Chinese high school students write fun study guides

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A group of innovative Chinese high school students have published their own study guides, drawing praise from peers, teachers and netizens.

The "Shared SHSEE” (Senior High School Entrance Examination) collection developed by students in Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, summarizes their experiences in daily learning and examinations with attractive stories as well as fun pictures.

Yan Zuhuai, 15, the top student of his school, came up with the idea of sharing his experience and techniques with other students by writing a series of books. /Photo from Chinanews

The initiator was Yan Zuhuai, a 15-year-old who was admitted in June to Chengdu No.7 High School, one of the best high schools in the province. When numerous younger students asked for his notes and study materials after his graduation, he came up with an idea of editing them into books to share with more students.

He collaborated with 13 other classmates in compiling the series which covers four subjects – mathematics, Chinese, English and chemistry. The team spent over a month on group discussion, editing, revision and auditing by teachers.

The Chinese volume of the "Shared SHSEE" uses related stories and illustrations of main characters in the textbook to make the knowledge more absorbing. /Photo from Chinanews

The English volume is called “A Bite of English”, containing English tongue-twisters, dialogues from films and TV series and key points; the Chinese volume uses related stories and illustrations of main characters in the textbook to make the knowledge more absorbing; and the mathematics one tries to make the exercise refreshing by hilarious emoticons. The content even tailors different versions for boys and girls, as the chemistry book for girls is written in romantic Wuxia style, while for boys it's based on military fiction.

The chemistry book for girls is written in romantic Wuxia style, while for that for boys is based on military fiction. /Photo from Chinanews

The series sold 200 sets quickly after the first printing in September. One of the teachers responsible for the audit, Li Zheng, complimented the students for their work and said, “Although it cannot compared with professional reference books, it is good that those students attempted doing this voluntarily. The most important thing in study is interest in guidance and making students find fun during learning.”

Yang Meng, a third-year student in junior high, said, “Unlike the same old mode of other reference books, the Shared SHSEE promoted my knowledge with its brand new style, which makes me eager to finish reading and easier to remember.”

Numerous students and parents showed their buying intentions after the series became a sensation, and even three publishers sought cooperation with them, according to Yan. At present, team members are using their spare time making a new version, with the addition of physics, more comprehensive key points and learning techniques, updated illustrations and more delicate typesetting.

The English volume is called “A Bite of English”, containing English tongue-twisters, dialogues from films and TV series and key points. /Photo from Chinanews