English

Language Arts – English Language and Literature for all students

Communicate with conviction, style and grace

Language Arts is for all students from secondary one to four. It aims to equip our students with the knowledge and skills essential for effective communication.

The English Language Arts classroom seeks to engage our students in sense and meaning-making with authentic literary and non-literary texts relevant to real-world contexts. It promotes active participation and multiple viewpoints, through which the student may discover her own voice and communicate with conviction, style and grace.

Texts and learning experiences in the Language Arts classroom aim to fulfil not only the intellectual and cognitive demands of school, but also the social-emotional, the moral-ethical, the aesthetic and the physical needs and readiness of our students. The development of metacognitive skills enables the student to monitor her own learning and to gain a greater sense of self-efficacy. In addition, opportunities for collaboration serve to build a learning community that recognises the strength and value of shared knowledge.

Through Language Arts, all students build a foundation in Literature that will enable them to better appreciate Literature in Junior College (JC), even if they do not take Literature as a separate subject at the upper secondary level. This opens up more options for students, allowing them to select their JC subject combination based on their aptitude and interest.

After reading coming-of-age novels, students wrote journals to record their reflections.

Literature Mentorship Programme – for secondary two students strong in Literature

Students with a passion for and an aptitude in Literature are mentored in this enrichment programme in their secondary two year. Secondary two students keen to enrol in this programme can sign up to participate in the selection process.

Literature – for upper secondary students interested in Pure Literature

Students who enjoy Literature may choose to take Literature as a separate subject in secondary three and four. They will study Literature in greater depth and acquire the skills needed for writing a research essay. This subject introduces students to the reading, appreciation and analysis of texts in Literature in English through the ages. It includes texts from around the world, from American and European Literature to African and Asian writing in English and translated works. Students keen to read Literature at H2 level in JC will benefit from a curriculum that prepares them to excel in the subject.

Advanced Literature (HP) – for talented students interested in the JC Humanities Programme

This is a talent development programme for students capable of being stretched in Literature and other humanities subjects. They will read more complex texts and engage in comparative analyses of a wide range of literary texts. Students need to be independent learners who value greatly the process of research, discussion and exchange of views. Students will need to undergo a selection process for the programme.

Literature students visited the ArtScience Museum to experience works of digital art which were able to engage multiple senses. They then wrote a poem to capture their experience, making use of literary techniques to convey their aesthetic, emotional and intellectual engagement with the artwork.

Drama – for all secondary two students

This subject is offered to all Secondary two students. The curriculum is designed to engage and challenge students to maximize their expressive abilities and enjoyment of theatre. By working individually and collaboratively, students will create drama that explores a range of imagined and created situations; they will perform scripted and devised drama using a variety of performance techniques, dramatic forms and conventions to engage an audience; they will also reflect on the meaning and function of drama and theatre in relation to the human experience.

Secondary two students invited their family and friends to the annual DramaFest, where each class put up a play that was written, directed, managed and performed by the students.

Philosophical Inquiry – for all secondary two students

We believe in exposing students to Philosophy, so that they will develop the ability to logically and critically examine assumptions, beliefs and issues. Students will be nurtured through the process of understanding Philosophy: learning about logical principles, discussing ideas and reading philosophical texts closely.