English Week

English Week 2010 took place from 11 Jan to 15 Jan. In the English Week, all students were indulged in “The World of Fashion”, theme of the English Week this year. All activities in the English Week were related to “fashion”, a word that may fascinate millions of people who keep pursing to look fashionable. However, are there any rules dominating the fashion realm? What is fashion? Is fashion related to utility or individual identity?

We hope the movie, The Devil Wears Prada, would provoke your thinking and help you find answers for the questions in your mind.

Movie Story: The Devil Wears Prada

Andrea Sachs, a graduate in journalism, lands a job as the second assistant to the editor-in-chief of Runway magazine-Miranda Priestly, the arrogant tycoon of the fashion world. Ignorant of and resistant to the fashion stuff, she is made a laughing stock by her gossipy colleagues including Emily Charlton, the first assistant, who always lords it over her. Even worse, she has kept running errands for her boss whose overbearing manners and humiliating remarks nearly drives her to despair. Gradually, with the guide of art director Nigel, Andrea begins to dress more stylishly and do her job competently. Having fulfilled a couple of missions impossible, she wins the picky boss' favor and is chosen to escort her to the fashion show in Paris. At the same time, she faces the temptation not only of designer clothes and accessories which may turn her into a material girl but also of a charming young writer Christian Thompson who promises to help her with her writing career. In addition, her relationship with her boyfriend Nate, a chef, and other college friends has been undermined owing to the increasing time she spends at Miranda's beck and call. Fed up with vanity and especially outraged about an injustice done by Miranda to Nigel, Andrea finally determines to resign. After that, she begins to make up with her boyfriend and has found a job as a newspaper reporter on the strong recommendation of her former boss Miranda.

S1-S3 Teaching materials

S4 Teaching materials

S6 Teaching materials

Review Questions

1. Why does Miranda decide to hire Andrea Sachs, a girl who lacks style and seems not to fit in Runway Magazine?


2. What makes Andrea’s friends worry about her?


3. What is Andrea’s attitude towards her job as Miranda’s assistant at Runway?


4. What is the reason for Andrea to leave Miranda and the Runway?


5. Suppose you are confronted with two job offers: One is well-paid, challenging and promising yet leaves you little time to stay with your family and friends or pursue your hobbies; the other is not as financially and intellectually rewarding but enables you to fully enjoy your personal life. What will you opt for? Why?

Fashion Show: Angels Wear Costumes

‘Angels wear costumes’ was the Fashion Show that took place at our school, Lai Chack Middle School! However, it doesn’t mean Andrea, Emily, or the stylish, elegant and glamorous models from Runway Magazine have flown from New York and performed in our school hall. Actually, it was a Fashion Show at our school with all the models and designers from different classes. Our fellow schoolmates are all top designers, brilliant tailors and marvelous models. Here’s an episode shot in the backstage showing their hard work on preparation.

Fashion Show Episode (link to the video)

English Broadcast & Song Dedication

“Pansy of 6A would like to dedicate Fashion by Lady Gaga to Principal, all the teachers and students of Lai Chack Middle School. She would like to say hope you all enjoy the English Week!” This kind of dedication won’t be new to you, especially during the English Week. Our fellow schoolmates have taken the job as DJs and they chatted on hot issues about fashion. For example, they introduced to us different types of fashion in Japan, such as Gothic, Punk, Hiphop, Lolita, cosplay and etc, and they also discussed how technology could become fashion in the next century.