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
1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F 1G
2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 2F 2G
3A 3B 3C 3D 3E 3F 3G
4A 4B 4C 4D 4E 4F
5A 5B 5C 5D 5E
L6A L6B L6Sc
U6A U6B U6Sc
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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