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3
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1989
MEASURES TO FURTHER IMPROVE STANDARDS OF LANGUAGE LEARNING
THE STANDARDS OF ENGLISH APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN GENERALLY MAINTAINED IN HONG KONG, BUT THE FAST INCREASING DEMAND FOR COMPETENT ENGLISH USERS HAS LED TO A MISCONCEPTION THAT THEY ARE FALLING.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS LESS CONCERN OVER THE STANDARDS CHINESE. ALTHOUGH WRITING SKILLS MAY BE DECLINING SLIGHTLY,
OF
THESE ARE SOME OF THE FINDINGS OF A WORKING GROUP FORMED IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR TO REVIEW THE EXISTING LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND TO IDENTIFY WHERE MORE MIGHT BE DONE.
IN THE "REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP SET UP TO REVIEW LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES" WHICH WAS PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION TODAY TUESDAY), IT WAS NOTED THAT HONG ITS CITIZENS TO ATTAIN EFFECTIVE SKILLS IN CHINESE.
KONG
SOCIETY
REQUIRIES
ALL
A RAPIDLY INCREASING PROPORTION OF ITS CITIZENS ALSO
ONLY EFFECTIVE SKILLS IN ENGLISH, WHILE OTHERS MAY ATTAIN SURVIVAL LEVEL.
NEEDS TO REQUIRE A
IN
AN ANALYSIS OF THE EVIDENCE COLLECTED ON STANDARDS REVEALS
THE SUPPLY OF THAT WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A MODEST INCREASE IN
THOSE WITH EFFECTIVE BILINGUAL SKILLS. THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE INCREASE THE DEMAND FOR SUCH PEOPLE. THE REPORT SAID.
"THIS HAS LED TO THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT STANDARDS HAVE FALLING FOR WHICH THERE IS NO EVIDENCE."
BEEN
OF SCHOOL AGE
TO LEARN
EXTEND THEIR ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL AND CULTURAL
THE REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT THAT WHILE STUDENTS USE CHINESE ALL THE TIME, THEY STILL HAVE TO USE OF CHINESE TO WIDER PURPOSES.
SOCIAL.
OF
THE
STUDENTS. "THESE SAME
HOWEVER, MAKE LITTLE OR NO USE
IMMEDIATE MOTIVATION ENGLISH WITHIN THEIR PEER GROUP AND FEEL LITTLE
ITS OBVIOUS IMPORTANCE TO LEARN IT. DESPITE
AMONG ADULTS IN ACADEMIC, GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS FIELDS.
ΤΟ RESTRICTED INSTRUCTION HAVE ENGLISH THAN THOSE WHO
EXPOSURE TO ENGLISH AMONG THIS AGE GROUP IS SCHOOL. WHERE THOSE WHO USE ENGLISH AS A MEDIUM OF POTENTIALLY A VERY MUCH GREATER EXPOSURE TO MERELY LEARN IT AS A SUBJECT.
'EXPECTATIONS IN STANDARDS SHOULD REFLECT THESE
THE REPORT SAID.
REALITIES,
:
AS
TEACHERS LANGUAGE
THE 88-PAGE REPORT EXAMINES THE LANGUAGE STANDARDS ISSUE
AND THE LEARNING AND USE OF CHINESE
ENGLISH FOUR MAJOR TOPICS
THE
OF QUALITY
THE TEACHING HONG KONG, MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, LEARNING OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH
SUBJECTS, AND THE PROFESSIONAL
COMPETENCE OF
AND THE LANGUAGE COMPETENCE
UNDER IN AND
OF
TEACHERS OF OTHER SUBJECTS.
/AFTER CONSIDERING