Comprehensive English learning experience, connecting the world and heading towards a bright future

English is not just a part of learning, it is the key to the world. GCC&ITKD Lau Pak Lok Secondary School has four foreign English teachers who carefully design courses and colorful activities to allow students to sail in the English world, overcome language barriers, and improve their confidence. Principal Wong Wai ManEncourage students to go out of the classroom and let them "listen more, speak more, read more, and write more", turn English learning into daily life, and practice English skills in real situations. Through comprehensive learning experiences, students can freely use English both socially and academically, laying a solid foundation so that they can not only communicate in English in a globalized world, but also navigate diverse cultures and realize their dreams.

Four foreign teachers create context and deepen English communication in all aspects

In order to create an international English learning atmosphere, the school specially hired four foreign teachers to provide more opportunities for authentic English teaching. They will also serve as junior high school teacher teachers, aiming to increase communication with classmates outside the classroom. The team of foreign teachers not only teaches reading, writing, listening and speaking in class, but also organizes diversified activities so that students can frequently use English in daily life. For example, "English Speaking Day" with different themes and the annual "English Week" are held every Monday. We even wear special costumes to celebrate various festivals to increase the fun of learning and allow students to use relevant vocabulary. Through English learning methods that are integrated into daily life, students can practice and improve their English skills in a natural environment and build their confidence in using English.

Foreign teachers will also lead students outside the campus, such as bowling, strolling in shopping malls, experiencing Chinese tea-drinking culture in Chinese restaurants, enjoying afternoon tea in cafes, and even visiting Hong Kong's landmark buildings and tourist attractions, such as Ocean Park, sky100 and the National Palace Museum. Principal Wong Wai Man believes that diverse cultural experiences and real-life learning activities provide students with immersive opportunities to practice English, helping them improve their fluency and listening and speaking skills, and at the same time learn new vocabulary and expressions in a smooth manner, ensuring that students can adapt to and use the English thinking model in all aspects of reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar, and achieve a full English communication environment.

Every spoken English class in the school will be taught by both foreign teachers and local teachers. In the public examination class, the teacher-student ratio is even smaller. Two foreign teachers and one local teacher are arranged to teach together, focusing more on training students' oral skills to cope with the public examination. In addition, during lunch time and after class, students have the opportunity to get additional speaking practice to make communicating in English easy and comfortable.

Big data improves teaching effectiveness and promotes independent learning of English

The school encourages students to arrange study plans according to their own interests and pace, stimulate their motivation for learning English, and cultivate their independent learning spirit. Junior high school students can access more than 500 English reading resources through the school's "online reading platform", including books, articles and newspapers, ranging from simple fables to complex scientific articles. It contains various types of questions and difficulty levels. Students can choose reading content according to their own preferences and learning goals. The system will recommend personalized book lists based on their reading habits and interests, helping students improve their critical thinking skills in the process of solving problems and learn how to choose appropriate learning challenges based on their own abilities.

For high school students, the school uses A.I. and big data technology to analyze students' learning process performance and strengths and weaknesses in the "Online Learning System", and predicts their scores in public examination reading and writing papers, thereby providing personalized question interpretation, learning resources and follow-up support. Whether it is consolidating basic knowledge or challenging more difficult English reading and writing skills, students can make progress at their own pace.

Establish a strong reading culture and easily transition to high school courses

Reading is the cornerstone of language learning. In addition to tailor-made English reading plans for students, the school also sets up an English book corner in each class. Starting from the junior high school stage, students’ English reading interests and habits are cultivated, and students are encouraged to explore and learn in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, so that they can move from "relaxed reading" to "enjoyed reading".

In order to stimulate students' enthusiasm for reading, the school implements the "Online Reading Record Award Scheme", which allows students to understand their reading progress and achievements in real time, and stimulates curiosity and enthusiasm for learning during the reading journey. At the same time, the school has specially set up "Library Book Recommendations" and "English Ambassador Sharing" on the official website and regular morning meetings to encourage students to read more English books starting from junior high school to improve their English proficiency, including vocabulary, grammatical understanding and reading comprehension skills, laying a solid foundation for future studies, acquiring knowledge through reading, cultivating critical thinking and improving academic abilities.

For junior high school students, developing reading habits early will help them transition and adapt to the learning requirements of high school, learn how to study independently and extract information from different texts, and be able to establish their own opinions and insights.

Teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, passing on the firepower from generation to generation, and establishing a solid foundation in English

Students have different learning needs and their English proficiency will inevitably vary. Therefore, the English subject adopts a small class teaching strategy and divides the four classes into six groups to cater for learning differences. In addition, teachers will also teach Form One students how to take excerpts and take notes to help them adapt to the middle school learning model and build a language foundation. At the same time, the school specially hires senior teachers to provide after-school tutoring classes for senior students to improve learning effectiveness.

The school’s English learning also embodies the spirit of “passing on the fire from generation to generation”. Seniors who have achieved good results in the HKDSE and are currently studying in local universities will return to school to provide tutoring services, pass on experience, build an active learning community, and at the same time cultivate students' self-confidence and prepare for public examinations.

For students newly arriving in Hong Kong, the school has specially set up English listening and comprehensive ability classes to help them integrate into the new environment and gradually adapt to Hong Kong's curriculum and examination format.

The school holds junior high school English after-school classes to allow students who need extra help to consolidate their English reading skills and grammar rules, and improve their language use abilities through personalized guidance.

For high school students, the school’s online English after-school writing class focuses on improving their writing skills, teaching how to construct articles, elaborate ideas and organize content, as well as how to use advanced sentence structures and rich vocabulary to enhance the depth and persuasiveness of articles, improving students’ chances of achieving excellent results in public examinations.

Explore the vast world in English and improve higher-order thinking and cross-cultural communication

In terms of language policy, the school integrates English into various subjects so that students can learn English vocabulary in different fields. Subjects such as mathematics and science will be taught in English according to classes and groups to prepare for future studies in English at university.

Liu Baile Middle School has a new English debate team this year, aiming to become an important platform for developing students' multi-angle thinking ability and critical thinking. Students participate in debates through practical combat, learn how to organize writing and speaking thinking, and exercise their language and logical thinking skills in a real and interactive environment. By listening to the other party's arguments and responding to them, students develop their immediate reaction and critical thinking skills and enhance their expression skills.

Thanks to the support of the school sponsoring group and the efforts of the teaching team, the school has organized many overseas English learning trips for students to shape their worldview. Their footprints have spread to Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Activities include homestay experiences, local English classes, and visits to universities and museums. Students apply English in the natural environment and experience the local customs. At the same time, the school also recommends and sponsors many students to participate in cultural exchange groups abroad. Earlier, some students stood out and were nominated to participate in the "Youth in Norway - Exploring Historical and Cultural Marks" exchange group organized by the Home Affairs and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Committee. They explored local history, learned about cultural conservation issues, communicated with local college students and overseas Chinese, and broadened their international horizons in English.