My daughter loves creative writing but her Hong Kong school seems to neglect the subject
Stories and poems can get sidelined when schools need to teach other skills, but there is much you can do to encourage your daughter’s interest and help her improve
My daughter loves writing stories and poems, but now she’s in Primary Five in Hong Kong she complains that the class hardly ever does this kind of writing. I have looked through her books and most of the work is comprehension exercises and research. What is happening to creative literature?
Language is at the heart of any curriculum and creative literature is an important part of this. Creative writing develops students’ thinking and imagination, while encouraging a love of language. As well as developing the child as a person, creative thinking and thinking “out of the box” are highly valued in today’s job market.
Each school curriculum dictates what is taught in language and literature lessons – and, particularly as pupils get older, the demands for them to acquire a wide range of writing skills increase. Teachers need to teach explicitly different text types, such as recount writing, exposition (explaining both sides of an argument) and explanations. Becoming competent in research work and note taking are also crucial as pupils head towards secondary school, so don’t be too disappointed to see that your daughter is covering this.
Why some Hong Kong teachers like parents’ help in classroom but others don’t
The creative side of language can be lost when the key focus becomes “skills” and the timetable is crammed with other writing tasks. Here, the enthusiasm of the individual teacher is key.
A teacher who is passionate about literature and understands its importance will make sure the students get regular opportunities for creative writing, however tight the timetable. They will also try to engender a lifelong love of reading, as this is a prerequisite for developing great writing skills. It would certainly be worth talking to your daughter’s teacher or the school language coordinator to ask about the school’s approach to creative writing in the upper years, and make them aware of her personal interest.
As your daughter is already inspired to write creatively, there may be an after-school club she can join. Many are available in Hong Kong – but also encourage her to write at home. Advise her to carry around a small notebook to write down ideas as they come to her, and provide her with other writing books for drafting ideas. Make sure she has access to a computer and help her to set up a file so she can be organised when saving her stories and poems.
A good start would be for her to write stories from her personal experience, by reliving humorous and treasured family events at the dinner table. Also, tell her stories about your childhood days and ask grandparents to do the same. Encourage your daughter to talk about the current books she is reading and films she likes.