Overview of the Junior Secondary English Language Curriculum in Hong Kong

1. Curriculum Positioning and Key Features

The Junior Secondary English Language subject is one of the core subjects in Hong Kong’s secondary education system. It focuses on developing students’ four fundamental language skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. The curriculum also emphasizes language thinking development and cross-cultural understanding.

Key Features of the Curriculum:

• 📚 Contextual Learning: Language application is enhanced through thematic units.
• 🧠 Integration of Language and Thinking: Encourages critical analysis, evaluation, and creativity to boost logical and critical thinking.
• 🌐 Cultural Comparisons and Expanding Perspectives: Includes texts and topics from various cultural backgrounds.
• 💬 Balanced Focus on Expression: Strengthens skills in public speaking, discussions, and role-playing.

---

2. Curriculum Structure (Applicable to Form 1 to Form 3)

The curriculum is designed to be progressive and covers various thematic units, each focusing on specific language skills and objectives.

Grade	Example of Thematic Units	Core Language Skills and Objectives	Suggested Tasks and Activities
Form 1	Self & Identity	Third-person introduction, adjective usage, question formation	Create a “Self-introduction” poster, record a podcast
Form 1	Animals & the Environment	Descriptive writing, environmental vocabulary, transforming simple to complex sentences	Write an advocacy piece on protecting endangered species
Form 2	Culture & Festivals	Comparative sentence structures, short story reading, cultural vocabulary	Group report on holiday customs in different countries
Form 2	Social Media & Communication	Opinion expression, supporting examples, understanding online jargon	Write a formal email responding to a complaint
Form 3	Science & Innovation	Science reading comprehension, explanatory writing, use of passive voice	Write an article about future technologies
Form 3	Global Citizenship	Critical thinking, argumentative essay structure, comparative writing	Debate: “Should single-use plastics be banned completely?”

---

3. Assessment Methods and Weighting

The English Language curriculum includes comprehensive assessment methods that evaluate students’ skills across all four language areas.

Assessment Item	Weighting	Focus of Assessment
Reading Comprehension	25%	Understanding main ideas, context-based vocabulary, inference, and information extraction
Writing Skills	30%	Organization, grammatical accuracy, vocabulary appropriateness, creativity, and persuasiveness
Listening Comprehension	20%	Extracting key points, understanding details, logical inference
Speaking Skills	25%	Pronunciation, grammatical accuracy, content organization, interactive response ability

---

4. Effective Learning Strategies

To help students excel in English, several strategies can be applied for each skill area.

4.1 English Reading Strategy (R-P-I-E)

📘 RPIE Strategy:

• Read: Skim through the text to identify the main idea.
• Predict: Guess the meaning of unknown words and predict upcoming content.
• Identify: Focus on key details and text structure.
• Express: Summarize and express personal reflections (either written or spoken).

4.2 English Writing Strategy (Three-Tier Writing Practice)

✍️ Concept → Draft → Edit:

Step	Key Technique
Concept	Use mind maps to brainstorm ideas and examples
Draft	Organize paragraphs using the PEEL structure (Point-Example-Explain-Link)
Edit	Check for subject-verb agreement, sentence variety, and transition coherence

---

5. Common Challenges and Solutions

Students often face difficulties in various areas of language learning. Here are some challenges and recommended strategies.

Challenge	Recommended Strategy and Tools
Insufficient Vocabulary	Use a daily 10-word flashcard method, including example sentences and synonyms/antonyms
Struggling to Start Writing	Build a repository of common writing frameworks (e.g., letters, essays, reports)
Difficulty with Listening Speed	Practice slow-speed listening using TED-Ed/VoiceTube, coupled with dictation exercises
Speaking Fluency Issues	Conduct weekly 2-minute impromptu speaking sessions, record and review for self-assessment

---

6. Extended Resources and Extracurricular Applications

Recommended Learning Platforms:

Platform	Features and Uses
BBC Learning English	Short grammar lessons, speaking practice, cultural knowledge
ReadTheory / Newsela	Level-appropriate reading materials with comprehension questions
Duolingo / Quizlet	Vocabulary memory practice, customizable quizzes
VoiceTube / ESL Fast	Video-based listening and speaking practice with subtitles and recording options

📆 Monthly Task Suggestions:

• Read one young adult novel (e.g., Holes / Wonder) and write a book review.
• Write an English journal/blog about school life or travel experiences.
• Create a 1-minute “My Daily Habits” English video and share it on a school platform.

---

7. Linkages with Further Studies and Career Development

7.1 Pathways to Further Studies:

• DSE English (Enhancement of 4 skills)
• IGCSE / IB MYP English Language and Literature
• English Drama and Speech Electives

7.2 Career Pathways:

• Editor, Translator, Advertising Copywriter
• Public Relations and Marketing Assistant
• International Volunteer Programs and Exchange Group Leader

📊 Key Data (2023):

• Average weekly English exposure for junior secondary students: 12 hours (including both in-class and extracurricular activities)
• 65% of schools have “English Day” (communication in English only for the day)
• DSE English Level 3 achievement rate: 52.1% (2023)

Note: The information provided is for reference only. For more 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.