Hop Yat Church School English Newsletter June 2014 Hello! I’m Miss Maria, Hop Yat Church School’s Native English Teacher. I come from Preston, a small city near to Manchester, England. I have lived and studied in England all my life. I have really enjoyed getting to know both the students and staff at Hop Yat Church School over the past four years and I’m very happy here. I hope that the students will enjoy their lessons with me in the coming year. I hope that our students can continue to improve their English skills whilst having fun, ultimately becoming more confident in their English ability. In April, forty P.5 and P.6 students who had achieved excellent grades in their English classes, were invited to join an ‘Animation Magic’ workshop at Disneyland. The workshop was taught in English, and the students were able to extend both their vocabulary and understanding, whilst having fun; the most effective way to learn English and improve students’ confidence! The students learnt about how animation has progressed over the last one hundred years. They took part in lots of interactive tasks and they really enjoyed the ‘hands on’ approach of these activities. Later, students spent time with their classmates exploring Disneyland. Teachers were impressed by how many students continued to chat informally in English in their free time. Students shared their experiences during an assembly. P.1-P.3 students take part in a reading-based English programme called PLP/R-W. Each class visits the English room every week to have a lesson with our NET, Miss Maria. Big books are read together, and phonics activities, games and songs are all based upon the themes and new vocabulary learnt in that particular book. In P.1, we spend a lot of time building a strong phonics foundation so that independent reading and writing skills can develop successfully. Students are given the chance to develop their confidence, as well as their listening, speaking and writing skills. We encourage students to put their English learning into use, in a fun and practical way. In P.1, students made a delicious cake, following the steps of a recipe. This activity was a lot of fun, especially when we ate the cake! In P.2, students wrote postcards to their friends. In P.3, students created a magazine that was shared with their classmates. Students learn to work both individually and in small groups. To support their classroom learning, students also take part in a home reading scheme. Miss Maria matches students to a suitable reading book level at the end of the school year. The content and vocabulary of these books builds upon their in-class learning. Making New Friends This year, fourteen P.4 and P.5 students have taken part in an English extra-curricular class with Miss Maria. These students had the opportunity to talk with students at St. Matthew’s C.E. Primary school in the North West of England. Students have been in England Look, Mum! I’m on TV. I’m famous! making and exchanging video letters with our new friends at a primary school in England. St. Matthew’s C.E. Primary School have in turn, replied with their own videos. We’ve been able to learn all about daily life at an English primary school, as well as some interesting English recipes, games and songs. Our students have worked together to write scripts, as well as rehearse and perform short scenes, that were captured on video. We’ve shared information about our culture, including games and songs. We’ve even demonstrated how to cook traditional Chinese food, like dumplings! Delicious! It was the first time that many of our students have had the chance to speak English on camera, as well as to communicate with children from England and they all did really well! English English Corner Corner During During our our morning morning recess, recess, members members of of the the English English Ambassador Ambassador Team Team introduce designed to introduce and and play play games games with with other other students. students. All All games games are encourage students encourage toEnglish practice theirhaving oral English whilst having to practisestudents their oral whilst fun! Students enjoy fun! the Students chance enjoy chance to use their with informal with their classmates. to usethe their informal English theirEnglish classmates. Choral Speaking Speaking Choral This year, year, students students from from P.1 P.1 –– P.3 P.3 joined joined aa choral choral speaking speaking This class. This This activity activity trains trains boys boys and and girls girls to to work work together together class. to produce produce aa choral choral speaking speaking piece. piece. These These students students to showed off off the the results results of of their their hard hard work work during during aa whole whole showed school performance performance in in front front of of all all their their classmates. classmates. school Afternoon Afternoon Assembly Assembly After After lunch, lunch, we we often often have have time time for for students students to to share share songs, songs, interesting interesting facts facts or or news news stories, stories, poems, poems, riddles riddles and and jokes. jokes. Students Students often often work work with with their their classmates classmates to to rehearse rehearse and and perform perform these these assemblies. assemblies. P.6 Interview Workshop The The wider wider school school is is invited invited to to participate participate with with singing singing or or answering answering questions, questions, and and it’s it’s aa great great P.6 students have a very busy time preparing for their opportunity opportunity for for students students to to practice practice their their English English speaking speaking and and listening listening skills skills outside outside of of secondary school interviews. Each P.6 class takes part in an Interview Workshop with Miss Maria, where they can practice their English speaking skills, as well as develop their interview technique. Students take part in interview role plays, and are encouraged to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of their classmates. An interview handbook also helps them to prepare for their real interviews. This year, all P.6 students visited a nearby secondary school for an interview workshop, where they practiced their one-to-one interview skills in an authentic setting. The students found this visit really useful. the the classroom. classroom.