Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reforming Medium of Instruction in Hong Kong: Its Impact on Learning

  • Chapter
Reforming Learning

Abstract

The compulsory Chinese-medium teaching policy has been in place in Hong Kong since September 1998, one year after the handover of sovereignty. To date, very few studies have been conducted on the impact of the compulsory Chinese-medium teaching policy on learning. The public perception is that the English standards of students have further declined. As for the results of content-based subjects, some subjects have improved while others have maintained the same level. In this chapter I will examine the reform on medium of instruction and find out the impact of Chinese-medium teaching policy on learning generally, and specifically in students' attitude and motivation in learning at Chinese-medium schools, in the processes of learning content-based subjects through the mother tongue, in the examination results, and in students' medium-of-instruction preference. Ten schools have been surveyed. The theoretical underpinning of this article is Cummins' bilingual theories.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Baetens Beardsmore, H. (1994). An overview of European models of bilingual education. In R. Khoo, K. Ursula & R. Wong (Eds.), Towards Global Multilingualism: European Models and Asian Realities (pp. 1–12). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, C. (2006). Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism (4th edn). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baylis, J. & Smith, S. (Eds.) (1997). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Board of Education (1974). Secondary Education in Hong Kong Over the Next Decade. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyle, J. (1997). Imperialism and the English language in Hong Kong. Journal of Multilingual & Multicultural Development, 18(3), 169–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brutt-Griffer, J. (2002). World English: A Study of its Development. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, N. L. (Ed.) (1979). Issues in Language of Instruction in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: The Cosmos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, N. L., Shek, K. C., Tse, K. K. & Wong, S. L. (1973). At What Cost? A Report for the Public (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Y. C. (2005). For suggestions on CMI consultation. Ming Pao, 13 July.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, M. W. (1979). A Comparison of secondary school pupils' comprehension of lessons taught in English and in auxiliary language. In N. L. Cheng (Ed.), Issues in Language of Instruction in Hong Kong (pp. 72–76). Hong Kong: The Cosmos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. (1976). The influence of bilingualism on cognitive growth: A synthesis of research findings and explanatory hypothesis. Working Papers on Bilingualism, 9, 1–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. (1981). The role of primary language development in promoting educational success for language minority students. In California State Department of Education (Ed.), Schooling and Language Minority Students. A Theoretical Framework. Los Angeles: California State Department of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. (1985) [1980]. The construct of language proficiency in bilingual education. In J. E. Alatis & J. J. Staczek (Eds.), Perspectives on Bilingualism and Bilingual Education (pp. 209–231). Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. First printed in J. E. Alatis (Ed.) (1980), Georgetown University Round Table on languages and linguistics 1980, Georgetown University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. (1991). The politics of paranoia. In O. Garcia (Ed.), Bilingual Education (pp. 183–199). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. (2000). Language, Power and Pedagogy: Bilingual Children in the Crossfire. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Commission (1984). Education Commission Report No. 1. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Commission (1986). Education Commission Report No. 2. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Commission (1990). Education Commission Report No. 4. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Commission (1996). Education Commission Report No. 6. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Commission (2005). Review of Medium of Instruction for Secondary Schools and Secondary School Places Allocation — Consultation Document. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Department (1997a). Arrangements for Firm Guidance on Secondary Schools' Medium of Instruction. Consultation paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Department (1997b). Medium of Instruction Guidance for Secondary Schools. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. A. (1972). Diglossia. In P. P. Giglioli (Ed.), Language and Social Context (pp. 232–251). Middlesex, England: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J. A. (1971). Advances in Sociology of Language. The Hague: Mouton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J. A. (1976). Bilingual Education: An International Sociological Perspective. Rowley: Newbury House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald, J. (1995). English-as-a-second-language learners' cognitive reading processes: A review of research in the United States. Review of Educational Research, 65, 145–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gee, J. P. (1996). Literacy and social minds. In G. Bull & M. Anstey (Eds.), The Literacy Lexicon (pp. 5–14). Sydney: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, S. K. (2002). Language policy and English language standards in Malaysia. Journal of Asian Pacific Communication, 12(1), 95–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, A. (1998). The language planning situation in the Philippines. Journal of Multilingual & Multicultural Development, 19(5 & 6), 487–525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, A. F. (1997). When mother-tongue education is not preferred. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 18(6), 496–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong Kong Government (1974). Official Languages Ordinance. [No. 10/74]. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornberger, N. (1990). Bilingual education and English-Only: A language-planning framework. In C. B. Cazden & C. E. Snow, English Plus: Issues in Bilingual Education (The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 508) (pp. 12–26). Philadelphia: The American Academy of Political and Social science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. K. (1983). Bilingual switching strategies: A study of the modes of teacher-talk in bilingual secondary school classrooms in Hong Kong. Language Learning & Communication, 2(3), 267–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. K. (1994). Language policy and planning in Hong Kong. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 14, 177–199, 1993/ 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. K., Chan, R. M. K., Lee, L. M. & Ho, J. C. (1984). An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Various Language Modes of Presentation, Spoken and Written, in Form III in Hong Kong Anglo-Chinese Secondary Schools. A joint-project of Education Department and University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. K. & Lee, P. M. (1987). Modes of instruction: teaching strategies and student responses. In R. Lord & H. N. L. Cheng (Eds.), Language Education in Hong Kong (pp. 99–121). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kachru, B. B. (1983). Models of new Englishes. In J. Cobarrubias & J. A. Fishman (Eds.), Progress in Language Planning (pp. 145–170). Berlin: Mouton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuo, O. (1986). Bilingual Secondary Education in Hong Kong: What are the Options? Working Paper. Hong Kong: Department of Professional Studies in Education, University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuppusamy, B. (2002). War of words in push for more English. South China Morning Post, 31 August 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, D. (2002). Hong Kong parents' preference for English-medium education: Passive victims of imperialism or active agents of pragmatism? In A. Kirkpatrick (Ed.), Englishes in Asia: Communication, Identity, Power & Education (pp. 29–62). Melbourne: Language Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, A.M.Y. (1990). Teaching in Two Tongues: Language Alternation in Foreign Language Classrooms. Research Report No. 3, Department of English, City University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Llewellyn, J., Hancock, G., Kirst, M. & Roeloffs, K. (1982). A Perspective on Education in Hong Kong: Report by a Visiting Panel. Hong Kong: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, R. (1979). Language Quandary. In N. L. Cheng (Ed.), Issues in Language of Instruction in Hong Kong (pp. 126–131). Hong Kong: The Cosmos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, R. (1987). Language policy and planning in Hong Kong: past, present and (especially) future. In R. Lord & H. N. L. Cheng (Eds.), Language Education in Hong Kong (pp. 3–24). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ming Pao (1997). Publicity of mother tongue teaching can hardly change parents' minds. 3 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ming Pao (2005a). Divided views on medium of instruction consultation. 13 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ming Pao (2005b). Schools against rigid bifurcation of CMI and EMI. 22 April.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozog, A. C. K. (1993). Bilingualism and national development in Malaysia. In G. M. Jones & A. C. K. Ozog (Eds.), Bilingualism and National Development [special issues]. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 14(1) & (2), 59–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennington, M. C. (1995). Pattern and variation in use of two languages in the Hong Kong secondary English class. RELC Journal, 26(2), 80–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennington, M. C. and Yue, F. (1994). English and Chinese in Hong Kong: Pre-1997 language attitudes. World Englishes. 13(1), 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pierson, H. D. (1987). Language attitudes and language proficiency: A review of selected research. In R. Lord & H. N. L. Cheng (Eds.), Language Education in Hong Kong (pp. 51–82). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierson, H. D., Fu, G. S. & Lee, S. Y. (1980). An analysis of the relationship between language attitudes and English attainment of secondary school students in Hong Kong. Language Learning, 30, 289–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. (1993). Out of the quandary: An analysis of Hong Kong's language-in-education policy. In H. W. Wong & H. L. Tai (Eds.), Hong Kong Education: Towards the year 2000 (pp. 57–75) (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Commercial Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. (1998). Bilingualism and monolingualism: A shift in Hong Kong government's language-in-education policy In V. Berry & A. McNeill (Eds.), Policy and Practice in Language Education (pp. 89–104). Hong Kong: Department of Curriculum Studies, the University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. (1999). Chinese medium instruction policy and its impact on English learning in post-1997 Hong Kong. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 2(2), 131–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. (2000). Medium of Instruction in Hong Kong: Policy and Practice. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. (2004). Language policy of Hong Kong: Its impact on language education and language use in post-handover Hong Kong. Journal of Taiwan Normal University Humanities & Sciences, 49(1), 53–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. (2005a). Who says ‘Within-school Streaming’ is not as good as ‘Changing Trains’. Ming Pao, 4 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. (2005b). Bilingual education replacing ‘Changing Trains’. Ming Pao, 5 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, A. Y. K. & Wong, Y. C. (2004). Governance in education in Hong Kong: A decentralizing or a centralizing path? In Y. C. Wong (Ed.), One Country Two Systems in Crisis: Hong Kong's Transformation Since the Handover (pp. 137 – 166). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poon, P. K. (1979). An investigation of the language difficulties experienced by Hong Kong primary school leavers in learning Mathematics through the medium of English. In N. L. Cheng (Ed.), Issues in Language of Instruction in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Cosmos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sing To Daily (1997). Feelings of the parents. 13 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siu, P. K. (1979). Different models of bilingual education: The Hong Kong case. In Cheng, N. L. (Ed.), Issues in Language of Instruction in Hong Kong (pp. 119–125) (in Chinese). Hong Kong: The Cosmos.

    Google Scholar 

  • So, D. W. C. (1987). Searching for a bilingual exit. In R. Lord and H. N. L. Cheng (Eds.), Language Education in Hong Kong (pp. 249–268). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • So, D. W. C. (1992). Language-based bifurcation of secondary education in Hong Kong: Past, present and future. In K. K. Luke (Ed.), Into the Twenty First Century: Issues of Language in Education in Hong Kong (pp. 69–95). Hong Kong: Linguistic Society of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • South China Morning Post (1997). Students voice fear on switch to Chinese. 19 September.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz, J. E. (2002). Globalization and Its Discontents. London: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Standard (2005). Language options reviewed. 24 January.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhoeven, L. & Aarts, R. (1998). Attaining functional literacy in the Netherlands. In A.Y. Durgunoglu & L. Verhoeven (Eds.), Literacy Development in a Multilingual Context: Cross-cultural Perspectives (pp. 111–134). Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L. (1962). Thought and Language. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, D. A. (1998). Putting second language first: Language and literacy learning in Morocco. In A.Y. Durgunoglu & L. Verhoeven (Eds.), Literacy Development in a Multilingual Context: Cross-cultural Perspectives (pp. 169–183). Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, P.R. China

    Anita Y. K. Poon

Authors
  1. Anita Y. K. Poon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education and Professional Studies (Brisbane, Logan), Griffith University, Mt. Gravatt, Queensland, Australia

    Chi-hung Ng

  2. School of Education, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Peter D. Renshaw

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Poon, A.Y.K. (2009). Reforming Medium of Instruction in Hong Kong: Its Impact on Learning. In: Ng, Ch., Renshaw, P.D. (eds) Reforming Learning. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3024-6_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation