Q1: EDB Web-based Learning Course (Palaeontology) is available in Chinese and English versions. Which language version should I recommend for students? Will English pose some difficulties to their learning?

It would very much depend on the language competency of individual student and also the medium of instruction policy of the school. It is true that to some students, no matter in English or in Chinese, they may find the names of dinosaurs and/or geological periods to be quite unfamiliar or difficult when first encountered. But once students get used to these names, it would be a matter of how comfortable they feel in the language version they chose.

Q2: Will students find Palaeontology too dry and difficult? Are there any local resources that could supplement the learning in Palaeontology?
 

Palaeontology is a topic that came up to the top of preferences in two surveys to students done earlier on. Hence we would develop Web-based Learning Courses with regard to the needs and interests of students and we try to make the learning more interactive. As for resources, teachers/parents can go to chain stores of toys which stock some learning materials like models of different dinosaurs. There are local stalls in the night market of Temple Street, mostly owned by Tibetans or Nepali, who would display and sell fossils or rocks. Besides, there is a palaeontological museum housed in Shenzhen FairyLake Botanical Garden which is worth visiting. Links are provided here for reference: http://www.szbg.org/cn/Museum/index.aspx. The University of Hong Kong has housed a geological museum named Stephen Hui Geological Museum. You may find more information about it here: http://www.earthsciences.hku.hk/shmuseum/chi/index.php. In the Nina Fossil Garden at Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan, Wood fossils are displayed and Tree Fossil Tours (guided tour for group reversation) are organised.  For detailed information, please visit the web page at: http://www.ninafossilgarden.com/index.php/en/home/index.