Make good use of the advantages of direct subsidy, special English school-based courses

Heung To Secondary School (Tseung Kwan O) Utilize the advantages of DSS schools to create diversified learning spaces and flexibly deploy teaching resources, combined with excellent English curriculum planning, so that students can master English knowledge and application skills and improve learning efficiency. Principal Chung Yiu Kay, Wilson understands that good English ability is an indispensable skill for students' future development. To this end, he leads the teaching team to cultivate students to establish a solid learning foundation, good learning attitudes and positive values. Through learning knowledge and skills, you can discover your personal skills and strengths and expand your international horizons.

Diversified curriculum planning to cultivate independent learning spirit

The school firmly believes that every student has unlimited potential. In order to keep pace with the times and cater to students' different needs and learning styles, the English subject team has actively developed school-based courses in recent years, using interesting English books as introductions to help students learn the vocabulary in the books and coordinate with the content of the textbooks to improve learning efficiency. At the same time, before formulating the school-based curriculum, the school arranged for a number of experienced teachers to discuss and review the connection between junior high school and high school curriculum and the requirements of the high school public examination, and formulate the extended learning focus of junior high school to prepare students for the exam in advance. The school also adjusts teaching strategies and produces multiple school-based curriculum booklets through a collaborative project with the University of Hong Kong and school-based support from the Curriculum Development Section of the Education Bureau, and cooperates with big data analysis to improve students' performance.

Teacher Wu Qiaoyi, head of the English subject, said: "The purpose of the school-based curriculum is to cultivate students' reading habits. Through online reading platforms and comprehensive reading strategies, we hope that students can enjoy reading and improve their interest in learning. Students need to self-study an article every day, and we will analyze their language ability and provide appropriate reading materials to help students develop reading habits." The school makes good use of online learning platforms and uses artificial intelligence testing systems to assess students' reading abilities to meet international standards, and teachers provide timely feedback. In addition, the English subject team also attaches great importance to students' English conversation skills. Therefore, the school's oral English courses are taught in group formats to train students' ability to conduct group discussions and oral presentations in English and enhance their confidence in taking exams.

Create a pleasant English context and expand knowledge levels

In addition to a balanced and comprehensive school-based curriculum, the school is also committed to creating a relaxed and enjoyable English learning environment for students. Teacher Xin Luwa, the academic director, pointed out: "The school is committed to making English learning more interesting, so that students no longer regard English as a boring and difficult subject, but realize that English is closely related to daily life and an essential skill for future studies and employment. Students will benefit from and make progress by persisting in learning day after day." Therefore, the school has English morning assemblies, and students with lower English scores or more reserved personalities can also have the opportunity to speak on the stage to exercise their confidence in using English. There are also English activities at noon every day, mainly in the form of group activities for junior high school students. For example, they will watch English videos during lunch in the classroom. The videos are selected by the English subject teachers and cover a variety of topics to broaden their learning horizons.

The school also arranges reading clubs for students, and holds regular reading clubs for students who love reading, allowing them to share their favorite reading materials in groups and jointly analyze in-depth the moral education issues in the books. The entertaining teaching method allows students to learn immersed in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Therefore, the school English Society often organizes activities such as booth games, English radio stations, movie broadcasts, festival workshops, etc., so that students can confidently use English during the entertainment process and subtly consolidate their English abilities.

Diverse learning experiences outside school: Master the key to the world

"Through diverse learning experiences inside and outside the classroom, the school allows students to realize that learning English is not just for exams. Learning English well is the key to opening the door to the world, experiencing different cultures, and strengthening students' motivation to learn." Principal Chung Yiu Kay, Wilson said that the school invests resources to provide students with a wealth of off-campus learning opportunities, such as leading students to participate in overseas study groups and learn to fly small aircraft. In addition to learning aviation knowledge, they are also accompanied by professional pilots to fly in the blue sky; junior high school students are organized to learn the correct way to swing golf clubs at Sai Kung Golf Course, and practice British table manners during lunch. At the same time, they have a deeper understanding of recent social issues at Fanling Golf Course.

At the same time, the school led students to visit Stanley tourists on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival to introduce and promote traditional Chinese culture. Students need to think and prepare various questions and write relevant reports after the visit; Secondary 2 students visited the Wetland Park, learned English vocabulary related to the wetland ecosystem, and visited various exhibition halls of the Space Museum, watched English space movies, and completed worksheets on related subjects after the visit. In addition, the school has integrated interdisciplinary learning elements and brought various small animals into the campus in the Animal Show. Not only did the students have close contact with the animals, they also exchanged experiences with teachers in English and experienced the charm of the English language.

Teach students in accordance with their characteristics and implement a one-year certificate program

In order to enhance students' personal competitiveness and prepare for the Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in stages, the school encourages students to apply for an International Certificate in English every year based on their individual abilities. It also offers TOEFL Junior courses specifically for junior high school students. It also encourages high school students to take the TOEIC and IELTS exams in Form 5 and Form 6, so that they can understand their knowledge strengths and weaknesses, and help students prepare for further studies in the future and enter the bright future.

In addition, the school has set up top-notch classes and adaptive classes in Form 1 to Form 4 to provide students with different learning needs through small class teaching to help them improve their overall English proficiency and prepare for the DSE exam. Students in Form 4 to Form 6 participate in after-school group classes to teach them different test-taking strategies and improve their answering skills, striving to enable students to achieve better results in the HKDSE. At the same time, the school also hires professional tutors for students to provide courses such as commercial English and creative English. It is hoped that students can be exposed to different areas of English. In addition to mastering test-taking skills, they will also expand their knowledge of English and master diversified learning methods.

Flexible allocation of resources to equip students for the future

The school combines innovation and technology education with English learning, leading students to participate in overseas competitions, allowing students to understand how technology can improve human life and bring benefits, and actively encourages students to practice and produce scientific research products for groups in need. Before students take part in the competition, their English teachers will train them on their oral presentation skills in English. The students' latest scientific research product "Shang Xia Qi Shou" entered the final 5 in a local competition and was recommended to represent Hong Kong in international competitions. Later, in the World Science, Environment and Engineering Competition (WSEEC) 2023, it won the Gold Medal (the highest honor) and the IYSA Semi Grand Award in this competition category, bringing glory to Hong Kong.

Principal Chung Yiu Kay, WilsonAdded: "Promoting interdisciplinary English learning in different disciplines can create a good English context, allowing students to have more opportunities to use English and build learning confidence." The school has also collaborated with the University of Hong Kong to establish the Yuanverse Learning English System. With the school campus as the background, students enter a virtual reality and use artificial intelligence games to use English easily and flexibly. Combining technology and learning, it enhances students' learning interests and lays a solid foundation of innovation and technology knowledge to prepare for more diversified development directions.