A Brief Introduction to the English Curriculum at

1. A Brief Introduction to the EnglishCurriculumat Diocesan Girls’ School

2. 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.

3. Areas of Exposure

4. 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.

5. English Classes at DGS for 2008-2009

6. 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 teacher’s recommendation.

7. 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.

8. Texts Covered in the Literature Curriculum • Secondary 1 • Enchanted Island, an introduction to Shakespeare. • Enjoying More Poetry. • Bridge to Terabithia.

9. Secondary 2 • Enchanted Island. • Enjoying More Poetry. • Snapshots – a collection of short stories.

10. Secondary 3 • Working with Short Stories. • Focus on Drama. • St. Joan by George Bernard Shaw. • Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice ; • and Romeo and Juliet(Penguin Readers).

11. 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.

12. Pyramid showing the Hierachical Structure of English Department : A Bottom-Up Approach

13. Cycle of Implementing Curriculum Changes Assessment

14. 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.

15. The Most Important Criterion for a successful English Curriculum is…. Its People.

16. Teachers in Action

17. Students in Action.

18. The End Thank you Powerpoint prepared by Mr. Joe Oddie Head of English DGS joeoddie@hotmail.com