Language-in-education – including language pedagogy, an integral part of planning language-in-education – has been one of the most popular areas of policymaking in many contexts, as languages are perceived to have utilitarian values. Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of individual policy cases, and the factors which contribute to their impact. However, often these studies understand a policy as a static product and the discussions are limited to a particular policy. Reflecting the current understanding of a policy as an iterative process and taking a comparative perspective, this paper presents a framework which will help investigate and discuss implementation and impact of a language-in-education policy. In particular, it shares insights from analyses of relevant policies from telling case contexts of Hong Kong and South Korea. Drawing on general policy studies as well as language-in-education research, the paper will contribute to building the knowledge base of language-in-education research and to improving the effectiveness of language-in-education policy processes, by providing a tool to help better understand and research the phenomena reflecting their situatedness and the complexities involved and to predict the trajectory of such policies. Copyright © 2018 Asia TEFL.

Previous studies have shown that teacher cognitions and practices in curriculum innovations can be inconsistent. This article describes the practical theory of a novice teacher in Hong Kong in reacting to the introduction of Language Arts (LA) elective modules in the New Senior Secondary (NSS) English Language Curriculum in Hong Kong by exploring her stated cognitions and observed practices as well as the factors mediating them. Data included an open-ended interview, 10 lesson observations and post-lesson interviews, as well as documentary analysis of the teaching and learning materials used. Analysis of the interview data showed evidence of a personal practical theory which recognises the merit of LA integration. The observation showed significant discrepancies between the teachers’ stated cognitions and the observed practices. Both her cognitions and practices were influenced by her understanding of LA derived from her previous learning experiences, the context in which she worked, students’ reactions; striking a balance between the creative and imaginative appeal of LA texts and grammatical accuracy in the exams in particular may have contributed to the divergence between cognitions and practices. Copyright © 2018 Asia TEFL.

With the use of questionnaire, observation and case study, the current practice in using multi-media tcchnology in schools for mentally handicapped (MH) children was studied. The aims, staff expertise, use, software and school-based work in computers were identified for investigation. The results indicated that the recent development was positive and encouraging. Provided with adcquate facilities, most schools with MH students introduced computer technology in classroom teaching. Although MH students may have different kinds of physical and intellectual disabilities, the use of technology and accessories helped them overcome their learning difficulties. A larger proportion of teachers reflected that they were not professionally trained to meet the growing demands of computer-based technology. They stated their limitations and shared their successful experience in school-based work. Regarding the lack of expertise, it was recommended that the authority should provide more positive support and resources to the schools while the schools should take strategic measures for staff development in this area.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Special Education Forum is the property of Special Education Society of Hong Kong Ltd.. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
https://sites.google.com/a/seshk.org.hk/seshk-org-hk/c_publication]

This paper discussed class discipline and management of children with severely mentally handicap. The authors argued that effective teachers could manage children's learning and create a responsive environment for maximizing the potentials of children. A case study in Hong Kong special school setting was presented to illustrate the possible instructional strategies involved: including individual educational plan, behavioral modification, social acceptance, and structured learning environment.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Special Education Forum is the property of Special Education Society of Hong Kong Ltd.. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
https://sites.google.com/a/seshk.org.hk/seshk-org-hk/c_publication]

This article first describes some of the ways in which teachers might (in theory) differentiate their approach to teaching and learning in inclusive mixed-ability classrooms. The writer then questions whether teachers faced with a heavy workload, large classes and subject specialization can really be expected to adopt and sustain the use of such differentiation strategies. How much classroom differentiation is beneficial and achievable? What problems are associated with differentiation and what are the alternatives? These issues are addressed with particular reference to the Hong Kong context. Given the current enthusiasm for 'curriculum tailoring' and 'adapting instruction' it may appear to be heresy to suggest that this heavy emphasis on individual differences among students could make teaching just too difficult for the average practitioner — and may not necessarily be the best way of meeting students' educational needs and raising achievement standards.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Special Education Forum is the property of Special Education Society of Hong Kong Ltd.. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
https://sites.google.com/a/seshk.org.hk/seshk-org-hk/c_publication]

This article explores what is currently known about the most effective teaching methods or approaches to be used with students who have special educational needs. Drawing first on the recent meta-analyses of Swanson, Kavale and Forness, the writer highlights methods producing the most impressive improvements. In general, the evidence shows that carefully structured approaches in which students are taught how to learn,combined with high quality direct teaching of curriculum content, have the greatest impact. The article then describes in detail the key characteristics of such approaches, as used in intervention programs and in mainstream teaching.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Special Education Forum is the property of Special Education Society of Hong Kong Ltd.. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
https://sites.google.com/a/seshk.org.hk/seshk-org-hk/c_publication]

This article, while supporting the notion of inclusive education, urges caution in the rate at which the necessary changes take place. The writer acknowledges the important role played by special schools in meeting the needs of students with moderate to severe disabilities, and suggests that special schools must continue to exist in order to provide the full range of placement options. Some of the difficulties involved in implementing inclusive education are discussed, including the demands made upon the regular class teacher, the problem of class sizes in ordinary schools in Hong Kong, and the need for additional professional training with a focus on mixed-ability teaching.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Special Education Forum is the property of Special Education Society of Hong Kong Ltd.. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
https://sites.google.com/a/seshk.org.hk/seshk-org-hk/c_publication]

This study compares the learning results of three groups of secondary two (grade eight) students of a similar academic standard who participated in a teaching intervention involving different pedagogies. One hundred and forty-nine Hong Kong secondary students were chosen and divided into three groups, “whole-class teaching approach”, “group work with no specific strategies” and “group work with effective strategies”, to study the “space travel” unit in their science curriculum. The first group was exposed to traditional whole-class instruction, and the latter two practised collaborative group work, with the third adopting four effective strategies derived from a UK-based quasi-experimental project. Analyses of the pre- and post-diagnostic assessments and audiotaped discussions revealed that group work comprising effective strategies not only raised students’ test scores, but also enhanced their joint construction of conceptual knowledge in science. The findings suggest that the effective strategies adopted in this study are contributory factors to superior student accomplishments and a stronger desire to seek clarification accruing from shared cognitive activities.
[Copyright of International Journal of Science & Mathematics Education is the property of Springer Netherlands. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10763-017-9839-x]

Drawing on self-based L2 motivation theories, the present study explored changes in the English learning motivation of eight Mainland Chinese undergraduates after their arrival at a Hong Kong university, where they took most of their courses in English. The participants were surveyed and interviewed retrospectively about their English learning experiences both in Mainland China and Hong Kong. After their relocation to Hong Kong, most participants reported heightened motivation. While their motivation generally remained stable at a high level, there were some fluctuations. The motivational enhancement may be influenced by the continuous interaction between the participants’ perceptions of different contexts of Hong Kong and their shifting actual and ideal L2 selves. The motivational fluctuations appeared to be affected by an interplay between the participants’ L2 selves and specific L2-related learning experiences such as preparation for English proficiency tests. As these activities came to an end, the participants’ motivation returned to its original state. Implications are offered to support the transitions of English as a foreign language learners to an environment where English is used as the medium of instruction.
[Copyright of System is the property of Pergamon Press. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2018.05.011]

After the handover back to Mainland China in 1997, the Hong Kong government adopted a 'biliterate and trilingual' policy to help Hongkongers develop an ability to read and write Chinese and English, and to speak and understand Cantonese, English and Putonghua. However, there are no clear government guidelines on how and when the three languages should be introduced and taught in primary schools. Based on a survey of 155 Hong Kong primary schools, it was found that individual schools have adopted their own medium of instruction (MoI) policies, but these policies are decided by the school policymakers, without much consultation with the students and their parents. In this study, questionnaire surveys and interviews on students' and parents' perceptions of trilingual education were conducted in three case-study primary schools. The research findings suggest that students' and parents' views towards the use of different MoIs vary, which will be discussed in the paper in detail. Schools need to take these factors into consideration when developing MoI policies. Copyright © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.