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A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency?

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Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities

Part of the book series: Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects ((EDAP,volume 33))

Abstract

Promoting the use of English as a lingua franca is doubtlessly a key process in globalisation. Hong Kong, being an international financial centre, took up the global challenge to enhance the linguistic competence of its human capital through education reform, and has invested billions of dollars in language enhancement in both school and university sectors since 2000. The present paper reports on an overseas English immersion programme offered by a university in Hong Kong, and explores whether immersion is an effective means to enhancing English proficiency. The paper first provides a backdrop for the Hong Kong government’s policy on overseas English immersion implemented in 2001–2002. Then the design, content, operation and assessment of the overseas English immersion programme in a teacher education programme are described. Finally, the effectiveness of overseas immersion is discussed in light of globalisation and English language teaching and learning.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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

    Anita Y. K. Poon

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  1. Anita Y. K. Poon
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Correspondence to Anita Y. K. Poon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Learning Sciences Institute Australia, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Chi-hung Clarence Ng

  2. Learning and Teaching Unit, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Robert Fox

  3. Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

    Michiko Nakano

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Poon, A.Y.K. (2016). A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency?. In: Ng, Ch., Fox, R., Nakano, M. (eds) Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 33. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0429-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0431-5

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