6.3 How to extend English learning beyond the classroom – workshop for teachers
15 - 16.3 Hong Kong International Literary Festival and an evening with Alexander McCall Smith
20.3 Connecting Classrooms – Student Voice: With Care and Action Forum
21.3 - 6.4 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival
23 - 28.3 Knives in Hens
26.3 Meeting the UK Art Entrepreneur at the 15th ifva Festival (Hong Kong Independent Short Film & Video Awards)
2.4 - 5.4 The Adventures of Peter RabbitTM LIVE ON STAGE
 
6.3
Enquiries & registration
Link to full details  

How to extend English learning beyond the classroom – workshop for teachers
9.00 a.m. – noon | St. Bonaventure College and High School, Wong Tai Sin

Helping students to extend English learning beyond the classroom can facilitate faster language assimilation. The workshop aims to share practical approaches with teachers to develop and encourage student autonomy, self-directed learning, group work and creativity. All English language teachers are welcome.
 
15 - 16.3
Enquiries & reservations for the dinner

Link to International Literary Festival   



Hong Kong International Literary Festival and an evening with Alexander McCall Smith
An evening with Alexander McCall Smith: 6.30 – 10.00 p.m. | 15 March 2010 | The China Club |
HK$8,000 per shared table of six people, HK$14,880 per table of twelve people (including welcome drink and Chinese dinner with wine)
‘Language of Words, Language of Music’: 7.30 – 9.00 p.m. | 16 March 2010 | Recital Hall, Hong Kong City Hall | Tickets: HK$280

To celebrate the richness and creativity of English literature, the British Council is presenting ‘Language of Words, Language of Music’ at this year’s Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Two prolific British authors will share their passions in literature as well as contemplate the relation between words and music, including multi-award winning novelist Alexander McCall Smith, who became world-famous for his ‘No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency’ series, and Louis de Bernieres, winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. We are also supporting up-and-coming young writer Tash Aw at the Festival. Book lovers can also get up-close and personal with Alexander McCall Smith by joining a special dinner event hosted by the Friends of the British Council at the China Club. Limited places are available.
 

20.3
Enquiries: 2913 5520
Link to full details


Connecting Classrooms – Student Voice: With Care and Action Forum
9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. | St. Paul’s Convent School, 140 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Registration through our website


Organised by British Council Hong Kong and St. Paul’s Convent School, with the support of the Education Bureau, the Forum is a one-day event to explore how Student Voice, combined with Care and Action, can contribute to school improvement and be developed as an ‘Other Learning Experiences’ activity in Hong Kong’s new curriculum. At the Forum you will hear and share views with senior educators on why student voice matters; examples of student voice in practice in schools in Hong Kong and Portsmouth in the UK, and participate in workshops and plenary sessions on the way forward in Hong Kong (and connecting to UK classrooms). Students, teachers, principals and educators are most welcome to join. Registration is required.
 
21.3 – 6.4
Link to full details
34th Hong Kong International Film Festival

The British Council is supporting UK films at the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival. This year's festival features UK director Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank, Jury Prize winner at Cannes, and Daniel Barber’s Harry Brown with the inimitable Michael Caine starring as a wrathful avenger. We are also bringing documentary director Rob Lemkin to Hong Kong, and he will talk about his new work, Enemies of the People, on Cambodia’s forbidden history. Other selections range from the classic Oscar-winning The Red Shoes in 1948 to the more recent BAFTA nominated Bright Star.
 
23.3 – 28.3



Knives in Hens
Cattle Depot Theatre, Cattle Depot Artists Village
Tickets: HK$150 URBTIX


Two years after the Hong Kong premiere of Scottish playwright David Harrower’s stunning Blackbird, Theatre du Pif presents his breathtaking first play. Set in a god-fearing, pre-industrial community, a young woman comes to terms with an ancient hatred, an unexpected betrayal, and a growing sense of her place in the world.

5 pairs of tickets (HK$150 each ticket, five winners in total). Login and answer a simple question before 8 March 2010.
 
26.3
Enquiries & registration
Link to full details


Meeting the UK Art Entrepreneur at the 15th ifva Festival (Hong Kong Independent Short Film & Video Awards)
7.00 p.m. (discussion) | 9.00 p.m. (screening) | Hong Kong Art School (Shau Kei Wan campus)

The British Council partners with the 15th ifva Festival (Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards) to bring Sarah Perks, Programme and Engagement Director of the Cornerhouse, an international centre for contemporary visual arts and film in Manchester, UK Together with Andy Willis, a Reader at the University of Salford, Sarah will share the current state of visual arts, film and the creative industries in the UK using Cornerhouse as an example. She will also talk about her story of becoming a British Council UK Young Visual Arts Entrepreneur finalist in 2009. Screening of short films from the Exposure Film Festival, the UK’s largest festival for students’ moving image works organised by the Cornerhouse and the University of Salford, will follow the talk.
 
2.4 – 5.4
Enquiries: 31 288 288



The Adventures of Peter RabbitTM LIVE ON STAGE
Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Tickets: from HK$195 to HK$495 HK Ticketing

Based on books by the World famous children's author Beatrix Potter, The Adventures of Peter RabbitTM LIVE ON STAGE is a family musical featuring the beloved characters Peter Rabbit, farmer Mr. McGregor, cousin Benjamin Bunny, Old Mr. Bunny, Tommy Brock the badger and Mr. Tod, the wily fox. The beautiful sets, costumes and enchanting songs in this captivating musical, bring to life the delightful adventures of Peter Rabbit and the vivid imagination of the much celebrated author Miss Potter. It is a joyous celebration of the World’s most loved bunny!

A pair of A Reserve tickets to the show (HK$395 each ticket, two winners in total). Login and answer a simple question before 19 March 2010.
 
CHECK OUT
World Book Day

UNESCO has designated World Book Day as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. To celebrate World Book Day on 4 March 2010, the British Council Book Shop is selling six specially selected titles for young readers at a special price of HK$10 per book. Check them out now – while stocks last.

Enquiries: 2913 5122 or shop@britishcouncil.org.hk
Link to full details
British Council English Club
3.00 - 6.00 p.m., Sundays | Room 503, British Council

The British Council English Club (BCEC) is a student association administered by current and past students of the British Council with the dual objectives of helping members keep up their English and promoting friendship among fellow students of the British Council. Meetings are held on Sundays and the membership fee is HK$50 per year. All past and present students of the British Council at intermediate level or higher are welcome to join.

Enquiries: 9670 2525 (Norman Tang)
Link to full details
 
 
Featured Topic - Tips for making a successful presentation

In this article, we will look at the beginning and introduction of a good presentation in English. Also, we will focus on connecting words and ways to keep your presentation moving. Finally, we will concentrate on bringing your presentation to a confident and professional conclusion.

Useful Resources ________________________________________

IELTS Interview Skills: Develop What You Say
Even if you are asked what seems like a yes–no question, you are expected to say more.
(IELTS / video)
Simon Says: Look for Learning Opportunities in Advertising
Simon says advertising provides us with lots of opportunities for improving vocabulary, grammar and expressions.
(English speaking / audio)
UK City Guides - Birmingham
What's so special about the United Kingdom’s second largest city?
(Reading / UK)
Earn Your English Idiom Stripes
Play the game and learn the tiger and cat related idioms
(Game / idioms)

Our Teachers video series

My weekend
What will teachers do in the weekend? Watch this video.
________________________
 
 

Featured Topic - IELTS Recognition by US Institutions Increases

IELTS announced that more than 2,500 higher education institutions in the US: undergraduate, graduate and professional schools programmes, including the eight elite US Ivy League schools, recognise IELTS as their English language proficiency test for admission.

 

 
 

Cambridge ESOL Key English Test for Schools (KET for Schools) and Preliminary English Test for Schools (PET for Schools)

Registration: 1 – 20 March 2010 | Examination dates: 15 – 16 May 2010

With an increasing number of school children taking the Key English Test (KET) and Preliminary English Test (PET), Cambridge ESOL has specially developed a school version for the KET and PET examinations. The school version has the same test format and level of question papers as KET and PET and the test certificates are the same. The only difference is that the content and treatment of topics in the school version target the interests of school children. Registration starts on 1 March 2010.

Enquiries: 2913 5100 or enquiries@britishcouncil.org.hk
More details

 

 
IELTS IELTS

Exams Calendar
Exams open for registration in Feb 10

IELTS (detail schedule)
Test dates
Registration period
20/03/10
Now - 06/03/10
10/04/10
Now - 20/03/10

KET/PET & KET/PET for Schools
(KET & PET schedule)

Test dates
Registration period
(a) 22/5/10
01/03 - 20/03/10
KET/PET

(b) 21/5/10
or 23/5/10

(a) 15/5/10
01/03 - 20/03/10
KET/PET for Schools

(b) 16/5/10
(a) Reading, Writing & Listening tests
(b) Speaking test

YLE (detail schedule)
Test dates
Registration period
11/04/10
Now - 07/03/10
25/04/10
Now - 07/03/10
02/05/10
08/03 - 04/04/10
30/05/10
08/03 - 04/04/10
 
 

Featured Topic - Discover UK as a study destination

The UK comprises four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each has its own distinctive history, landscape and modern culture. There are more than 3,000 educational institutions that welcome international students.

 

 

Useful Resources _______________________________________

Application process for undergraduate studies
Find out the complete application process for 2010 entry - from course search, comparison to application via the simple and effective UCAS.
NEW Student Visa requirements
An overview for students planning to study in the UK in 2010, highlighting key new requirements they should be aware of
 

European Higher Education Fair and ‘How to make a successful application to a university in the UK’ seminar

‘How to make a successful application to a university in the UK’ seminar: 7.00 – 9.00 p.m. 5 March 2010 | Room 401 – 2, British Council | Speaker: Rob Aldridge, Oxford Brookes University and the British Council

European Higher Education Fair: 1.00 – 6.00 p.m. | 13 – 14 March 2010 Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Representatives from 54 different institutions from 13 European countries will provide education information and individual consultations at the European Higher Education Fair 2010. There will be seminars to introduce various European languages and sharing sessions conducted by former students who studied in Europe. The British Council will be providing information on UK education at the fair. We will also organise a seminar entitled ‘How to make a successful application to a university in the UK’ on 5 March 2010 at the British Council.

Enquiries: 2913 5100 or enquiries@britishcouncil.org.hk
More details


Events Calendar
Education UK events in March 2010

13 - 14 March 2010

European Higher Education Fair
Venue: Hong Kong Central Library
(Details)

More events and details

 
 
Featured Topic - Learning English through Cartoons

Cartoons are very appealing to young learners and capture their imagination. Therefore, cartoons are an excellent theme to utilise when supporting your child’s learning at home. This week, British Council teacher is going to tell us how to use Cartoons to learn English.

 

 

Useful Resources _______________________________________

Practice listening - Identipet
Spycat is looking for lost pets. Listen to the descriptions and find the right pets.
What's your pet like?
Lily has got a hamster, and Owen has got a pretend pet. Watch the video and listen to Lily and Owen talking about pets.
Short Stories- The animal shelter
The Good family wants to adopt an animal to take home and look after. Which animal will they adopt?
DoToLearn
This site has lots of games, songs, communication cards and printed resources for special needs children.
 
IELTS