English connects life and lays a good foundation in English

C.C.C. Wanchai Church Kei To Primary School (Kowloon City) is committed to providing high-quality education and cultivating talents for society. In terms of English teaching, Principal Xie Peiying starts from creating an English context connected with life, so that students can use English in a daily life and naturally. Therefore, in terms of overall English teaching and learning planning, the school uses daily life experience to connect the curriculum, so that students' English ability can be improved through curriculum design, learning experience, context, etc.

Brand new learning model, adapting to the new stage of life

The school considers that the primary 1 freshmen come from different kindergartens and inevitably have differences in their English basics. Therefore, the English subject’s transition arrangements from kindergarten to primary school and teaching at the junior primary stage focus on building a pleasant learning environment, adopting diversified learning methods, and creating a context connected with life to help students adapt to the learning life in primary school as soon as possible. The junior high school English department offers the PLP R/W course. A wealth of learning activities are planned in the class, including role-playing, handicrafts, cooking experiences, etc., integrating life-oriented themes into language learning, allowing students to make full use of English during the participation process, which not only trains oral expression skills, but also effectively enhances students' interest in learning English.

At the same time, in order to reduce the learning pressure of new students, gamification is used to guide students in silent reading, and the number of tests is appropriately reduced to allow students to experience the fun of English learning. The school has always implemented the core concept of "creating a context connected with life" in the design of English teaching for the transition from kindergarten to primary school. All teaching activities are closely related to daily experience. Through diversified and enjoyable learning methods, students can adapt to the learning pace of primary school in a relaxed atmosphere and lay a solid foundation for English learning.

Phonics Cut Into Develop Reading Habits

Reading is an important foundation for English learning. The school cultivates students' reading habits and improves their reading ability through strategic reading arrangements. The school's reading strategy starts with Phonics. Foreign teachers are arranged to teach Phonics courses in junior primary schools to help them master spelling and reading skills from an early age and equip them with the ability to read independently. At the same time, the school launched the "Reading Buddies" companion reading program, which arranges for senior students to lead first- and second-grade children to read during recess. On the one hand, through the companionship of their peers, it can enhance students' interest in English reading and create a pleasant reading atmosphere. On the other hand, both parties will communicate and share in English during the process to realize the application of English in daily life. After entering the high school stage, the focus of teaching turns to the establishment of reading habits to consolidate the foundation of students' English reading ability. The school also promotes interdisciplinary reading and purchases summer English reading materials related to Chinese culture, so that reading covers all stages of lower and upper grades.

In addition, the school emphasizes that reading is not limited to physical books. While promoting reading, it also vigorously promotes electronic reading (e-reading). It not only purchases a special reading platform, but also encourages students to read e-books at home or during long vacations, so that students can read anytime and anywhere, and develop the habit of reading and independent learning. Combining the reading habits of students of all grades in various ways not only creates a reading atmosphere in the school, but also helps improve students' reading ability.

Tour activities combined with theme-based learning to learn English from life experiences

The school uses special English excursions and theme-based learning to allow students to enter various community places and create life-oriented English application scenarios for them. Each grade has different learning themes and is paired with corresponding English excursions as extended learning. For example, the first grade focused on the theme of animals and went to Ocean Park and the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens; the second grade took the theme of rules and led students into the Science Museum to learn the rules of public places; the third grade focused on the shopping unit and went to the Megabox shopping mall to try to experience shopping in English. During the activity, the teacher guides students to communicate in English, connecting textbook knowledge with real life, allowing students to understand classroom content through personal experience, apply what they have learned, and improve their English listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities. In the future, the school plans to organize an exchange group in Singapore to focus on English learning and STEAM exchanges. It will not only allow students to carry out immersive learning in the local natural English environment, but also integrate STEAM elements. It will not only allow students to deepen their English application skills in real life scenarios, apply what they have learned, but also achieve interdisciplinary integration, achieve the effect of complementation between disciplines, and take this opportunity to broaden their international horizons.

Make good use of technology to assist teaching and improve English learning effectiveness

The school makes good use of technology to assist teaching in English teaching, and currently uses tablets, various applications and devices. At the same time, the school is preparing to implement AI-assisted teaching in the Chinese subject, connecting English expression with interdisciplinary elements such as technology. In addition to being an English learning tool, AI can also be used to consolidate knowledge and assist students with excellent English proficiency to extend their learning and explore different fields. The use of technology not only makes teaching more flexible and efficient, but also promotes students' independent learning after class, and guides students to use technology correctly, so that they can have good character qualities in the future and adapt to changes in the technological environment with correct values.

English activities explore potential and build an immersive English context

Through a wealth of English activities, the school builds an immersive English context for students, provides a living English atmosphere, and explores students' potential through activities. In terms of school-wide activities, the school will designate every Tuesday as "English Tuesday". In the morning, foreign teachers will lead a group of English ambassadors to conduct English broadcasts to train all students' listening skills and teach daily English expressions in different situations; during recess, English activities around the day's theme will be carried out to allow students to use English in their interactions, gradually cultivating the habit of "Speaking English on Tuesdays" among all students, making English use a daily routine, and creating an immersive English learning atmosphere.

In terms of top-notch training, the school has established an English Ambassador Top-notch Program to select students with excellent English listening, speaking and expression skills to participate. The school offers multiple intelligence classes every other Friday for them. In addition to strengthening language expression skills, the school also arranges English drama training for senior English ambassadors and provides drama performance opportunities to help them build self-confidence and explore their potential. This stepped gifted education not only gives top English students more opportunities to perform, but also allows other students to consolidate their English knowledge and improve their English abilities through English ambassadors’ English broadcasts.

In addition, the school holds an English Fun Day themed event at the end of each semester for all teachers and students to participate, covering English drama performances, singing competitions, etc., allowing all students to stand on the stage to showcase their learning achievements. This not only stimulates their interest in learning, but also stimulates their motivation to learn English through performance training, such as dialogue interpretation, reading scripts or lyrics, etc., and comprehensively takes care of their listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities. The school also encourages students to participate in off-campus competitions. Over the years, students have won numerous awards in English writing competitions. They recently won the Star of Excellence Award and the Gold Award in the Greater Bay Area Gifted and Creative Essay Competition for their outstanding performance.

Organically combined with elements of values, dual development of character and language

Principal Xie attaches great importance to the cultivation of values and integrates character education into English teaching planning to cultivate students' positive thinking. In terms of English activities, the weekly themed activity "English Tuesday" often combines some value elements, such as setting themes in conjunction with holidays, to penetrate positive thinking, use English to subtly instill values, and also allow students to have a better understanding of English words and sentences related to value elements. At the same time, in terms of teaching, the school will also integrate universal values ​​into every English topic, so that character education can be integrated into daily teaching and organically integrated with English. It can not only promote students' English progress, but also integrate character connotations such as gratitude into life, and achieve the dual development of character and language ability.