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Fresh approach in tune with language

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IN THE COMING weeks every local primary school in Hong Kong will receive a free copy of a book worth singing about.

Let's Sing, containing a collection of more than 60 songs and chants and 50 language learning activities, is the result of a year-long project undertaken by the English Department at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd).

But this is not just another song book. It really is something to sing about. 'Our aim is to enhance language development in the classroom by assimilating language as a whole,' said project leader Ruth Kivela.

'Textbooks tend to focus on structure and grammar in a very targeted way. We want to stimulate learning by providing enjoyable and fun songs and chants that use active participation and repetition to develop positive attitudes to language learning.'

The project is designed to reinforce the experience dimension of Hong Kong's task-based curriculum.

'The use of song, rhythm and rhyme deals with the creative and expressive aspects [of the curriculum]; being able to use language to express emotions, feel emotions and develop creativity and not just processing information,' Dr Kivela said.

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