High value-added English teaching allows students to win at the "finish line"

Tsang Pik Shan (Sung Lan) Secondary School attaches special importance to English education and is committed to creating an excellent English context so that students can learn happily and efficiently, develop independent learning habits, and improve their English ability. Principal Ho Pui Sing leads a professional teaching team to flexibly use diversified learning and teaching strategies, optimize school-based curriculum, design rich learning activities, grasp the trend of electronic teaching, effectively support students' English learning needs, and help them win at the "finish line". Principal Ho Pui Sing It is estimated that the school’s value-added performance in English subjects this school year is better than that of most secondary schools in Hong Kong, and it has successfully helped students pursue higher learning goals.

Targeted school-based courses to consolidate listening, speaking, reading and writing skills

The school firmly believes that as long as students study hard, they can make progress and achieve ideal learning results regardless of their starting point. Principal Ho Pui Sing said: "The foundation of language depends on vocabulary. Students often have difficulties in pronunciation and vocabulary when learning English. Therefore, the school actively consolidates students' English foundation and arranges foreign English teachers to write school-based pinyin courses to provide a more systematic and effective learning tool for Form 1 and 2 students so that they can better understand and apply English Pinyin." In addition, the school teaches students English sentence structure in a simple and easy-to-understand manner, and reviews 220 common "Sights" in life with Form 1 students. words" to improve students' overall abilities of listening, speaking, reading and writing, as well as their understanding of English culture. Teachers will also arrange a mutual review session on articles in class, allowing students to analyze each other's works in terms of grammar, word usage, etc., so that they can learn to appreciate excellent works and also refer to the strengths of others to promote their own progress.

Make good use of e-learning tools to improve English proficiency across disciplines

English learning is not limited to English subjects. In recent years, innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence have developed rapidly. Mastering the ability to use information technology can not only improve learning efficiency, but also help students learn English knowledge in different areas. Tse Ying-yan, director of junior high school English, said: "The school integrates technology into daily teaching and learning. For example, in line with the curriculum theme "Cyber World", it organizes an "App Design Competition" for Form 4 students. Students can use their creativity to design apps that solve life problems and learn to describe their apps in English. The teacher then teaches the students how to prepare English reports and speeches."

At the same time, to implement the interdisciplinary learning element, the English subject team collaborated with the Computer Department this year. The Computer Department introduced different e-learning platforms and programs to Secondary 2 students. During the English class, students were taught in-depth how to apply them, such as the questioning skills of ChatGPT integrated into the teaching materials. At the same time, the English subject also cooperates with the Technology and Lifestyle subject on the topic of food, allowing students to try to write English recipes, enrich their vocabulary, and apply English and subject knowledge to daily life.

Create English context and enrich learning experience

In order to create a strong English context, the school has an English Corner where students can play card games with foreign teachers and learn English in an interactive way. The English Corner will also play different English movies to enhance students’ English skills through audio-visual viewing. At the same time, foreign teachers organized different English learning activities, such as cookie making, writing English Christmas cards, Halloween role-playing, etc., allowing students to engage in English learning and learn more about Western culture through activities. Teachers will also arrange for students to share interesting topics in morning meetings, such as their experiences of being YouTubers, raising cats, and participating in basketball camps during the summer vacation. This will train their courage and speaking skills, set a good example for their peers, and encourage more students to use English in daily life.

The school makes flexible use of teaching resources to enrich students' learning experience. For example, it recommends students to sign up for the Secondary 2 summer English camp organized by the non-profit organization "Summer Bridge" to improve their English proficiency and cultivate self-study habits. Assistant Principal and Director of English Department Yang Tinghui said: "The activity is held in an international school and implements the 'Student teaching student' model. Students from international schools and students from different universities around the world serve as tutors, allowing students to live in an all-English environment and improve their listening and speaking skills. The results of the activity are 'shocking'. When students complete 6 to After the 8-week English camp, students who were usually more introverted also actively expressed their feelings in English, which greatly improved their confidence in using English. The peers influenced each other and made progress together.”

Organize English singing competition to enhance learning interest

The school starts from extracurricular activities and shapes English learning into an interesting thing, so that students can learn English with an active and loving attitude. During recess or after school, teachers will perform different performances in the school, such as singing English songs, and many students will watch and support. In this strong English learning atmosphere, students are willing to take a step forward, try to perform in front of the public, and exercise their confidence in using the language. The school also holds an inter-social English singing competition. Teachers will also create a lyric summary for each English song sung, providing sufficient learning support so that students can accumulate more English vocabulary and strengthen their conversational skills.

Flexible teaching methods to cultivate reading habits

The school adopts flexible teaching methods to help students gradually improve their English proficiency through reading, such as the "Reading Challenge" program specially designed for junior high school students. The school will print a large number of articles for them, including new English words in various fields. Students need to read them on their own and participate in full-level competitions during lunch break. Teachers will listen to and evaluate students' reading results. Director Xie said: "Students not only learn a lot of new words from the articles, but also gain a sense of accomplishment from the games, consolidate their knowledge through peer exchanges, and then practice diligently to address their shortcomings."

In addition, the English Department collaborated with the Information Technology Section to launch the "AR Book Report" to encourage students to read more in an interesting way. Director Xie pointed out that the "AR Book Report" trains students to use innovative technology to conduct book reports. Students will give oral reports in groups. They need to assume roles, interpret stories, and shoot short videos. The teacher will then upload the clip to the system, and students will be able to see the "AR Book Report" created by their classmates by scanning the QR code.

Combined with career planning, fully prepare for further education and employment

Mr. Yang emphasized that the school has always focused on career planning, and especially encourages students to apply their English knowledge so that they can be fully prepared before entering the society. In line with the English curriculum theme "Workplace "Communication" takes Form 5 students to visit different work scenes and interview people from all walks of life. "The other students will introduce their industry knowledge in English to help students gain a deeper understanding of the professions they are interested in, and train their conversational and listening skills through interactive conversations. The school also works closely with the Rotary Club of Soho Hong Kong, inviting successful people from all walks of life to provide students with mock interview experiences, providing professional advice on English language structure, interview details, clothing image, etc., to prepare students for further studies or employment."

Strengthen learning efficiency and best perform in public examinations

The English team will regularly conduct professional sharing on teaching and exchange opinions with each other to optimize school-based curriculum and classroom content and improve learning and teaching effectiveness. The school also participates in the school-based support program organized by the Education Bureau, in which the bureau dispatches professionals to work with teachers to prepare lessons and produce teaching materials. Last year, the school cooperated with the University of Hong Kong, which provided curriculum guidelines to strengthen the theoretical foundation, and arranged for curriculum development officers to share how to practice creative teaching and adjust school-based curriculum, thereby promoting communication among students and increasing classroom engagement. In addition, the school encourages teachers to serve as graders and oral examiners for public examinations, accumulate experience in assessment, and provide assistance to students on examination techniques, examination standards, etc., so as to prepare for the public examinations with the best performance.