Kwun Tong DSS Fujian Secondary School Affiliated School (Fujian Affiliated Primary School) is a popular DSS primary school in recent years. The reason is that the school adopts all-English teaching, small class teaching, less homework and other international school teaching modes. ".
How does the school achieve "direct subsidy tuition fees and international school quality"?
Principal Xu Quyihua revealed in an exclusive interview that the key lies in the school's implementation of all-English teaching, hiring more than a dozen native English-speaking foreign teachers (NETs), and assigning them to teach English and other subjects, and be class teachers in the same way as local teachers. In line with the school's reading policy, classroom assessment, etc., students can immerse themselves in a full English environment and learn English naturally.
In an exclusive interview, Xu Quyihua, the principal of the affiliated school of Fujian Middle School, said that the school has introduced the practice of many international schools and hired more than ten foreign teachers to create an all-English learning environment for students.
(Photo by Chen Weici)
Hiring more than ten foreign teachers to work on par with local teachers
Principal Xu explained that in general, schools usually only arrange NETs to be responsible for English teaching and English activities, and the number of teachers is limited, so that students have few opportunities to contact foreign teachers; foreign teachers also lack a sense of belonging, which makes the English teaching environment in schools illusory.
In order to create a truly all-English teaching environment, Fujian Affiliated Primary School refers to the practice of international schools and hires more than a dozen foreign teachers to teach. Their work is no different from that of ordinary local teachers. They need to teach different subjects except Chinese, serve as head teachers, and take extracurricular activities. Give students more opportunities to communicate with foreigners in English.
Students spend 70% of their time communicating with foreign teachers
Taking the arrangement of Primary 1, which parents are most concerned about, as an example, Principal Xu said that Primary 1 and Primary 2 adopt a double head teacher system, with a local teacher and a foreign teacher respectively serving as the teachers. Students spend at least 70% of their time communicating with foreign teachers every day. In addition, they communicate with classmates in English during breaks and lunch breaks, so that students can naturally learn English conversation and grammar.
Provide walkie-talkies to foreign teachers to facilitate translation assistance
Principal Xu continued that the 15 foreign teachers are from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and other places. They will use their teaching experience in other places to teach, and the school's administrative documents will also have Chinese and English versions to enhance foreign teachers' sense of belonging.
The current assistant principal of the school is Mr. Nicholas, a foreign teacher. In an interview with the foreign teacher team, he said that in addition to the Chinese-English comparison of the documents, the school will also provide each foreign teacher with a walkie-talkie to facilitate them to seek translation assistance when needed in class.
For students to adapt to the English teaching, the team pointed out that it takes time for new students to adapt, but Primary 1 and 2 will be able to adapt quickly, and local teachers will also assist and explain when needed.
Xu Quyihua, the principal of the Affiliated School of Fujian Middle School, said that the school will divide each class of four students into five students, reducing the ratio of each teacher to students, so that teachers can better cater for the needs of different students.
(Photo by Chen Weici)
Clear homework policy, the fastest homework can be completed in half an hour
In addition to the teacher team, the school also refers to international schools in various arrangements.
For example, the school makes small classes, divides 4 classes in each grade into 5 classes, and together with 15 foreign teachers, the school has more than 80 teachers, and the teacher-student ratio is close to 1 to 10.
As for the homework and exam evaluation arrangements that parents are most concerned about, Principal Xu expressed that he hopes that students can study easily and happily, so the school has a clear homework policy.
For Primary 1 and Primary 2, each subject has 1 to 2 homework per day, with a maximum of 5 to 6 per day. Students can complete most of the homework in the homework class. As for Primary 3 to Primary 6, she said that each subject has 2 to 3 homework per day. , "Students can complete it in half an hour when they go home, and it only takes 1 to 2 hours for students to complete it in the middle of the night," so that students have enough time to rest, read, and participate in extracurricular activities.
At the same time, homework during the school's long vacation will only be equivalent to one-third of the school day at most. "Students can finish their homework and play on the first day of the long vacation." homework so that students have more space to read or do other things.
The students in Fujian Secondary School Affiliated School do not have much homework, but they will make good use of every minute of the classroom, through classroom activities, worksheets, etc., to ensure that students learn efficiently.
(Photo by Chen Weici)
Require students to read English books for 5 to 15 minutes a day: students can’t stop watching
In terms of examinations, all students in the school are required to conduct an assessment of their progress throughout the year, and there are 1 to 3 examinations based on grades.
I believe many parents will also ask, how can students learn well with less homework?
Principal Xu explained that teachers will make good use of every second in class to assess students’ learning situation in real time and follow up through various classroom activities, worksheets, etc., rather than relying on homework to understand students’ learning progress.
When talking about the school's reading policy, Principal Xu said with a smile, "The first step for students to enter the school is that they need to read every day." She explained that the school requires Primary 1 and Primary 2 students to read Chinese and English books for 5 minutes each day, and Primary 3 students every day. In the sixth grade, it is 15 minutes each. "Students can watch and watch for more than 15 minutes." They also need to record the title of the book in the handbook every day.
If the student has not read for several days, the teacher will follow up.
The Affiliated School of Fujian Secondary School requires every student to read and record in the handbook every day. Teachers will also follow up on students' reading.
The picture shows the school's "pop-up library cart" being deployed during the break period to facilitate students to borrow books.
(Photo by Chen Weici)
A briefing session for next year's Primary One admission will be held on July 2
When parents choose primary schools for their children, they will inevitably consider the issue of adapting to higher education, especially in an international school-like learning environment, whether they can adapt to traditional secondary schools.
Principal Xu said that as long as the primary six graduates have passed the three subjects of Chinese, English and mathematics and have a grade of B or above in conduct, they can enter the one-stop middle school Fujian Middle School. At the same time, some students enter other Band 1A middle schools, popular DSS and international schools. School.
As for adaptation, she pointed out that most secondary schools focus on academics, and she believes that graduates can speak fluent English and are used to learning in English.
The Fujian Primary School will hold the September 2023 Primary One Admissions Briefing on July 2. At that time, the school's teaching philosophy, specific teaching practices, as well as interviews and how to prepare will be introduced.
Primary One Registration｜Fujian Affiliated Primary School set up 2 stages of 2 rounds of interviews, and the principal shared 2 characteristics of students that must be checked. Fujian Affiliated Primary School set up a parent questionnaire for admissions.