Elementary Grade 1

At this early stage of a student’s educational experience, it is vital to get the fundamental aspects of learning right. Students of this age benefit from phonetic rehearsal, as it supports them as they learn to spell and ensures correct pronunciation at an early age. Spelling is also a key part of this stage of development, although it is important that students study both phonemes and spelling in an enjoyable way, thorough games, worksheets and multimedia activities, in order to ensure a positive learning experience. The other cornerstone of our course at this age is reading, and students will be encouraged to read every lesson, no matter what their ability is. Students will follow a structured reading plan using materials of an appropriate level. This will then be accompanied by activities and optional exercises for students to do at home with parents or guardians.

Elementary Grade 2

When students enter Grade 2 it is vital to ensure that their language learning experience is as positive as possible in order to safeguard their enthusiasm for the subject in future. By this point, students are encouraged to read both fiction and non-fiction texts, and they should be confident in discussing character traits, meanings behind stories, story elements and simple text features. By the end of Grade 2, students are expected to begin reading their first short novels, although the majority of Grade 2 reading work focuses on comprehension. Grammar study also begins at Grade 2, and learners are required to study adjectives, subjects and verbs, as well as being able to write using these language features. When writing or completing short compositions, students will also be encouraged to begin using cursive handwriting, although some written work will also be done with computers so that students will begin to associate their developing IT skills with language study.

Elementary Grade 3

Grade 3 is the time when students are expected to employ text comprehension, rather than decoding strategies, to their reading material. As students are mastering this difficult skill, it is important for them to read material they can really enjoy. At the same time, this material must be diverse, as learners must be able to differentiate between different genres realistic fiction, non-fiction, poetry, fantasy, historical fiction, science fiction and folktales. Students will begin to recognize the various elements of each of these works, as well as producing simple versions of their own work when they are creative writing. Spelling and vocabulary are also fundamental at Grade 3, and Brighten will help to build develop skills on a weekly basis with set word lists relating to students’ reading and writing materials. Finally, students who wish to do so will be encouraged to take international EFL examinations, including the Cambridge Flyers and KET tests.

English Tutorials

All of our qualified tutors are degree-holding native speakers of English with years of experience. Aside from helping students to prepare for certificate courses (IGCSE, IB, HKDSE, A-Levels, IELTS, SAT, TOEFL, Cambridge ESOL certificates), Brighten also provides tailor-made English language tutorials for Grades 1 to 9. Divided into Elementary, Junior and Senior levels, these classes help foster specific intellectual skills at every developmental stage of a child’s education. We focus on the four key skills of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening, as well as other vital elements including vocabulary building, grammar and natural usage. However, we also aim to develop a lifelong love of English, so we encourage creative, beneficial habits like regular reading and free writing.

Junior Grade 4

Fourth Grade is the time to encourage students to really become sophisticated readers of various genres including fantasy, myths and legends, or adventure stories. Students are urged to spend long periods reading and writing both on their own and with support in order to develop their language skills. Learners will also be expected to confidently use reading support tools including dictionaries, thesauruses, encyclopedia, libraries and the internet, which not only help them directly with their reading, but also allow them to research topics independently. With regard to grammar, students are required to be able to understand and use the most common root words and word endings in order to allow them to read and comprehend new words. This is taught in addition to context clues, which allow a student to decipher a word based on clues surrounding it in the text. Students who show an interest will also be incited to sign up for international EFL examinations including the Cambridge KET and PET exams.

Junior Grade 5

Grade 5 is the time to ensure that students have mastered all the fundamentals of language study. This is most important with regard to grammar, and Brighten tries to ensure that learners have grasped the fundamental grammatical forms, although we encourage the study of grammar from a much younger age. Students are also expected to consolidate the principal elements of spelling, including root words, prefixes and suffixes, ensuring confidence as the learner’s vocabulary grows. In addition to these drills, students will be required to pursue different types of creative writing, and read from a wide range of genres. Exercises concerning reading generally include comprehension tasks, vocabulary building and additional writing topics. Furthermore, learns who show talent will be encouraged to sit the Cambridge International KET or PET examination, depending on the student’s level and skill.

Junior Grade 6

By Grade 6 students should be relatively comfortable with their reading and writing skills, although for students who are still have specific difficulties with either skill, Brighten is available to give individual support. Regarding writing skills, Grade 6 is a time to ensure that students have been introduced to the basic genres of creative writing including poetry, narratives, book reports, research reports, diaries and personal reflections. Students will also be required to produce their own examples of each of these works and in order to help them, they will be asked to read a wider range of books including diaries, science fiction, humor and adventure stories. It is also a good idea for students to complete an international EFL examination, for example the Cambridge KET or PET if they have not already done so. In addition, learners will be encouraged to develop their own system for spelling and studying new vocabulary in order to make them more independent learners, as well as building word power.

Junior Grade 7

Grade 7 is an enjoyable time for students learning English as imagination and studying different forms of creative writing is strongly encouraged. Brighten helps students to explore and create different genres of writing including biography, travel writing, science fiction, reference, natural history and general fiction. In relation to this, reading remains an important part of students’ learning experience, as in order to produce different types of writing, they must study prominent examples of it. At this stage it is necessary to ensure that students expose themselves to a range of different types of literature to ensure that their linguistic skills develop evenly. Furthermore, our institution offers support for students wishing to take EFL examinations, including the Cambridge KET and PET tests, and the SSAT for high schools. Students can ask to pursue their own test revision program, or one of Brighten’s qualified teachers can administer a level test in order to advise students and parents about which test would suitable for them.

Senior Grade 8

By Grade 8 students should be functioning as autonomous learners and perfecting their exam techniques in preparation for the international standardized tests they will soon be undertaking. For this reason, writing various styles of essays including analytical, argumentative, creative and descriptive, is an extremely important element of the course at this stage. As students will already have some skills with regard to this requirement, Brighten aims to hone those skills and improve essay writing technique in each individual student. In order to write well, students must read well, and during the Grade 8 course Brighten encourages learners to study superior and acclaimed works. An increasingly advanced vocabulary is also important, both for students as independent learners and with regards to international testing. This means that students will also be encouraged to increase their word power every lesson, using the SSAT and other advanced vocabulary lists.

Junior Grade 9

Grade 9 is a pivotal time for students as it is the final year before they embark upon various international examination courses, including IGCSE, BTEC, A Level and IB Diploma. This means that it is extremely important to ensure that students achieve the best foundation they can when writing analytical, descriptive, argumentative and discursive essays. Furthermore, Brighten aims to ensure that learners can engage with and analyze various types of literary sources, including plays, prose and poetry, as this will be a vital requirement of the courses they are required to take. In addition, many students will be considering sitting international tests aimed at EFL learners including the Cambridge FCE, IELTS, TOEFL, SSAT, ACT and SATS. Brighten endeavors to intellectually and psychologically prepare students to the best of their ability for these extremely demanding examinations, as well as guiding students towards the most appropriate examination for their particular needs.