A Brief Introduction to the English Curriculum at

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A Brief Introduction to the EnglishCurriculuma
t

• Diocesan Girls School

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Aims of the DGS English CurriculumTo empower
students in the use of English to an exceptional
standard such that they

• think analytically, critically and independently
• become acquainted with the culture and
  conventions of the language behaviour of other
  countries
• acquire lifelong education in institutions both
  locally and abroad
• develop an aesthetic appreciation for language
• and a love of reading
• are equipped for the world as a global village of
  the twenty-first century.

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Areas of Exposure
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Junior Curriculum StreamingRationale

• To tailor the pace and level of teaching to the
  the standard of each student in the class.
• To provide a non-threatening environment for
  greater interaction, both with the teacher and
  with their peers.
• To allow greater flexibility of materials and
  style of teaching and learning.
• Streaming has proven very effective in achieving
  the desired learning outcome.

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English Classes at DGS for 2008-2009
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Implementation of Streaming

• Screening Test conducted in Form 1 in late April.
• The Screening Test comprises 4 different papers
  they include dictation, comprehension, usage and
  composition.
• Class size for each set ranges from 35-25
  students per class.
• As they move up the Form, there is mobility
  between sets based on performance in the subject
  as well as the teachers recommendation.

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Literature as a key component toLanguage
appreciation

• S1 to S3 students have at least one lesson of
  English Literature in the curriculum.
• This helps to supplement the Language Arts
• curriculum in the junior curriculum as well as
  fit in with the proposed NSS curriculum.
• By the end of Secondary 3 they will have done
  each of the three genres of Prose, Poetry and
  Drama.
• They will have a good appreciation of Literature,
  and have the option of studying it at Form 4 and
  beyond.

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Texts Covered in the Literature Curriculum

• Secondary 1
• Enchanted Island, an introduction to Shakespeare.
• Enjoying More Poetry.
• Bridge to Terabithia.

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Secondary 2

• Enchanted Island.
• Enjoying More Poetry.
• Snapshots a collection of short stories.

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Secondary 3

• Working with Short Stories.
• Focus on Drama.
• St. Joan by George Bernard Shaw.
• Shakespeares Merchant of Venice
• and Romeo and Juliet(Penguin Readers).

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Other strategies to enhance language acquisition

• Use of overseas textbooks as well as resources
  developed in-house.
• Set Texts for different Forms e.g. Diary of Ann
  Frank, Walk Two Moons, Animal Farm, Fahrenheit
  451, To Kill a Mockingbird etc.
• - Participation in speech festival, public
  speaking, debates, Model United Nations, both in
  Hong Kong and at Cornell University, US.
• English Club activities, Inter-House English
  Drama.
• Publications including the School Magazine, the
  DGS Times, 5A Magazine.
• Extensive Reading Scheme.
• Exchange Trips with schools in Melbourne and
  Singapore.
• Writes of Spring writing competition.

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Pyramid showing the Hierachical Structure of
English Department A Bottom-Up Approach
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Cycle of Implementing Curriculum Changes
Assessment
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Challenges Ahead

• The need to adjust to the New Senior Secondary
  Syllabus.
• The need to handle the logistics of moving to the
  new hotel school.
• Timetabling the need to run the current AS
  Syllabus and the NSS concurrently.

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The Most Important Criterion for a successful
English Curriculum is.
Its People.
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Teachers in Action
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Students in Action.
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The End

• Thank you
• Powerpoint prepared by Mr. Joe Oddie
• Head of English
• DGS
• joeoddie_at_hotmail.com