I. Aims:

The overall aims of  the English Language curriculum are:

1. to empower students with the English language capabilities necessary for lifelong learning, further studies and work;
2. to develop students’ intellectual development, including critical thinking, creativity and analytical power; and
3. to expose students to a world of leisure and entertainment in which English is used.

II. Objectives of Program Plan (2008 – 2011)

The foci of the English Department these 3 years are:

1. to expose students to a rich English environment in which they can enhance their English proficiency and experience cultures in which English is used;
2. to equip students with the essential language abilities and intellectual power for effective writing in English;
3. to enhance students’ confidence and ability in speaking English;
4. to boost students’ abilities in tackling public examinations, such as time management and problem solving skills; and
5. to prepare students for the New Senior Secondary Curriculum, notably in exposure to language arts.

III. NSS

A. Understanding the NSS Curriculum (2009 – 2010)

The New Senior Secondary Curriculum (NSS) will be adopted in September 2009.  The English Language Curriculum consists of a Compulsory Part and an Elective Part. The Compulsory Part includes the teaching of four language skills, grammar, communicative functions, vocabulary and text-types through a task-based approach. It takes up around 75% lesson time from NSS1 to NSS3.

The Elective Part includes a range of extension modules that add variety to the curriculum and broaden students’ exposure. It takes up about 25% of lesson time. A total of eight  modules in the Elective Part are categorized into the following two groups and students are required to take 3 modules with at least one from each category:

Language Arts

• Learning English through Drama
• Learning English through Short Stories
• Learning English through Poems and Songs
• Learning English through Popular Culture

Non-Language Arts

• Learning English through Sports Communication
• Learning English through Debating
• Learning English through Social Issues
• Learning English through Workplace Communication

B. Mode of Assessment

Public Examination  85 %

School Based Assessment (Speaking) 15%

C. Preparation for NSS

Teacher Training

1. All English teachers have been attending seminars and workshops conducted in different universities according to the training places assigned by the Curriculum Development Institute.  These workshops help teachers to understand the curriculum and prepare themselves for teaching the electives.
2. Qualified professionals in teaching drama, short stories and poems were hired to conduct in-depth training for all English teachers in school during the past few years. The training included workshops and co-teaching practices.

Modification of junior form curriculum

1. The use of language arts in English teaching is not new to our school.  Inter-class competitions focusing on different language arts activities have been a tradition in our English classroom. However, with the change in the new syllabus, the use of short stories, poems, films and songs has been increased in junior form teaching.
2. The increased use of newspapers has been adopted to arouse students’ awareness of social issues and expose them to different text-types.

Implementation of the English Self Enhancement Scheme (ESES)

1. To master a foreign language, students need to be exposed to or even immersed in that language for a long time and this cannot be achieved in the limited time span of the English classroom.  The ESES encourages students to take the initiative to read, view, listen to and speak in English when they engage in activities at school or at home.
2. The launching of the English Room in September 2008 provides students with resources like books, songs in CDs, films and TV programmes in DVDs, board games, educational websites and activities to learn for fun.

IV. Student Activities at school

Photos and videos of the activities below are available for viewing at http://stmc1eas.blogspot.com/

1. English Day Lunchtime Activities

2. Language Arts Activities

3. English Room Activities

Monthly film shows

Opens 4 times a week for students to read books, watch movies and TV programs, play board games, listen to CDs or surf educational websites.

V.Overseas Trip & Outside Activities & Competitions

1. Singapore Trip (March 09)
2. London Trip (July-Aug 09)
3. Inter-school Debate (Oct. 08)
4. Hong Kong Speech Festival (Nov. – Dec. 08)
5. Public Speaking Contest (Jan.- Feb. 09)
6. Documentary Making Competition (Jan-Feb 09)
7. Drama Fest (April 09)

VI. Awards

1. 94 students and 1 choral group took part in the Hong Kong Speech Festival and 80 of them got merit certificates. Among them there were 10 champions, 12 first runners-up and 13 second runners-up.
2. Students took part in ‘Think Again Documentary Making Competition 2009’ organized by Wiseman Education, Education Bureau & National Geographic and won two 2 awards:
   • “Best Directing Award”  Edith Lau Chung Ying (2E), Imfeld Chantal Chi Ching (2E), Robyn Kam Hoi Hei (2A), Harriet Lai Kai Heng (2C) and Tsang Pik Kwan (2D).
   • “You Tube Most Viewed Award – Champion”  Kathy So Hiu Nam (3A), Serena Au Wing Man, Nicole Chan Ho Ching, Chan Hok Hin and Joyce Li Lok Sum (3E)
   • Their documentary can be viewed at the following website: http://www.wiseman.com.hk/site/thinkseries/winners/thinkagain
3. DramaFest 20 students from F.2 to F.4 took part in the DramaFest organized by the  Association of English Medium Secondary Schools. Chantal Imfeld Chi Ching of 2E won the trophy for the Outstanding Performer.