Class Sizes Blamed for Poor English

For years the government denied that large class sizes were to blame for a lowering of educational standards.

Now the head of a government-appointed research body acknowledges large classes are at the heart of the poor English oral and written skills of Hong Kong students. But Standing Committee on Language Education and Research chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun denies mother-tongue teaching is also dragging down English language skills.

The government introduced mother-tongue teaching in 1998 and schools wishing to use English as the medium of instruction need to ensure at least 85 percent of their Form One intake comes from the top 40 percent of students.

Tien said yesterday the language policy does not require drastic modification because class sizes are shrinking, and fresh intakes declining at an unexpected pace.
However, while he is now satisfied class sizes are mainly to blame - in that teachers are stretched to the limit and cannot help individual students in need - Tien said he will not change his stance on mother-tongue teaching for his Legislative Council election campaign.

He suggests Chinese-medium schools conduct more extra-curricular activities in English to allow students to practice their language skills.

Tien said allowing secondary schools to choose their own medium of instruction may minimize the labelling effect, but would have an adverse affect on the education system.

Source:
The Standard 2 June 2008 (Monday)

Link:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=66652&sid=19166982&con_type=1&d_str=20080602&sear_year=2008