1COMPREHENSIVELANGUAGECOMPETENCE1.TheNatureoftheNewCurriculum2.BasicPrinciplesoftheNewCurriculum1Thecurriculumpromotesqualityeducationandtheall-rounddevelopmentofthestudents2Thecurriculumobjectivesareholisticandflexible.3Studentsareputatthecentreofthecurriculumandindividualdifferencesarerespected4Thecurriculumpromotesactivity-basedmethods,experientialandparticipatorylearning5Thecurriculumrecognizestheimportantroleofformativeassessmentinpromotingstudent’development6Theassessmentsystemshouldcombineformativewithsummativeassessment.7ThecurriculumexpandstherangeoflearningresourcesandopportunitiesavailablePart2:IntroductiontoTheGeneralObjectivesThefundamentalaimofthenewcurriculumistodevelopstudents’comprehensivelanguagecompetence.Thiscomprehensivelanguagecompetenceisachievedthroughthefivegeneralobjectivesasshowninthefollowingdiagram:Diagram3:ComparisonoftheOldandNewCurriculumsLanguageskillsandknowledgeformthebasisofcomprehensivelanguagecompetenceThestudents’attitudestolearningstronglyinfluencetheirlearninganddevelopmentSuccessfullearningstrategiesimprovetheeffectivenessofstudents’learningCulturalawarenessensuresstudentsuselanguageappropriatelyTheoveralldescriptorsforcomprehensivelanguagecompetence(i.e.acombinationofallfivegeneralobjectives)forLevels1to9arepresentedbelow:LevelDescriptors1StudentsarecuriousaboutEnglishandenjoylisteningtopeoplespeakingEnglish.Theycan:Playgames,doactionsandactivities(e.g.colouring,joininglines)accordingtosimpleinstructionsfromtheteacherPerformsimpleroleplaysSingsimpleEnglishsongsSaysimplerhymesandchants1.LanguageSkillsListeningSpeakingReadingWriting2.LanguageKnowledgePhoneticsVocabularyGrammarFunctionsTopics3.AttitudestoLearningMotivationandinterestSelf-confidenceandperseveranceCooperativespiritNationalawarenessinternationalview4.LearningStrategiesCognitivestrategiesMetacognitivestrategiesCommunicativestrategiesResourcestrategies5.CulturalAwarenessCulturalknowledgeCulturalunderstandingAwarenessofandabilityincross-culturalcommunication2UnderstandsimplestoriesbywiththeaidofpicturesCommunicatesimplepersonalinformationExpresssimplefeelingsandattitudesWritelettersandwordsTakeinterestinforeignculturalcustomsmetduringlearningEnglish2StudentsshowasustainedinterestinandenjoymentoflearningEnglish.Theycan:UsesimpleEnglishgreetingsandexchangepersonalinformationandinformationaboutfamilyandfriendsPerformdialogues,songs,rhymesandchantsaboutcontenttheyhavestudiedUnderstandandnarratesimplestorieswiththeaidofpicturesWritesimplesentenceswiththeaidofpicturesorpromptsParticipateandcooperateactivelyandhappilyTaketheinitiativetoaskforhelpEnjoylearningaboutothercountries’culturesandcustomsTable1:TheOverallDescriptorsforComprehensiveLanguageCompetencePart3:TheGeneralObjectivesinDetailLevelSkillDescriptorsforLanguageSkills2ListeningStudentscan:1.Understandsimpleliveorrecordedspeechwiththeaidofpicturesandimages2.Understandsimplestorieswiththeaidofpictures3.Understandsimplequestionsduringclassroomactivities4.UnderstandcommoninstructionsandrespondappropriatelySpeakingStudentscan:1.Speakwithclearpronunciationandcanconveyintonation2.Takepartinsimpledialoguesaboutfamiliarpersonalandfamilyinformation3.Usesomecommondailyexpressions(e.g.greetings,farewells,thanks,apologies,etc.)4.Tellsimplestorieswiththeteacher’shelpReadingStudentscan:1.Readandrecognizeallwordsstudied2.Readaloudsimplewordsaccordingtospellingrules3.Understandshortandsimpleinstructionsintextbooks4.Understandinformationexpressedinsimpletextslikegreetingscards5.Understandsimplestoriesorshortpassageswiththeaidofpicturesandformthehabitofreadingforoverallcomprehension6.ReadaloudaccuratelyallthestoriesandpassagesstudiedWritingStudentscan:1.Copyexamplesentences2.Writesimplegreetings3.Writeshortandsimpleheadingsanddescriptionstofitpicturesorobjects4.UsecapitalizationandpunctuationwithbasicaccuracyOtherStudentscan:1.UsesimpleEnglishtoplaygames2.Performshortstoriesorfairytaleswiththeteacher’shelp3.Say30-40simplenurseryrhymesorchants4.Perform30-40Englishsongs5.UnderstandEnglishcartoonsandprogrammesofasuitablelevel(onaverage20-25minutesperweek)3Table2:LevelDescriptorsforLanguageSkillsObjectiveLevelKnowledgeDescriptorsforLanguageKnowledge2PronunciationStudentscan1.Knowincorrectpronunciationcanaffectcommunication2.Knowhowtosaythealphabet3.Understandsimplespellingrules4.Understandwordshavestresspatterns5.PronounceclearlywithnaturalintonationVocabularyStudentscan:1.Learnthe600-700wordsand50orsocommonexpressionsassociatedwiththetopicsforthisunit2.UunderstandwordsareformedfromlettersGrammarStudentscan:1.Knownounshavesingularandpluralforms2.Knowthedifferencebetweenthemainpronouns3.Knowverbscanchangeformsindifferentsituations4.Understandprepositionstoexpresstime,placeandposition5.UnderstandthebasicformsandfunctionsofsimpleEnglishsentencesFunctionsStudentscanunderstandthebasicformsforexpressingsimplecommunicativefunctionssuchasgreetings,farewells,thanks,acceptingapologies,introductions,requests,etc.TopicsStudentscanunderstandandexpre