Subject lecturer

Ms Anna Ho


Anna.ho@polyu.edu.hk
Ms Dawn Gillis

Dawn.gillis@polyu.edu.hk
General information

This is a 3-credit subject open for students on 4-yr
curriculum undergraduate degree programmes
General information

A subject to be offered in semester 2, 2014-15. Suitable for
students who want to:
 strengthen their English oral presentation skills
 experience teaching English on the Chinese mainland
 serve the less advantaged children
Objectives

Help students develop the knowledge, language and skills
needed to plan, organise and deliver effective
presentations in different contexts

Provide students with opportunities to address challenges
in preparing and delivering presentations in realistic
situations

Enhance students’ sense of social/ civic/national
responsibility
Students’ tasks

Develop the curriculum and teaching materials of a 5-day
English reading programme for a primary school in rural
China

Present the designed materials and facilitate English reading
classes for the school children
Why focus on teaching reading?

Teaching ---- presentations

Teaching reading / story-telling requires:
 Selecting relevant and inspiring materials
 clear articulation
 effective use of intonation, stress and intonation and
vocal variety
 Strategies to interact and engage audience
Subject components

Lectures and seminars in semester 2 (28 hours)

A 5/7 day teaching service trip in rural China, after
examination (est cost about HK$1500)
Lecture and seminar content
Unit
Week
Topics
Contents
Lecture/
Seminar
1
1
Introduction
General introduction to the subject
Lecture
Effective presentation skills
Understanding audience, setting
objectives, planning, organization,
delivery and interaction with
audience
Teaching as presentations
Understanding audience, setting
objectives planning, organization,
delivery and interaction with
audience
2
Why teach reading?
Lecture
Lecture and seminar content
Unit
Week
Topics
Contents
Lecture/
Seminar
2
3
Understanding your students
How English is taught and learnt in
the service point?
Lecture
4
ELT in China
Talk by invited speaker
Lecture
Lecture and seminar content
Unit
Week
Topics
Contents
Lecture/
Seminar
3
5
Delivering presentations:
Articulation, stress and intonation
importance of pronunciation,
From stories, presentations to
intonation and vocal variety
speeches
Seminar
6
Delivering presentations:
Articulation, stress and intonation
importance of pronunciation,
From stories, presentations to
intonation and vocal variety
speeches
Seminar
Lecture and seminar content
Unit
Week
Topics
Contents
Lecture/
Seminar
4
7
The teaching of reading
Planning a reading lesson
Lecture
Choosing appropriate reading
materials
8
The teaching of reading
9
The teaching of reading
10
The teaching of reading
Presenting reading texts
Developing and designing reading
materials and activities
Presenting your selected reading
materials
Planning a reading lesson
11
The teaching of reading
Presenting your lesson plan
Lecture
Seminar
Seminar
Seminar
Lecture and seminar content
Unit
Week
Topics
Contents
Lecture/
Seminar
5
12
Details about service
component
Lecture
13
Writing quality reflection
Lecture
Assessments
o A video/audio recording of students’ reading of reading text to
be used in the service trip
10%
o A persuasive presentation to introduce students’ teaching kit
and persuade the audience to use their materials
40%
o A video recording of a lesson conducted by students
20%
o Reflective journal
20%
o Attitude and enthusiasm demonstrated throughout the subject
10%
Total:
100%
A sample reading programme
May 24
08:30 Gathering
May 25
May 26
May 27
06:15 Morning Call
06:45-07:15 Breakfast at Hotel
09:24-11:19
07:15-08:00 Travel to school + preparation
Hung Hom - Guangzhou 08:05-11:30 Lessons
May 28
08:00 Morning call
08:30 Breakfast
09:00 Check out
11:45-12:30
Lunch at the station
13:00- 17:30
Guangzhou -Shaoguan
18:30-19:30
Supper
19:30-21:00
General Meeting
11:40-12:00
12:00-13:30
13:30-14:00
14:00-16:05
Travel back to Hotel
Lunch
Travel to School
Lessons
16:00-17:00 Home Visit
09:25 Gathering
09:30-13:30
Shaoguan - Guangzhou
13:45-14:15 Lunch
17:00-17:20 Travel back to Hotel
17:20-17:50 Group Leaders Meeting
15:00 Gathering
18:00-18:30 Supper
15:31-17:21
Train to HK
18:30-20:00 Group Meeting &Evaluation
Former activities

Teaching materials used
Former activities

Teaching materials used
Service learning
component 2013
Shaoguan Tianjiabing
Renhua Primary
School
Service learning
Frmer activities
component 2013
Preparation before
teaching
Service learning
component 2013
Teaching up-front
Service learning
component 2013
Leading class
activities
Service learning
Former activities procedures
component 2013
Leading small group
activities
Service learning
Former activities
component 2013
Fun time with kids
during breaks
Service learning
Former activities
component 2013
Home visit
Service learning
Former activities
component 2013
Feedback from
a PolyU student
“ I thought some kids were
untidy, but now I love them
and want to hug them.”
--Merlin Chan
Service learning
Former activities
component 2013
“They taught me that happiness is
such a simple thing.”
-- Jean Zhao
Feedback from
a PolyU student
Target students

A total of 40 students

Need to have:
 Experience in delivering presentations and have clear
pronunciation
 Good learning attitude and commitment
 A heart to serve the less well-off in rural China
Application procedure

Register this subject during the subject registration period

Submit a video file to http://goo.gl/vyyNiR before 24 Dec
2014

Students suitable for this subject will be identified and be
notified before 5 Jan 2015

Students who register on 5 & 6 Jan or during the add/drop
period will be interviewed after the lesson in week 1 & 2
Video file

Not longer than 3 minutes

Brief introduction of yourself (e.g. year, name, major, any
voluntary service experience)

Why do you want to take this subject?

What do you want to get from this subject?

Why should you be selected?
Conclusion
This subject is about language learning, but goes beyond
language learning. It is about learning, application and serving
the community.