31-JAN-1930
12:51
EDUCATION & PIANPOWER DR
002 3 000 3310
Appendix Ang
PROPOSAL FOR THE BRITISH COUNCIL Immersion English Language training for
teacher trainees and lecturers at Colleges of Education
Purpose
In December 1989
Foreign and Commonwealth office British Council's informed the Hong Kong Government of the interest in enhancing the educational assistance given to Hong Kong.
One of the measures proposed by Hong Kong in response to this was the provision of immersion English language training in This note the UK for trainee teachers at Colleges of Education. amplifies the thinking behind this proposal.
The Importance of English in Hong Kong
The English language will continue to be vital to Hong
role.
is There international
growing is being enough
done to maintain and raise
Kong's openness concern that not
and
language standards. There is particular concern about language Economic growth has led to strong those able to Government is
teachers.
other employment
English.
standards
among competition from
in
are enabled,
Kong
sectors for
The
Hong
during their
training, to achieve as
communicate well therefore concerned to ensure that those entering the teaching
profession high a level of skill in English as possible.
The Teacher Training Colleges
Hong Kong's
four
teacher
colleges training
offer
two-year courses to students with Advanced Level qualifications, and three year courses to those with the Hong Kong Certificate Total enrolments on of Education (equivalent to GCE 'O' Level).
full time courses is about 2400. There are about 400 lecturing staff,
as languages of English
Chinese
are
used
Both
and
instruction.
Students study
English
is
mix of compulsory core subjects and with about 300 electives.
elective an
subject, first-year places available each year.
/THE PROPOSAL