Innovative language teaching strategies to understand the world through English

TWGHs Tseng Hin Pei Primary School is committed to providing comprehensive and diversified education and implementing the school philosophy of "facing the world and cultivating talents". In terms of English teaching, Principal Jian Junda understands that English is an important communication tool, and learning English is like opening the door to the world for children. Therefore, the school actively provides students with a comprehensive English learning package. By focusing on English context, curriculum planning, learning activities, etc., it carefully arranges a full range of English learning experiences to help students broaden their horizons and understand the world through English.

Create an English learning environment to help students understand the world

Principal Jian understands that a good language environment plays a key role in students learning English, so he specially builds the campus into an English-based learning environment. The school started with the environment setting, incorporating English poems into the stairs and other places on campus, and displaying English scientific knowledge on the walls of the STEM room. The school insists on using bilingual information and publications so that students can learn from the environment and things they come into contact with every day. At the same time, the school has an English room called the "Global Discovery Center". The layout is carefully designed by the teacher. Information from the Guinness Book of World Records and world landmarks are displayed in English on the walls, allowing students to learn English from the environment. At the same time, they understand that the meaning behind English is to broaden their horizons and learn more knowledge from different places.

Fun English learning activities to improve cross-cultural communication skills

The school creates an English context for students through activities, allowing them to immerse themselves in the English world in an interesting way through activities and communication. For example, English football is launched, and students learn and use English in team communication through simple instructions from foreign coaches. The school also promotes English drama activities, which are led by the school’s foreign English teachers and English subject directors. Through stage performances, understanding scripts, and character dialogues, students deepen their use of English vocabulary and knowledge, and enhance their confidence in learning English. Principal Jian hopes that children can understand the practicality of English in external communication from the activities, so as to increase their cross-cultural communication abilities.

The course incorporates English elements and builds all-round language skills

In terms of English curriculum planning, the school adds English elements to different subjects in the timetable to improve language learning effectiveness. To this end, the school has launched cross-subject collaboration, and English elements have been added to junior primary mathematics and general knowledge subjects. Mathematics subjects are taught with printed English textbooks and Chinese e-books for students to compare Chinese and English for reference; General Studies subjects are separated into "Life and Science Subjects", which use English textbooks to teach scientific knowledge to prepare for future entry into English secondary schools. Principal Kan hopes to cultivate children's ability to integrate knowledge by learning different subjects in English: "Because teachers use English teaching materials and teach in English, children will be immersed in it and naturally use English to answer questions from the teacher."

At the same time, the school also incorporates English elements into the "SMILE" school-based special courses. The school integrates global citizenship courses and travel courses into the school-based curriculum, arranging students to travel, visit, and go to various parts of the world for overseas exchanges, allowing students to experience different cultures. Principal Jian pointed out: "This plan is in line with our philosophy of English teaching and builds students' international perspective." Not only that, due to the epidemic in the early years, the school was unable to take children out for exchanges, so it introduced the "Travel around the world" course to allow students to understand the scenic spots and customs in different parts of the world, and learn English while learning about foreign characteristics and cultures.

Language cohesion measures: Accumulate vocabulary and consolidate foundation

Primary 1 students have just entered primary school from kindergarten and need some time to adapt to the primary school English curriculum. The school has launched English transition support for primary 1 and 2 students. The school has launched a "Primary One English Day Camp" for students since the beginning of the term, arranging for them to participate in English activities throughout the week. The activities allow children to experience the fun of learning English during the learning process, reduce their fear of English, and give them opportunities to communicate with their peers, allowing children to experience, use and learn English. In terms of testing, the school has made special arrangements for grades one and two, implementing practical assessments in the first and second stages of schooling to understand students’ learning progress and difficulties and reduce the pressure on parents. The school also considers that English-taught courses in junior primary schools will teach some more profound topics in Chinese and English to make it easier for students to understand, gradually accumulate vocabulary, lay a solid foundation in English, and practice the concept of "facing the world and cultivating talents" to help students become international talents.