ANNEX B
IMMERSION ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR TEACHER TRAINEES AND
LECTURERS AT COLLEGES OF EDUCATION
BACKGROUND
1. The English language will continue to be vital to Hong Kong's
openness and international role. There is growing concern that not enough is being done to maintain and raise language standards.
There is particular concern about language standards among teachers. Economic growth has led to strong competition from other employment
sectors for those able to communicate well in English. There are clear economic advantages for the UK in consolidating the core of skilled English teachers in Hong Kong. It is vital, therefore, to
ensure that those entering the teaching profession are enabled,
during their training, to achieve as high a level of skill in
English as possible.
2. Hong Kong's four teacher training colleges offer two-year
courses to students with Advanced Level qualifications, and three
year courses to those with the Hong Kong Certificate of Education
(equivalent to GCE 'O' Level). Total enrolments on full time
courses is about 2400. There are about 400 lecturing staff. Both
English and Chinese are used as languages of instruction. Students study a mix of compulsory core subjects and electives. English is
an elective subject, with about 300 first-year places available each
year.
PROPOSAL
3. It is proposed that all teacher trainees who are studying
English as an elective should be enabled to attend an immersion
language course in the UK for six weeks at the end of their first
year. It is further proposed that a number of places (perhaps on a
ratio of 1 per 10 participating students) be available to lecturers
at the Colleges, both to provide them with opportunities for
language development and to help with the supervision of the
trainees. While lecturers in the English departments should be
CHRAAD
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