British Council Summer English Courses
Develop 21st-century Skills that Children Need
Facing the challenges of study, daily life and wider society, children who learn through traditional methodologies, such as reciting and drilling exam papers, may come under tremendous pressure. They are likely to lose their appetite for learning English. Thus, children should not only focus on acquiring knowledge in academics, but also on learning 21st-century skills, such as creativity, problem solving and leadership skills. In July and August, the British Council will offer summer English courses for kindergarten (K1-K3), primary (P1-P6) and secondary (S1-S6) students, including courses to prepare for the DSE exam. These theme-based courses which are fun and relevant to daily life help children become confident in using English. They will also learn 21st-century skills, which will help them develop into well-rounded individuals.
21st-century skills
The British Council’s summer courses support children in their personal, social and emotional development, and in developing important 21st-century skills such as creativity, leadership and critical thinking. According to the ‘6Cs’ framework developed by Michael Fullan and Maria Langworthy (2013), and UNESCO’s transversal skills (2013), the British Council has developed six key life skills and incorporated them in the English summer courses. The skills are Creativity and imagination, Leadership and personal development, Citizenship, Critical thinking and problem solving, Digital literacy, Collaboration and Communications.
Media invite
Paul Culligan is the Head of Young Learners, British Council, Hong Kong. He has 15 years’ experience in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore and has obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education, EAP, TESOL and teaching English. He is available for media interviews and talks about the summer English courses and developing children’s English skills and 21st-century skills. Please contact Mavis Ma, Communications Manager (2913 5260) or Daphne Ho, Assistant Manager, Communications (2913 5266) for interview arrangement.
Summer English Courses 2017
The ‘Primary Creative English Courses’ (P1-P6) are a series of theme-based courses in which children will work on projects, tasks or presentations. These courses will help develop all-round English skills, as well as important life skills for the 21st century. For example, the course ‘Have Fun’ helps P3 students develop critical thinking skills as they compare and contrast features of different amusement park rides, and also improve their grammar and vocabulary. P5 students who join the course ‘Shape Up’ will participate in discussions about their preferences for various works of art. They will also create and plan an international sports event for Hong Kong with their classmates. These activities will help improve critical thinking and communication skills.
The British Council summer English courses are fun and creative. The new course for K2 students ‘Chameleon’s Adventure’ offers students structured play activities, such as memory games, writing animal vocabulary and making a body part book to develop writing skills and help students learn vocabulary. Children who join the K3 English course ‘Expedition to a Giant’s World’ will design new clothes for a giant, conduct experiments and perform for their parents. This will improve their speaking, pronunciation and reading comprehension skills.
S3-S4 students who are in the new course ‘Our Digital lives’ will use technology to create a blog to show the world Hong Kong’s local cuisine. They will also work on listening and reading comprehension as well as presentations to strengthen their English skills. S5 and S6 students who are preparing for DSE exams can attend ‘DSE Preparation Courses’. With a focus on oral presentation and pronunciation, students will participate in activities to expand their vocabulary range. Through interacting with teachers, students will improve their performance by receiving feedback and learning exam techniques.
Some other English courses are offered, spanning from speaking, writing and presentation skills to Phonics and Cambridge Exam Preparation. Moreover, the British Council will organise a Summer English Art Competition which aims to create fun for children through exploration. They will develop comprehension skills and creativity in the activity.
British Council Open Day in Admiralty
Parents and students can register to attend the open day event of the British Council English Language Centre in Admiralty on 7 May. The events allow participants to experience the English-only environment of the British Council and its unique teaching methodology.
The British Council teaches English around the world with over 40 years’ experience of language teaching in Hong Kong. Taught by experienced and internationally-qualified teachers with native-level proficiency, the English courses offer opportunities for all ages in Hong Kong to learn English. In addition, the British Council is an official test centre for Cambridge English exams and IELTS.
Media Contacts:
Mavis Ma (Communications Manager) 2913 5260 / mavis.ma@britishcouncil.org.hk