This study aims to investigate and compare the relationship between immersion and motivation in two different groups of student teachers who enrolled in an immersion programme. With a group of student teachers whose social and cultural backgrounds are different – one group is from Mainland China and one is from Hong Kong – though they both are of Chinese ethnicity and speak the same Chinese variety, the reasons behind their studying a postgraduate programme and going on an immersion can be different. The method of data collection adopted for this study was a qualitative paradigm. In-depth interviews, both pre- and post-immersion, were conducted. Participants were also encouraged to send e-mails to the researcher during immersion that reflected on their experience. Results show that Mainland participants were motivated by desires to enhance their pedagogical knowledge in EFL teaching in order to satisfy implementation constraints in their homeland. In contrast, Hong Kong participants were primarily interested in improving their language proficiency in order to satisfy the mandatory language assessment required for graduation. Both groups, however, saw cultural enrichment as their secondary reason for undertaking immersion, in that it allowed them to better understand the culture behind the language and thus become better English teachers. Copyright © 2019 Academy Publication.

The knowledge and pedagogies of e-learning in English language learning in teacher education courses would be developed and transformed by student teachers via pre-service learning experiences. The strategies of e-learning in the English language learning of student teachers in the teaching education courses and their own teaching practices lead to a widespread discussion in Hong Kong and Mainland China. It not only benefits educators and student teachers to intuitively understand the strategies of e-learning in English language learning but also helps student teachers to refine their e-learning strategies in English language learning in further teaching practices. This study aims to compare the implementations and transformations of strategies of student teachers to e-learning in English language learning from pre-service learning experiences in Hong Kong and Mainland China. One hundred student teachers were involved. The mixed-method approach would be adopted in the research including questionnaires, interviews, observations and analysis of weekly teaching dairy. The findings would help educators and student teachers to know the general situation of strategies to e-learning in English language learning through their pre-service learning experiences in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Meanwhile, the results of this study will give some suggestions to student teachers for future in-service teaching and learning experiences. Copyright © 2018 The Asian Conference on Education.

Learning Study has been employed in pre-service teacher training in Hong Kong since 2007. This presentation by pre-service teachers introduces their use of Variation Theory in and learning from three Learning Study projects in Hong Kong.Project 1 focuses on the teaching map reading skills for understanding Hong Kong landscapes in General Studies of primary four. Two lessons were designed and taught collaboratively by a group of six preservice teachers in 2016. In order to reach the object of learning, i.e., the ability of reading a map, four critical features were confirmed according to the pre-test: the names of the three map symbols (CF1), the functions of the map symbols (CF2), the names of the eight directions in Chinese (CF3) and understanding the questions about directions (CF4). Throughout the two lessons, Variation Theory was the main method to highlight the critical features for students. The pedagogical design of Lesson 2 was revised after the postlesson reflection based on the post- test and observation of Lesson 1. It was confirmed by the pre- test and post- test results that, improvement of students’ability in map reading was bigger in Lesson 2 than Lesson 1.Project 2 focuses on teaching the use of adjectives to primary two students. After a pre-test was conducted, the critical features identified were 1) function of nouns, 2) function of adjectives, 3) the positioning of adjectives and 4) the practical application of adjectives. A total of two lessons were deliberately designed and co-taught by a team of pre-service teachers. It was found that Lesson 2 achieved better improvement in the post-test than in the pre-test, compared to Lesson 1. The key factors producing such differences included blackboard management, activity formats and reiteration of concepts. The results suggest the need to consolidate variation theory and its relevant facilitating factors in order to achieve the most suitable pedagogical design wherein students learn the object of learning

The present action research examined the effectiveness of one pre-school teacher professional development with the focus of deep understanding of autism behaviour and the practical application of three evidence-based strategies: social story (auditory means), TEACCH (visual support) and positive behavior support. The purposive and self-selected samples of 27 pre-school teachers and their students be diagnosed with or suspected of having autism were recruited (N=32) from seven local kindergartens. The teacher participants of the experimental group completed one two-day workshop and received school-based consultations with the input from autism experts. The teacher participants of the control group received delayed teacher training. The teacher participants completed two instruments in Chinese, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and the Checklist for Learning, Social and Emotional Adjustment (Kindergarten version) to measure the student performance. The teacher participants completed another two self-reported instruments in Chinese, the revised 10-item Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education Scale (SACIE-R) and the 18-itemTeacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practice Scale (TEIP). The data indicated that the student participants of the experimental group reduced the challenging behavior and at the same time they showed improvement in learning and peer interaction. For the teacher participants of the experimental group, they showed more awareness about the inclusion needs of their students on the spectrum. They also recognized the function of having expert input to further enhance teaching efficacy for inclusive practice. The preliminary outcomes here confirmed the positive impact of the holistic and practical approach to pre-school teacher professional development for supporting learning diversity.本硏究以行動研究探討一項著重知識及實踐的學前老師專業培訓，培訓內容包括深度理解自閉症特徵及實戰執行三項有循證數據的支援策略：社交故事（直接、具體的口頭指令）、TEACCH（視覺提示）及正向行為支持。參加者為來自七間幼稚園的 27 位老師及其 32 位有自閉症診斷或懷疑個案的學生。實驗組的老師完成兩日的工作坊和接受有自閉症專家參加的校本諮詢。比較組的老師於研究完成後接受培訓

香港的中小學一直採用粵語作爲中文科教學語言。97回歸後，普通話日益受到重視。2002年香港課程發展議會（2002）提出，在中文科“逐步加入普通話學習元素或嘗試用普通話作為教學語言”，並以“用普通話教中文”（普教中，下文簡稱）作為遠程發展目標。政府更資助各院校開辦沉浸課程，以期在普通話的語言環境中，提升准教師的普通話水平。沉浸課程的普通話學習成效究竟如何，一直缺乏實證研究。本文以此為研究物件，希望為相關課程的優化提供參考依據。沉浸式學習（Immersive Learning）是指通過提供真實環境，使學習者高度參與互動，從而提升技能的學習模式，對於語言學習尤其奏效。本文以香港教育大學BEd(CL)沉浸課程為例，從課程定位、預期學習成果、教與學內容及活動、評核模式等方面分析沉浸式學習的課程設計和教學實踐。並參照連續3年共459名學生的評核資料、自我評估和問卷調查結果，檢測學習成效，以期為高校國際漢語沉浸式學習的課程設計與成效評估提供參考依據。BEd(CL)沉浸課程包括普通話能力訓練、本科專題研習、文化考察和教學觀摩等4個學習範疇。旨在讓香港中文准教師走出常規課堂，在真實的母語環境中體驗學習漢語言文化。研究發現，學生參加沉浸課程後考獲的PSC等級普遍有所提高，有超過70%的准教師在參加沉浸課程後達到了PSC二級乙等或以上水準，較之前增加30%；個人成績提升了6分左右；近70%的准教師提升了至少一個等級；沉浸課程對PSC三級甲等或以下等級的提升作用最明顯。研究發現，以PSC為導向的普通話能力訓練，以及語伴活動等多元化的語境實踐，可以從多個層面促進准教師的普通話進步。本科專題研習、文化考察和教學觀摩可以增進中文知識，有效瞭解內地的語文教育和文化風俗，為成為專業中文教師奠定基礎。另外，沉浸課程具備可以提高內在動機和外在動機的多種誘因。同時，承辦機構操作也需要照顧學生的認知和情感；而學習者開放心態，投入學習，也是課程成功的重要因素。 Copyright © 2018 國立臺灣師範大學.