Around 100 primary school students from new immigrant families made their long-awaited visit to the PolyU West Kowloon Campus on 27 November 2021 to showcase their English learning progress to their Service-Learning (SL) mentors – enthusiastic degree students of the School of Professional Education and Executive Development of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU SPEED).
Led by the Director of the New Home Association, the school children performed elaborate dances as well as English songs and poems on stage, which bore testimony to not only their weeks of hard work but also the effectiveness of the SL subject “Teaching Primary School Students English as a Service-Learning Experience” – offered to top-up degree students of BA (Hons) in Bilingual Studies with Translation, BA (Hons) in Chinese Language and Culture, and BA (Hons) in Language and Professional Communication in collaboration with the New Home Association.
Helping new immigrant children improve English
Bringing young children and degree students together, the SL subject supported some 100 primary students in a programme where PolyU SPEED students designed weekly English learning plans to nurture their students’ English skills and build up their confidence. Through their mentoring role, PolyU SPEED students also developed a stronger sense of social responsibility and greater empathy for underprivileged children in Hong Kong.
Helping degree students develop civic responsibility
Dr Nancy Guo, the lecturer who initiated this SL subject, shared that her aspiration to help students develop their civic responsibility was at one with the subject’s prime learning outcome. “As lecturers, it’s our responsibility to create projects for people in need and encourage our students to apply what they have learnt in real life. I could feel my students’ passion and I’m extremely proud of their dedication to helping new immigrant children,” said Dr Guo.
Mr Jeff Leung, Director of the New Home Association, commended PolyU SPEED students for their understanding and empathy, particularly towards some children with special educational needs. The Association mainly serves newly immigrated primary students from the Mainland who either have insufficient English learning resources or low English proficiency.
Ms Salome Chan and Ms Renee Pang, PolyU SPEED students enrolled on this SL subject, shared that this elective incorporated modern teaching methods, and they both gained valuable insights. Renee was drawn to the subject as she had never taught a large group of students before. Salome recalled kneeling down to the children’s height to make eye contact with them and help them relax.
More SL subjects soon to be offered by PolyU SPEED’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Scheme in Language and Communication
Service-Learning, an educational approach distinguished by being mutually beneficial for both students and society, has been implemented in PolyU SPEED since 2016/17. More SL subjects, such as “Storytelling for Understanding: Refugee Children in Hong Kong”, will be offered in the coming semester for students of the three articulation degree programmes under the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Scheme in Language and Communication, namely Bilingual Studies with Translation, Chinese Language and Culture, and Language and Professional Communication.
To learn more about these PolyU SPEED programmes and subjects, please call 3400 2828 or visit: https://bit.ly/3rTGfyU
(from left) Ms Renee Pang, Mr Jeff Leung, Ms Salome Chan and Dr Nancy Guo
Newfound friendships and experiences at the PolyU West Kowloon Campus
