English Association

Orientation Day

The Orientation Day was held for S1-S3 students to engage in the interactive activities such as “Pictionary” and “Hangman”. Participants were encouraged to use English and apply the learnt subject knowledge to complete various missions with their group members. Team spirits and cooperation skills were also cultivated.

Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee was organised for students to practise spelling in English. Participants were required to spell the words selected from a list of English words arranged according to level of difficulty. Not only did the game effectively engage students in English activity, but also reinforced their spelling skills.

Dubbing Competition

Dubbing competition was open to S1-S3 students to improve their English proficiency through writing scripts for the selected videos and practicing oral communication skills through video dubbing. Taking part in this competition, participants were also encouraged to unleash their creativity and use English in different contexts.

English MC Society

The MC Society is dedicated to training students to become confident speakers. Through workshops and practical experience in different occasions, we provide students with techniques they need to deliver effective speeches, engage with audiences, and handle unexpected situations with ease. Ultimately, the MC Society aims to empower students to become articulate, confident, and effective communicators.

WSC's Got Talent

WSC's Got Talent competition brought together 15 groups from various junior form classes to compete in a display of their diverse talents and creativity, ranging from singing and dancing to comedy show and beyond. The competition was filled with impressive performances. A band from form 3 was eventually crowned the winner.

Morning assembly

Members from the MC Society hosted the morning assembly and shared their thoughts based on the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People written by Stephen R. Covey, which echoes our Leader in Me (LiM) curriculum in junior secondary levels.

Junior form public speaking workshop

This workshop aims to equip junior form elite students with essential communication skills through practical exercises and activities. Students learned to draft and deliver speeches, engage with audiences, and build confidence in expressing themselves.

English Week

The English Week this year was held between 22th November – 30th November 2022 with the theme ‘Adventures in Animation’. The great variety of activities provided a golden chance for students to learn English through animation and ‘activate their animation adoration’. Students can put themselves into the script-writers’ shoes and try to analyse the characters. They may also learn to write a complete plot and unexpected twist, which stimulate their creativity when writing short stories. Also, the theme behind animations is thought-provoking and inspiring to their lives. Lessons like building genuine friendship and understanding emotions could be learnt.

S4-5 Inter-class English Debating Competition 2022-2023

Preliminary Round

The Preliminary Round of the inter-class debates was held from 19 to 20 May 2023. The debate motion was that ‘People in Hong Kong should be banned from buying pets.’ The best speakers of S4-5 classes included 4D Gouw Aaron Juin Hao, 5A Ng Kwun Nam Jack, 5B Li Siu Cheung, and 4B Ng Sing Wei. The two classes bearing the highest scores and entering the Final Round were 4A and 5C.

Final Round

The Final Round was held on 10 July 2023 during the post-exam period. The debate motion was that ‘ChatGPT brings more harm than good in education.’ The affirmative team was 5C while the negative team was 4A. The debaters included 5C Tong Yan Yu, Li Yuen Yi and Wan Cheuk Man as well as 4A Wong Tsz Chung, Wong Yat Lam and Cheung Tsz Hei. Eventually, the Winning Team goes to 4A while the First Runner-up Team goes to 5C. 4A Cheung Tsz Hei was awarded the Best Speaker. All debaters' effort was greatly appreciated.

English MC Society

Aligning with the leadership training programmes at our school, we train students to be the leaders in the future. Effective public speaking skills are indispensable for workplace success. Thus, a number of S3 to S5 students, who are outstanding in English speaking, are given opportunities to make announcements, host activities at school, or even deliver speeches written by themselves in various occasions.

1. Inter-school Public Speaking Competition
In May 2022, two senior form students joined the Inter-school Public Speaking Competition organised by our sister school in Guangzhou, Nanwu Middle School. Both of them got the first place in the contest.

2. Junior form Public Speaking Competition
To boost students' confidence in giving speeches in public, a series of online workshops on public speaking were held. To help our students to put theories into practice, the Junior Form Public Speaking Competition was organised during the post-exam period in 2022. Around 20 elite and enthusiastic speakers shone on stage and the event was well received.

A fabulous English Week 2021-22

This year's English Week was held between 11th and 19th of May 2022 with the theme "Exploring World Cultures through Travelling" and the slogan "Awaken to a Different World". Not only did students have opportunities to increase their cultural awareness, but they also learnt to embrace diverse cultures around the globe.

The success of the English Week was attributed to students' active participation in a variety of interactive activities offered. We had quiz competitions, in-class activities, book fair and game booths, which were not just entertaining but also educational.

Quiz competitions

Keenly participating in the Junior Form Quiz Competition, which were held at the School Hall, students demonstrated excellent performance throughout the activity. Additionally, using an online platform Quizizz to conduct the Senior Form Quiz Competition for the first time, we were glad to see that students were all fascinated to take the challenges.

In-class activities

The in-class activities were varied and educational, too. Students had opportunities to enhance their English skills as well as their creativity and imagination through activities such as designing posters and expressing their opinions on cultural diversities.

Book Fair

This year, working along with Seed Children's Bookstore, we offered students a wide variety of books, ranging from the best-selling novels and classic works to travel guides of different cities and illustrations uniquely about Hong Kong cultures.

Game Booths

Equally amusing were the three mini games, namely 'Match it!', 'Tongue Twister' and 'Do you know this place?' prepared for students to join during the recesses.

The objectives of arousing students' curiosity towards world cultures, using English as a communication tool and developing their cultural awareness were well achieved during this year's English Week.

English Culture Week 2020-2021

Aiming to increase our students' global awareness and exposure with authentic, international and English environment, the English Department collaborated with Intercultural Education Limited and organised a programme called English Culture Week from 6th July, 2021 to 13th July, 2021. Through a variety of activities including World Music Jam, World Culture Quiz Interactive Assembly and Global Dialogue, our students participated in cultural exchanges with guests from Chaq, France, Jamaica, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and Switzerland. The experiences could certainly prepare them better for becoming global citizens.

CIE English Public Speaking Contest 2021 – Merit Award

4A Tam Ka Hei Michael and 4A Wong Tsz Ching Michelle participated in the CIE English Speaking Contest 2021 organised by the The College of International Education (CIE), Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). They filmed a short speech on the theme 'Creation' in the preliminary round. With their impressive speeches and delivery, they were shortlisted as one of the 12 finalists, among 102 participants. On 20th May, 2021, Michael won a Merit Award in the Grand Final with his inspirational prepared speech and his outstanding performance in the 2-minute impromptu question-answer session. Congratulations!

Sharing from TAM Ka Hei 4A

Throughout the preparation period of the CIE English Public Speaking Contest 2021, the most challenging task is definitely writing a concise script. As I had no prior experience in writing a public speech, I faced difficulties in conveying a meaningful message and grasping the right style and tone. It was a difficult, yet rewarding, experience when I had to refine my speech over 5 times with the feedback of my teacher advisor. However, I'm really grateful since I've learnt how to write a persuasive public speech now. In addition, the way to present myself is another skill I've learnt. Before entering the contest, I didn't know how to use appropriate body languages to engage my audience. Therefore, delivering the speech with appropriate gestures is, without a doubt, one of the most precious skills I've learnt from this contest! Finally, I would like to emphasise the self-confidence I gained during the impromptu session. Having practised over 50 impromptu questions, I was able to structure my 2-min impromptu speech spontaneously and persuade my audience with different strategies. I am glad that I have overcome the anxiety of answering question without preparation. Overall, the past 2 months had really been an unforgettable experience in my language learning journey. Not only did I broaden my horizon through listening to different speakers, but I also gained the confidence to speak publicly in front of hundreds of people!

English Drama Club 2018-2019

The English Drama Club has successfully engaged in three competitions this year. They took part in the Hong Kong Schools Drama Festival, the Association of EMI Schools Drama Festival and the EDB NET Section's "Stories on Stage" competition. All of the entries required either original scripts or adaptations of an existing story. Skillfully utilising comedy, tragedy and music, the Drama Club members worked very hard in their own time and did an excellent job of writing/adapting, producing and performing their work. We look forward to more performances in the future!

Victory in the HKBA Debating Competition Preliminary Round

By 4E Mak Yan Hei Ama

Our three English Debate Team debaters, Leung Yuk Yuki, Yeung Ho Terry and Mak Yan Hei Ama from 4E, participated in the preliminary round of the Hong Kong Bar Association Debating Competition organized by the Hong Kong Bar Association on 27th April 2019. As the opposition, we made our victory against Chinese International School on the motion that "This house believes that Hong Kong should legislate to set up standard working hours for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong". Yuki Leung was awarded the Best Speaker of the debate.

Our team line was that "feasibility and effectiveness prioritize in Hong Kong's legislation". Despite the complexity of the motion, our team had a clear understanding on the concepts of legislating the Standard Working Hours Policy and the current situations of the foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

Not only did we learn in greater detail about the complexity of the whole labour market and work culture in Hong Kong and other countries, we also learnt that Standard Working Hours Policy does not only affect the Foreign Domestic Helpers as well as employers who, however, are more seriously affected.

To conclude, it was certainly a fruitful and worthwhile experience that emboldened and enriched us. I am really thankful to our coach and teacher's guidance as well as our team's collaboration. The collaboration of the team is always held in high esteem.

Our champion in CityU Debating Challenge 2018 (by Asian and International Studies Department)

By 4A Leung Yuk

Around 150 students from 15 elite secondary schools participated in the "Discovery & Innovation Debating Challenge" at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) on 1 December 2018. The aim was to enhance students' understanding of CityU and sharpen students' debating and critical thinking skills.

On behalf of the English Debate Team, I am pleased to share our joy and honor with you. Our three debaters, 5A Lee Cheuk Wing Jenny, 4E Leung Yuk Yuki and 4A Yeung Ho Terry, participated in the CityU Debating Challenge 2018 organised by the Asian and International Studies Department. The participants included 2D Chan Lok Yi Chloe, 3A Wong Wing Yi Amy, 3A Lau Wing Yan Phyllis, 3A Tsang Wing Yuet Elise, 3B Ng Hoi Ting Tina, 3D Cheung Tsz Ching Strawberry and 3E Tsoi Ho Ki Kinki.

The debate motion is that "This house believes that China and India should shoulder a greater responsibility for reducing global greenhouse emissions". Our affirmative opponent was HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College and we were the negative side. With our concise and catchy team line that "You have to be influential to make a change", we chose a tricky way to define the topic and this brought us to victory. The contribution by the debaters and the whole team is definitely greatly appreciated.

Our Victory in Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition 2018-19 Term One Round One

by 3A Elise Tsang Wing Yuet

On 5th October 2018, the Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition Term One Round One was held in our school. Our school and Sing Yin Secondary School had a debate on the motion that ‘This house should stop the production of biofuels’. Our school was the affirmative side while Sin Yin Secondary School was the opposition. The debaters included 3D Strawberry Cheung Tsz Ching, 3A Elise Tsang Wing Yuet and 4E Yuki Leung Yuk.

Owing to our wholehearted team preparation and enthusiasm about debating, our team won the debate and 4E Yuki Leung Yuk was awarded the Best Speaker of the debate. Our catchy team line that ‘We want solutions, not another problem’ gained the applause of the adjudicator together with our sound evidence, fluent delivery and proper time management. We look forward to more debating challenges in coming future.

English Week 2018-2018

A Passport to Appreciation

Wong Shiu Chi held its annual English week between the 8th and the 19th of December 2017. The theme for the week was “Around the World in 7 Days”. Throughout the week, visitors from 21 different countries were invited to the school to share information about their country and culture with the students. Students were given the opportunity to use their English Passports to “visit” different parts of the world and sample the different cultures of these far off lands!

Interactive Activities in the Hall

One of the major targets and successes of the English Week was its “immersive” approach to English. Students were able to engage in English activities from the time they arrived at school in the morning until the time they left in the afternoon. In morning assemblies, students were able to take part in activities both on and off stage. Their involvement was designed as a confidence-builder and helped students overcome barriers to public speaking, a useful skill in any language. Everyone had the opportunity to demonstrate their existing knowledge of different cultures and also develop new understanding. The school was able to welcome many visitors from other nations, who were able to share about their countries and cultures with the whole school community.

Classroom Sessions

Our guests were also welcomed into classrooms where, in specially tailored sessions for separate year groups, students were able to use travel-themed English language in order to develop their questioning skills. Of course, listening skills are equally as important in any conversation, so students were encouraged to keep their ears open! The opportunity to broaden their horizons and get some experience of different types of English was not wasted on the enthusiastic students, who let fly with plenty of questions and comments with our guests.

Lunchtime Passport Pastimes

Using their English Passports, students were able to clear immigration every lunchtime and jet-off to far-flung lands across the sea! English Week was conducted in coordination with Inter Cultural Education Hong Kong, ably assisted by Wong Shiu Chi’s team of English Prefects. Junior and senior secondary forms were involved in quizzes, games, music, singing and dance, food-sampling and sports. There was a separate assembly for each part of the school, in which students were able to meet guests from different countries and learn more about their backgrounds and cultures.

In addition to all of the activities taking place both in and out of the classroom, there was also a golden opportunity for students to show off their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills and creativity in the competitions which were held on December 8th and 19th at the junior and senior class periods. Groups were able to take part in video quizzes, write emails to friends, design a travel poster, write poetry and complete crosswords, with the winning groups to be announced after the week ended. In addition to all this, there was a well-attended book fair, which again gave students the chance to experience literature from across the globe.

Students responded enthusiastically to all the excitement and activity involved in English Week 2017. The school buzzed with noise and chatter, as new linguistic heights were scaled. Confidence and competence were definitely improving throughout the week, as students were presented with scenarios to use English in a non-classroom environment. All the events were of great success and students and staff alike are looking forward to English Week 2018 already!

English Debate Team Proclamation of Achievements 2017-18

This is a fruitful and glorious year for the English Debate Team. With the dedicated collaboration of the team members, we gained the glory in two territory-wide debating competitions.

On 2 December 2017, 5A Wong Shin Ying Janice, Ng Sin Yee Cindy and Law Sin Ting Mavis were the speakers to take part in the CityU Discovery and Innovation Debating Challenge 2017-18 under the Faculty of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong. The debate motion was that “Social Media Sites should actively filter out fake news stories”. We were the negative side while the opponent was Stewards Pooi Kei College on the affirmative side. Honorably, we gained the triumph of the debate, which is also the third consecutive year for our team to achieve the Champion of the CityU Discovery and Innovation Debating Challenge.

Moreover, we also achieved the Champion of the territory-wide Hong Kong Secondary School Debating Competition after winning all the rounds in the second semester. Throughout the school year, we beat various reputable schools including Lam Kau Mow Secondary School, Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity and Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School. The glory is certainly the collaborative effort of the whole team. The debaters of the previous rounds include 5A Lee Pui Hang Jeff, 5C Leung Man Hin Ryan and 5E Cheung Hoi Ching Kelly. In the Grand Final Round, the debaters 4A Lee Cheuk Wing Jenny, 3E Mak Yan Hei Ama and 3A Yeung Ho Terry won over the team from Tang Hin Memorial School on 25th of May 2018. Terry was awarded the best speaker of this debate. The motion was that ‘this house believes that short-term volunteering in developing countries by youth from developed regions is beneficial’ and we were on the affirmative side.

In the process of debating, all debaters boosted their proficiency and horned their public speaking skills with the wide exposure to a variety of local and international issues.

S4-5 Intra and Inter-class English Debating Competition 2017-18

Preliminary Round

The Preliminary Round of the inter-class debates was held from 8 to 14 May 2018. The debate motion was that ‘Hong Kong is ready for e-sports’. The best speakers of S4-5 classes included 4A Chu Cheuk Nam, 4C Poon Sin Yi Amas, 4D Shum Kwun Lai , 4D Chan Chiu Yeung, 5A Wong Shin Ying And 5C Lo Po Yee Polly. The two classes bearing the highest scores and entering the Final Round were 4A and 5A.

Final Round

The Final Round was held on 3 July 2018 during the post-exam period. The debate motion was that ‘more outsourcing programmes should be broadcast on TVB during prime time’. The affirmative team was 5A while the negative team was 4A. The debaters included 5A Cheung Tsz Kit, Law Sin Ting and Wong Shin Ying as well as 4A Chu Cheuk Nam, Lee Nok Yiu and Lui Pak Huen. Eventually, the Winning Team goes to 5A while the First Runner-up Team goes to 4A. 5A Law Sin Ting Mavis was awarded the Best Speaker.

‘The Speaker’ English Public Speaking Contest 2018

Four S.5 students were nominated to join ‘The Speaker’ English Public Speaking Contest 2018 organised by RTHK Cultural & Education Unit. 5A Law Sin Ting, Mavis prepared a speech on the topic ‘Connect/ Disconnect’ and stood out from the participants in the preliminary round. Her inspiring speech entitled ‘Log out of the virtual world’ encourages us to reflect on how our connections with social media disconnect people from the real world.

Mavis was shortlisted as one of the semi-finalists among 300 participants in the territory and attended the Semi-final at RTHK. She was awarded the Certificate of Merit for her outstanding performance in the competition. As a novice public speaker who joined public speaking competition for the first time, Mavis has become more confident and competent in delivering speeches.

Nurturing talents in English public speaking

In order to cultivate students’ interest and boost their confidence in English public speaking, the English MC Society organizes regular training workshops for talented students to sharpen their English delivery skills and techniques in being a good Master of Ceremony (MC). The members are all well-trained for hosting school events and immersing their schoolmates in an English-rich campus.

In May 2018, a series of public speaking workshops on instructive and narrative speeches were held for S.2 and S.3 students with good English language proficiency. An inter-class public speaking competition on the topic ‘Regret’ was held in collaboration with EL Education. 2A Kwok On Ki Artemis was awarded the Best Speaker, while 3A Yip Hoi Ching Daisy, 3D Liu Ziheng Ash, 3E So Yui Amy and 3E Mak Yan Hei Ama were awarded the Certificate of Recognition for their outstanding performance.

Victory in Term 2 Hong Kong Secondary School Debating Competition 2017-18

On 14 March, our school's English Debate Team won over the preliminary round of Term 2 Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition against Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School. The debate motion is that ‘the Hong Kong government should license street performers’. The debaters are 3E Mak Yan Hei Ama, 3A Leung Yuk and 3A Yeung Ho. Yeung Ho is awarded the Best Speaker of the competition.

Thanks to the debaters' effort and the team's collaboration, we are honoured to gain the victory this time. It is certainly a rewarding and fruitful experience for the whole team.

Champion of the 5th CityU Discovery and Innovation Debating Challenge (Faculty of Creative Media) 2017-18

By 5A Law Sin Ting Mavis

On 2 December 2017, 5A Wong Shin Ying Janice, Ng Sin Yee Cindy and I were the speakers from the English Debate Team to take part in the 5th CityU Discovery and Innovation Debating Challenge 2017-18 under the Faculty of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong. Our debate motion is that “Social Media Sites should actively filter out fake news stories”. We are the negative side while the opponent is Stewards Pooi Kei College on the affirmative side. Our teamline is that “actively filtering out fake news stories by social media sites is impractical and improper”. Meanwhile, our opponent focuses on the influence brought by fake news stories and the responsibility of the social media. We talk about how actively filtering out will intervene our right to know and social media sites should not bear the responsibility of the posting of fake news and the violation of its fundamental role as the communication carrier. During our preparation, we actually had loads of difficulties on defining the motion. However, with the help of our teacher and debate coach, and our perseverance, we finally figured out the way to debate on our motion. I have really learnt much from this competition. Honourably, we gained the champion in the debate, which is the best reward for our debating experience. We especially want to thank our debate team advisor Miss Ng who consistently guides and helps with our speeches. Most importantly, a great thank should also be given to my two teammates who join every competition with me throughout these 3 years.

Victory in Term 1 Hong Kong Secondary School Debating Competition 2017-18

On 28 September, our school's English Debate Team won over the preliminary round of Term 1 Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition against SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School. The debate motion is that ‘Hong Kong should significantly increase the use of robots to help look after the young and the elderly here’. The debaters are 5E Cheung Hoi Ching Kelly, 4A Lee Cheuk Wing Jenny and 5C Leung Man Hin Ryan. Jenny is awarded the Best Speaker of the competition.

Thanks to the debaters' effort and the team's collaboration, we are honoured to gain the victory this time. It is certainly a rewarding and fruitful experience for the whole team.

A Wondrous English Week 2016-2017

This year's English Week was held between the 6th and 15th of March with the theme "Exploring National Treasures through English". Engaged in interactive and thought-provoking activities, students did not only enrich their knowledge on national treasures of the world but also increased their understanding on the importance of preserving the "Wonderful Segments in Cultures".

The wonderful time in this year's English Week was again attributed to the wide variety of activities that were on offer throughout the days. We had interesting assemblies, in-class activities as well as lunchtime public activities organized and run by Intercultural Education Limited (ICE), Committee Members of the English Association and English Prefects.

Banner & Assemblies

During the Junior and Senior Form Assemblies, students keenly participated in on-stage and off-stage activities, interacting and playing games with the foreign guests invited by ICE. The School Hall was filled with laughter when students had to show how much they knew about certain countries in the world, competing in games where they had to rearrange the foreign guests on stage according to their country size, population, average temperature and language.

In-class Activities

Trainers and guests of more than 20 countries came to run the in-class activities. S.1-2 students were encouraged to use and improve their English communication skills by having face-to face chats with foreigners after getting to know their national treasures. S.3 students and foreign guests discussed the issue of national treasure conservation while S.4-5 students had to reflect both on their own identities, and those of the foreigners'.

Lunchtime Activities

Through the entire week, a number of students were eager participants in seven lunchtime activities which allowed further interaction with the foreigners. The activities included Photo Booth, Global Radio, a Capoeira (which is a traditional Brazilian dance and martial art) Competition run by a renowned Australian trainer, Daniel, African Drumming, Global Village, South Asian Cultural Games and Snacks, and National Treasure Mix and Match.

Included in the vast array of activities were the competitions held during the Senior and Junior Form Class Periods on the 6th and 15th of March. Students displayed their rich knowledge, creativity and imagination in a range of contests related to the theme of the English Week. These included video quizzes, completing and rewriting song lyrics, solving crossword puzzles, drawing, creative writing and designing posters.

Class Period Competitions & Book Fair

Apart from the many activities listed above, students could also display their talents in the Singing Contest. There were many talented acts that showcased beautiful singing as well as guitar and piano playing. We even had a special guest, Mr. Chau, who performed by playing the guitar while singing.

Students were also treated to the Book Fair held in the School Hall, where they were able to purchase bestsellers and highly popular books at discounted rates. Students wasted no time snapping up the bargains with many books being sold out quickly.

Photos with International Guests

All in all, English Week 2017 was undoubtedly a major success. Students were actively engaged in all the activities, showcased their enthusiasm, passion and curiosity in learning more about national treasures and different cultures of the globe. They had substantial opportunities to develop their intercultural competencies by interacting with foreigners. The whole week has no doubt brought us delightful memories which will be everlasting.

Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA) Debating Competition 2016-17

On the 1st of April 2017, three of our English Debate Team members, Chao Adrian Arthur (5A), Lee Man Ching Phoebe (5A) and Yuen Wing Lam Kelly (5A) participated in the preliminary round of Hong Kong Bar Association English Debate Competition. The motion is that 'This house would impose stricter laws against insulting police officers'. We are on the affirmative side and the opponent team is the Diocesan Girl's School (DGS).

We are excited to share with you that, our team won this debate and Yuen Wing Lam Kelly (5A) was rewarded the Best Speaker.

The debaters are honored to receive the glory and think there are various reasons for the victory. Firstly, our alumna Miss Teenie Chan, who is now a law student in City University of Hong Kong, contributed a lot in this debate and provided much professional information about laws. In addition, the debaters' diligence paid off with the full support of the teacher adviser and the whole team. The debaters have definitely set a good role model of perseverance and learning for the whole school.

Summer Study Tour to Vancouver 2016

A summer study tour to Vancouver, Canada was held from 29 June to 14 July 2016. The summer programme was organized by ISEC and a group of 28 students (S1-S4) went to Vancouver with our school teacher also. Students had English lessons at UBC (University of British Columbia) in Vancouver and excursions were arranged during their stay. Students did not only experience the dynamics of the metropolitan area in Vancouver and university life in Canada, they also had a chance to enjoy a bonus weekend eco-excursion to the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and renowned for its exceptional natural beauty and outstanding physical features.

The Most Amazing English Week 2015-2016

We had the most amazing English Week this year with an international atmosphere lasting from 2nd to 10th December, 2015. With the theme "Exploring Myths, Fables and Legends through English" and the slogan of Long Ago and Far Away: Wonders of the MFLs, students and teachers had chances to know more about global myths, fables and legends from trainers and guests of 18 countries. Additionally, we had interactive activities which were not just entertaining but also educational, leading us to further explore this topic.

Working alongside with Intercultural Education Limited (ICE), we had great enjoyment with a variety of activities and performances. ICE organized and ran interesting in-class activities as well as public activities during lunchtime or afterschool hours. Trainers and guests from Germany, Sweden, Scotland, Poland, Ukraine, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand and Korea, etc. turned English lessons into unique ones with cultural sharing of myths and legends, and interactive activities including mask making, drama performances and in-depth discussions.

Students were also attracted to public activities like the Viking traditional chess game 'Kubb' and Brazilian martial arts, Mexican music performance, German cookie baking and an Inter-class Competition for S.3 students on the last day of the English Week. One of the most hilarious items in the competition was teaching the guests about Hong Kong's culture through Cantonese tongue twisters.

Equally amusing were the drama performances during the Junior and Senior Assemblies. Our alumnus Raymond Yip, who is a secondary school teacher, brought his English drama team to perform their own adaptation of "The Three Little Pigs". We were amazed by their enchanting singing and superb acting.

The class period activities were varied and educational, too. Students had opportunities to enhance their English skills as well as their creativity and imagination through activities such as designing posters, expressing their opinions, writing alternative endings to the fable of "The Ugly Duckling" and rewriting lyrics to the song "The Lost Boy" about the story of Peter Pan.

Also included in the English Week programme were the Singing Contest and Book Fair. We did not only have two exhibitors but three this year, adding to the variety of books students and teachers could purchase.

Overall, the objectives of arousing students' curiosity towards the world, using English as a communication tool and developing their cross-cultural understanding were achieved during this year's English Week. The school was turned into like an international school, giving students authentic situations to communicate with both native and non-native English speakers of different nationalities.

Apart from meeting the targets, the English Week of 2015-2016 was also proved to be highly popular among students as reflected in the survey with questionnaires done by ICE. Encouraging comments included "The world is much bigger than I thought." "The discussion of different myths and legends in class is delightful and there are a lot of interesting myths that I have never heard of. Overall, the English Week is really great." and "Everything is going super well with them; they are kind and interactive with us. I enjoyed the whole week very much."

To sum up, the English Week this year has brought us incredible knowledge, unforgettable experiences and great fun which will stay in our memory forever.

Result Release of 2015-16 Inter-class English Debating Competitions

Preliminary Round

Debate motion: Single-sex schools are better for education.

Grand Final Results

Debate motion: This house believes wild animals should not be kept in captivity.
Date: 5 July 2016
Venue: School Hall
Adjudicators: Ms Yuen Lam & Mr Mario Valkanas
Audience: S4-5

Winning team: Negative team (4A)
1st Runner-up Team: Affirmative team (4E)
Best Speaker: 4A Chao Adrian Arthur

The Creative English Week 2014-2015

During this year's English Week, students were given a golden opportunity to display their creativity and imagination from 5th to 13th March, 2015. Activities were related to the theme of "The Creative World of English". With the slogan "Arts in Use in the English World", we focused on the role arts play in the English language. English Association members and English prefects assisted with the planning and the administration of the event and they played the major role in making this event run smoothly and successfully.

Highlights of the English Week included two different drama shows performed by the English Drama Club. The drama performances, which centred on gender roles in high school and the issue of bullying, were equally humorous and thought-provoking, and at the same time entertaining. The Dance Club also performed a stunning contemporary dance piece and the winners of the English Singing Competition performed their songs enchantingly as well.

During class periods, Senior Form students, after watching a short sci-fi thriller called 'Emma', wrote alternative endings and designed promotional posters. Junior Form students also wrote different endings, designed posters and predicted subsequent events happened to the characters for a cartoon called 'Tangled Ever-after' after viewing it. The entries that were judged the best were displayed outside the Art Room and students were awarded with prizes.

Added to the above list of activities were a Fun Fair and Game Stalls on Arts and Sports. Students from the English Association and English prefects helped design the boards and stalls. Moreover, a Creative Cupcake Creation Class was held in conjunction with the Home Economics Club. Students made their own cupcakes and then creatively designed them. An English Song Dedication was broadcast at lunchtime on the first day of the English Week to celebrate popular English language music and a Book Fair was also arranged where students were able to view and purchase books of different genres.

Undoubtedly, the English Week provided a precious chance for our students to learn in a more relaxing way. Students taking part in our activities did not only get to know more about arts and sports but also had fun at the same time. Participation for all activities was high and a lot of positive feedback was received from students and teachers, with most commenting on how they had enjoyed the activities. The English Week this year has surely given us a rich array of joyful and rewarding experiences.

Hong Kong Secondary School Debating Competition 2014/15

In order to enhance the debating skills and broaden the English-speaking exposure of English Debate Team, we took part in four debating competitions organized by the Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition in which over 300 secondary schools in Hong Kong participated. The competing schools included Pentecostal Lam Ho Kwong School, Shatin Government Secondary School, Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School and Stewards Pooi Kei College. There was a wide variety of motions in the debates. The motions ranged from 'that large social media companies are making unfair use of users' personal information', 'that Hong Kong should be more concerned about economic stability than about universal suffrage', 'that world media freedom is increasingly under threat', and 'that larger mainland visitor numbers have an overall beneficial effect on Hong Kong'. The debaters were greatly motivated to explore and investigate respective socio-political issues throughout the process of preparation, discussion and debating.

Thanks to the invaluable debating experiences, the debaters have learnt knowledge about current social and international issues as well as critical and logical argumentation. The enhancement of English proficiency and confidence was certainly another precious learning outcome from their debating experience. They have also got a more thorough understanding of own strengths and weaknesses, which are crucial for their personal and academic development, on the journey of exploration. Alongside reciprocal learning, acquisition, failure and reflection, our students have become more competent and comprehensive beings. Debating has always been a fruitful, meaningful and substantial lesson for them to challenge and exceed their limits.

2014/15 the Preliminary Round of S3-5 Intra- and Inter-class English Debating Competitions

Thanks to the participation and effort of classes and English teachers, the Preliminary Round of Inter-class Debating Competitions which was organized by the English was completed from 11th May to 15th May 2015. The debate motion was that secondary students should not take part in social movements. It is sincerely hoped that classes have learnt more about public speaking and debating skills, and enjoyed the process of competitions.

Here comes the result announcement. 5A and 5E are the two classes which got the highest scores in the debates and are going to enter the Final Round in July. The Final Round debate motion is that examinations are a fair way of testing students' knowledge. After drawing lots, 5A is the Affirmative while 5E is the Negative.

Competition Results:

English Debate Team Show Debate 2014/15

In order to raise students' English learning motivation and English speaking proficiency, the English Debate Team organized the Show Debate in the School Hall on 10th October 2014. The debate motion was that 'this house should impose Fat Tax'. The debaters were the senior team members from both Form 5 and Form 6. The audience was Form 1 to Form 3 classes. There was also the floor question session after debaters delivered speeches. The student audience voted for the team they thought doing better.

Affirmative side:
1st debater: Yoyo Lee 6E
2nd debater: Paul Wong 6A
3rd debater: Perrine Lee 6A

Negative side:
1st debater: Connor Au Yeung 4E
2nd debater: Yuko Chau 5A
3rd debater: Eunis Wong 5A

Summer Study Tour to Melbourne and Tasmania

A 15-day study tour to Melbourne and Tasmania was held from 30 June to 15 July 2014. The summer programme was organized by Australia Education Association (AEA) and a group of 28 students (S1-S5) went to Melbourne and Tasmania with our teacher Miss Li. During the trip, students did not only experience the dynamics of the metropolitan Melbourne city and university life in Australia, they also had a chance to enjoy a bonus weekend eco-excursion to Tasmania, an island to the south of Australian continent.

Students lived with friendly local host families with meals provided during the trip. Apart from English lessons, students took part in a wide range of activities including eco-tours and conservation sessions with locals and other cultural visits/sightseeing/excursions so as to gain first hand cultural experiences in Australia. Most students have positive feedback and they like the programme and enjoy the activities.

Joining a study tour is not only a precious opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an authentic English speaking environment, but also an excellent experience for them to taste the culture and lifestyles of another country. In addition to language exposure, living with host families is one of the most memorable parts for students.

Intra and Inter-class English Debating Competitions 2014

The Intra and Inter-class English Debating Competitions for Form 3 to Form 5 students were organised from March to July by the English Debate Team. The debates aimed at fostering students' interest in English debating and broaden students' horizon about current social issues.

As for the Intra-class and the Preliminary Round of Inter-class debating competitions, the debate motion was that "Children benefit more from being the only child in family". The debate motion was thought-provoking and stimulating enough to encourage students' reflection upon the society and their own lives. Students were actively encouraged to do research and work collaboratively with teachers and classmates on the issue. During the debates, English teachers took the role of adjudicators to give constructive comments and assess debaters' performance in order to foster students' improvement in debating and public speaking.

In the Final Round of Inter-class Debating Competitions, the debate motion was that "Hi-tech advances in smartphones are opening up a world of communication". Regarding the Junior Section, 3C took the Affirmative Side while 3A took the Negative Side. Meanwhile, in the Senior Section, 5E was the Affirmative against 4A which was the Negative. Again, debaters took great initiative to prepare the debates and delivered impressive arguments. With the purpose of cultivating mass interest in debating, the audience was given the chance to vote for the best debate teams after analyzing the arguments of both sides. A detailed and clear judging guideline was also provided beforehand as to guarantee students' understanding of judging criteria before the debates. In this way, every student could actively learn and fully participate in the event. Eventually, 3A and 4A became the winning teams. Moreover, teachers took the responsibility to select the Best Speakers of the debaters. Cham Lok Hei 3C and Wong Yue Ting 5E were awarded as the Best Speakers with their outstanding performance.

Although the preparation for the debates might be challenging for students, it was surely an eye-opening and rewarding learning experience. Students' participation in the progress of adjudication and voting also inspired their logical thinking and decision-making ability.

The Jockey Club "From Page to Stage™" Programme 2014

This year, all our S4 students joined the "From Page to Stage™" Programme 2014 sponsored by the Jockey club. The programme aims at nurturing students' interest in classic literature and appreciation of the arts through a series of drama performances and workshops.

This year's programme featured John Buchan's classic "The 39 Steps". Our students attended two workshops delivered by drama instructors from The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection (AFTEC). They also enjoyed a wonderful professional drama performance, and got the chance to interact with the actors and actresses, and exhibited their drama talents on stage in front of hundreds of audiences.

HKSSDC Debating Competition 2013-14

The preliminary round of Hong Kong Secondary School Debating Competition in the Second School Term was completed on 5th March 2014. The motion was that "Hong Kong should ban corporal punishment in families". Our team spoke for the affirmative side while Shung Tak Catholic English College was in the negative. The debaters included the first debater Sunny So from 4B, the second debater Christy Wan from 4C and Yuko Chau from 4A. Finally, after the fierce debate with convincing arguments of the both sides, the proposition, our team won over the competition.

The adjudicator, Mr. Maclean, praised the thorough preparation and research done by both teams. However, our team took the advantage of the emphasis on parents' intention of love and our organized rebuttals. Our 2nd debater, Yuko Chau, got the highest score and was selected as the best debater in the competition. It was certainly a fruitful learning experience for our students.

Summer Trip to New Zealand 2013

A study tour to Auckland, New Zealand was held from 2-17 July 2013. The summer programme was organized by English First (EF) and a group of 21 students (S1-S5) went to Auckland with our teacher Miss Li. It was a 15-day programme and students had English lessons as well as group activities during their stay in Auckland. Sightseeing, cultural visits and excursions were also organized for students to learn more about the city. Students stayed with local host families with meals included. Most students have positive feedback and they like the programme and activities a lot. Joining a study tour is not only a precious opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an English speaking environment, but also an excellent experience for them to taste the culture and lifestyles of another country. In addition to language exposure, living with host families is one of the most memorable parts for students.

English Debate Team Show Debate 2013

The English Debate Team organized our school's first Show Debate on 2 October 2013 for F.4 students. The show debate aimed at enhancing students' interest in debating and public speaking. The motion was that "Young people in Hong Kong are growing up in a society which encourages negative attitudes towards people from mainland".

Debaters of both sides were also our English Debate Team Members including Winnie Lo 6A, Frank Cheng 5E and Yoyo Lee 5E on the Negative Side; Nicole Tsang 6C, Joey Ho 6D and Luke Lok 6C on the Affirmative Side. The Negative Side finally won over the competition with their persuasive team point and convincing arguments.

As the Show Debate was probably the last debating chance for the senior English Debate Team Members. Looking back at the years that they had in the debate team, they feel that they have gained a lot of precious experiences. Debating actually provided them with the platform to discuss and communicate with their schoolmates about social issues. It let them keep updated with current social issues too.

English Debating Enhancement Workshop 2013-14

The English debating enhancement workshop took place on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th November 2013. This year, the Headstart Group Limited was invited to run the workshop. The workshop aimed at boosting students' interest and proficiency in English public speaking and debating. 18 students from S2 to S5 classes took part in the workshop. Different interactive and simulative co-operative learning activities were carried out in order to provoke the participants' critical and logical thinking.

HKPL Reading Programme for Children and Youth 2012/2013

In order to promote English reading at school, the English Panel and the Library Committee have encouraged our S1, S2 and S4 students to participate in the Hong Kong Public Library (HKPL) Reading Programme for Children and Youth since 2010. It aims to stimulate the interest of our students in reading English books, to cultivate their English reading habits and to widen their scope of English reading and knowledge. It is pleased to note that 234 students (105 students last year) have been awarded merit certificates by the HKPL for having achieved their reading targets in the current school year. To promote good reading habit, 20 best readers were selected and awarded Book Coupons donated by our School Manager Mr. Sham Man Kwong at the end of the second term.

The Fourth-Round SCMP-NESTA Debating Competitions 2012

Reflection by Law Chuek Lem, Monty (5E)

On the 26th of September, there was a fierce debate between Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School and Diocesan's Girl School in the 4-Round of the SCMP-NESTA Debating competition held by South China Morning Post. Three debaters from our school including Monty Law (5E), Winnie Lo (5A) and Tiffany Lau (6C) had a remarkable debating experience over the debate motion that 'Nuclear power should have a place in Hong Kong'. Both sides argued frivolously for their own arguments. The affirmative side Diocesan's Girls school stated that the economic and safety advantages of nuclear power were superior while the negative side Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School believed that 'life is priceless' and lives were not worth the economic and efficiency benefits of nuclear power. Well-made arguments and rebuttals were exchanged between both sides.

From this meaningful debate, I have learnt the importance of making convincing rebuttals and boosting our confidence of public speaking. At a debate, it is of utmost importance to overcome the fear of making prompt response and delivering arguments immediately after listening to the points of the opponent team. Although it is definitely a challenging job, I enjoy it and feel my confidence is enhanced drastically every time after debates. Practice makes perfect. I would love to further explore my potential by taking the challenge and overcoming the hurdles of debating!

Emceeing a Seminar on Australian Education

A seminar on Australian Education was jointly organized by the Australian Consulate, Committee of Home-School Cooperation, and the Federation of Parent-Teacher Association (Tai Oi District) on 11 March, 2013. Two students of our school, Joey Ho Tsz-ying and Nicole Tsang Pui-tung, were nominated to be the emcees of the seminar.

Our students' involvement in preparing for the seminar, their enthusiastic interaction with the Australian guest speakers and their confidence in emceeing were impressive and were highly appreciated by the honorable guests from EDB and the Australian Consulate. The two students also geared themselves up with the confidence and skills in improvising when emceeing an event.

English Summer Study Tour 2012

A study tour to Florida, the United States of America, was held from 3-18 July 2012. The summer programme was co-organized by English First (EF) and our school. A group of 17 students (S1-S5) went with our teacher to Ocala, which is about an hour drive from Orlando. The programme was 15 days long and students had English lessons as well as group activities during their stay in Ocala. Sightseeing, museum and university visit, and excursions (theme parks) to Orlando were also arranged. Students stayed with local host families who work voluntarily in this programme. Most students have positive feedback and they like the programme and activities a lot. It is not only a precious opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an English speaking environment during the whole trip, but also an excellent experience for them to taste the culture and lifestyles of another country. In addition to language exposure, living with host families is one of the most memorable parts for students.

School Drama Festival

On the 17th of February, 2012, our students participated in the School Drama Festival and the competition was held in the school hall. Around 20 students took part as actors/actresses and 10 students participated as stagehands. The students created a play named "Dream". It is the story of three children, namely Jasmine, Jeremy and Jeffrey, whose parents passed away due to an accident. The three children possess different dreams but they encounter a number of difficulties when pursuing them. There are times when they experience anger, misunderstanding and frustration. It is not until something unexpected happens that they find the determination to overcome their difficulties and pursue their goals. Students performed exceptionally well in the competition and received a total of 9 awards. An award was won for outstanding director, two awards for outstanding actor, two awards for outstanding actresses, an award for outstanding stage effect, an award for outstanding cooperation, an award for outstanding script and an award for commendable overall performance. The experience was beneficial for students as they learnt about the importance of team spirit, responsibility, and different dramatic techniques.

English Debate Team 2011-12

Throughout the school year 2011-2012, the English Debate Team organized a number of activities to raise students' proficiency in Public Speaking and Debate, and widen their exposure to inter-school debating competitions. These activities included S3-S5 inter-class debates, S3-S5 intra-class debates, 4 English Enrichment Debate Workshops for S3, S4 and S5 students and Debate Team Members, and various inter-school debating competitions, such as South-China Morning Post NESTA Debating Competitions, Sing Tao Debating Competitions and Hong Kong Bar Association Debating Competitions.

The results of these enrichment activities were encouraging. Regarding the debate workshops, most students showed enthusiasm in learning English and were brilliant in expressing ideas. The instructors also employed a variety of teaching methods to stimulate students' logical and critical thinking in debates. Students' understanding, experience and interest in debate were also greatly boosted through the 4 debate workshops.

In addition, the inter- and intra-class debates also helped Senior Form Students to grasp the first taste of taking part in debates and public speaking. Some students even volunteered to join the Debate Team in the coming year due to the confidence and pride gained from the debates. The debates truly contextualized students' English learning, especially for their speaking and the construction of argumentation. The feedback and the result of the debates were encouraging because students really gained knowledge and confidence in speaking, especially when they were standing in front of a pack of audience. The outcomes of the debates definitely achieved the purpose of enhancing students' ability, motivation and confidence in speaking English.

More importantly, the inter-school debates greatly widened our students' exposure and horizon in standard and advanced debating competitions. We confronted experienced debaters from other schools such as Diocesan Girls' School, Belilios Public School and so on. Our team members knew their strengths and weaknesses more thoroughly and accurately after facing the students from some other schools. The self-understanding and exposure from the debating experience are essential for striving self-improvement and self-realization.

English Summer Study Tour 2011

A study tour to Oxford, the United Kingdom was held from 4-17 July 2011. The summer programme was organized by English First (EF) and a group of 36 students (S1-S4) went to Oxford with our teachers also. The programme was 2 weeks long and students had English lessons as well as group activities during their stay in Oxford. Sightseeing and cultural visits in Oxford, excursions to London and Bath were also arranged. Students stayed with local host families with meals included. Most students have positive feedback and they like the programme and activities a lot. It is not only a precious opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an English speaking environment during the whole trip, but also an excellent experience for them to taste the culture and lifestyles of another country. In addition to language exposure, living with host families is one of the most memorable parts for students.

Halloween Party

31st October, 2011

Activities:
The party is prepared by the English Association and S.2 students. All students are welcome to join the party. There are 6 games stalls, 5 from each S.2 class and one from the English Association. Students can get prizes after they have played the games . Also, there's a costume competition for S.2 students. The face-painting counter can let students dress up like monsters or ghosts.

Time: 3:45 - 4:30 (after school)

Venue: Hall

Helpers:
Ho Pui Yi, Wong Tsz Yan, Cheng Lok Yee, Tsang Yik Hei, Sham Wing Kiu, Leung Yuk Kik, Yip Ka Wing, Wong Hoi Lam, Cheung Ka Yan, Yip Ching Yi

Response:
- There were a lot of participates. Most English teachers came too.
- The students enjoyed the party much. They played the games again and again to win the prizes. Face-painting counter was also popular. Students were eager to take photos with their friends in strange/scary looks.

English Speaking Days

English Speaking Days are held every Friday. Two English Speaking Day banners posted at the entrance and within the school promote the activities, but most importantly they are promoted by the teachers themselves. On these days, activities are arranged in order to encourage, challenge, and remind students to speak English. Many students are reluctant to speak English so the activities need to be rewarding, accessible and fun. It is with these goals in mind that activities are designed.

In order to encourage students to speak in English, teachers wear badges which read, "Please speak to me in English," to remind both teachers and students that it is English Speaking Day. However, no one has to remind the students to speak English when the activities are engaging. In activities such as English Karaoke, students' fear of speaking was overcome by their love of music and they actually sang. During Song Dedication, students requested songs in English and dedicated them to their classmates and teachers. Both of these events proved to be extremely popular and drew a large crowd of participants as well as spectators. Although many students are motivated by the activity alone, some small rewards are still necessary to entice more participants.

Rewards are normally given for those that complete difficult challenges, such as reading tongue twisters, or poems correctly to four different teachers, solving riddles, or for participating in our English Prefect run, "Join the Conversation". For "Join the Conversation", English Prefects formed five teams and created dialogues for their fellow students to read. During lunch and after school, English Prefects took turns reading dialogues with their classmates to practice their English. Numerous students participated for little more than a piece of candy or a pen. Although rewards will often motivate students, many of them still respond well to simple reminders.

As a reminder to practise English, students also participated in an English Learning Reflection and made New Year's Resolutions. An English Learning Reflection took place at the end of the first semester and encouraged students to make English Learning goals for the coming semester. Goals were written on a label which the students wore so that they could recognize that their peers share the same goals, and therefore support each other. New Year's Resolutions were made with a focus on achieving them by making them specific, achievable, and with a plan for action. Their resolutions were also made known by posting them outside the English Corner so that other students could read them and remind their peers of the goals they set for themselves.

In the coming months, we hope to encourage even more students to participate in English Speaking Fridays. We will attempt to create more activities that the students are interested in and to make learning English fun and engaging. For all those students who have participated, we thank you, and for all the students who have yet to participate, we welcome you.

Mr. McGlynn & Ms Chung
EMI Support Committee