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  • EB is an interactive online English learning and knowledge-building programme for secondary students.
  • Fun and Friends is an interactive online English language programme that uses award-winning animations, stories and videos to engage and motivate children to learn English.
  • Fun and Friends Book Club provides a set of fun, interactive readers that develop and enhance your child's English-language skills from reading and listening, to speaking and storytelling!
  • ENG is a new series developed to help students learn and use English across the curriculum, using multimedia content from National Geographic.
  • SD2 is an English skills development programme designed to help students achieve success in the HKDSE exam.
...and More  
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
EB
Fun and Friends
Book Club

Why do we start with listening for English learning?


The research and the experts agree: learning how to listen is the first step in learning any language. That is why EB and Fun and Friends put listening centre stage in all our English lessons. Students always begin with a listening exercise, then progress through reading, speaking and writing.

1) Authenticity - David Nunan

Authentic texts are those that have been produced in the course of genuine communication. Examples include news reports, advertisements, flim clips and trailers. Use of authentic text helps students cope successfully with genuine communication outside the classroom.

(Fun and Friends use authentic text.)

2) Input - Michael Rost

Listening has been viewed as a primary vehicle for language learning. Comprehensive input was a necessary condition for language learning.

3) Effectiveness - Michael Rost

Effective teaching involves

  • careful selection of input sources (appropriately authentic, interesting, varied and challenging)
  • integration of listening with other learning purposes (with appropriate links to speaking, reading and writing)

4) Listen, Listen, Listen to English

Listening is especially important for beginners. Beginners should spend 95% of their study time listening to English.

5) 先聽讀後說寫

「學習英語要由聆聽和閱讀開始,多練習說話未必有幫助。學英文不應從單字或文法開始,閱讀一個完整的故事,有助孩子全面理解英文的運用和結構。」

~ 美國南加州大學英語教學及語言學退休教授 Stephen Krashen

 

References:

1) From the Traditional to the Contemporary in Second Language Teaching and Learning

David Nunan

About David Nunan

In 2000, Nunan served as President of TESOL Inc., the world's largest language teaching association, and was the first person to serve as President from outside North America. Previously Nunan has served as Chair and Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Hong Kong and has been involved in the teaching of graduate programs for such institutions as the University of Hawaii, Monterey Institute for International Studies, Sophia University, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and many others. He is Academic Advisor to the GlobalEnglish Corporation, and is on the Executive Committee of The International Research Foundation for English Language Education.

2) The Cambridge Guide to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Ch1 Listening (Michael Rost)

Source: http://assets.cambridge.org/052180/1273/sample/0521801273ws.pdf

About Michael Rost

Michael Rost is a prolific author of such global titles as Worldview and Longman English Interactive. He is also series editor of many popular titles in Japan, particularly the English Firsthand series and the Impact series. He has also authored several influential academic articles and books, including Teaching and Researching Listening. Michael has been active in teaching and teacher training for more than 20 years. He has taught in Japan, West Africa, Southeast Asia, England and the U.S. He specializes in oral language development and learner strategies.

3) How to Learn Beginning English

http://effortlessenglishclub.com/how-to-learn-beginning-english

4) 先聽讀後說寫

http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=213036&section_name=wtt&kw=311

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