Re: Teaching and Learning English in Hong Kong

From: Seán O'Leathlóbhair (jwlawler_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 02/22/05 

Date: 22 Feb 2005 03:27:11 -0800

Michael Farris wrote:
> jwlawler@yahoo.com (Sean O'Leathlobhair) wrote in message
>
> > > I don't think that foreigner in general really think English is a
wonderful
> > > language.
> >
> > Probably not but I would be sure that many think that is a highly
> > useful language.
>
> As an English teacher in Poland, I'd say my students (linguistics)
> fall into three broad groups:
>
> 1. Really think Engish is a wonderful language
> 2. Are neutral about English as a language, but think it's useful
> (though difficult)
> 3. Don't especially like English but have to study it (due to a
> combination of factors)
>
> The second group is well over 50 %. And group 3. has been steadily
> growing over the years (at the expense of group 2.) Those from group
1
> would probably rather study English philology or a related major
> (though from what I'm told, there's no shortage of group 2'ers there
> either). There's no particular correlation between which group a
> student belongs to and their grades, though a higher proportion of
> group 3. want to do just enough to pass and that's it.
> Finally, some move from group 2 to group 3 over the years since
> although English is sold as an easy language, passing university
level
> exams gets harder and harder.

Thanks for the information. That is the sort of split that I expected.

> > I have seen countries where there is no requirement to learn
English
> > to go to university but those doing scientific or technical subject
> > would often choose to learn it anyway. Being able to read English
> > gives access to so much more and up to date information. I don't
know
> > how useful or popular English is with students of non-technical
> > subjects.
>
> In Poland there is no universal requirement to know English to attend
> university. Particular departments might have either a general
foreign
> language requirement or a specific foreign language requirement.

How about subjects such as computing or physics? Does the wealth of
material in English encourage students to learn English regardless of
formal requirements?

> > On the other hand, it could be worse. In some Asian countries,
> > English is the medium of instruction for science subjects.
>
> Can you cite examples of non-post-colonial countries that do this?
One
> person I knew from a country that claimed to do this (not a former
> British or American colony) actually said in their case, there were
> English textbooks, but the students mostly relied on translations
> (they weren't clear on who did these). English in the classroom was
> limited to extensive use of technical vocabulary from the subject.

There are few Asian countries that are not former colonies. One of the
few that was not a colony is Thailand but that is an example of the
previous sort, English not always required but often chosen by the
students.

The best example I know of instruction in English is the Philippines.
It has been a colony of Spain and the USA. The language of instruction
in school varies according to political mood but science subjects in
university are conducted entirely in English. The students may chat
among themselves in native languages but even this is rare. The chat
is often Taglish (a blend of Tagalog and English) and, in a university
context, the English element will be very high.

Another example is Sri Lanka but again politics sometimes interferes
and attempts to mandate a local language for instruction. As a result
different age ranges often have quite different competence in English
depending on the policy at the time of their education. It is a very
difficult choice, instruction in English clearly improves their
competence in English and their employment opportunities. But the cost
is that local culture is being lost and forgotten.

> > I have heard the opposite claim that it is best to use only the
target
> > language when teaching a foreign langauge. But I am suspicious of
it.
> > It seems a convenient, attractive theory for us native English
> > speakers. We can claim to be good English teachers without
learning
> > other languages.
>
> Well speaking from some experience as an English teacher, Id say a
mix
> of native speakers and those who share the native language of the
> students is probably the ideal. In my case, knowing Polish certainly
> helps (though I don't use it in class except to gloss words). And a
> native speaker who doesn't know Polish will generally be a disaster
> here unless the students are pretty advanced.
>
> -michael farris

That's what I would have guessed, see my response to LSD. 

--
Seán O'Leathlóbhair
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