Telling China's Stories to the World

The secondary courses within our extra-curricular “Telling China's Stories to the World” programme give students the language to talk for longer about the places, habits and plans they already know. They learn to give a reason, develop meaningful conversations and explain a familiar topic to someone who does not share their first language. The focus stays on spoken English. Students describe, compare, recommend and ask.

Students discuss local places of interest, recent trips, hobbies, studies and everyday life in Macao and mainland China. The language is aligned to Trinity GESE Grades 5–9.

Confident Speakers: Trinity GESE Grades 5–6

Learners: Ages about 10–13
Format: 15 lessons × 60 minutes  
Trinity aim: Grade 5 after lesson 8, or Grade 6 after lesson 15 

 
Students practise

• Giving a reason and stating a preference: I’d rather take the fast train because it’s quicker. 
• Talking about recent experience: I’ve just been to the science museum. 
• Asking the examiner at least one question (Grade 5) or two (Grade 6) 
• Preparing a short topic form that is not a copy of the conversation list 

By the end of the course, students can

• Talk about recent experiences and future plans using present perfect, will and going to 
• Give reasons and state preferences in full answers 
• Present a prepared topic and answer questions about it 
• Ask the examiner questions to keep the conversation two-way 
• Sit a Trinity GESE Grade 5 or 6 exam if the school chooses to enter 

Student competitions 

• Students celebrate their progress as speakers by presenting a personal topic at the School Competition in May. They can also include a short English performance.
• Selected students represent their school at the Grand Macao-wide Final in July.

Benefits for schools 

• A clear bridge from primary speaking to longer secondary discussion 
• Observable can-do checks after lessons 8 and 15 
• Topic preparation that builds planning and note-making skills 
• Consistent delivery by trained NET teachers 

Benefits for learners 

• Confidence to give an opinion and back it up with a reason 
• A personal topic they chose themselves and can talk about with ease 
• Language for the trips, hobbies and plans they already have 
• A habit of asking as well as answering 

Active Speakers: Trinity GESE Grades 7–8

Learners: Ages about 12–16
Format: 15 lessons × 60 minutes  
Trinity aim: Grade 7 after lesson 8, or Grade 8 after lesson 15 

 
Students practise

• Leading a short topic discussion from notes, not a script 
• Keeping an Interactive-task prompt alive by asking questions and commenting 
• Talking about hometown life, culture, early memories with family, and work people do 
• Guessing what a photo or image represents and giving a visitor advice: It might be the Mid-Autumn Festival. You should try a mooncake. 

By the end of the course, students can

• Lead a topic discussion from notes and respond to the examiner's questions 
• Take charge of the Interactive task by asking questions and making comments 
• Speculate, give advice and talk about obligation: It might be… You should… You have to… 
• Give extended answers about hometown life, culture and family memories 
• Sit a Trinity GESE Grade 7 or 8 exam if the school chooses to enter 

Student competitions 

• Students bring local culture to life at the School Competition in May, showing how independently they can speak.
• Selected students have the chance to represent their school at the Grand Macao-wide Final in July.

Benefits for schools 

• Focused preparation for the Interactive task, the new exam phase at Grade 7 
• Observable can-do checks after lessons 8 and 15 
• Local settings that give students real things to explain 
• Consistent delivery by trained NET teachers 

Benefits for learners 

• Confidence to start and steer a conversation, not just reply 
• Speaking from notes instead of memorised scripts 
• Language to explain local culture to a visitor 
• Skills that carry over to interviews and group discussions at school 

World Speakers: Trinity GESE Grade 9

Learners: Ages about 14–18
Format: 15 lessons × 60 minutes  
Trinity aim: Grade 9

 
Students practise

• Saying the same idea another way: In other words… 
• Explaining a method, procedure or a place worth visiting 
• Talking about hopes, aspirations and how to achieve them 
• Looking back on a trip and saying what they would do differently

By the end of the course, students can

• Hold a 15-minute unscripted conversation with the examiner, from topic discussion to Interactive task 
• Speak in depth about a topic they know well and handle challenging follow-up questions 
• Back up an opinion with examples and respond to a different point of view 
• Explain a familiar topic clearly to someone who does not share their first language 
• Sit a Trinity GESE Grade 9 exam if the school chooses to enter 

Student competitions 

• Students share their perspectives on Chinese and Macao life at the School Competition in May – a proud moment to show how far their communication skills have developed.
• Selected students advance to the Grand Macao-wide Final in July.

Benefits for schools 

• A top-level speaking course for able senior students 
• A mid-course can-do check at lesson 8 and a Grade 9 readiness check at lesson 15 
• Speaking practise at an upper-intermediate (B2) level, without lectures 
• Consistent delivery by trained NET teachers  

Benefits for learners 

• Confidence to explain Macao life to people from outside the region 
• Ways to keep a conversation going when the right word does not come 
• Skills for interviews, presentations and further study 
• Clear, natural English for travel, study and future work 

The end-of-year Telling China's Stories events give secondary students a platform to develop and explain their ideas to an audience. As they progress, speakers move from presenting personal topics with reasons to speaking independently from notes and handling more challenging questions. A School Competition is held at each partner school in May, followed by the Grand Macao-wide Final in July for selected students. The Grand Macao-wide Final is organised by the English for Asia Teachers Association of Macao (EfATAM).

Find out more about the events