Academic Enrichment
Individualized Attention
- Small classes ensure that students will receive attention requisite to their personal academic growth.
- Lessons are tailored to both challenge individual students’ strengths while supporting and developing areas of weakness.
- Students receive tangible feedback during and after each lesson to outline a clear path towards improvement.
Experienced, Engaging Teachers
- Capstone instructors have graduated from Ivy League and Oxbridge universities, including MIT, Stanford, and Cambridge, bringing a wide breadth of professional and academic experience to the classroom.
- Our teaching staff is made up of individuals who have previously worked in academia, law, business, consulting, and finance.
A Record of Acheivement
- Instructors have experience working with hundreds of top Hong Kong local and international school students who go on to attend top boarding schools and universities around the world.
- Our students consistently outperform their peers in top schools around Hong Kong in both local, regional, and international competitions.
WHY CHOOSE CAPSTONE
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Capstone courses prepare students to analyze, argue, research, persuade, and present. Our students become not only innovative thinkers, but also adept communicators – an invaluable skill in an ever-evolving global market.
Pathway to Writing
G1-G6
The Pathway to Writing Program is designed based on the Aspiring Writers program. Students will improve their fundamental English reading and writing skills by practicing and building on their understanding of writing structure and grammar concepts. Over the duration of the course, students will boost their confidence in their English language skills and prepare to transition into the Aspiring Writers program.
Course Highlights:
- A mixture of skills, grammar, and vocabulary activities create a lively and fun class while also systematically improving students’ accuracy and fluency in English.
- Writing tasks are challenging, but manageable, with reading material and speaking activities that build students’ confidence.
Perfect for:
- Students who are getting ready to transfer to an English-intensive school
- Students who want to take one of our advanced enrichment programs in the future but whose English skills are not yet ready for these programs
After the course, students will be able to:
- Participate effectively in English-only school environments
- Improve their work on their own by utilizing positive editing habits
Aspiring Writers
G1-G6
The Aspiring Writers Program starts with the foundation of idea development and basic writing structures. At each level, students practice the important steps pf the writing process. As students progress in the program, they learn level-appropriate literary skills and techniques to hone their writing skills. These skills are developed through reading and evaluating texts; teacher instruction and modelling; close attention to the writing process; and regular feedback on activities and assignments.
Course Highlights:
- Students will work to master the writing process: brainstorming, outlining, writing, and revising.
- Students will explore a variety of writing genres, learning to modify style and structure to suit a specific audience and purpose.
- Students will develop excellent planning skills that map out the flow of ideas and arguments.
- Students will enhance their writing with vocabulary and specific literary techniques such as alliteration, metaphor, and simile.
Perfect for:
- Students who want to express their ideas and opinions in an organized and clear manner
- Students who need guidance in systematically planning or editing their writing
- Students who feel comfortable with creative writing but need to prepare for more persuasive and academic writing
- Students who want to advance their writing with higher-level vocabulary and writing techniques
After the course, students will be able to:
- Transition from creative writing to academic writing through a mastery of the writing process
- Develop organizational structures and skills that will produce clear, powerful narratives and essays
- Edit and refine their compositions outside of class
- Express themselves with precision and clarity through a use of a wide vocabulary
Research, Analysis and Problem Solving (RAPS)
G3-G6
In this course, students will gain the necessary tools to recognize and access credible sources. Students will be able to gather, collect data and information. They will be able to evaluate and synthesize information from various sources to assist their analytical and problem solving skills. Though case studies, students will be able to analyze successful and unsuccessful models to skillfully identify, conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information from a variety of media. The goal of the course is to teach students how to empathize with and define problems in an ever-changing world. It teaches them how to brainstorm, design, test, and re-test solution to those problems.
Course Highlights:
- Students gain the ability to present themselves effectively and confidently.
- Students bolster critical thinking skills by developing numerous ideas and examining them for faults.
- Challenging source material and teacher guidance allows students to engage with difficult concepts.
- Fun and engaging problem solving case studies based on real-world issues will expand students’ scope of knowledge and abilities.
Perfect for:
- Students who love to discuss ideas
- Students who always want their opinion to be heard but lack the substance and structure to really make their opinions impactful
- Students who may be very logical but lack the tools to share their logic and ideas with others
After the course, students will be able to:
- Transfer their critical thinking abilities to other academic disciplines
- Present and communicate their ideas clearly and confidently
- Broaden their perspectives and have greater insights that will lead to unique ideas and arguments
Writers’ Workshop
G4 | G6
The Writers’ Workshop Program is designed for students who are already avid readers and advanced writers, yet seek to challenge themselves and advance their writing techniques. Examining contemporary and classic works by Shakespeare, Dickens, and others, students will analyze and explore common themes in literature to learn how advanced writing styles can be applied with different objectives. The course will provide an opportunity for advanced students to gain exposure to challenging prose and topics, and to develop their own writer’s voice.
Competitive Debating
G5-G6
Competitive Debating is designed to provide the necessary training for school team tryouts and to immediately excel once accepted. With the belief that exposure to debate gives students the ability to articulate their opinions thoughtfully and confidently, Capstone’s Competitive Debating Program teaches core debating skills using the British Parliament (BP) style.
Capstone is the only center in Hong Kong to offer a dedicated British Parliamentary Program. In addition, Capstone students dominate the top speakers list within Hong Kong’s largest debating, Model United Nations, and speaking competitions. Our students have traditionally done very well in speaking-intensive competitions that prize presentation and intelligence.
Course Highlights:
- Students will receive exposure to the British Parliamentary debating format, currently the world’s most prestigious debating style.
- A lively environment conducive to both rhetorical presentation and topical research
Perfect for:
- Students who are interested in a new and fun outlet for their critical thinking and persuasive writing skills
- Students who would like to explore competitive debating in a nurturing and enlightening environment
After the course, students will be able to:
- Articulate ideas with confidence and poise on different topics
- Employ creative and effective ways to express their thoughts and defend their ideas
Academic Writing
G7-G9
Academic Writing improves students’ mastery of the four main writing genres secondary students encounter at school: persuasive, descriptive, expository, and fiction. Students will develop the tools necessary to research and write essays that are well-organized, clear, and persuasive, and will learn how to use descriptive techniques skillfully to create powerful written images. Students will be challenged with texts that require them to exercise their critical thinking and employ careful analysis to come to their conclusions. In addition to giving students the skills they need to master the four genres, lessons will emphasize the importance of effective planning, editing, and revising.
ACADEMIC WRITING I
Course Highlights:
Appropriately-paced lessons to simultaneously build English language as well as expose students to the various writing genres.
Perfect for students who:
- Struggle to comprehend and use English
- Wish to develop strong fundamentals in various genres of writing
After one year, students will be able to:
- Write and speak more fluently in English
- Write confidently within the four genres
- Move up a level to the Academic Writing II program
ACADEMIC WRITING II
Course Highlights:
Exposure to different genres that strengthens students’ overall academic proficiency, while practicing all aspects of the writing process.
Perfect for students who:
- Struggle to comprehend and use English
- Wish to develop strong fundamentals in various genres of writing
After one year, students will be able to:
- Write and speak more fluently in English
- Write confidently within the four genres
- Move up a level to the Academic Writing II program
ACADEMIC WRITING III
Course Highlights:
Appropriately-paced lessons to build English language and critical thinking skills, in addition to world knowledge and current events awareness.
Perfect for students who:
- Struggle to use English to express themselves
- Want to develop their own writing style
After one year, students will be able to:
- Organize their ideas creatively and to the best effect
- Employ the writing process consistently
- Tackle challenging upper-Secondary writing
Scholars
G7-G9
Scholars aims to develop frameworks of analysis that can be used to tackle complex issues, contentious world events, and hypothetical scenarios. Though instructor-supervised analysis, discussion, and collaboration projects, students are taught to engage with and dissect global problems while presenting ideas in well-organized, intelligent arguments. Content comes from a wide range of sources that are meant to challenge comprehension and analysis. Students are expected to synthesize, engage, and present their ideas in a multitude of presentation styles.
SCHOLARS I
Course Highlights:
Continued growth of students’ overall academic proficiency through challenging exercises and assignments that teach advanced techniques.
Perfect for students who:
- Struggle to comprehend and use English
- Hope to improve their analytical, deductive, and creative thinking
After one year, students will be able to:
- Provide more detailed and thoughtful comments on various topics
- Present their ideas more confidently
- Move up a level to Scholars II
SCHOLARS II
Course highlights:
Assignments to help students build their critical thinking, logical reasoning, argumentation, problem-solving, and public speaking skills.
Perfect for students who:
- Struggle to articulate ideas effectively
- Hope to improve their knowledge of current events and problem-solving
After one year, students will be able to:
- Logically examine political, economic, or cultural current events and historical issues
- Speak confidently, clearly, and convincingly
- Move up a level to Scholars III
SCHOLARS III
Course Highlights:
Practice complex and nuanced critical thinking, argumentation, problem-solving, and public speaking skills.
Perfect for students who:
- Struggle to analyze problems in-depth
- Present confidently and persuasively, but wish to do so with less preparation
After one year, students will be able to:
- Understand and articulate the interplay of various factors within complex issues
- Speak persuasively with limited preparation
- Tackle challenging upper-Secondary classes
Competitive Debating
G7-G9 | G10-12
Capstone’s Competitive Debating program is unparalleled amongst any school-based or external training program in terms of the number and proportion of competition winning debaters. Given the pivot of debating tournaments in the region to the British Parliamentary (BP) format, this program will teach core debating skills using the BP style. Students will learn how to adapt their speeches and deliveries to succeed under the BP rubric of Style, Substance and Strategy. Students will also receive an introduction to the eight unique BP speaker positions, and discover the nuances of each role to see where their own personal speaking strengths fit best.
Debating is Hong Kong’s most prestigious extracurricular activity at the schools level. Each year within Hong Kong’s largest debating, Model United Nations, and speaking competitions, Capstone students dominate the top speakers list.Capstone’s Competitive Debating offering is structured to the same international quality standards of the World Championship while fostering a nurturing learning environment for debaters of any background.
INTRODUCTORY COMPETITIVE DEBATING
Course highlights:
Experiential learning through simulated scenarios where students advocate for affected stakeholders thus practicing their logic and rhetoric skills.
Perfect for students who:
- Struggle to express themselves in public
- Hope to improve their presentation styles when sharing ideas
After one year, students will be able to:
- Deliver thorough speeches on a range of topics
- Speak persuasively about issues that directly relate to their community
- Move up to the Intermediate level of Competitive Debating
INTERMEDIATE COMPETITIVE DEBATING
Course highlights:
Specialized exercises in logic rhetoric and competitive argumentation to foster further growth in speaking and confidence.
Perfect for students who:
- Are beginning to realize their competitive spirit
- Hope to lead others through speech and logic
After one year, students will be able to:
- Deliver speeches that informpersuade and advocate for significant issues facing the youth their nation and their community
- Move up to the Advanced level of Competitive Debating
ADVANCED COMPETITIVE DEBATING
Course highlights:
Deep discussion and grilling of issues that are used to develop strategic reasoning for the upper levels of competitive debating.
Perfect for students who:
- Have begun to compete in local tournaments
- Wish to practice discussions at the higher order level of thinking with peers and adults
After one year, students will be able to:
- Participate competitively at the local level for varsity debating
- Try out for the Official Team
Writing, Discussion, & Thinking (WDT)
G10-G12
Writing, Discussion, & Thinking (WDT) is designed to prepare students for both the academic rigor and discussion-driven learning environment of upper secondary school and university. WDT draws on elements from Capstone’s Academic Writing and Scholars courses to provide high school students with a comprehensive educational experience. Writing assignments contain heavy elements of independent research and demand initiative and an inquisitive approach. Students will revise and workshop their essays with both their teacher and their peers, and in doing so, will develop good habits of drafting and editing that are vital to success at university and beyond. Throughout the course, students will be expected and encouraged to raise questions, challenge opinions, as well as lead discussions of their own. All of this will be set within a lively, academic setting where students will engage intellectually with a wide range of carefully selected and challenging materials from the humanities and social sciences, including philosophy, ethics, and politics.
Course Highlights:
Assignments designed to improve students’ writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills through challenging and engaging content.
Designed for students who:
- Understand basic writing conventions but do not always employ these guidelines and techniques in their own writing
- Present strong points but may lack clarity in verbal and written work
- Make general claims that are not supported by relevant, compelling evidence
- Need to develop more initiative and confidence to participate in class discussions
After the course, students will:
- Express ideas fluently and according to the conventions and requisites of different genres (persuasive, expository)
- Think about critical issues holistically and, as a result, write in-depth analyses
- Articulate complex ideas using contextual evidence to anchor their arguments
- Steer class discussions and foster dialogue with peers
Early Test Prep
G7 – G9
Early Test Prep is ideal for students seeking to guarantee long-term mastery of various secondary and boarding/preparatory school entrance exams. The course is designed to reinforce vocabulary acquisition and the relevant reading skills and strategies necessary to achieve a higher score on the reading and vocabulary sections of numerous standardized entrance exams including the SSAT, SAT, and ACT. Capstone’s Early Test Prep course utilizes custom-edited passages, vocabulary lists, and quizzes to ensure that students are learning at the right level and are achieving constant progress in their learning.
SSAT Bootcamp
G7 – G9
Capstone’s SSAT Bootcamp will equip students with the fundamental skills and test-taking strategies needed to take the Upper Level SSAT. Students will learn the vocabulary, reading, and mathematics topics tested on the SSAT. As the SSAT is known for difficult vocabulary questions and wrong answer penalties, students will also learn how to answer test questions in a structured and educated way, practicing application of these techniques during in-class drills and homework assignments. By the end of the course, students will be able to walk in on test day with confidence, knowing exactly what to expect and how to perform to the best of their abilities.
ACT/SAT Bootcamp
G9 – G11
This course will equip students with the fundamental skills and test-taking strategies needed to tackle the two most important standardized tests for US university admissions: the ACT and SAT. In the first half of the course, students will cover the grammar, reading, and math concepts tested on both the ACT and SAT, and learn the similarities and differences between the tests. In the second half of the course, students will be split into two streams based on their test preference (ACT or SAT) and learn topics and strategies specific to the test of their choice. Students can also opt for drop-in homework sessions with our test prep teachers for additional personalized attention and feedback. Classes will be taught with Capstone’s own ACT+SAT textbook and official ACT/SAT practice tests (materials included in course fee). By the end of the course, students will be able to walk in on test day with confidence, knowing exactly what to expect and how to perform to the best of their abilities.