Curriculum Features
The objectives of the LAC curriculum include:
- To oversee and coordinate the strategies in promoting English language learning across the junior form curriculum;
- To provide subject-specific support, guidance and advice to different subjects on language teaching;
- To review the language education practices across the curriculum and evaluate their effectiveness; and
- To enhance professional development on language education among teachers.
The LAC curriculum is committed to working on the following target goals:
- To promote the use of English across curriculum as a communicative tool for developing students’ self-directed learning and life-long learning skills;
- To improve students’ English learning experience in daily teaching and assessment; and
- To enhance teachers’ professional development in language education.
At present, two subjects in different KLAs, namely Integrated Science (IS) and Life and Society (L&S), are entirely taught in English as MOI in all S1-S2 classes. To provide the best language support to these two subjects, English teachers have been deployed to the curriculum planning and teaching of the subjects (with one lesson LAC / L&S per cycle). The LAC lessons form an integral part of the LAC curriculum that focuses on the academic English use across different KLAs. The introduction of these subjects has provided a comprehensive coverage on authentic use of English for all S1-S2 students in different KLAs.
Language Across Curriculum aims to make English learning happen everywhere in True Light
All students learn Integrated Science in English in S1 and S2.
Bridging curriculum and teaching materials to cater for learners’ diversity
Pre-S1 bridging and summer bridging programmes have been designed and conducted to cater for learners’ diversity with a specific focus on providing academic language support, covering individual language needs in various subjects from Mathematics, IS to L&S.
Fun-filled language enriching bridging programmes to cater for learners’ diversity
Life-wide Learning
In addition to daily classroom learning, various cross-curricular initiatives are conducted in different forms and across a range of subjects with a view to enhancing students’ use of English as a communicative tool for developing their self-directed learning and life-long learning skills, such as the Jurassic Garage animal encounter for S1 IS, Customer education investigative reports in S2 L&S, Instant Ice experiment laboratory reports in S3, and the Hong Kong Wetland Park investigative projects in S3. Students and even parents have enjoyed witnessing the fruits of success when students showcasing their learning.
S2 L&S Consumer education investigative reports
S3 Instant Ice experiment in English lessons
Excursions and outings for inquiry-based project learning are featured in English lessons when S1-S3 students are taken to learn and apply English in the community, from the Hong Kong Central Library, drama appreciation, cinema theatre to the Wetland Park.
Cultivating an English campus in extended learning activities outside classroom
There have also been regular English assemblies for gospel, morning bulletins, morning prayers and book sharing sessions in English by different NETs and the English teachers.
LAC in Religious Education: English assemblies for gospel and morning prayers
LAC in Moral and Civic Education: Book sharing sessions in English by different English teachers and students
External Collaborations
Enhancing teachers’ professional development (PD) in language education improves LAC implementation effectiveness. On top of professional exchange among colleagues, it is essential to promote professional dialogue with the wider teaching community. In 2021-2023, teachers involving 8 different areas have participated in a school-based LAC-related PD training, including the participation in an intensive programme by HKU (30-hour). Other 9 Science, Mathematics and English teachers have received LAC training through different PD courses at the University of Hong Kong with lesson observation.
Collaboration with tertiary institutions to keep abreast of LAC developments
To keep abreast of the latest development in LAC, we have been working closely together with other schools and tertiary institutions. Currently, a focused school-based LAC support programme has been in place in collaboration with the Faculty of Education of the University of Hong Kong, which provides professional subject-specific LAC consultancy and advice on PSHE and IS. Lesson observations on LAC implementation have been conducted (IS and L&S) by subject experts from external organizations and the English consultant. Since 2020, our LAC teachers have been sharing their experience as invited speakers on the practical implementation of language promotion across curriculum on different occasions at universities to stay connected with other education practitioners.
Sharing on LAC implementation at the University of Hong Kong to stay connected with the education community
(left: Nov 2021; middle: Nov 2022; right: Nov 2023)