Mission

The English Department strives to provide an English-rich environment for all MS students as we believe one must learn a language by doing and living.

We also aim to provide students with an authentic learning environment to learn in meaningful and interactive contexts, our students are given various opportunities to learn English through drama, readers’ theatre, debating, choral speaking, public speaking and more.

Objectives

To adopt a student-centred approach that provides ample opportunities for purposeful, integrative and creative use of English.
To provide opportunities for the integration and use of the generic skills through meaningful tasks and activities.
To increase students’ learning motivation and facilitate self-directed learning:
-Promoting Reading across the Curriculum helps students to connect their learning experiences and broaden their knowledge.
-Leveraging e-learning through the effective use of IT tools
To facilitate the development of information literacy and a ‘Reading across the Curriculum’ culture with both printed and electronic reading materials.
To maximize students’ exposure to a wide range of text types.
To enhance language learning through the flexible use of a variety of quality resources.
To promote ‘assessment as learning’ in addition to ‘assessment for learning’ so as to help students set goals, monitor, evaluate and reflect on their learning.

Curriculum

J.1 English Bridging Programme

To facilitate a smooth transition from kindergarten into primary English education, the school utilizes a custom-designed, school-based booklet in place of publisher materials. The programme introduces fundamental grammar concepts through engaging stories, readers, interactive games, and communicative activities. Establishing a strong linguistic foundation at this early stage empowers pupils for success in their subsequent years of study.

Guided Reading Programme

Implemented in J.1–2, this programme features two dedicated guided reading lessons each week. Instruction focuses on essential reading strategies and systematic phonics skills. To cater to learner diversity and optimize small-group instruction, lessons are co-taught in the Language Room by two Native-speaking English Teachers (NETs) and a local English teacher.

Classic Readers

To cultivate a vibrant reading culture and broaden pupils’ literary exposure, pupils study a designated classic reader each academic year. The English Department incorporates both original and adapted timeless literature to enhance reading comprehension, expand vocabulary, and foster a lifelong appreciation for reading. Utilizing a Language Arts approach, teachers immerse pupils in literature through experiential and performance-based activities—such as Readers’ Theatre, debating, and radio drama—to deepen their engagement with text.

Reading Across the Curriculum (RaC)

Reading Across the Curriculum (RaC) provides a platform for pupils to sustain their reading interest while developing essential academic literacy skills. By collaborating with other academic subjects, the programme broadens pupils’ learning horizons. In line with our Methodist values, values education remains central to teaching and learning. Through the RaC curriculum, J.1, 4, and 5 pupils explore core values including "Love of Nature," "Respect for Others," and "Perseverance."

Unit Writing

Unit Writing aims to enhance literacy and cultivate enthusiasm for English composition. Throughout the writing process, pupils develop skills in reading, drafting, proofreading, and self-editing. By employing authentic scenarios as prompts, the tasks connect language use to daily life experiences. Additionally, each unit incorporates values education, providing pupils with opportunities for meaningful self-reflection and personal growth.

English-Rich Environment

Pupils are offered extensive opportunities to practice public speaking both inside and outside the classroom. Internal activities include Show and Tell presentations, daily weather reports, news commentaries, debates, group sharing (BYOD mode) and structured group discussions. Beyond the classroom, pupils participate in co-curricular activities and competitions, such as Bible Storytelling during morning assemblies, speech festivals, YouTube shorts making, and campus broadcasts.

Reading Bags Scheme

The Reading Bags Scheme aims to cultivate independent reading habits while strengthening home-school partnerships. By transforming classroom reading corners into vibrant, engaging learning hubs, the initiative provides pupils with curated book sets paired with interactive activity booklets. Through this regular loan system, students are encouraged to read at home for pleasure and share their reading experiences with peers across the year level.