Towards a Supportive English Learning Environment
At our secondary school, we offer a vibrant array of English activities designed to enhance students’ language skills and foster a love for the culture. Our programs include engaging book clubs, creative writing workshops, and dynamic public speaking teams, providing students with numerous opportunities to express themselves and develop their communication abilities. Additionally, we host annual spelling bees and drama appreciation events, encouraging students, including our English ambassadors (EAs), to showcase their talents and build confidence. These activities not only support academic growth but also cultivate a supportive community where students can explore their interests and collaborate with peers through our target language, English.

1. Singapore English X STEAM Study Tour

 1. Student Participation and Selection 

A total of 30 students initially expressed interest in the programme. Following a round of interviews, 20 outstanding students from Forms 3 to 5—primarily from elite academic streams—were selected based on their academic performance and enthusiasm for Science and STEAM learning.

3. Tour Itinerary and Learning Objectives 

The tour aimed to broaden students’ horizons and deepen their understanding of science and innovation in an international context. Key educational visits included:

- Singapore City Gallery 

- Singapore Mobility Gallery 

- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore 

- Science Museum Food Workshop 

- Singapore Science Centre (with guided English tour) 

- Singapore Botanic Gardens 

- Additional cultural and historical sites

All activities were conducted in English to enhance students’ language proficiency alongside subject knowledge.

2. School Info Day

Prospective students and their parents were invited to our school to see some of the wonderful things we’ve got going on here at STFA SWC.  Groups of student helpers showcased our fun clubs, projects, activities, and resources so primary students could understand some of what we have to offer!  Turnout was high, and fun was had at Info Day 2025!

Student helpers and teachers put on festive costumes and prepared games to celebrate the season!

3. English Speaking Thursday - Earth Day

Earth Day happens worldwide every April, and STFASWC is no different!  We had a huge assortment of games and activities for students to learn from and experience.  Students of all ages lined up to learn, play, and win prizes at STFASWC English Earth Day 2025!

4. English Club Day

The STFA SWC English Club is made up of students of all English skill levels, across five different forms.  Our goal is simple: to give students an opportunity to use and develop English skills with other students who share their interests.  Whether we are playing board games, watching English films, listening to and singing English songs, or just having old-fashioned English conversations, we love to explore and practice the English language in a fun, engaging atmosphere. 

During our most recent club day, students were divided into teams to compete in a general-knowledge game show, with the winners receiving some delicious prizes!  After we crowned our champions, students were given English games and paired up in groups to speak and play in English.

5. After-school Tutorial Class

Two of our alumni, Ethans and Lois, helped shaping the young minds of school. They discussed strengths and weakness with motivated students in the after-class tutorial and guided the less-able students to complete their English homework. The programme ran from April 30 up to June 9, the day before the final exam. Over 180 visits were recorded.

6. Form 1 Makerspace and Design Thinking

STFA SWC Form one students have the wonderful opportunity to learn through a special program created by STFA SWC teachers, professors of DT from HK Poly U, and officers from the Education Bureau of Hong Kong.  Makerspace teaches students different ways of thinking, so they can create new, innovative, useful products. 

In this program, student groups create a “start-up company”.  They learn about color theory, how to create effective logos, slogans, and product packaging.  They write and distribute customer surveys and present their findings.  They create prototypes, then real-life websites for their “businesses” and test, tweak, and improve them, culminating in a final group business presentation at the end of the term.  Check out some of their impressive work!

7. Form 2 Project Learning

Form 2 students experienced project learning in the second term. They did research and data collection to understand the current waste problem in Hong Kong. Students created upcycling products in the hope of easing the problem through daily practices that we could all engage in. Their products were showcased at the April English Speaking Thursday. 

8. F.2 English Reader workshop on My Neighbour Totoro

The English Café is a place for exploring English and developing skills in a fun, interactive way.  In this workshop, analyzed characters from “My Neighbor Totoro” and wrote characters descriptions, while other students used these clues to figure out who it was.  

9. SWC Fun Day 

Every day is fun at STFA SWC, but on Fun Day, that is especially true!  Every subject’s teachers and star students organized special activities for their friends and classmates.  In the English Corner, members of the English Club prepared games, crafts, and activities where players could flex their English skills and win some great prizes!

10. School anniversary slogan competition

The English Department has organized the 50th Anniversary English Slogan Competition to encourage students’ creative use of English. The competition aims at commemorating the establishment of our school while promoting a sense of belonging among students. Congratulations to all the winners!

11.    F.1 and F.2 Spelling Bee Competition

Each class in Form 1 gathered to decide which class was had the most spectacular spellers!  Teachers curated a list of vocabulary words from English, geography, science, and history.  English Club volunteers read words to the students, who had one chance to spell it correctly.  The scores were tallied in real time to motivate the classes to show some hustle!

Our yearly spelling bee competition was held in May for our Form 2 students.  Competitors were given words from a list of vocabulary words to spell to their teachers or volunteers from the English Club.  Each correct spelling earned their team one point, and a champion and runner-up were crowned.  

12.    BYOD and e-learning teacher sharing session 2

Our 1A students are joining the SCOLAR English Alliance 24/25 programme to enhance their English reading and writing skills. Through self-regulated strategies and e-learning tools, they will develop critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Focusing on Social Media, they crafted a one-sided argumentative article in pairs, strengthening their ability to express ideas effectively.

13.    BYOD and e-learning teacher sharing session 2

This June, Ms. Kay Lam and Ms. Janny Wong from the English Department showcased innovative approaches by using AI prompts in teaching and learning. Through collaborative exchanges, teachers shared valuable experiences in using technology, which empowers both students and teachers. Colleagues gained insights and practical tips on how to improve teaching and learning efficiency.

14.    LingoTask sharing session

Feb 5, 2025

As a pioneer of promoting AI in English learning, our school has partnered up with LingoTask, an AI-powered English learning platform, to advocate the use of AI tools to facilitate English learning. Mr Kwan gave a lesson to senior form students in the presence EDB officials and honoured guests from the HKPC Academy as part of the QEF visit. Student utilised the app to generate comments and scores for pieces of writing from various sources to investigate the validity of the app’s scoring accuracy. A follow-up sharing session was held between the guests, members of the English panel and responsible IT staff of our school. A lot of insights and feedback were generated during the meeting, enabling professional exchanges and providing further direction on teaching, learning and development.

15.    F.2 & F.3 English Cafe

Form 2 and Form 3 students had great fun during lunchtime English Café. Mr. Adam designed an interactive treasure hunt activity for the groups of students. 

1. Hong Kong Schools Elite Speech Festival 2024

2. Celebrating Success: The 76th Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival

66 students took part in the Speech Festival. 31 students competed in Solo Verse Speaking and Public Speaking Solo, 3 students formed a Public Speaking Team, and F.1A joined the Choral Speaking (Mixed Voice). 27 students, 1 team and 1 class were awarded a Certificate of Merit, and 4 students received a Certificate of Proficiency.

3. AFTEC Drama Show

On March 5th, students were treated to a wonderful performance from the talented people at The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection (AFTEC).  This year’s performance was “Rousing the Dragon,” a tale of power, loyalty, and deceit.  We had VIP seating in the front row of the theatre, and students were able to participate in activities on stage with the actors and props.  AFTEC does such a wonderful job with their shows that we have been attending for several years.  The bright costumes, creative sets, riveting storylines, and skillful acting keep us coming back year after year.  This show was no exception, as students and teachers were left wowed by the performance, once again.

“I thought it was very interesting and had many humorous scenes.  It taught me that the good will reform, and evil will never last long.”  

- Jaeslyn Ng, 3A

“I felt excited because this was my first time seeing a show.  I liked Zheng Fei because he was playful and fun.”

-Ian Hiu Laam

“I was excited when the three brothers fought Cao Cao.  I also thought Zhang Fei was really funny.”

-Cheeng Yee Yan, 1B

“I thought the actors acted very well, and the plot was good.”

-Siu Tsz Tung, 1A

4. English Speaking Thursday - Valentine's Day

Love was in the air at STFA SWC this February 6th, as the school celebrated English Speaking Thursday with a Valentine’s party.  The English Club prepared games, prizes, karaoke, and decorations for the event.  All students were invited to earn chocolates, improve their English grades, and have fun with friends!

5. Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change

On December 10th, members of the English Club ventured to The Chinese University of Hong Kong, to the state-of-the-art Museum of Climate Change.  There, they explored many interactive exhibits and learned both the challenges we are facing as a planet and the solutions moving forward.  Opened on 16 December 2013, it is the world's first museum focusing on climate change.

6. English Speaking Thursday - Christmas

Special guest Jolly ol’ Saint Nicholas came to STFA SWC, to be sure not to miss our fantastic, annual, English Christmas party.  Students, teachers, and parents singing, dancing, game-playing, and working on those English skills decked our hall with jolly. 

7. HKU English Language Education Silver Award for e-learning

Two of our dedicated English teachers, Ms Pinky Li and Ms Kay Lam, have received the Outstanding E-Learning Awards – English Language Education Silver Award from the University of Hong Kong's E-Learning Development Laboratory. This award recognizes their exceptional work in designing innovative and effective e-learning pedagogy. These teachers invested significant time and effort in crafting these engaging and enriching learning experiences for our students, demonstrating their commitment to utilizing technology to enhance English teaching.

8. Class visit by our sister school, Shunde Huqiao Zhongxue from Mainland

On 8 Nov 2024, we had the pleasure of hosting a class visit for our sister school, Shunde Huqiao Zhongxue, with our Form 4 and other senior form students. The theme of our class was “Robot Waiters,” an exciting and futuristic topic that captivated everyone’s interest. During the session, about 100 students were introduced to the latest advancements in robotics technology, specifically focusing on how robots are being integrated into the hospitality industry as waiters. They had the opportunity to learn more about robot waiters and the benefits they bring to restaurants. The interactive class included diverse learning tasks, such as reading tasks, e-learning apps and group discussions and presentations. This visit not only broadened their understanding of robotics but also sparked lively discussions about the future of technology in everyday life.

Co-operation on reading tasks during English lessons

It was a memorable and educational experience for all involved, fostering a deeper connection between our schools.

9. English Speaking Thursday (Halloween Party) 2024

The halls were full of ghastly ghosts, terrifying teachers, and spooky students on October 24th 2024, for our annual STFA SWC Halloween Party.  Members of the English Club organised games, music, prizes, and a costume photo booth for students to enjoy during their lunch recess. 

We enjoy our Halloween party soooooo much!

10.    BYOD and e-learning teacher sharing session 1

At our recent e-learning sharing sessions, Ms. Pinky Li, Ms. Kay Lam, and Ms. Janny Wong from the English Department illuminated their innovative approaches to integrating iPads and interactive whiteboards into their lessons. Through these collaborative exchanges, teachers in our school shared their valuable experiences, strategies, and successes in harnessing digital tools to engage and empower students. Colleagues gathered insights, inspiration, and practical tips on how to effectively leverage technology for interactive and impactful teaching.

11.   F.1 English Café 24-25

During lunch time, students enjoy lounging in the brand-new, state-of-the-art English Café, where they can play board games, read books, watch TV or movies, and chat with friends in English!  Mr. Wittenberg organises special activities on every other Thursday for students to participate in.  Here we see students showing the "treasures" they found after following treasure maps created by other groups as part of a lesson on giving and following directions.

12.  F.6 English Listening Workshops

To prepare for the public exam, F.6 students attend listening workshops each cycle. These sessions are essential for refining their listening skills. Through consistent practice, students equip themselves comprehensively in the forthcoming assessments.

13.   Ms. Yanni's solo verse and choral speaking training

Ms. Yanni, our dedicated coach, led students through rigorous training sessions in preparation for the Speech Festival. Under her guidance, students honed their skills in reciting and interpreting poems, striving for excellence in both performance and delivery. Ms. Yanni's mentorship not only enhanced students’ vocal abilities, but also instilled confidence and poise, ensuring they were well-prepared to enchant audiences. 

14.    Sports Day NET's Videos

On Sports Day, our NET guided the English Ambassadors in interviewing the athletes. The students crafted thoughtful questions, connecting with the athletes to learn about their experiences and challenges, which enhanced their interviewing skills and made the event more memorable.

15. LLSS in Form 3 English

This year, we are granted school-based support by the EDB Language Learning Support Section (LLSS), which will help our teachers develop a firm grasp of our curriculum and acquire appropriate pedagogies to enhance student learning this year. The focus this year is on LAC and e-learning.

The LLSS support is led by an EDB senior officer who works with us to integrate English and other content subjects to increase students’ exposure in an English environment and motivation of learning. A professional development session is conducted about once a month, with around 10 visits year round. All F.3 teachers, the panel head, the junior form coordinator and the senior form coordinator all engage in practical training and professional exchange. 

Other activity updates

There are also a couple of updates on various activities at the end of the past school year. Go to the activity page of the previous school year or just click here to find out more!