Re: English Proficiency in ex British Colonies

frisbieinstein_at_yahoo.com
Date: 03/25/05 

Date: 25 Mar 2005 02:35:50 -0800

Tutor Charles wrote:
> Why, though, is the standard of English in Hong Kong so poor when
> compared with other ex British colonies such as Singapore?
>
> What went wrong here? Is it the teaching system? The proficiency of
the
> native
> Cantonese speaking English teachers that populate most of the primary
> and secondary schools?
> 
>
> Charles Peters, Senior English Tutor,
> charles.peters@hkenglish.net
> www.hkenglish.net

Maylasian is a partly westernized language so it is easier for a
Singaporian to learn English than for a Hong Kongite. That would be my
guess.

As evidence, English is spoken much better in Indonesia than Thailand,
even though I'm told the educational effort is roughly the same.
Neither was ever a British colony, and Thai is not far from Chinese.

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