Aims

The English Language Education curriculum strives to achieve the following: 

• To offer every student the knowledge and tools to master a second language which provides further opportunities for extending their knowledge and gaining insight into the cultures of other people different to their own.
• To provide opportunities for personal and intellectual development, opportunities for further studies, and opportunities for any pleasure and work in the English medium.
• To help students lay a solid foundation in learning English, encouraging a lifelong investment in learning.
• To assist students with effective communication of knowledge, ideas, values, attitudes, and experiences.
• To prepare students for the changing socio-economic demands resulting from advances in information technology, including the interpretation, use and production of materials for pleasure, study and work in the English medium.
• To develop students’ abilities to confidently express and articulate their opinions and beliefs through the English language, providing them with the opportunity to converse with native English speakers.

Objectives

The English Language Education curriculum operates with the following ambitions:

• To promote and encourage a “reading to grow” culture in the school.
• To improve and develop student’s confidence in their abilities and their competency of the English language.
• To provide students with the knowledge to use English as a part of their daily lives.
• To promote STEM education by offering co-curricular support, employing e-learning and modern teaching methods, and developing materials that spark students’ interest in innovation and technology.
• To create and nurture a warm and friendly environment, one that ensures students feel they are immersed in a safe and judgment-free atmosphere where they have the freedom to grow and to be able to develop their English skills.
• To develop students’ higher-order thinking skills and critical thinking, encouraging them to apply, analyse and evaluate knowledge in the English medium.

Unique offerings of the English Department to create a well – rounded, dynamic and stimulating English learning environment:

• Native-speaking English teachers
• English Room and an English reading corner
• English Fun Days
• Access to a wide variety of English literature
• Participation in a range of English events and competitions
• Study tours and school outings
• Extra-curricular materials
• English ambassadors

Competitions and Events

We offer a wide variety of competitions and events that encourage students to showcase their skills and talents throughout the year.

Inter-class Creative Writing Competition

The English Department organises an annual Creative Writing Competition for P.4 – P.6 students to explore their creativity and provide students with a platform to showcase their writing abilities. Pieces are judged on creativity, language skill and penmanship. Students can enjoy having the freedom and the chance to explore their creative side in their English writing. Last year’s theme was ‘Tales of Integrity’ and encouraged students to reflect upon one of the major concerns of the school year, namely the concept of integrity, and produce a piece of writing demonstrating their own personal take on the theme.

Hong Kong Speech Festival

Every year, the school enters the Primary One to Primary Three mixed-voice choral speaking event. The English Choral Speaking Team is trained by our NET teachers and has regular practice throughout the school year. Our school has seen great performance in previous years whilst participating in the Choral speaking event. The English Choral Speaking Team won first prize in their participation category in 2018/19. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the choral speaking event has been cancelled for the 2022/2023 school year.

Students are encouraged to participate in the English Solo Verse Speaking events individually. The level of ability and confidence in English usage at the school is reflected in the high number of participants each year, as well as the consistent numbers of students winning Champion, First and Second Runner-up Prizes each year.

Talent Quest

The school’s annual Talent Quest, which is sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Association, gives our students an extra opportunity to express their creativity and develop their talents. Due to the pandemic, the Talent Quest has been cancelled for the 2022/2023 school year.

English Ambassadors

In order to nurture talent and build up confidence in the students, teams of English Ambassadors are selected each term to champion the English learning in the school. Their duties and responsibilities include helping younger Raimondians in the English Reading Corners, supervising activities on English Fun Days and providing support to their fellow English Learners.

English Days

Throughout the school year, the English Department organises themed English  Days that give students the chance to have fun using their English skills.

Last year, due to the pandemic, one of the two English Days was conducted over Zoom. However, despite the new approach to the English Day, the event was thoroughly enjoyed by all. “Christmas Spirit” was the theme of the first English Day, which was carried out during the festive season. Activities included Kahoot quizzes based on a variety of videos such as music videos, short stories and advertisements encompassing the festive season, as well as a Zoom scavenger hunt and writing cards of encouragement.

The second English Day was conducted face to face at school, fortunately. The English day was planned around the school’s major concerns of the 2021/2022 school year, which was Wisdom, Integrity and Justice. There were game booths, singing and dancing, a Raimondian spelling bee and a board game activity, ‘Every Step Counts’. The latter gave students the opportunity to play board games they had made based on the theme of Integrity, Justice and Wisdom and all these activities were received with great excitement and a strong willingness by students to participate. The English day was seen as a great success.

English room and an English reading corner

We offer students access to an English room under the supervision of our NETs, where an enjoyable environment is created in which students can be immersed in the English language. Students can enjoy English board games, read English books, learn tongue twisters and poems and practice English conversation in an informal setting. Unfortunately, due to the Pandemic during the 2021/2022 school year, students were not able to utilize these facilities. 

Extra-curricular material

Students are provided with additional non-compulsory extra-curricular material to enhance their learning. English activity booklets are given to students before vacation with varying themes such as summer, Christmas, and Easter, depending on the relevance of the holiday.

Native-speaking English Teachers

This year we have two NET teachers, Ms Annalise and Mr Jared. Their responsibilities range from teaching Oral lessons to P.1 – P.6, to planning, assisting, and conducting English events with the English Department.

Inside the classroom, during class time, our native-speaking English teachers (NETs) help students to improve their speaking, reading and listening skills with well thought-out and prepared activities. These ensure that all learning styles and levels are catered for. Activities include frequent speaking tasks, allowing students the opportunity to interact with our NETs as well as their classmates. Classroom readers afford students the chance to be exposed to English literature of an appropriate level and standard. There are numerous other enjoyable learning activities which are utilized during the NETs’ lessons to encourage an interactive environment where students can be immersed in the English language.

Outside of the classroom, our NETs regularly interact with students, meeting with students before and after school and during recess. Students are given the opportunity on multiple occasions to learn with our NETs, including Campus TV appearances, access to the English Room and participating in our English Fun Days.

Below is a self-introduction made by our new NETs.

Study Tours and school outings

Each year, the school arranges a study tour for some students to travel abroad and visit a location of educational and cultural significance. This provides students with a unique opportunity to practise their English communication skills, experience different cultures and gain a sense of responsibility as ambassadors for the school.

Due to the pandemic, no study tour was arranged for 2021/22. In the past few years, our students went to Singapore, Taiwan, Australia and different countries. In 2018/19, our Primary Five students visited New Zealand during the summer. In New Zealand, they explored a number of cultural and historic sights, spent time at a local primary school and enhanced their real-world English communication skills by staying with a local family for part of their visit.

Useful Websites

1. British Council
   https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org
2. Oxford
   https://trc.oupchina.com.hk/elt/svcindex.asp
3. Dictionary
   https://www.dictionary.com/
4. BBC Learning English
   http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
5. hkedcity – English Campus
   https://www.hkedcity.net/english/