English learning is in line with international standards and cultivating future "super contacts"

Carmel Bunnan Tong Memorial Secondary School’s English courses are student-oriented and committed to creating a strong English learning atmosphere, aiming to improve students’ English proficiency and interest in learning, build their confidence in spoken English, and pave the way for the future. Principal Chan Oi Chi emphasizes that English education should focus on students’ participation in English classes. Therefore, different teaching activities are implemented in English teaching, interdisciplinary learning and exchanges are set up, and artificial intelligence technology is made good use of, etc., to cultivate students to become Hong Kong’s future “super connectors”.

Movie Streaming Activities Year-Round Immersive Experience

The school has always been rich in English activities. This year, the school's two foreign teachers used "Harry Potter" as the annual theme to connect English activities throughout the year, integrating learning in the movie. Activities include a midday cinema. Two foreign teachers played the Harry Potter movie in segments during lunch time and taught common vocabulary in the movie after the show. In addition, the two foreign teachers often organize related post-screening activities, such as role-playing with process drama elements, board games, and writing activities, giving students the opportunity to understand the characters and express their creativity. In line with the ideas of the two foreign teachers, the English Department also cooperated with the campus TV station to have English ambassadors dub the story content of "Harry Potter", supplemented by some interviews, and broadcast it in each class during the morning assembly, so that the English learning process no longer requires rote memorization, but becomes more interesting and lively.

Cultivate English talents starting with speeches

In order to build students' confidence in English and enhance their interest in learning, the school provides various types of opportunities to apply English. In addition to encouraging students to participate in common English recitations, situational dialogue competitions, English dramas, and small emcee training, the school tried its best last year by establishing the English Speech Society and allowing students to try to participate in the 2024 Time to Talk group speech competition. After hard work, some students entered the finals. The teacher in charge said that after intensive training, the students' speaking fluency, stage awareness and self-confidence have been greatly improved, which is really gratifying. Therefore, the school officially established an English speech team this year. Training is held every Monday to systematically teach advanced speech and thinking organization skills to cultivate English talents in the school. The speech team is preparing to participate in English speech competitions held by various universities and educational institutions in the next semester, such as the HKYPA Hong Kong International Speech and Public Speaking Competition. In addition, the school will hold in-school speech competitions with different themes to enhance the atmosphere of English speeches and help the speech team identify talents. Principal Chan Oi Chi said that when the time comes, the school will set up an English debate team to further improve students’ critical thinking and eloquence and broaden their horizons.

Establish international perspective and cultivate “super contacts”

"It is very important for students to build an international perspective. As Chief Executive Li Ka-chiu said, Hong Kong will become an important role as a 'super connector' and a 'super value-added person' between the mainland and the world. Realizing 'biliteracy and trilingualism, relying on the motherland and facing the world' is not just a slogan. Hong Kong's acceptance of foreign cultures and English is still our strength. Hong Kong Diversified exchanges in education are undoubtedly one of our major strengths. "Principal Chan Oi Chi said that the school actively promotes overseas exchanges to help students broaden their knowledge. Every year, exchange groups are arranged to go to foreign countries to learn English and understand Western culture; in addition, all secondary and third-level students will participate in foreign exchanges, allowing them to communicate in English in a foreign language environment.

Last year, foreign teachers founded the Pen Pal Club to allow students to communicate with students at Aldercar High School in the UK through letters and emails. Some students from the Pen Pal Society even had the opportunity to meet students from the Aldercar High School Pen Pal Club during the British study tour held at the end of last school year. The scene was very touching.

Next, Principal Chan Oi Chi plans to promote a Singapore exchange group for the secondary and third levels. "The school arranges for students to go to foreign countries to communicate in English and understand the local culture. In addition to improving their English skills, more importantly, it is to cultivate their openness to culture and establish an international perspective for them so that they can become 'super contacts' in the future."

Make good use of artificial intelligence to enhance learning interest

Science and technology are developing rapidly, and teaching must also keep pace with the times. Therefore, the school actively uses artificial intelligence in English teaching, designing teaching materials, writing sample essays, and using the artificial intelligence system to correct students' compositions. The system can comprehensively evaluate the language, content and organizational skills of classmates' articles, and provide relevant suggestions to help students improve their writing and correct grammar and spelling errors. In addition, teachers will also analyze students' performance based on the data collected by the system and understand each student's weaknesses so that they can provide targeted help and improve their overall English ability.

In addition to using artificial intelligence systems for writing corrections, the school also cooperates with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to implement the "AI Speaking" project. Students only need to wear VR devices to enter the virtual exam scene, simulate the entire exam process, and practice English conversation with artificial intelligence. Principal Chan Oi Chi shared: "Students enjoy this practice mode very much because they often wear headphones to communicate with people from different regions and use biliteracy and trilingualism naturally. Using artificial intelligence to learn is very effective and can significantly enhance their interest in learning."

Create context across disciplines and master English application skills

In terms of language policy, English teaching is not limited to English subjects, but also covers other subjects, such as science and mathematics, and students need to study them in English. However, Principal Chan Oi Chi understands that different areas of subjects have specialized vocabulary and expressions that need to be learned. For example, passive voice is commonly used in science subjects, which rarely appears in daily English, so students need to study it specially. In order to take care of this, each subject group will cooperate with the English subject group to pre-teach relevant vocabulary, expressions and expressions in English classes according to the needs of different subjects, so that students can listen to lectures and read relevant learning materials more smoothly.

This method not only allows students to learn the vocabulary of various subjects in the English class, but also provides students with an English context in the classroom of other subjects for immersive learning and consolidates their impressions of English knowledge in different fields. In addition, since university courses such as science and mathematics are taught in English, this teaching method also helps students prepare in advance and make it easier to adapt to the study of related subjects when they enter university in the future.

Create an English learning atmosphere and interact to strengthen listening and speaking skills

Language learning is inseparable from cultural atmosphere. The school has created a strong English learning environment and specially set up an English room with a British-style design so that students can feel the atmosphere of British culture from the internal hardware and supplies, immerse themselves in the English context, and naturally communicate in English. As a communication tool, learning English well naturally requires speaking more and listening more. The school specially hired two foreign English teachers to specialize in training students' speaking skills, and this year hired an additional native English-speaking teacher to allow students to improve their English speaking and listening skills through daily interaction and communication.

Principal Chan Oi Chi Understand that students have the highest chance of using English when having fun. Foreign English teachers will lead extracurricular activities or English game groups to interact harmoniously with students and put their English knowledge into practice through activities. In addition, the school also pays attention to values ​​education and mental health, and has posted many English versions of famous quotes in different corners of the campus, so that students can not only receive encouragement, but also learn famous English quotes and apply them to writing and reading.

Regular English reading classes to enrich personal vocabulary library

Reading English books can help improve students’ English writing and reading skills. Every week, the school arranges reading classes, and the class teacher accompanies the students to read, and requires them to read a certain number and level of English books to enrich their personal vocabulary. In addition, the school will recommend English books worth reading based on students' interests and purchase new books on popular themes to enhance students' interest in reading. In addition, the school also sets up English reading groups for students who are good at English, allowing them to read British literary works and try to appreciate their artistic value. Last year, some students bravely entered the finals of the 2024 Harvard Prize Book Scholarship, which shows that the reading activities have achieved certain results.

Provide learning transition support to adapt to the teaching model of secondary schools

In terms of transition for secondary one freshmen, the school implements English transition courses during the summer vacation to help them become familiar with English learning topics and vocabulary so that they can adapt to middle school English courses and other subjects taught in English after they officially start school. Principal Chan Oi Chi pointed out: "Sometimes Form 1 freshmen are afraid of foreign teachers, so we will arrange for foreign teachers to take classes with them frequently during the transition stage, so that they can get to know foreign teachers, eliminate their fears, and regard foreign teachers as partners who help them learn English." In addition, for transfer students from the Mainland, Principal Chan Oi Chi also understands that English courses in Hong Kong are more challenging than those in the Mainland, and the teaching team will provide individual tutoring to students in need to help them adapt to their studies.