Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language) – Primary

Programme Aims

English is a very important subject in Hong Kong. Students of this programme have the opportunity to develop knowledge of English and different methods of teaching English as a second language. The programme is highly practical, requiring students to use English for a variety of academic and professional purposes throughout their five years of study. This programme aims to prepare students who:

• Have a high level of proficiency in English by fulfilling the language exit requirement as stipulated by the University;
• Have in-depth knowledge of the English language;
• Are able to help students in primary schools in Hong Kong to learn English as a second language effectively;
• Have lifelong learning skills and are able to appreciate moral, social and cultural values;
• Can work collaboratively with students, parents, colleagues, school administrators and other professionals; and
• Understand the education issues of Hong Kong and will react to educational innovations positively.

Programme Structure

Note: Classes will be held in Tai Po Campus and Tseung Kwan O Study Centre / Kowloon Tong Satellite Study Centre / Sports Centre as decided by the University.

*Students have an option of taking a Minor (15 credit points) (or two Minor(s) or a Second Major (minimum 30 credit points) of taught courses in the Electives Domain for graduation with Minor(s) or Second Major, subject to the specific requirements of the Minor(s) or Second Major concerned. Students are required to take extra credits to fulfil the Second Minor/Second Major requirements.

English Major

In this domain, students study the English language system (e.g., the English pronunciation system, formation of words, English grammar, etc.), language use in society, how people learn languages, the English language curriculum in Hong Kong, English language teaching skills, literature and drama, etc. To support the English language development of every student, he or she will:

• Be assigned an academic advisor;
• Undertake two mandatory English language enhancement courses in Year 1;
• Undertake the optional International English Language Testing System (IELTS) preparation courses ;
• Live and study in an English-speaking country (for the compulsory immersion programme);
• Study courses with specific objectives for language improvement; and
• Be referred to specialists for intensive language development if there are identified language needs.

List of English Major Core Courses:

• Linguistics
  • English Grammar for Teachers I
  • English Grammar for Teachers II
  • Introduction to English Phonetics and Phonology
  • Introduction to Linguistics
  • Introduction to Sociolinguistics
  • Spoken and Written Discourse
  • Words and their Meanings
• Literature & Culture
  • Approaching English Literature
  • Literature in Context I: 1789-1914
  • Literature in Context II: 1914-2000
• Applied English Studies
  • Second Language Acquisition and Curriculum Design: Theory and Practice
  • Children’s Literature in the ESL Classroom

List of English Major Elective Courses:

• Linguistics
  • Advanced Phonology
  • Comparative Language Studies
  • English as a Global Language
  • Language and Gender
  • Language, Brain and the Mind
  • Pragmatics
  • Teaching Pronunciation
  • Written Genres and the Genre Approach to ELT
• Literature & Culture
  • Approaching Popular Media
  • Children's and Adolescent Literature
  • Creative Writing
  • Introduction to Film Studies
  • Literature in English: Poetry
  • Postcolonial Literature in English
  • Readings in New Literatures in English
  • Shakespeare
  • Drama Performance and Playwriting
  • Traditions of English Literature: Britain & Ireland
• Applied English Studies
  • Classroom Discourse Analysis
  • Content-based Second Language Learning and Teaching
  • Drama in the ESL Classroom
  • ELT Methodology: Innovation and Change
  • Integrating Information Technology in the ESL Classroom
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Language Assessment
  • Teaching English Literature
  • Teaching Grammar & Vocabulary

Education Studies

Education Studies gives students the chance to study teaching and learning from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will study early childhood/school education from psychological, sociological, philosophical, pedagogical and other perspectives. Students will develop a range of skills necessary for professional practice, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, communication, social interaction, ethical decision making and global perspectives. Education Studies helps students appreciate the importance of professional excellence, ethical responsibility and innovation to the role of a teacher. We aim for our graduates to become beginning teachers who are caring and competent, intellectually enthusiastic, socially committed, and globally aware.

List of Education Studies Core

• Education Studies Core
  • Teachers and Teaching in Context
  • Philosophical and Socio-cultural Issues in Education
  • Basic Psychology for Educators: Useful Concepts from Educational and Positive Psychology
  • School Guidance and Managing Diversity
  • Effective Teaching and Positive Classroom Learning Environment

List of Pedagogy for Major Courses:

• Pedagogical courses for Major
  • Primary ELT Methods I: Developing Oracy Skills
  • Primary ELT Methods II: Developing Literacy Skills

General Education

Students can choose from a wide selection of General Education courses in the following developmental stages to enhance their whole-person development:

• Foundation Course
• Breadth Course
• Experiential Learning
• University ePortfolio

Final Year Project

Students will complete either an Honours Project or a Capstone Project in the final year of study.

Electives

Students choose from a range of electives to fulfil the required credit points. They can also form a minor (or two minor(s)) or a second major by taking the required credit points and the appropriate electives.

Field Experience

Students are required to participate in Field Experience (FE), where they observe classes and practise teaching in a primary school:

• FE Foundation Course
• FE and Professional Learning Portfolio I
• FE and Professional Learning Portfolio II
• Block Practice I
• FE Semester

Important Note: The University will ask students of our full-time teacher education programmes (e.g. Bachelor of Education programmes) to declare whether they have been convicted of or are being prosecuted for any sex-related offence in Hong Kong or elsewhere, and to provide relevant details prior to undertaking teaching practice. Such information may be released to their placement schools. The University reserves the right not to allow these students to attend the block teaching practice. If so, they won't be able to meet the graduation requirements of the programmes.

Language Enhancement

Students undertake English language enhancement courses offered by the Department of English Language Education, and Chinese and Putonghua courses offered by the Centre for Language in Education to meet the Language Exit Requirements for English and Putonghua of the University.

Compulsory Immersion Programme

The Immersion Programme is a compulsory part of the programme and students must participate and meet the requirement of the programme successfully in order to graduate. In the programme, they will:

• Live in an English-speaking country (e.g. Australia, the United States or Canada) and study at a university there;
• Live with a local family;
• Enhance their English language proficiency;
• Learn more about the English language, English-speaking cultures, and other education systems and widen their horizons; and
• Increase their general confidence and develop a wider worldview.

Career Prospects/Professional Qualifications

Majoring in English with in-depth academic and professional knowledge, graduates of the programme will have excellent career prospects. They will become fully qualified teachers of English who can teach in local primary schools with the following skills and qualifications:

1. Qualified Teacher Status in Hong Kong;
2. Very high English language proficiency, with eligibility to apply for exemption from the Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers – English (LPATE); and
3. Ability to help students learn English as a second language effectively in Hong Kong primary school.

EdUHK is one of the teacher education providers in Hong Kong. Graduates of the University’s teacher education programmes are eligible to become fully qualified and registered teachers. As regards teacher registration, graduates should approach the Teacher Registration Section of the Education Bureau (EDB) to submit applications directly. All applications will be assessed by the EDB.