Language Policies and Language Policies and Practices atPractices at

the University of Hong the University of Hong KongKong

Nigel Bruce, Chris Davison & Scarlet Poon Nigel Bruce, Chris Davison & Scarlet Poon The University of Hong KongThe University of Hong Kong

Establishing an EMI University Establishing an EMI University in HKin HK

Colonial higher education project:

It is not, in my view, to establish a University on lines which might equally well be adopted in Canton, where Students could be taught in Chinese and be entirely dissociated from British influences. On the contrary we desire to promote a closer understanding of the two races, and this can best be done by the acquisition of the English language. We believe that language is the best medium for imparting Western knowledge.

(A memorandum by F. Lugard, 3 August 1908, rejecting Sir Ho Kai’s proposal of having Chinese as the MOI of HKU)

Emphasis on Chinese Studies at Emphasis on Chinese Studies at

HKUHKU

““In the Faculty of Arts due In the Faculty of Arts due provision shall be made for the provision shall be made for the study of the Chinese language study of the Chinese language and literature.”and literature.” (Amended 49 of 1960 s. 2; 81 of (Amended 49 of 1960 s. 2; 81 of 1978 s. 2) (1978 s. 2) (University Ordinance University Ordinance 19111911, and to date), and to date)

Sir Charles Eliot,Sir Charles Eliot,Vice-ChancellorVice-Chancellor1912-19181912-1918

Mr William Hornell,Mr William Hornell,Vice-Chancellor 1924-37Vice-Chancellor 1924-37

Sir Cecil Clementi,Sir Cecil Clementi,HK Governor 1925-30HK Governor 1925-30

““An interest in Oriental StudiesAn interest in Oriental Studies is essential, and the person selecis essential, and the person selected should also understand that, ted should also understand that, if not already acquainted with if not already acquainted with ClClassical Chineseassical Chinese, he should be pre, he should be prepared to devote time to its study. pared to devote time to its study. He would have ample time for thHe would have ample time for this during the long vacation.” is during the long vacation.” (Claud Severn, Colonial Secretary, Confid(Claud Severn, Colonial Secretary, Confidential Note “Special Qualifications Desirential Note “Special Qualifications Desirable for the Post of Vice-Chancellor of Hable for the Post of Vice-Chancellor of HKU”, 1920.) KU”, 1920.)

R K M Simpson, R K M Simpson, Professor in English, Professor in English,

1920-19511920-1951 Proponent of Proponent of English Across English Across

CurriculumCurriculum

Objectives of the English Objectives of the English Curriculum Curriculum

for all students at HKU in the for all students at HKU in the early 1920s early 1920s

“The object in the first year’s course will be to ensure for the student a practical command of the English language, to train in the building of sentences and help him in the acquisition of a vocabulary. Some attention will also be given to a preparation for that study of English Literature, by which alone such command of the language can be maintained and extended.

In the second year it will be borned [sic] in mind that the study of English Literature has not only a practical value as an aid to composition, but has also a cultural value.

In the third and fourth years this cultural value will tend to predominate , and English studies will become the ground for the exercise of critical faculty, development of personal taste, and instruction in aesthetics. Literature will be studied by periods.”

““Do students who are going to pass on to the study of medicine and eDo students who are going to pass on to the study of medicine and engineering require the ngineering require the same preliminary English trainingsame preliminary English training as is ad as is admittedly suitable for those who are going to take the full course of thmittedly suitable for those who are going to take the full course of the Arts Faculty curriculum? … they should acquire something e Arts Faculty curriculum? … they should acquire something more tmore than professional knowledge and skill-han professional knowledge and skill- something of the something of the broader abroader and more cultured outlooknd more cultured outlook which a University is designed to give. which a University is designed to give. (Report of 1932-33, Faculty of Arts)(Report of 1932-33, Faculty of Arts)

Balance between professional training, broad cultural education aBalance between professional training, broad cultural education and language educationnd language education

Economics & business streams –Economics & business streams – Adam Smith’s Adam Smith’s The Wealth ofThe Wealth of NationsNations/other Economic classics/other Economic classicsTeacher’s Course students (1919-20)-Teacher’s Course students (1919-20)- Herbert Spencer’s Herbert Spencer’s Principles of EducationPrinciples of Education, instead of Robert , instead of Robert

Louis Stevenson’s Louis Stevenson’s TreasureTreasure IslandIslandCommercial students-Commercial students- Rose Buhlig’s Rose Buhlig’s Business English Business English

The University of Hong Kong was re-opened after the Second World War in October 1946

Source: HKU Annual Report 1946-47

Post-WWII: Special Place of English at Post-WWII: Special Place of English at HKU affirmedHKU affirmed

[The University Advisory Committee] unanimously supported [The University Advisory Committee] unanimously supported the view of the the view of the special place of Englishspecial place of English in University in University studies... Prof. Lilian M. Penson said that studies... Prof. Lilian M. Penson said that we must regard we must regard English in Hong Kong University as having the English in Hong Kong University as having the importance of Latin in earlier days in Western importance of Latin in earlier days in Western universities.universities.

[Mr. Duncan Sloss] claimed that the [Mr. Duncan Sloss] claimed that the superiority of superiority of achievement in English in Hong Kong schoolsachievement in English in Hong Kong schools was in was in large measure due to the work done in the past generation large measure due to the work done in the past generation by the English Department of the University and that the by the English Department of the University and that the standard of English in Hong Kong was standard of English in Hong Kong was at leastat least a year a year ahead of that achieved in Chinaahead of that achieved in China. .

BW 90/58 HKU Advisory Committee. Draft minutes BW 90/58 HKU Advisory Committee. Draft minutes (confidential) of the meeting held in Colonial Office, (confidential) of the meeting held in Colonial Office, Downing Street. Dated 4 March 1946Downing Street. Dated 4 March 1946

HKU appointment criteria for the post of an English lecturer and tutor, 1927-28HKU appointment criteria for the post of an English lecturer and tutor, 1927-28

“A poor knowledge of English”

“Individual instruction of an intensive nature will be required”

HKU Undergraduates’ Language Attitudes (HKU Undergraduates’ Language Attitudes (Undergrad, Undergrad, 191959) An Undergraduate on his thoughts as a HKU Chin59) An Undergraduate on his thoughts as a HKU Chinese majorese major

Some Chinese majors felt looked down upon by other HKU students

Words from the Editor: First Publication of Chinese version of UNDERGRAD

English was a compulsory subject for Chinese majors in their first year

Tertiary Language Policy since Tertiary Language Policy since the 1980sthe 1980s

Late 1980s to mid-1990s: Late 1980s to mid-1990s: major rise in % of school-leavers going into major rise in % of school-leavers going into

higher ed.higher ed. Polytechnics upgraded to universitiesPolytechnics upgraded to universities Central (UGC) funding for English Central (UGC) funding for English

EnhancementEnhancement English for Academic PurposesEnglish for Academic Purposes takes hold takes hold … … butbut, by 1997, expansion slows, & in 1998 an , by 1997, expansion slows, & in 1998 an

extended recession begins, resulting in funding extended recession begins, resulting in funding cutbacks, & a “stock-take” on tertiary fundingcutbacks, & a “stock-take” on tertiary funding

Yet now with increased sub-degree places H.E. Yet now with increased sub-degree places H.E. enrolment ratio has escalated to 66% in 2005 …enrolment ratio has escalated to 66% in 2005 …

1/2

1/3

Pressure building up again for Pressure building up again for EnglishEnglish

Can HK support an English-medium tertiary Can HK support an English-medium tertiary sector?sector?

In 2009, senior secondary ends a year In 2009, senior secondary ends a year earlier at F.6 – and Univ. gains a year to 4-earlier at F.6 – and Univ. gains a year to 4-year degrees.year degrees.

Of the [80% of total] CMI sec. schools, most Of the [80% of total] CMI sec. schools, most will offer most subjects in English-medium will offer most subjects in English-medium in upper secondaryin upper secondary

Pressure building up again for Pressure building up again for EnglishEnglish

Can HK support an English-medium tertiary sector?Can HK support an English-medium tertiary sector? In 2009, senior secondary ends a year earlier at F.6 – In 2009, senior secondary ends a year earlier at F.6 –

and Univ. gains a year to 4-year degrees.and Univ. gains a year to 4-year degrees. Of the [80% of total] CMI sec. schools, most will Of the [80% of total] CMI sec. schools, most will

offer most subjects in English-medium in upper offer most subjects in English-medium in upper secondarysecondary

The “declining standard of English” a discursive The “declining standard of English” a discursive realityreality

……yet, as David Nunan says, all talk & but little action yet, as David Nunan says, all talk & but little action on redressing the underlying problems on redressing the underlying problems

English represents “English represents “capitalcapital” for most HKers…still ” for most HKers…still the preferred “the preferred “mediummedium” in surveys…despite the ” in surveys…despite the ““declining standardsdeclining standards”…. ”…. we need to examine our we need to examine our metaphors…metaphors…

Right & wrong languageCorrect grammar, accuracy, correct

every errorwriting correct grammar: “ …but it irritates me, because I think it's illiterate, you know, it's just illiterate, it irritates ME, and when it comes from a, a teacher in a tertiary institution it really irritates me…”

Curriculum: Dept. aims:  impart a knowledge base;

Sts need: the full grasp of the entire knowledge base

Language: Grammar: once you have mastered that, then you can think about, you know, gender bias and that sort of  bias, that sort of language awareness… [anyway] political, racial connotations not the important kind of language awareness for our undergraduates, because you know their problem is more basic. [Sociology lecturer]

Grammar drills: “… drilling is still a good way to hammer home, you know, to really get the students to have a hang of the language - to avoid, you know,  silly mistakes …”

Several government reports (e.g. Education Commission 1995) have shed some light on students’ general declining English standards.”

(SCMP, May, 2003)

Jan. 1991

Jan. 1991

Language Policies and Language Policies and Practices at the University of Practices at the University of

Hong KongHong Kong

Mr Nigel Bruce, Dr Chris Davison & Miss Mr Nigel Bruce, Dr Chris Davison & Miss Scarlet PoonScarlet Poon

The University of Hong KongThe University of Hong Kong

Language Policy at HKULanguage Policy at HKU

General regulations of the University of Hong General regulations of the University of Hong Kong:Kong:

G.9 . Examinations:G.9 . Examinations:

(f)(f) Examination scripts and theses and Examination scripts and theses and dissertationsdissertations for higher degrees for higher degrees shall be written shall be written in Englishin English, unless the candidate is given , unless the candidate is given permission by the Senate to use another permission by the Senate to use another language.language.

In 1989, compulsory 6 credits of English In 1989, compulsory 6 credits of English EnhancementEnhancement

In 1998, 3 credits of Chinese made compulsory – In 1998, 3 credits of Chinese made compulsory – Malthusian logic – English down to 3 credits to Malthusian logic – English down to 3 credits to graduategraduate

In 2004, Language Policy Report advised In 2004, Language Policy Report advised More resources to be directed to weaker studentsMore resources to be directed to weaker students Departments to identify “English in the Major” Departments to identify “English in the Major”

subjects & subjects & take responsibility for teaching & assessing thesetake responsibility for teaching & assessing these

HKU to set up a HKU to set up a Language Policy Committee Language Policy Committee (early (early 2005)2005)

Language Policy Language Policy Committee, HKU , HKU

Language Policies and Language Policies and Practices at the University of Practices at the University of

Hong KongHong Kong

Mr Nigel Bruce, Dr Chris Davison & Miss Mr Nigel Bruce, Dr Chris Davison & Miss Scarlet PoonScarlet Poon

The University of Hong KongThe University of Hong Kong

Committee on Bilingualism: set up in Committee on Bilingualism: set up in early 2005early 2005

Chinese for academic purposes: Chinese for academic purposes: CUHK CUHK

CUHK: Established in 1963

1st meeting: 14th April, 2005

MOI Practices in other HK Tertiary InstiMOI Practices in other HK Tertiary Institutionstutions

H.K. Polytechnic UniversityH.K. Polytechnic University EMI?EMI? “barely half the instruction is in “barely half the instruction is in

English”English” ESL?ESL? “English cannot be claimed to be a “English cannot be claimed to be a

second language. It …serves as a tool for second language. It …serves as a tool for study. It (is) ... a foreign language.” study. It (is) ... a foreign language.”

English improved at Univ.?English improved at Univ.? More than half More than half the interviewees stated that their language the interviewees stated that their language proficiency had neither improved nor proficiency had neither improved nor declined declined

[Li, Leung & Kember survey, 2001][Li, Leung & Kember survey, 2001]

Mid-1990s “stock-take” on tertiary Mid-1990s “stock-take” on tertiary language policylanguage policy

- a series of Language use surveys- a series of Language use surveys

CityU:CityU: Walters & Balla (1998): conclude… Walters & Balla (1998): conclude… ““E-M instruction in HK is “not the total E-M instruction in HK is “not the total

immersion concept that the term suggests. immersion concept that the term suggests. At best, English is used when it needs to At best, English is used when it needs to be, i.e. be, i.e. CantoneseCantonese, the L1 of the vast , the L1 of the vast majority of students and the majority of majority of students and the majority of lecturers, lecturers, is used as the medium of is used as the medium of instructioninstruction” … “the students have ” … “the students have developed coping mechanisms which developed coping mechanisms which allows them to survive” (p.387)allows them to survive” (p.387)

MOI Practices in other HK Tertiary InstiMOI Practices in other HK Tertiary Institutionstutions

“Higher education in Hong Kong suffers from disparities between espoused theory and …language use. The universities, mainly, act as though they have not recognized that the policy-practice gap exists. Though higher education institutions are revising their language policies few appear to admit to a mismatch between espoused theory (& practice) & little has been done to remove the discrepancy.”

Li, Leung & Kember, Higher Education Policy, 14, 2001:

.

Hong Kong’s Linguistic Hong Kong’s Linguistic ProfileProfile

Increasing Increasing Internationalization of HKUInternationalization of HKU

Increasing Increasing Internationalization of HKUInternationalization of HKU

Source: Source: QuickStatsQuickStats, HKU, Sept, , HKU, Sept, 2005 2005

Global LoungeGlobal Lounge

.. But also significant rise in the no. of staff from .. But also significant rise in the no. of staff from

mainland China and HK (and returnees)mainland China and HK (and returnees)

337

385

25

9361 73

11795

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Hong Kong China(Mainland)

US UK

Number of Full-time Professoriate Staff by Nationality

1995

2005

HKU Collaborative HKU Collaborative Research ProjectResearch Project

Funded by HKU Funded by HKU Strategic Research Strategic Research Theme Constituent Theme Constituent Theme on Languages, Theme on Languages, Media and Media and Communication: Communication: Language in Education Language in Education and Assessmentand Assessment

The 3 year project aims The 3 year project aims to stimulate and extend to stimulate and extend research on MOI and research on MOI and language related issues language related issues at HKU and in the wider at HKU and in the wider HK community.HK community.

URL: http://www.hku.hk/clear

HKU Collaborative HKU Collaborative Research ProjectResearch Project

Large-scale sociolinguistic survey Large-scale sociolinguistic survey investigating undergraduate beliefs, attitudes investigating undergraduate beliefs, attitudes and practices in relation to language use at and practices in relation to language use at HKU HKU

http://www.hku.hk/clear/doc/piloting_survey.phttp://www.hku.hk/clear/doc/piloting_survey.pdfdf

To be carried out in late September 2006 with To be carried out in late September 2006 with first and third year undergraduatesfirst and third year undergraduates

Follow up focus group interviewsFollow up focus group interviews- Self-assessment of English and Cantonese proficiency - Language use and language support- Language attitudes - Language policies: implicit and explicit

Key research areasKey research areas

HKU Doctoral Research HKU Doctoral Research ProgrammeProgramme

Doctoral -level case studies of partiDoctoral -level case studies of particular areas of language policy acular areas of language policy and practicend practice

The English-learning experienceThe English-learning experiences of a non-Cantonese speaking s of a non-Cantonese speaking mainland Chinese studentsmainland Chinese students

Student attitudes and Student attitudes and practices practices in speaking English at HKUin speaking English at HKU

Investigating ‘effective’ L2 Investigating ‘effective’ L2 academic writing in the Social academic writing in the Social SciencesSciences

Spoken language practices & Spoken language practices & perceptions of Yr. 1 Economics perceptions of Yr. 1 Economics studentsstudents

Supervisor-supervisee expectaSupervisor-supervisee expectationstions and beliefs at HKU and beliefs at HKU

Motivations of HKU studentsMotivations of HKU students learning German as a 3 learning German as a 3rdrd langu languageage

The construction of ESL-mediuThe construction of ESL-medium m tertiary language policy in Hon tertiary language policy in Hong Kong: g Kong: Unpacking the educational dis Unpacking the educational discourse course of government, university and of government, university and legal legal education stakeholders education stakeholders

Potential Potential Outcomes Outcomes

More institutional awareness of nature of language and relationship between language and learning?

More integrated language and content/discipline teaching, including more collaborative planning?

More coordinated support for staff development?

More collaborative action research with university staff (and students)?

More cross-institutional benchmarking and research?