Objectives

In line with the mother-tongue teaching policy of the Education Bureau, our school is committed to implement the student-based and diversified whole-school language policy which aims to equip our students with necessary language abilities in order to embrace new challenges in this new era of globalization.

"Biliteracy and Trilingualism" has been put in the top priority in the "Major Concerns" of our School Development Plan.

Diversified Medium of Instruction Policy (Chinese-Putonghua-English)

Chinese as the Medium of Instruction for Non-Chinese Students

In order to help the non-Chinese students to assimilate into the Chinese society as well as to integral into the local school system, all students irrespective of their nationalities, have to sit for the main-stream Chinese Language Subject in the HKDSE Examination. Special Programs, like “Project of After-school Extended Chinese Learning for Non-Chinese Speaking Students”, will be conducted to enhance non-Chinese students’ exposure to Chinese.

Putonghua as the Medium of Instruction for Chinese Language Subject in Junior Level

To prepare students to face the ever-changing world and communicate with people from Mainland China, the policy of using Putonghua as the medium of instruction in the Chinese Language Subject has been launched as early as in 2004. This year, all Chinese Language lessons in F.1 and F.2 are conducted in Putonghua. As for the other forms, only one class or group will be arranged to use Putonghua as the medium of instruction.

Adopting EMI Teaching in Non-Language Subjects

In light of the implementation of the new fine-tuning MOI policy as well as with the aim to better prepare students for further studies and work in future, our school has decided to adopt EMI teaching in two individual non-language subjects, i.e. Computer Literacy and Mathematics. The rationales are as follows :

Parents’ Intention and Students’ Interest

Many parents, especially the non-Chinese, have expressed great concern on our school-based fine-tuned MOI language policy through many occasions, such as, parents’ meetings, telephone enquiries and personal interviews. In connection with their children’s interest, need and aptitude, they strongly request that in addition to the English Language subject, some non-language subjects should be taught in English.

Full Support from Stakeholders

In response to parents’ request, the Incorporated Management Committee as well as the Parent-Teacher Association have given their approval and consent to select two individual non-language subjects to adopt EMI teaching with due consideration to teachers’ abilities and school contexts.

Well-Planned Teachers’ Capacity Building

In terms of teachers' capability and readiness to use English as the MOI, the two chosen non-language subjects, Computer Literacy and Mathematics, have got sufficient teachers who either possess English Benchmark qualifications (Language Proficiency Requirement) or fulfill the basic requirements for using English as the MOI. More importantly, in order to ensure the adequate provision of teaching staff for a period of six years, potential teachers from the two subjects concerned will be arranged to attend "In-Service Professional Development Courses".

Professional Support from The Hong Kong Metropolitan University

In preparation for the teaching staff to adopt EMI teaching, our school had joined the project on "Study on Extended Learning Activities Conducted in English in Chinese-Medium School in Hong Kong" carried by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University. The subjects involved were Science, Social Studies, Geography, History and Economics.

Holistic and Cohesive School Language Policy

To enhance students' learning ability in English require a concerted effort from all the members of teaching staff. In this regard, a holistic and cohesive language policy in curricula has been formulated at the beginning of the school terms. Panel heads are required to make proposals on "Extended Learning Activities" in English with due consideration to their existing manpower and resources. Bridging Courses are arranged during summer holidays for S1 as well as S4 students taking the subjects concerned. A language-across-the-curriculum approach is encouraged to promote collaboration between language teachers and content subject teachers. In addition, our school is planning to join the second batch of the Re-fined English Enhancement Scheme.

Monitoring and Review

In order to evaluate students’ learning performance as well as to make continuous improvement in our school language policy, accountability measures and reviews will be conducted periodically and annually. Results or findings will be released in the staff meetings and included in School Annual Report.