3/F, Main Building

Language: Cantonese

Class size: 6 – 18

Fee: Free

Deposit: $100

Trainer: Ms. Stephanie Tang, Counsellor, CEDARS

 

A Cross-cultural Speed Dating Experience: Love Knows No Border (CSP1/19-20)

Ever wonder how it will be like to mingle, or even to have brief “dates”, with people from various cultural backgrounds? This party provides singles with an opportunity to meet prospective romantic partners and friends in a speedy, relaxing, and fun way. Don’t be shy and let’s not be restrained by boundaries of nations, culture or any gender stereotypical beliefs. Instead, we can learn to focus on the uniqueness and commonalities of each individual.

Through various activities, you can meet different persons, polish your social skills as well as discovering your love language. A set of dating tips will be given to you in the preparation for the party. There will be lots of fun and laughters!

Activities:

• Games
• Mingling Time
• Feedback among peers and from the facilitators

AT THE END OF THE PARTY, YOU WILL HAVE:

• Expanded your social network
• Discovered your love language and its implication in your dating relationship
• Gained more understanding of effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills

Date: 9 Nov 2019 (Sat)

Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm

Venue: Kong Siu Luey Lounge, Robert Black College

Language: English

Class size: 18 – 20

Target: 10 local students  ︳10 non-local students

Fee: $100

Deposit: $100

Trainers:
Ms. Heidi Tseng, Counsellor (Marriage and Family Therapist), CEDARS
Ms. Bowie Siu, Clinical Psychologist, CEDARS