Overview

Programme Aims

This programme aims at upgrading teachers’ knowledge and skills in the teaching of English at both the primary and secondary levels. It will focus on areas of English language knowledge and skills relevant to the current needs of teachers in the local school sector with particular emphasis on the teachers’ capabilities to support students with reading difficulties through various strategies, including the use of emerging technologies.

Upon completion of the programme, participants should be able to:

Content Objectives

• Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and causes of reading difficulties, as well as current knowledge of essential components of effective language teaching and specific teaching approaches, techniques and strategies for meeting the needs of learners with reading difficulties;
• Reflect on current practices in Hong Kong schools and apply what they have learned to design language learning and teaching activities that suit the needs of all language learners, especially students with reading difficulties;
• Evaluate peers’ teaching plans and give suitable recommendations to show an awareness of considerations for creating supportive learning conditions for learners with reading difficulties in the regular language classroom.

Pedagogical Objectives

• Demonstrate enhanced skills in teaching English to Hong Kong primary and secondary students.

Programme Structure

The programme comprises the following course:

Supporting English Language Learners with Reading Difficulties (3 credit points)

Acquiring an additional language is of vital importance in today’s increasingly globalised world. Some language learners, however, are put in a disadvantaged position due to their reading difficulties. This course aims to help teacher participants to develop an understanding and current knowledge of how teachers can effectively support students with reading difficulties in the language classroom. To achieve this aim, teacher participants will first need to understand the nature and possible causes of reading difficulties, which is a prerequisite for developing a positive teacher attitude and establishing a supportive learning environment. Then teacher participants will be acquainted with current knowledge regarding essential components of effective language teaching and specific up-to-date teaching approaches, techniques and strategies, including the use of digital tools, that can effectively meet the needs of students with reading difficulties. Lastly, teacher participants will reflect on existing practices in Hong Kong schools and draw on what they have learned to design learning and teaching tasks and activities that suit the needs of all language learners, especially students with reading difficulties. They will also evaluate the tasks and activities designed by fellow teacher participants and give suitable recommendations with a view to increasing awareness of considerations for creating supportive learning conditions for learners with reading difficulties in the regular language classroom.

More detailed course outline can be found in https://www.eduhk.hk/ele/programmes/professional-development-programmes

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction is English.

Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants should be: 

• in-service primary or secondary school English Language teachers in Hong Kong; and
• recommended by school principals.

Award

To be awarded a Certificate of Completion, participants must obtain a pass in all assessment tasks required and successfully fulfill the attendance requirements as stipulated by the programme. 

Other Information

Remarks: Each school can recommend more than one teacher.