There are multiple plus sides to having a teacher whose good looks are all that most people seem to talk about! Imagine a Saturday evening and teenagers have gathered in large numbers to watch the performance of Richard Eng. There are days where he might just deliver one single act, and there can be times when the number exceeds three or four. To top it all, you notice those bangs in copper streaks brushing against his chiseled jawline, high cheekbones, and all across the forehead. Your TV sets flash his toothy smile as he keeps banging his head against the rhythm of the music. There’s no way you’ve missed the designer watch or the shoes in indigo suede.
But how are these so vital for the music he plays? Doesn’t that distract anyone from the actual act? On the contrary, no! It was much later that Richard said how teens are especially turned on by these allied factors. The association of adolescent slang and the attitude the singer/s displays work wonders in getting them interested in music in the first place. When they match the real act to that glossy manual in their hands, it’s akin to their dreams come true! And just in case you thought these outfits or the personality they observe are limited to event programs or pop concerts – the reality is these are after-school tutoring sessions.
Hong Kong’s Tutors Are Teen Idols
Hong Kong’s celebrity tutors are the very reason why teenagers can do anything to get in their classes. The glitz, the flash, and the glamour that comes with it all, paves the way for becoming richer and more famous. Eng (47) knew this from the start, so he packaged himself into a teen idol, only to let several others follow suit. Every place you visit or the billboards, bus backs and sides you see, or even across TV shows in channels, radio spots, and full-page newspaper ads – he’s a face to contend with. In Cantonese, most people like him are referred to as tutor kinds and they regularly make it to local gossip news and views.
They know the exact tactics of using aggressive publicity the most. So don’t be surprised to learn that a large chunk of the tutoring market in Hong Kong is worth $60 million approximately. In itself, Eng is rumored to earn about $1.5 million per year! His estate at the north of Kowloon is a real wonder. He loves Louis Vuitton and drives a canary-yellow Lamborghini with a plate containing the name RICHARD. The craze surrounding his machine was understandable – as a Hong Konger made a mobile video on it and posted it instantaneously on YouTube.
The Cram Schools Of Hong Kong
Hong Kong is replete with these cram schools that coach teens and children to face frightening public exams. Secondary students of local zones take this test at roughly 16 years of age (which they should pass to continue their studies), and then when they’re in the seventh and final year. It barely lasts for about a couple of months or so at the most. And to put it straight – the exam can be brutal. Even the records say so, with just half of the people who appeared for the test this year could make it for the next round and apply to reputed undergraduate colleges.
This concept of cram schools isn’t new here. It’s estimated that 85% of senior secondary students received tutoring lessons last year. But that was not the case before 1996 when people couldn’t even differentiate one company from the other. The co-founder of Beacon College – Eng – started then and now features among the top four leading tutorial chains.
A Tutor Or A Celeb?
This trend is in vogue and is here to stay. Imagine the best tutors featuring at every nook and corner of the city, or their skilled and photogenic avatars being seen everywhere. That’s the power of ad campaigns. After all, that’s how they appeal to the acute anxiety of students and their exams.
So when a tutor’s popularity is showcased all over town, he or she is more than a mere crush. At present, it’s not just students who need to tackle the ever-increasing competitive environment at large. As per estimated figures, about 50 tutors in the city are credible enough to declare themselves as celebs!