ANNEX C
IMMERSION ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR TEACHER TRAINEES AND
LECTURERS AT COLLEGES OF EDUCATION
BACKGROUND
1.
The English language will continue to be vital to Hong Kong's openness and international role. There is growing concern that not enough is being done to maintain and raise language standards. There is particular concern about language standards among teachers. Economic growth has led to strong competition from other employment sectors for those able to communicate well in English. There are
clear economic advantages for the UK in consolidating the core of skilled English teachers in Hong Kong. It is vital, therefore, to ensure that those entering the teaching profession are enabled, during their training, to achieve as high a level of skill in
English as possible.
2. Hong Kong's four teacher training colleges offer two-year
to students with Advanced Level qualifications, and three year courses to those with the Hong Kong Certificate of Education (equivalent to GCE 'O' Level). Total enrolments on full time courses is about 2400. There are about 400 lecturing staff. Both English and Chinese are used as languages of instruction. Students study a mix of compulsory core subjects and electives. English is an elective subject, with about 300 first-year places available each
year.
PROPOSAL
3.
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 on a 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 of the trainees. While lecturers in the English departments should be
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