Where: Hong Kong
When: July 2025
Institutions: Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School (SLCSS)
Sessions: Seven
Link YouTube: https://youtu.be/ydXMME7QFcM?si=A-_otklfzGJR8cEy
From July 1st to 7th, 2025, a week-long workshop was held at Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School (SLCSS) in Hong Kong as part of the Language Out Loud (LOL) summer program. The initiative brought together students from Forms 1, 2, and 3, who participated actively in collaborative reading sessions, reflective writing, and creative artistic interpretation of contemporary literary texts.
Over the course of seven sessions, participants explored collaborative reading practices, critical analysis, performative interpretation, and creative expression through texts such as The Lost Thing and Cicada by Shaun Tan, One Art by Elizabeth Bishop, Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter, Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth, and A Few Things by Rudy Francisco. Each session incorporated icebreakers, group work, and moments of individual reflection, enabling students to connect literary themes with personal experience in meaningful ways.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
● Develop critical thinking skills through collaborative reading and reflective writing;
● Cultivate literary appreciation by engaging with peer perspectives and shared interpretations;
● Nurture creativity through artistic and performative interpretations of the texts.
The main outcomes of the workshop included:
● A curated collection of outstanding student work reflecting originality and depth;
● A set of pedagogical resources including lesson plans, activities, and facilitator reflections;
● A comprehensive summary of the workshop process and its impact on student learning.
Students produced a wide range of creative outputs: illustrations and visual responses to The Lost Thing, blackout poetry based on One Art, collaborative narratives in the style of Cicada, observational writing inspired by their own “90th streets,” and theatrical performances weaving together multiple texts. Through drama games, storytelling exercises, character building, and poetic experiments, students engaged in a holistic learning experience that promoted voice, agency, and imagination.
The final session featured group performances of original dramatic pieces that synthesized the week’s learning, followed by a moment of reflection and class photos. This closing event underscored the workshop’s commitment to student-centered learning and community-building through literature and the arts.
The workshop was facilitated by the Language Out Loud team in collaboration with SLCSS and was marked by its emphasis on exploratory learning, creative risk-taking, and the power of the humanities to inspire critical and empathetic engagement.
