For Secondary School Students

Date & Time

Class C: July 14th to August 13th, 2014 (Mon & Wed) 3:30 to 6:00pm

Class D: July 15th to August 14th, 2014 (Tues & Thur) 3:30 to 6:00pm

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

Overview

This Standard English Course is designed to 1) help students build a strong foundation in grammar and vocabulary; 2) improve their English speaking and writing, and 3) expose them to the study and discussion of various liberal studies topics in English. While the liberal studies component of the course will cover challenging topics, this course is geared towards students with an intermediate proficiency in English. More emphasis will be placed on correcting grammatical errors and awkward phrasing.

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.

Eligibility

All senior secondary students (i.e. Form 3-6) are invited to apply. Strong junior secondary school students (i.e. Form 1-2) will be considered on a case by case basis. This course is not open to adults.

Instructors

Mr. Philip Yeung

B.A. (first class honors) and M.A., University of Toronto

International Graduate Summer Program on English history and literature, Oxford University

Training Program on Public Speaking, York University

Ms. Cynthia Ip

B.A. in Political Science, University of Pennsylvania

Guest Lecturers

Mrs. Regina Ip Lau Suk Yee, GBS, JP

M.A. in East Asian Studies, Stanford University

M.Sc. in Management, Stanford University,

M.Litt., Glasgow University

B.A. in English Literature, University of Hong Kong

Mr. Lai Chun Ho

B.A. in Law, University of Cambridge

B.A. in Philosophy, Yale University

Ms. Eunice Chow

Candidate for M.A. in Education, Stanford University

B.S. in Psychology and Learning & Organizational Change, Northwestern University

Ms. Kay Dent

Candidate for B.A. in English Literature, Cambridge University

How to Apply

Please submit this online application on or before July 4th, 2014 (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 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 85% 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.

– Course instructors retain full discretion in dealing with matters related to attendance and may excuse absences or tardiness in extenuating circumstances.

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.

Course Syllabus

Please check back in June for a more detailed course outline. Below is the general plan for the course:

The first half of the class will be a liberal studies lecture given by a subject expert. Possible topics include: Globalization and Culture, Psychology, Sustainable Food, Ethics, Gender Studies, and International Development. Students will be assigned a related article, paper, or short story in advance and will participate in a class discussion on the topic after the lecture. The second half of the class will be an English class, which will include lectures and exercises aimed to improve students’ grammar, writing, and vocabulary. Throughout the course, students will work towards an argumentative essay to be submitted at the end of the program. Students will be required to submit an outline, a first draft, and meet with the instructor for a critique.