Briefing Session on Optimising Senior
Secondary English Language
English Language Education
Section
CDI, EDB
February 2021
Background
Information
Directional Recommendations
Whole-person Development
Values Education and Life Planning
Education
Creating Space and Catering for
Learner Diversity
Applied Learning
University Admissions
STEM Education
Initial proposals
Optimising Arrangements
for Senior Secondary
English Language
CDC-HKEAA Committee
on English Language
CDC Committee
on English Language
Education
Curriculum Development
Council
Education Commission
Discussion and Deliberation
with Different Committees
Proposed
Arrangements
Creating Space and
Catering for Learner Diversity
Holistic Planning Chinese
Language
English Language Mathematics Liberal Studies
(To be renamed)
Creating Space and
Catering for Learner Diversity
Holistic Planning Chinese
Language
English Language Mathematics Liberal Studies
(To be renamed)
Catering for Learner Diversity
Offering a Cat. A Elective Subject:
e.g.
▪ Literature in English
▪ Chinese Literature
Offering a Cat. B Applied Learning Course (ApL):
▪ ApL
(Vocational English)
• ApL
(Translation Studies) (pending)
Offering M1 / M2
of Mathematics Offering school- based
programmes
▪ Enrichment / remedial programmes
250 hours
180 hours
125 hours
Others
flexible differentiation measures (by class/group)
Students’
needs
School
context
Subject Lesson Time to be Released (Notional)
Chinese Language About 50 hours
English Language About 50 hours
Mathematics About 50 hours
Renamed Subject in lieu of
Liberal Studies About 100 hours
Total About 250 hours
Optimising the Four Senior Secondary Core Subjects to Create Space for Students and Cater for Learner Diversity:
School Questionnaire Survey and School Briefing Sessions (EDBCM 20/2021)
Creating Space and
Catering for Learner Diversity
Subject Lesson Time to be Released (Notional)
Chinese Language About 50 hours
English Language About 50 hours
Mathematics About 50 hours
Renamed Subject in lieu of
Liberal Studies About 100 hours
Total About 250 hours
Subject Lesson Time to be Released (Notional)
Chinese Language About 50 hours
English Language About 50 hours
Mathematics About 50 hours
Renamed Subject in lieu of
Liberal Studies About 100 hours
Total About 250 hours
Optimising the Four Senior Secondary Core Subjects to Create Space for Students and Cater for Learner Diversity:
School Questionnaire Survey and School Briefing Sessions (EDBCM 20/2021)
Creating Space and
Catering for Learner Diversity
Optimising Teaching Arrangements
Optimising Arrangements
Curriculum Time and
Design
Existing Curriculum Proposed Changes
A total of 313-375 hours of lesson time up to about 50 hrs to be freed up to allow greater flexibility in curriculum planning through reducing the overlap of the Compulsory and Elective Parts
75% of the lesson time allocated to the Compulsory Part
25% of the lesson time allocated to the Elective Part for the teaching of 2 – 3 elective modules
the Elective Part components to be fully integrated into the Compulsory Part
the Elective Part to be taught as extension/enrichment components, with emphasis on the creative use of English through the language arts components
Cross- curricular
Links
strengthening cross-curricular links and collaboration by:
promoting the academic use of language through RaC and LaC, as well as co-curricular and life-wide learning activities
offering Applied Learning (Vocational English) from the 2021–23 cohort and expanding the range of English-related Applied Learning courses in the future
Teaching Arrangements- Existing Practice
Overlapping parts
Compulsory Part (75%)
Elective Part (25%)
(2-3 modules)
Senior Secondary English Language Curriculum (313-375 hrs)
• Compulsory and Elective Parts
integrated
• Elements of elective modules taught as extension/enrichment components
Saving up to 15%
of the total lesson time (about 50 hours)
Compulsory Part
Elective Part
Academic Use of English through the promotion of LaC and RaC
Creative Use of English through the promotion
of language arts
Optimised Teaching Arrangements
Optimising the Public Assessment
Assessment –
Existing Assessment Framework
Component Weighting Duration
Public Examination
Paper 1 Reading 20% 1½ hours
Paper 2 Writing 25% 2 hours
Paper 3 Listening
and Integrated Skills 30% About 2 hours
Paper 4 Speaking 10% About 20 minutes
School-based Assessment (SBA) 15%
Assessment –
Proposed Arrangements for Paper 2 (Writing)
Existing Design Proposed Design Part A 1 compulsory short task No change
Part B
8 topics, each on one elective module of the Elective Part for
candidates’ choice
• Delinking questions from
8 elective modules
• Cutting down on the
number of questions
Assessment –
Proposed Arrangements for SBA
Existing Design Proposed Design
Part A (7.5%)
• Reading/viewing programme
• 4 texts to be read/viewed
• Entirely based on the reading/viewing programme
• Number of texts to be read/viewed to be adjusted
Part B
(7.5%) • Elective Part
Unchanged:
• 2 marks to be submitted
• One on individual presentation,
one on group
interaction
Suggestions on Curriculum
Planning and Effective Use
of Learning Time
School Meeting
Briefing Session for English Language (19 &
23 Feb)
Briefing Session for Chinese
Language (19 & 23 Feb) Briefing Session
for Mathematics (19 & 23 Feb) Briefing Session for
School Leaders (5 & 18 Feb)
Briefing Session for Liberal Studies
(10 & 17 Feb)
Holistic Planning –
School and Subject Levels
Identify students’ needs
• Interests and aspirations
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Plans for further studies
Review existing subject choices
Consider whether to offer:
• New subjects/ groups
• Applied Learning courses
Formulation of Implementation Plan in School:
Review existing curricula
• Lesson time allocation for each subject
• Teaching
arrangements
Design a time-table to cater for diversity
• Varied lesson time for different classes/groups
• Flexible by class/group arrangements
• Elective subjects/ApL/OLE/learning activities within school hours
Devise a manpower deployment plan e.g. redeploying teachers to:
• develop resource materials
• take up remedial classes
• organise RaC/LaC activities
Effective Use of Learning Time
released time pooled together
Common
Block
Effective Use of Learning Time
Common
Block
Creating a Common Block
One Possible way
1 2
8 7 6 5 3 4
Common Block Short lesson
mode e.g. from 40
mins to 30 mins
Effective Use of Learning Time
Broaden knowledge base by taking:
• Elective subjects (e.g. Literature in English)
• Extended Part of Mathematics (M1 / M2)
• ApL courses [e.g.
ApL(VocE)]
• Over the 3 years in senior secondary, schools can use the common block to provide opportunities for students to:
Join school-based
programmes and activities that address their learning needs
e.g:
• LaC/RaC activities
• Language learning activities (e.g. drama performance)
• English enrichment
programmes (e.g. writing skills)
• English intervention/
remedial programmes (e.g.
phonics)
• STEM
• Chinese / Mathematics enhancement classes
Early commencement of ApL at S4 enables students to focus
on DSE preparation in S6.
Scheduling lessons for elective subjects & ApL within school hours to create space and enhance
students’ motivation in taking the subjects.
Participate in the five areas of OLE
• Moral and Civic Education (e.g.
healthy lifestyle, national identity)
• Community service
• Career-related experiences
• Aesthetic development
• Physical development
Literature in English
(Category A - Elective Subject)
Aims:
It provides opportunities for students to:
• appreciate and enjoy a range of literary texts and other cultural forms;
• develop critical and analytical thinking, self-expression and creativity, empathy and cultural awareness; and
• enhance sensitivity to language use.
Design:
The curriculum consists of three parts:
• Study of set texts of different genres – prose fiction, drama, film, poetry
• Literary appreciation – approaches and strategies to interpret, analyse and respond to literary texts
• SBA – developing an extended essay/a critical review/a piece of creative
writing
The GREAT GATSBY
The Taming
of the Shrew
2022-24 cohort (S4 students in the 2021/22 s.y.)
Existing Courses &
Course providers • English Communication (VTC)
• English for Service Professionals (HKU SPACE) Learning Content
(180 contact hrs)
Module 1 – Listening & Speaking (QF Level 2) Module 2 – Reading & Writing (QF Level 2) Module 3 – Listening & Speaking (QF Level 3) Module 4 – Reading & Writing (QF Level 3)
Recognition
• HKDSE qualification in ApL(VocE) (Cat. B subject):
Attained / Attained with Dist. I / Attained with Dist. II
• QF Level 3 Certificate or cert(s) for successfully completing corresponding module(s)
Application
• via schools in the “ApL Module” on WebSAMS
(Application details sent to schools via CDS messages)
• EDBCM on the 2022-24 cohort to be issued
Applied Learning (Vocational English)
Applied Learning (Translation Studies) (Pending)
Learning content
- Basic concepts in translation
- Comparison of Chinese and English languages
- Analysis of source and translated texts - Translation strategies and practice
- Application of translation tools and technology
Recognition
• HKDSE qualification in ApL (Cat. B subject):
Attained
Attained with Dist. I
Attained with Dist. II
• QF Level 3 Certificate
English
英語
Flexible Timetabling Arrangements
M1 / STEMM2
1 2
8 7 6 5 3 4
The common block is fixed on Friday
afternoons
X1
X3
X1
X2 X3
X2
A 6-day cycle timetable
Lesson time
Case 1 – Maths-oriented students
M1 / M2 125 hours
Chinese
English 12.5 hours
12.5 hours Liberal
Studies
100 hours
Maths
0 hours
Lesson time
Case 2 – students who need more exposure to English
Liberal Studies
English-related Applied Learning courses 180 hours
Maths
Chinese
English 40 hours
100 hours
25 hours 15 hours
Lesson time
Case 3 – students who have keen interest in English
Liberal Studies
Literature in English 250 hours
Maths
Chinese
English
100 hours 50 hours
50 hours 50 hours
Recognition of
Applied Learning (Vocational English)
Civil Service Bureau
Applied Learning (Vocational
English)
Applied Learning (Translation
Studies)
Accepts results of up to TWO ApL subjects
in HKDSE
Post-secondary programmes Individual tertiary
programmes
Applied Learning (Vocational
English)
• Accept ApL subjects as elective subjects in
application
• Award bonus marks
• Consider the results supplementary
information
Cat. A subject Applied
Learning (Translation
Studies)
Accept results of up to TWO ApL subjects in HKDSE for application for Associate Degree or Higher Diploma programmes
Applied Learning (Vocational
English)
