It was an extraordinary day as teachers from seven Hong Kong government primary schools and two mainland primary schools, one in Hangzhou and the other in Zhuhai, gathered to observe a Primary 4 English lesson held in Tin Shui Wai Government Primary School, the hosting school, on 3 May 2023. This special event, co-hosted by the Language Learning Support Section and the school, aimed to demonstrate how Chinese culture could be promoted and students' national identity developed during English lessons. The lesson also allowed students to apply their speaking skills and target language items in a meaningful context.

Teachers and students of the hosting and mainland primary schools with the officers of the Language Learning Support Section	Teachers and students of the hosting school with their LLSS support officer
Ms Ho Wai Chun, the Principal of Tin Shui Wai Government Primary School, giving the opening speech	Mr Jacky Hung and the LLSS officer giving a pre-observation introduction to the participating teachers

 

The Hong Kong teachers attended the observation in person at the hosting school, while their mainland counterparts joined the session online. Before the lesson began, Mr. Jacky Hung, the English Panel Head of the hosting school, who would be leading the lesson, along with an officer of the Language Learning Support Section, gave a pre-observation introduction to the participating teachers. They explained the objectives of the lesson and discussed the strategies that would be employed to achieve these goals.

As the lesson progressed, students actively engaged in activities and discussions that emphasised the importance of Chinese culture and national identity. They were encouraged to express their thoughts and opinions in English, displaying their speaking skills and applying the target language items they had learnt.

Throughout the lesson, the observing teachers took notes, capturing the various teaching methods and strategies employed by Mr. Hung, as well as the students' enthusiasm and engagement. They were particularly impressed by the seamless integration of Chinese culture into the English lesson, which not only promoted language learning but also fostered a deeper understanding of their heritage among the students.

Following the lesson observation, a feedback session was held, during which the participating teachers shared their insights and suggestions. They commended Mr. Hung for his innovation and creativity in delivering an engaging and culturally rich lesson. The teachers also exchanged ideas on how to incorporate similar approaches in their own classrooms, further enhancing the connections between the participating schools across regions. Overall, the cross-border inter-school lesson observation was a resounding success. It not only demonstrated an effective method for teaching English while promoting Chinese culture and national identity but also fostered collaboration and exchange of ideas among the participating schools across regions. This unique event has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on all those involved, inspiring them to continue the pursuit of educational excellence and cultural understanding.

Teachers of the hosting and participating schools with officers of the Language Learning Support Section

What the participating teachers say

An excerpt about the event from the school newsletter of Zhuhai Jinwan Foreign Language School