当考官生涯当中有多位学生令我印象难忘，最记得这位考生跟我说：

　　"Madam, unlike other candidates, I am not here to pass the test, I am here to perform."

　　自负Cocky(Adjective) / Cockiness (Noun) 还是自信Self-confident (Adjective) / Self-confidence (Noun)，可能是一线之差。

　　自信就是相信自己本身的能力或欣赏质素，把事情做好。自信的人意识到自己的长处及短处，努力提升自己而不贬低他人。很多人也认为是幸福及成功的重要因素。而狂妄自负就是过分自信，对自己的重要性或能力有一种夸张的感觉，也低估他人的能力。

　　谦虚的行为、不夸耀自己成就或能力就更加容易被人接受。例如：Miss Carol会比较接受：

　　"I could send you a revised essay later today."

而不太接受：

　　"I could revise this essay with my eyes closed in no time flat."

　　以下节录一个电邮，内容有关学生为邀请老师们推荐自己当暑期练习生而做presentation后作出跟进，大家有兴趣可试试改写以下小段落。

　　I thought my yesterday's presentation was great. You won't find a better student than me to improve the public relations skill in your class. 　Based on my excellent academic performance this semester, I have secured my internship offer with Oxfam.　　But they asked for some references, that is why I seek help from you and maybe other teachers. I expect my references from you and other teaching staff will be honestly awesome.　　You can check out the website of Oxfam if you want to know the details of my internship.　　I look forward to hearing back from you with good news.

　　真的夸张了一点，但大家可以感受到这股自大的气度。

　　要改写也不困难，以下是其中一个参考版本：

　　It was my great pleasure to deliver my presentation yesterday. I enjoyed meeting you and the rest of the fellow classmates.

　　I am pleased with my academic achievement in your Public Relations Writing class.　　In the past 10 months, I learnt a great deal about the public relations industry while attending your class.　　As you know, the opportunity at Oxfam is related to solid knowledge in marketing communications with a specific focus on public relations.　　I believe that you would be able to provide the kind of professional insight into my skills that would consolidate my internship offer.

　　Thank you very much for considering my request. A copy of my updated resume and a document of the job specification are attached for your information.　　Ms Marilyn Ma from Human Resources will be the contact person at Oxfam who will be in touch if you agree to provide the reference for me.　　I look forward to hearing from you favourably.

　　似乎长了一点，但收件人喜欢这类型的文字。

　　很多人也认为成功的人往往是谦虚的，你也相信吗？

　　Miss Carol 资深英语老师、国际英文考试主考官；前大专院校导师及企业培训导师。