ENGLISH WORKSHOPS
Teaching and Marking of Controlled and Guided Compositions (P3 – P5)
This workshop will show the teachers how composition teaching and writing can be made easy by a gradual release from fully controlled composition writing to free composition writing. Samples of controlled and guided compositions will be provided for participants to study the different types of composition writing. Participants are encouraged to produce their own instructional materials. Marking of compositions which is a chore for most teachers will be reduced to a pleasant task. A marking scheme will be discussed and recommended for practical use.
Minimum Vocabulary Requirement (P1 – P5)
About 1000 frequently used words are systematically taught to attain both receptive and productive aspects of vocabulary learning. For each level, pupils will learn 200 words of high frequency, making the total number of words to be learnt at the end of P5 to be 1000. With this vocabulary of 1000 words of high frequency, pupils will be able to narrate a simple story, write a short speech, write a simple composition or letter, conduct an everyday conversation, advance to the learning of more difficult words and explain other difficult words. Participants will obtain five books, one book for each level from P1 to P5. Participants will be taught how to use these books in their teaching. This workshop is also useful for teachers whose schools are contemplating the implementation of the English Language Project : Minimum Vocabulary Requirement.
Verb Forms, Verb Groups and Regular and Irregular Verbs (Upper Primary)
This workshop seeks to establish a common basis in the school for the teaching of verbs and verb forms. Verbs are the most difficult words to use in English sentences. A thorough understanding of their forms is essential to their use in the English Language. Participants will be led to form a common basis for the recognition of verb forms, verb groups and irregular verbs. Grammatical labels will also be associated for ease of explanation. Participants will go through a series of exercises to acquaint them with the various forms of the verbs. They will also formulate for themselves the rules to classify irregular verbs.
Cloze Tests and Construction of Modified Cloze Tests (Upper Primary)
What are the original Cloze Tests?
Construction of such cloze procedures will be illustrated. Subjective and objective marking of the original cloze tests will be discussed. Participants will have a hands-on session on the construction of modified cloze tests for comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and spelling. As a bonus to all participants, a set of language proficiency tests will be given to each participant free of charge. Participants will practise the marking of such proficiency tests with given answer keys.
Teaching of Spelling and Dictation
A new look at teaching Spelling and Dictation. An overview of the present situation in the teaching of Spelling and Dictation will be discussed. This workshop attempts to make the teaching of the subject more enjoyable, more interesting and more meaningful to the pupils. Participants will learn some new approaches in conducting Spelling and Dictation lessons.
Teaching of Tenses and their Forms
The main tenses will be discussed and the uses of each tense will be explained and illustrated. Participants will draw up their forms of the main tenses. They will see for themselves that the recognition of the forms makes learning of tenses more meaningful and less of a burden to learners.
