TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1988
BILINGUAL EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO YOUNGER GENERATION
HONG KONG HAS TAKEN THE VIEW THAT THE YOUNGER GENERATION MUST BE EDUCATED TO BE COMPETENT IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR LI WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE 34TH LANGHY A IN EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE BEING HELD AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE.
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HE SAID THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY DISCUSS IN GREATER DEPTI THE STYLES OF LEARNING AND TEACHING LANGUAGES IN EDUCATIONAL SITUATIONS IN WHICH, AT SOME POINT, MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE WAS OFFERED TO PUPILS.
MR LI SAID A FREQUENTLY HEARD OBJECTION TO BILINGUAL EDUCATION WAS THAT TO STUDY A FOREIGN LANGUAGE WAS ΤΟ DISTURB ONE'S OWN LANGUAGE, TO SPREAD A FALSE OVERLAY UPON ONE'S PERSONALITY, TO INTRODUCE ALIEN INGREDIENTS INTO ONE'S BACKGROUND.
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"THE ANALOGY IS OFTEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO PROVE THE POINT, IN ART, FOR EXAMPLE, TO MARRY THE ACADEMIC ΤΟ THE IMPORTED IS ALL TOO FREQUENTLY TO PRODUCE A HYBRID WHICH HAS THE QUALITY AND ARTISTRY OF NEITHER, HE SAID.
"THE ANALOGY IS UNSOUND, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF ARTS IS A FUSION WHEREAS A SECOND LANGUAGE IS AN ADDITION, A PLACING SIDE BY SIDE OF TWO CULTURES WHICH INTERACT AND ENRICH EACH OTHER, WHILST PRESERVING THEIR INDEPENDENCE.'
MR LI SAID THE ACQUISITION OF A CULTURE OTHER THAN ONE'S OWN, WHETHER TOTAL OR PARTIAL, WAS A VALUABLE AND ENRICHING EXERCISE, AND PERHAPS THE GREATEST SATISFACTION WAS ON THE PERSONAL LEVEL, THAT OF COMING IN FRIENDSHIP WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SOMEONE ELSE'S PERSONALITY UPON HIS OWN LINGUISTIC TERRITORY.
"THE FIRST STEPS IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAN THUS BE AS SATISFYING AS THE FIRST EFFORTS OF A CHILD TO WALK, AND THE PROGRESS MADE A REVELATION OF THE UNCONSCIOUS ABSORPTIVE AND PROCESSES OF THE MIND, HE SAID.
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ADAPTIVE
"HOWEVER, THE ART OF THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGE IS ONE ABOUT WHICH THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE COMPREHENDED.
"IN PARTICULAR, THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE IMPORTANT INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN STUDENT AND TEACHER WHICH DETERMINE THE OUTCOMES OF LEARNING.
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ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, PROFESSOR CHARLES KAO, SAID THE CULTURAL MAKE-UP OF THE PERSON WOULD SHOW IN NUMEROUS WAYS.
"IT IS ...