Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 781

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RESULTS ATTAINED IN THE VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

7. We formed our conclusions after examining the boys both orally and by written papers, after conversation with the masters and examination of note-books. We also required the master to give lessons to their Classes for our benefit.

COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH.

8. The improvement that has been effected in the Preparatory School is most striking, and a matter for sincere congratulation. Last year the examiners re- ported: "We did not find any attempt made to teach the boys to do the talking till 'much higher Classes were reached. We regret that the colloquial acquired in "Classes VII, VI, V. and IV by boys who have presumably been studying from "2 to 5 years by no means showed a sufficiently rapid improvement. In fact only "in IVA under a European Master did the boys begin to talk a little. All we "could get was a Chinese version of English sentences spoken to them by us. "the Chinese Masters employ Chinese and not English in giving directions con- "nected with the ordinary school work. At the present examination we did not hear a single order given in Chinese, while on the other hand such orders as "Put your feet close together," "Don't bite your nails, Boys in blue coats stand, the rest sit down," "Take the book on the table, and put it on your desk" were readily understood by boys who have been under instruction for less than six months.

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9. Plans of the school buildings have been prepared, and are well understood. In the lowest Class we received such replies as "That is a plan of the ground floor of Queen's College, Sir," "The steps are made of wood.'

"The steps are made of wood." Coloured pictures

as subjects for conversation lessons have only just been obtained.

10. In a word we find here boys who at the end of their first term have acquired a considerable vocabulary, a fair pronunciation and (above all) perfect willingness to talk.

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11. In Class VII the improvement was not so marked, but still great. And it must be remembered that though this Class has been learning English for 1 years, it has only had the benefit of the new method for 5 or 6 months. A map of the city has been studied; and such answers as "Queen's Road is coloured green," "That building is the City Hall, Sir" were readily given. Here again it was at once evident that the boys were accustomed to being addressed and to replying in English. Class VIIC were not always very attentive.

12. The Classes VI and V, under Chinese Masters in independent charge, have also made a very striking improvement. All the boys seemed pleased to speak English with an Englishman. In Class V long viva voce examinations were held without the need of a word of Chinese.

13. Class IVB was not so good. Here for the first time we encountered the old difficulty in getting the boys to reply to plain questions. When they did, their grammar was very weak. At the same time it is only fair to remember, that it is no easy thing to give tongues to boys who have for four years been taught to rely on their pens. At any rate they were better than last year. In IVA under an Englishman they were comparatively fluent. In IVc, too, they seemed ready to answer when spoken to.

14, In the Upper School there was also some improvement, especially in IIIA, which was much better than III or IIIc in this respect. In LA and In there were boys who could converse fairly well on simple subjects.

15. English Composition (including Grammar).-Next to speaking correctly it is most important that a clear and grammatical style of English composition should be taught. But correct writing follows naturally on correct speaking; and therefore when the boys who are now beginning their studies reach the higher Classes, a great improvement in the standard of composition may reasonably be hoped for. Boys in Class III have presumably been learning English for 5 years, which is ample time to master a foreign language. No lower ideal should satisfy Queen's College than this, that in the Upper School gross grammatical mistakes should be rare or unknown.