XN000022-1994-06-30 — Page 18

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THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1994

BIDS INVITED FOR $300 MILLION LANGUAGE FUND

ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVING LANGUAGE STANDARDS IN HONG KONG WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A WEALTH OF RESOURCES TOMORROW (FRIDAY) WHEN THE MILLION LANGUAGE FUND OPENS FOR APPLICATIONS.

$300

FUND

THANKS то THE EFFICIENCY AND HARD WORK OF THE LANGUAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SET UP LAST MONTH UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF PROFESSOR ROSIE T T YOUNG, THE OPENING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD BY AN ENTIRE MONTH AHEAD OF ITS ORIGINAL SCHEDULE.

THE LANGUAGE FUND WAS CREATED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, AT HIS LAST POLICY ADDRESS TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE IN RAISING THE STANDARDS OF BOTH CHINESE (INCLUDING PUTONGHUA) AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES AMONG STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS AS WELL AS PEOPLE AT WORK.

APART FROM ENHANCING EXISTING EFFORTS AND MEETING TEMPORARY SHORTFALLS IN LANGUAGE TEACHING RESOURCES, THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUND WILL ENCOURAGE RESEARCH INTO PROBLEM AREAS AROUND LANGUAGE AND INITIATION OF NEW APPROACHES TO LANGUAGE LEARNING.

:

USE

POTENTIAL BIDDERS FOR THE FUND ARE LIKELY TO INCLUDE ACADEMICS, TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS AS WELL AS FRONTLINE PRACTITIONERS FROM EDUCATION AND OTHER VOCATIONAL SECTORS.

PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES TO BE

BE FUNDED SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

* IMPROVE MOTIVATION FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING;

* ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION FOR LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION; INCREASE THE SUPPLY AND QUALITY OF TEXTBOOKS, REFERENCE MATERIALS AND APPROPRIATE TEACHING AIDS; OR

* MAXIMISE PROFICIENCY SUCH AS BY INCREASING EXPOSURE AND USAGE IN CASE OF ENGLISH AND MINIMISE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE USE OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN CHINESE.

EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES ARE OVERSEAS REFRESHER TRAINING COURSES FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR OR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, OR TEACHING/LEARNING PACKAGES/REFERENCE MATERIALS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE USE OF CHINESE, PUTONGHUA OR ENGLISH, AND RESEARCH PROJECTS.

NO FEES WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE APPLICATIONS, WHICH CAN BE MADE EITHER ON AN INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTIONAL BASIS USING STANDARD FORMS NOW OBTAINABLE FROM THE GENERAL ENQUIRIES SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 15TH FLOOR, WU CHUNG HOUSE, 213 QUEEN'S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI, AS WELL AS THE LANGUAGE FUND SECRETARIAT IN ROOM 1123 ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF THE SAME BUILDING.

STARTING FROM JULY 5, LANGUAGE FUND APPLICATION FORMS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICES. APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE SENT OUT ON REQUEST. THE LANGUAGE FUND SECRETARIAT MAY BE CONTACTED FOR ENQUIRIES ON 892 6477 OR 892 6569.

/APPLICATIONS WILL