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The following is issued on behalf of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research:
Around 200 primary students participating in the Drama-in-Education English Alliance will attend the prize presentation and outstanding performances of The Association of English Medium Secondary Schools 2009 English Drama Fest to be held at the Academic Community Hall, Hong Kong Baptist University, tomorrow (May 16).
The Drama-in-Education English Alliance was launched by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) in the 2008/09 school year to assist primary schools to promote English language learning through drama. SCOLAR provided teacher development courses for teachers from 89 member schools participating in the Alliance and on-site professional support by drama experts to help teachers plan, prepare and implement drama-related activities in their English language teaching. Efforts with other organisations were also made to create more opportunities for the students of these member schools to be exposed to English drama.
The Association of English Medium Secondary Schools 2009 English Drama Fest was one of these collaborative initiatives under the Alliance. The drama fest was organised by the Association of English Medium Secondary Schools (AEMSS) to promote students¡¦ interest in English in a fun and active way. Supported by SCOLAR, this year¡¦s drama fest attracted 45 secondary schools to participate.
Earlier on, the Alliance arranged for over 300 primary students of its member schools to have an eye-opening experience by watching performances of their counterparts in secondary schools who participated in the English Drama Fest 2009 with an aim to enhance primary students¡¦ interest in learning English through drama.
Alex Fung, a Primary 4 student of Ping Shek Estate Catholic Primary School, applauded performers¡¦ English fluency. ¡§I was most impressed by a scene showing a little girl and colourful sea creatures. They became friends and ventured to save the imprisoned little princess of the water world.¡¨
Alex had never performed before. Yet, with the on-site support of the drama expert provided by the Alliance to his school, he has experienced some drama techniques such as imitation of animal sounds. ¡§This helped enhance our interest to learn English through drama,¡¨ Alex said.
Bonnie Kok, a Primary 6 student of Ng Wah Catholic Primary School with English drama experience in classes, was also amazed by the costumes and props prepared by secondary students for the shows. ¡§I also learnt that we have to speak louder on stage for the audience to hear clearly,¡¨ she added.
SCOLAR was established in 1996 to advise the Government on language education issues and on the use of the Language Fund.
Ends/Friday, May 15, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:45
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