Rock Li Cheuk-yin says his school teachers are so boring, they can't hold his attention for more than 15 minutes.

Ken Chung Kwan-chi, a tutorial school teacher, performs magic for his class. Teddy Ng

But he says an hour of math and history in a tutorial center's after-school program is a breeze.

So aside from the extra HK$1,000 a month, what's the difference?

"Their presentation is vivid and the tutors can explain the important points with clarity," Li explained. "They make their points very well by using examples. For instance, the tutor once compared the Russian-German relationship before World War II to that between a wife and her husband's mistress."

To him, the regular schools are "old-fashioned", with teachers basically reciting textbooks in class.

"I learn nothing in school," he said. "Some of my classmates also joined tutorial classes."

According to surveys conducted by various neighborhood groups, tutorial schools are becoming increasingly popular among youngsters, with as many as half taking them.

Educators say the emphasis on image and presentation has been slowly spreading to traditional schools in recent years, particularly because the number of students has dropped along with the city's birth rate.

Teachers are eager to hone their delivery skills in order to get students' attention.

Liz Lau, a Putonghua and math teacher at Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School, has gone one step further by performing magic during her lessons.

For example, Lau might ask her students to do a magic trick in front of the class and then explain it in Putonghua. In math lessons, Lau performs a trick by turning an irregular chunk of foam rubber into different geometric shapes.

Lau said the tricks may help enhance the students' creativity and help them focus on the lessons.

Ken Chung Kwan-chi, a tutorial school teacher who previously worked in mainstream schools and has also performed magic in his classes, said that while an adult can normally stay focused for 40 minutes, children can only keep their concentration for 15 minutes.

"The magic tricks are necessary. When children are in good mood, they learn faster and are motivated to learn. They are more eager to ask questions," he said.

"And by asking the students to perform and explain the magic tricks, we are actually honing their presentation skills."

University of Hong Kong Associate Dean of Education Tse Shek-kam explained that the prevalence of TVs, movies and computer games among youngsters has made verbal communication unattractive.

"This is different from the 1970's," he said, noting a time when basic written and verbal teachings were more effective.

The growing competition among schools has also prompted them to become more innovative.

"It isn't the schools choosing the students as it was decades ago," Tse said. "It's the students choosing schools now, so they'd better be appealing."

(HK Edition 01/30/2008 page1)