31-JAN-1990 12:52
EDUCATION & MHNFUWER BR
802 5 866 9016
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THE PROPOSAL
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 ΟΠ à 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
While lecturers in the would be given priority, lecturers in English in their work would also be
Of
English departments
other subjects who covered.
the trainees.
use
Likely impact of the proposal
The proposal, if adopted and announced by June 1990, would have an immediate impact in raising enrolment on the English elective courses at the Colleges. Enrolment has been dropping over the past four years, sharply so in 1989*. If not checked, this trend will make the present shortage of qualified English teacher more acute in the run-up to 1997.
The individual students concerned would be more highly motivated to develop their language skills. Virtually all those eligible would greatly welcome the chance to take part. The English courses at the Colleges would be modified to ensure that the overseas immersion course became an integral element of the two or three year course.
The lecturers accompanying the students would also improve their English language skills. This would have a positive effect on the language standards of those they subsequently teach.
Estimated cost of the proposal
Based on the unit
for in-service trainees at Education (with which the
cost of the UK immersion course the Institute of Languages in British Council was involved in
1987 and 1988), the cost of the proposal would be about HKD This would cover return air fare, board
26,000 per place.
and lodging and tuition for six weeks.
*1986 : 254 students
1987
241 students
1988 : 235 students 1989 : 156 students
/It
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