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The HKIEd language policy: How linguistic and cultural diversity is handled at the Hong Kong Institute of Education

CALPIU ’12Higher education across borders:

Transcultural interaction and linguistic diversity04 – 04 – 2012

Prof. David C.S. Li Prof. David C.S. Li ( 李 楚 成 )Hong Kong Institute of EducationHong Kong Institute of Education

Department of English Department of English Telephone: (852) 2948 8602Telephone: (852) 2948 8602Fax: (852) 2948 7270Fax: (852) 2948 7270Email: Email: dcsli@ied.edu.hk

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Where is Hong Kong (SAR)?

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Demographics: Population over 7 million (January 2012), ca. 1,100 square km

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Chinese: 95%

Filipinos: 1.7%

Indonesians: 1.6%

Indians: 1%

others: 0.8%

Chinese HongkongersAbout 90%: Cantonese-dominant bilingual in English/Putonghua to different extents

About 5%: Other Chinese varieties

e.g. Chiu Chow, Hakka, etc.

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Self-styled “Asia’s World City”

July, 2010: HK ranked 4th among international financial hubs

April, 2009: Six industries identified for future development…

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Six industries identified for future development Testing and certification Medical services Innovation and technology Cultural and creative industries Environmental industries (International) educational services

HK thrives on finance/service industries/knowledge-based economy When hiring, employers value English proficiency, increasingly

Putonghua as well

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One country, two systems, three languages

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Cantonese (spoken)

• vernacular, regional lingua franca • not supposed to be written

English (spoken / written)

• language of former colonial masters

• embraced by postcolonial subjects

Putonghua / Mandarin (spoken)

• national language

• lingua franca in Greater China

• model for Standard Written Chinese (SWC)

Hong Kong language policy

Co-official languages: Chinese* and English

Language policy goal: biliteracy and trilingualism ( 兩文三語 )

* Chinese in HK spoken Cantonese / SWC

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The Hong Kong Institute of Education language policy (effective 09/2012)

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The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd)

One of 8 HKG-funded tertiary institutions Total student population:

Undergraduate: ~ 2,000 Postgraduate (including Ph.D.): ~ 200

Vision / mission: education-focused, multidisciplinary, strong research

capacity leading provider of quality teacher education in Asia-Pacific

region  

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Main challenge toward these goals

Toward internationalization:

Most courses are Chinese-medium (currently over 65%) Not enough EMI courses

Few students able to gain international experience (e.g., outgoing exchange)

Can’t attract international students

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HKIEd’s new language policy from September 2012“HKIEd will adopt a new language policy to enhance students’ trilingual proficiency development with strengthened Language Enhancement Programmes and Language Exit Requirements (LERs) in English and Putonghua. Being informed by the notion of ‘functional trilingualism’, the new language policy is designed to enhance our students’ competitiveness in an increasingly globalised world. It does so by setting clear language learning targets, equipping them with an internationally recognized level of English and Putonghua, and fostering the development of a language-rich environment at HKIEd.”

(HKIEd Intranet Announcement, March 2012 emphasis added)

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Functional trilingualism

the ability to use three languages to varying degrees of proficiency and for different purposes

( Andy Kirkpatrick ? )

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HKIEd new language policy: Key features Minimum Language Exit Requirements (LERs) for ENG and PTH (programme-specific)

Support for tertiary-level English and SWC

Support for basic Cantonese (non-Chinese / non-Cantonese-speaking students)

HKIEd-sponsored IELTS and PSC (national PTH test) once

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Minimum Language Exit Requirements (LERs) in ENG / PTH for all full-time UG students from September 2012

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Undergraduate Programme Minimum exit level*

IELTS PSC**

BEd (English Language) 7.0 3B

BA (Language Studies) – English Major 7.0 3A

BEd (Chinese Language) 6.0 2B

BA (Language Studies) – Chinese Major 6.0 2B

All non-Language Major 6.0 3B

Support for tertiary-level English and SWC

ENG: Five courses (138 hours, mandatory) IELTS preparation (4 skills, 60 hours, optional)

SWC: Three courses (total 90 hours)

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Support for Cantonese (non-Chinese / non-Cantonese-speaking students)

Non-Chinese, e.g. South Asians (Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalese) Two compulsory courses in Basic / Survival Cantonese Exempted from LERs in Putonghua (but not in English)

Putonghua-dominant students from Mainland China Two compulsory courses in Basic / Survival Cantonese

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HKIEd-sponsored IELTS test and PSC (national Putonghua test) once

All undergraduate students are sponsored to take IELTS PSC

once, after completing their English enhancement / Putonghua enhancement programme

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Language of Instruction

“Language of instruction is another important aspect of the Institute’s Language Policy. To demonstrate our commitment to internationalization and adhering to societal expectation of language competence of our students, the percentage of English-medium content courses in non-language major BEd programmes will be gradually increased to at least 50% by 2013/14. (...) ”

from ‘laissez-faire approach’ to ‘Promotion of English’ / ‘pro-multilingualism approach’

(F. Grin)

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Implementation of new language policy: Some lingering concerns Local staff’s ability and willingness to teach in English

Some non-local staff don’t teach because of low uptake of EMI courses

Mix of students from different L1 backgrounds Local: Cantonese-dominant Mainland China: Putonghua-dominant International: English-dominant

Non-Chinese students are turned away despite EMI Staff training in effective bilingual teaching strategies

needed (not on agenda yet)23

If time

‘Race bias heard in language block’ (23/03/2012, The Standard)

Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC)

Survey based on 107 valid responses

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‘Race bias heard in language block’“the language barrier is depriving them [minority groups] of gainful employment and an education (…) the problem is made worse by government policy that neglects the needs of minorities by institutionalizing Cantonese as a mandatory entrance requirement for both employment and higher education opportunities.”

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‘Race bias heard in language block’“It is well recognized that the language barrier is the biggest hurdle for ethnic minorities to integrate into the Hong Kong community, hindering employment opportunities and restricting intercultural interaction.”

Equal Opportunities Commission Chairman, W.K. Lam

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Q & A

Tak

Merci / Danke / Gracies / Gracias / Thank you

多 謝 (do55 ze22)

謝 謝 (xièxiè)

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Cantonese vis-à-vis Putonghua (Mandarin)Cantonese vis-à-vis Putonghua (Mandarin)