Overview of the Chinese Language Curriculum for Junior Secondary in Hong Kong

1. Curriculum Positioning and Key Features

The Junior Secondary Chinese Language subject is a mandatory core subject in Hong Kong’s secondary education system. Building on the foundation set by the primary school Chinese curriculum, this course prepares students for further Chinese studies at the senior secondary level, including the DSE Chinese Language Examination. The curriculum emphasizes language proficiency and cultural literacy while covering the four main language skills: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

Key Features of the Curriculum:

• 📖 Comprehensive Language Skills Development: Emphasizes reading comprehension, practical and creative writing, oral communication, and listening comprehension.
• 🧠 Enhanced Critical Thinking and Cultural Literacy: Through the study of classic literary works and topical discussions, students develop deeper thinking skills.
• 🈶 Balanced Focus on Classical and Modern Texts: Incorporates classical Chinese (文言文) and modern Chinese (現代文) to train both language structure and aesthetic appreciation.
• 🗣️ Speaking Skills Focus: Emphasizes the development of spontaneous expression, discussions, speeches, and recitation skills.

---

2. Curriculum Structure (Form 1 to Form 3)

The curriculum is organized into thematic units that progress from simple concepts in Form 1 to more complex topics in Form 3. Each year builds on language skills and promotes deeper cultural and linguistic understanding.

Grade	Thematic Unit Examples	Core Language Skills and Objectives	Suggested Tasks and Activities
Form 1	Self and Family	Use of personal pronouns, narrative structure, emotional description	Write a short essay about “My Family” / Create a family report
Form 1	Introduction to Poetry & Classical Chinese	Rhyme patterns, imagery analysis, basic classical Chinese vocabulary	Recite “登鸛鵲樓” (The Tower of the Stork) / Create a visual interpretation of a classical text
Form 2	School Life and Friendship	Dialogue writing, argumentative sentence structures, language politeness	Debate: “Should mobile phones be banned in school?”
Form 2	Tradition vs. Modern Culture	Festival vocabulary, expository writing, modern Chinese usage	Write an essay on the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival / Conduct a survey on festival traditions
Form 3	Social Issues and Critical Thinking	Argumentative essay structure, metaphor/referencing skills, contextual analysis	Group writing: “Should teenagers be addicted to social media?”
Form 3	Chinese Culture and Classical Texts	Four-character idioms, classical text understanding and application	Analyze and perform a skit based on “桃花源記” (Peach Blossom Spring) / Idiom story performance

---

3. Assessment Methods and Weighting

The curriculum includes a balanced approach to assessment that evaluates students’ proficiency in all four language skills.

Assessment Item	Weighting	Focus of Assessment
Reading Comprehension	25–30%	Theme extraction, contextual reasoning, passage structure analysis
Writing Skills	30–40%	Sentence fluency, structural coherence, clarity of theme, rhetorical techniques
Speaking Skills	20–25%	Clear pronunciation, fluency, content organization, logical argumentation
Listening Comprehension	10–15%	Identifying key points, logical understanding, summarizing important content

📌 Additional Note: Some schools may include oral exams or in-class presentations in the assessment weighting.

---

4. Effective Learning Strategies

To achieve success in the Chinese Language curriculum, students should employ the following strategies for each language skill area.

4.1 Reading Comprehension Three-Step Method 🧠📚

• Predict: Based on the title, first paragraph, and subheadings, anticipate the content.
• Identify: Highlight key words and phrases, and connect related information.
• Synthesize and Compare: Integrate viewpoints, analyze the author’s stance, and summarize key ideas.

4.2 Writing Focus ✍️

Type of Writing	Core Skills
Narrative Writing	Event progression, character development, emotional expression
Descriptive Writing	Sensory details, imagery, setting transitions
Expository Writing	Clear structure, concrete examples, progressive arguments
Argumentative Writing	Clear stance, defined points, counter-argument, use of quotes and idioms

🗂 Tip: Build a “rhetorical techniques notebook” and practice weekly simulated writing.

4.3 Classical Chinese Learning Tips 🏯

📌 Comparative Reading: Compare classical Chinese texts with modern translations to understand differences in word order.

✍️ Create Vocabulary Flashcards: Categorize usage of words like “之,” “其,” and “所.”

🧠 Memorization and Dictation Practice: Master word and sentence usage for better retention.

---

5. Common Challenges and Solutions

Students often encounter difficulties in various aspects of the curriculum. Below are common issues and strategies to overcome them:

Challenge	Solution Strategy
Writer’s Block	Build a “repository of examples” from campus, family, society, and technology for easy inspiration.
Weak Argumentation in Essays	Learn the “Three-Point Argument Method” and incorporate idioms or quotations to enhance persuasiveness.
Difficulty in Classical Chinese Understanding	Read one short classical piece weekly, compare it with modern Chinese texts, and create grammar charts for better comprehension.
Speaking Fluency Issues	Record self-assessments, participate in simulated speeches, and focus on mastering sentence structures and pacing.

---

6. Recommended Resources and Extracurricular Activities 📚🎧

Resource Type	Resource Name	Recommended Use
Textbook	“Modern Chinese Language for Junior Secondary” Series	Text analysis, genre classification, practice questions
Reference Books	“Writing Guide” / “Classical Chinese Dictionary”	Word usage, genre characteristics, rhetorical techniques
Multimedia	RTHK “Chinese Literature Channel” / YouTube	Poetry recitation, listening to classical Chinese texts
Online Resources	eClass Chinese Reading Platform / Quizlet	Vocabulary revision, word-pairing exercises, mini-quizzes

📅 Monthly Challenge Suggestions:

• Memorize a classical Chinese text, such as Out of the Army or The Yueyang Tower.
• Write a short argumentative essay and ask classmates or teachers for feedback.
• Participate in a school recitation or speech event to build language confidence.

---

7. Pathways for Further Studies and Career Development

7.1 Pathways to Senior Secondary:

• DSE Chinese Language (Compulsory for public exams)
• Chinese Literature / Speech Training Electives
• Advanced Classical Chinese Reading and Writing Enhancement Courses

7.2 Career Pathways:

• Journalism, Media, Publishing, Education, Creative Writing
• Government/Public Administration, Public Relations and Communications, Cultural Industry-related roles

---

Note: The above information is for reference only. For further details, visit the Hong Kong Education Bureau website at www.edb.gov.hk.

This draft was generated with the help of AI and edited by Professor Chen Guo Wei, with editorial oversight by Eric Kong.