My first impression of Gum Sing was watching him coach the boxing team and his tennis match with Brother Lawrence while we were still on Perth Street. The tennis game was almost comical. Brother Lawrence was young and very tall. His tennis strokes were long, slow and graceful. In contrast, Gum Sing’s hit the ball back with all of his might, each and every time. The effect was like watching the game half in slow motion (Brother Lawrence’s shots) and half in fast-forward (Gum Sing’s).
Later Gum Sing became my Form 5 master. As reported, his method of teaching English grammar and composition was legendary. I was extremely interested in English Literature at that time and one day out of class, he handed me a book on the appreciation of Julius Caesar, the designated Shakespeare text for the School Certificate Examination. I used that book to help me prepare for the exam. Both of us expected me to get a “distinction” in English Literature. But as it turned out, I ended up with a “credit” only. When I returned the book to him and told him that I sadly did not get a “distinction”, he said with his usual stern expression: “Shame on you!” Then, his mouth widened a bit and broke into a little smile.
My first impression of Gum Sing was watching him coach the boxing team and his tennis match with Brother Lawrence while we were still on Perth Street. The tennis game was almost comical. Brother Lawrence was young and very tall. His tennis strokes were long, slow and graceful. In contrast, Gum Sing’s hit the ball back with all of his might, each and every time. The effect was like watching the game half in slow motion (Brother Lawrence’s shots) and half in fast-forward (Gum Sing’s).
Later Gum Sing became my Form 5 master. As reported, his method of teaching English grammar and composition was legendary. I was extremely interested in English Literature at that time and one day out of class, he handed me a book on the appreciation of Julius Caesar, the designated Shakespeare text for the School Certificate Examination. I used that book to help me prepare for the exam. Both of us expected me to get a “distinction” in English Literature. But as it turned out, I ended up with a “credit” only. When I returned the book to him and told him that I sadly did not get a “distinction”, he said with his usual stern expression: “Shame on you!” Then, his mouth widened a bit and broke into a little smile.