Professional teaching team to improve English learning in all aspects

C.U.H.K. F.A.A. Thomas Cheung School is student-oriented, investing resources to hire 4 foreign English teachers, arranging them to be responsible for different English courses and extracurricular activities, and actively creating a rich English context. These include diversified reading courses to allow students to enjoy reading from an early age and promote independent learning. Through a multi-pronged approach, students can get used to communicating with foreigners, increase their listening and speaking opportunities, and equip themselves with comprehensive English skills, which is like opening a window to the world.

School-based English Reading Program SRP (School-based Reading Programme)

Miss Rachel, a foreign English teacher, cooperates with the school's English teachers to implement the school-based English reading program SRP (School-based Reading Programme) from primary one to primary three, for collaborative teaching and experience sharing. Students in grades one to three will have two English classes per week in the English room. They learn English through interesting language learning activities, such as storytelling, role-playing, singing, pinyin games, etc., so that students can learn in a pleasant and relaxed environment, improving their interest and effectiveness in learning English.

Among them, the Home Reading Program (Home Reading) is also part of the curriculum, which encourages students to borrow a book every week and read it with their parents to further develop reading habits. In addition, the school arranges for foreign teachers to share stories with the second and third grade classrooms from time to time during morning reading classes, further promoting the reading culture in the school in addition to SRP.

Primary 1 A+ Curriculum Interdisciplinary Unit Learning

By consolidating the timetable, the school has arranged a school-based "A+ curriculum" for the afternoon period of Primary One. There are 9 classes per week, covering visual arts, music, English drama, recitation and other artistic elements, promoting interdisciplinary unit-based learning. Among them, in the English drama class, three external foreign teachers and local teachers collaborated in teaching, teaching and producing English musicals, allowing students to learn English in the form of a singing tour, thereby increasing the opportunities for primary one students to use English and enhancing their confidence in using English. Every year, the school also arranges for students to showcase their learning achievements and invites parents to attend the English musical.

Keys2 course strengthens reading and writing skills and masters English writing skills

Grades 4 to 6 of the English subject participate in the Education Bureau's English learning program "Keys2 Literacy Development". Each grade has four units, and foreign teachers and local teachers are arranged to teach two "Keys2" classes every week to improve students' reading and writing skills. Students will learn different writing strategies and writing steps, such as writing an introduction at the beginning of an article and editing after completion. The work will be corrected by the teacher, and the students will correct the mistakes before publishing. Under the careful guidance of the teaching team, students have greatly expanded their English vocabulary, flexibly applied different grammar and sentence patterns, and improved their English writing skills.

Reader class for high school students makes good use of online platforms

The school understands that reading skills also need to be improved at the upper primary school level, so it makes good use of its large team of foreign teachers and arranges for them to work with local teachers to conduct reading classes for students. Teacher Situ Min of the English Department said: "In the Reader class, the foreign teacher will select books according to the level of the students in the class. The types are wider than those in the junior primary curriculum, such as series of books. This will strengthen students' reading skills and vocabulary, and use different teaching methods for different class levels, arranging students to read aloud, perform dramas, etc."

In order to further cultivate students' reading habits, the school purchased the "Raz-Kids" online reading platform for the whole school, allowing them to make good use of technology and select suitable reading materials according to their personal level. At the same time, the school also participated in the "Reading Marathon" platform organized by Books and Beyond Reading Club to provide English reading training for primary four and primary five students. The organization also held reading workshops, leading students to study 20 English books related to positive values, and through interactive communication such as games and sharing, to achieve value education and comprehensively improve their English language skills.

Foreign teachers co-organize diversified activities to create a strong English context

In terms of extracurricular activities, the school implements the concept of interdisciplinary learning, combines English subjects and general knowledge subjects, and promotes "FUN STEAM@ECA". The school will arrange foreign teachers to collaborate with general knowledge teachers in extracurricular activities classes to increase students' listening and speaking opportunities and create an immersive English learning environment. Let students understand STEAM theory during the activities, practice it in the STEAM Room (Innovation and Innovation Room), and finally report the experimental results in English to integrate the knowledge.

In addition, foreign English teachers will be responsible for the "FUN FUN English" activity, which adopts a rotating group model so that students of different grades have the opportunity to participate. Through English games, they can explore themes such as festivals and countries, allowing students to learn English in a relaxed atmosphere. At the same time, the school attaches great importance to students' speaking ability and expects students to use language to demonstrate what they have learned and share their learning results with others.

Top-notch English Drama Class, the crew has won multiple awards

The school has been running a top-notch English drama class for many years, identifying students who are fluent in English and have drama potential from junior high school, cultivating their self-confidence and English expression skills, and paving the way for their future promotion to high school. Selected students will participate in the Hong Kong Schools Drama Festival with an English musical every year and perform at the graduation ceremony. Students have won many awards at the Hong Kong Schools Drama Festival over the years, including the Judges’ Recommended Performance Award, and successfully stood out among the English groups in Hong Kong. In the past, it was very difficult for students to perform plays during the epidemic, but students overcame them one by one and showed off their talents on platforms outside of school. In addition to improving their English proficiency, students can also strengthen their collaboration and communication skills, achieving the results of happy learning and applying what they have learned.

Monthly themed English weeks

Taking advantage of its abundant foreign teachers, the school has set up English Week every month this year and held booth activities during recess to create an "English Everywhere" atmosphere. Each booth will be designed with a different theme and use English games to strengthen students' reading, speaking, word recognition, spelling and other abilities. Stamp collection tasks will be used to exchange gifts to enhance students' interest and successfully attract them to actively participate. During recess on Tuesdays, the school will also take junior primary school students into different classes to play games in the English room, so that they can get more exposure to English from an early age.