Download Syllabus

For Secondary School Students

Date & Time

Class A: July 13th to August 12th, 2015 (Mon & Wed) 9:30am to 12:00pm

Class B: July 14th to August 13th, 2015 (Tues & Thurs) 9:30am to 12:00pm

* There will be a 10 minute break in the middle of each class.

Overview

This Advanced English Course is designed to 1) help students build a strong foundation in grammar and vocabulary; 2) improve their English speaking and writing; 3) develop critical reading and literary analysis skills. While the course is designed for non-native English learners, it seeks to challenge students with literary pieces and longer essay assignments common to American high school English courses.

The two classes will be capped at 20 students each to encourage class discussion and interactive learning (e.g. the Harkness method) in an English-only classroom. In addition, many one-on-one opportunities (e.g. writing clinic, extra help) will be available to cater to different learning needs. At the conclusion of the program, students should expect to show marked improvement in their English proficiency and consequently obtain better results in the DSE English paper.

In addition, the summer program offers students learning opportunities outside the classroom. Accepted applicants can choose to attend a guided and interactive tour of the Legislative Council complex, a computer-coding workshop at City University Apps Lab or  a seminar on further studies.

Eligibility

All senior secondary students (i.e. Form 3-6 or equivalent) are invited to apply. Strong junior secondary school students (i.e. Form 1-2 or equivalent) will be considered on a case by case basis.

Instructors

Ms. Eleanor Michotte

B.A. in English, Yale University

Ms. Cynthia So

Candidate for B.A. in Literae Humaniores (Classics), Oxford University

How to Apply

Please submit this online application on or before July 3rd, 2015 (Friday). We review applications and make admission decisions on a rolling basis. In our past experience, competition dramatically increases close to the deadline when many students apply and few places are left. Therefore, interested students are encouraged to apply early to secure a place in the program.

Students who are applying to an English course will be automatically considered for both advanced and regular courses and, if admitted, will be offered a place in the course more suitable to their ability level.

In addition to completing the application form, applicants must also submit a writing sample (no fewer than 250 words) in English. Competitive candidates will be invited to an interview, which is required in order to be accepted to the program.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee is $1000 for the entire program. There is also a $200 deposit, which will be returned to students with a 80%+ attendance rate at the end of the program (see Attendance below). The total is due a week after the student is accepted into the program or before the first class, whichever comes first, and will be used to reserve a place in the course.

SLAA is fully committed to making its courses accessible to students from all socio-economic backgrounds. Full or partial fee remission is available to students who require financial assistance. If you would like to apply for fee remission, please indicate accordingly on the application form.

Venue

Savantas Liberal Arts Academy

Room 301, Fu Fai Commercial Centre, 27 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Requirements & Grading

Grading will be based on class participation, assignments, and essays. Participants who attain 80% or above will receive a Certificate of Excellence. Students with full attendance in this program will be awarded a “Full Participation Certificate”.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time, and stay for the duration of the class. If a student must miss any part of a class, he or she should notify the instructors as early as possible and attend an alternate class session.

For the purpose of calculating attendance rates:

– Absence is defined as missing more than half of a class.

– Tardiness is defined as being more than 15 minutes late to class and is counted as ¼ an absence.

– Attendance in alternate class sessions may count towards the attendance rate.

Writing Clinics & Extra Help

Students must meet with one of the teachers outside of class to receive feedback on their writing before submitting final drafts. In addition, students may request extra help from teachers by appointment or during office hours.

Reading List

2-3 course reading assignments will be selected from this list of novels, short stories, and plays. A detailed syllabus will be available in June. For now, please refer to our previous summer program.

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Awakening, Kate Chopin

Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka

The Stranger, Albert Camus

Animal Farm, George Orwell

The Pearl, John Steinback

Of Mice and Men, John Steinback

The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway

The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

The Odyssey, Homer

The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams

A Doll’s House, Henry Ibsen

Othello, William Shakespeare

Oedipux Rex, Sophocles

Antigone, Sophocles

The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank

The Giver, Lois Lowry

Mythology, Edith Hamilton

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Eric Schlosser

“The Lottery”, Shirley Jackson