Diversified teaching adds fun and unleashes English potential

Si Yuan School of the Precious Blood is committed to creating a pleasant learning environment for students, providing diversified high-quality education, and promoting students to achieve balanced development in moral, intellectual, physical, social, aesthetic, and spiritual aspects. In terms of English teaching strategies, Principal Zou Guifang believes that the most important thing in learning English is to increase interest, have more exposure in daily life, and be able to learn and apply it. Therefore, we actively create a strong English learning environment in the school so that students have more opportunities to be exposed to English. In terms of curriculum design, extracurricular activities, etc., students can learn from diverse activities in an interesting way and apply what they have learned confidently.

The school-based curriculum strengthens reading elements and the teaching is lively and enjoyable to learn English.

The school strengthens reading elements in curriculum design at all levels and conducts diversified teaching activities to enhance students' interest in learning English. The first and second graders join the "Read Write Inc" Pinyin course and use reading materials to consolidate students' Pinyin knowledge, so that students can lay a solid foundation in the first grade. Principal Zou pointed out: "Learning Chinese requires a lot of use, so teachers often encourage students to communicate more in English. Pinyin courses help students learn by themselves, string together words and pronounce words, and strengthen their listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities."

In addition to the textbook "English to Enjoy", for grades three to six, storybook teaching is also added, accompanied by different teaching activities. The third and fourth grade students performed English dramas to interpret the content of the story and demonstrate their learning achievements; the fifth grade students read "Around the World in Eighty Days" and conducted special studies based on the book to introduce the customs and customs of various places. Earlier, the school received funding from SCOLAR’s Promotion of Primary School English Learning Subsidy Scheme (PEEGS) to promote Reading across Curriculum to enhance students’ reading skills. The English subject also cooperates with the general knowledge, Chinese, and religious ethics subjects to conduct cross-subject readings based on different themes.

In addition, the school often cooperates with professional institutions to continuously optimize school-based courses. For example, referring to the professional advice of the Education University of Hong Kong, the "Writing Portfolio" was launched to help third- and fourth-grade students set goals and reflect on the "For Learning As Learning" element of assessment literacy. The school also participates in the school-based support services of the Education Bureau, actively improves and optimizes the school-based curriculum based on the latest curriculum guidelines, and incorporates effective reading skills teaching methods to provide students with professional and high-quality English education.

Electronic tools assist teaching and extend the learning time to help independent learning

Teachers use different e-learning platforms to teach in class, making learning English less boring and promoting effective learning and teaching. For example, the e-learning platform "Wordwall" is used to gamify English learning and teach grammar and other English knowledge in the form of games, making the classroom lively and interesting. In addition, e-learning platforms can also cooperate with the "flipped classroom" teaching model. By using platforms such as "Seesaw", "Nearpod" and "PowerLesson 2", pre-study tasks are arranged for students before the formal class. On the one hand, the teaching efficiency is improved, and on the other hand, the learning time is extended before and after class to establish the habit of independent learning. From a teacher's perspective, e-learning platforms can also assist teachers with corrections and data analysis, making it easier for teachers to understand students' difficulties in learning English.

Not only that, the school also uses the "Seesaw" e-learning platform to encourage students to submit homework in the form of English short videos, which not only consolidates knowledge points, but also trains students' English conversation and expression skills, helping children build their confidence in speaking English. The school's "KOL" even won the first runner-up in Hong Kong in the KOL competition organized by SCOLAR.

Apply English in competitions and perform well in external competitions

The school actively encourages students to participate in off-campus competitions to increase their opportunities to be exposed to and apply English and to verify what they have learned through practice. Earlier, students performed excellently in the "TOEFL Junior" test, and their English proficiency was comparable to that of Form 3 students. The results were encouraging. The performance of the students in the recitation festival was also outstanding, winning many championships in the past years. In the 75th recitation festival, the students won the runner-up in the male and female co-recitation of the fourth to sixth grade primary schools. At the same time, the school also arranges students to participate in the Hong Kong School Drama Festival every year, and has won all the awards in the past two years. It also participated in the Hong Kong Primary School Reading Competition earlier and won the runner-up and first place in the junior and senior categories respectively.

Director of the English Department Director Tang Yuxian shared: "We will give students plenty of opportunities to practice conversation during class, instead of only training when competitions are required. Therefore, they can perform better when it comes to English speaking competitions." In addition, the school has also established a top-notch education program "Elite Writing Class", where foreign English teachers help students improve their writing skills, and encourage students with excellent writing performance to participate in competitions, hoping that they will strive for excellence.

Campus layout and activities are coordinated to create a happy English learning atmosphere

The school is committed to creating a strong and happy English learning atmosphere for students, starting from the hardware facilities and English activities, so that students are willing to be exposed to English and actively use English for daily communication. On campus, there is a colorful English room. In addition to regular teaching purposes, the English room is also open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, allowing students to play table games, role-playing and other activities with foreign English teachers. They can communicate with foreign English teachers through games, allowing students to experience the fun of learning English. The English room also has a "Mr. Benjamin Shop" where students can save points and exchange them for gifts to increase their motivation for learning English. Even the English outdoor area is carefully designed. There is a corridor with fairy tale murals called "Fantasy World" outside. Its bright and dreamy design attracts students' attention and makes them want to stay in this English context for longer.

In terms of activities, the school has designated Day 3 as English Day and holds a "Chit Chat Zone" where students can have conversations in English with teachers on different topics during recess. Foreign English teachers will also organize games on different themes in the covered playground to expose students to different vocabulary. Mr. Benjamin James ADLARD, a foreign English teacher, said: “When students develop an interest in English and feel the joy of learning English, they can be attracted to speak more English and no longer resist English.

Organizing overseas exchange groups and applying English in natural contexts

In order to allow students to immerse themselves in a natural English context and communicate in full English, the school arranges for students to travel to Singapore, Australia and other countries for exchanges. The teacher arranged for the students to stay at an Australian farm, visit staff in English to learn about the work in different positions, and build students' confidence in using English. At the same time, the school also uses live broadcasts to allow students in Hong Kong to interact with local people live in order to apply what they have learned.

Teacher Li Guoqing, head of the English subject, said: "Before departure, the school also prepares students, teaching them practical conversational phrases and introducing local customs and customs. Through contact with local people, students not only learn and use English flexibly, but also learn about different cultures, build an international perspective, and understand the world through English. After returning to school, students share what they saw and heard in the local area with other students, allowing all teachers and students to broaden their knowledge and promote peer learning."