Over the past decade, the education systems in mainland China and Hong Kong have implemented major changes to language policy. In China, English has been introduced at Primary 3 level, while in Hong Kong the initial post-handover guidelines have been effectively reversed by the so-called “fine-tuning” of the language policy in 2009, which favours English as the Medium of Instruction. In both places, there is also huge parental demand in the Kindergarten sector for helping young children to learn English. This paper uses the triadic framework of Fagerlind and Saha (1995) that comprises political, socio-economic and educational perspectives, to understand the phenomenon of English in terms of its role and status in education in mainland China and Hong Kong, and to identify the implications of these language policies. It finds that, while the learning of English at a young age can benefit the children in preparing them for socio-economic advancement, there are issues of social equity, identity, resourcing and curriculum balance that need to be addressed. While the focus is on mainland China and Hong Kong, the findings are relevant to many education systems in the Asia Pacific region where English is a foreign language.

On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administration Region of the People Republic of China. The implementation of the “One country two systems”, a unique concept and a pioneer practice in the world, began. What does the identity of citizen under “One country, two systems” mean to student-teachers in Hong Kong? The new Civic Education syllabus for Junior forms is to be implemented in Sept. 1998. (Civic Education Standing Committee, 1997) Its objectives and contents embrace a comprehensive range of values, knowledge and skills; emphasizing the local, national and global contexts and the role of the citizen in each. To what extent did these foci fit in with student-teachers’ conceptions of citizenship? A survey by questionnaires of 280 Social Science elective student-teachers in an Institute of Education in Hong Kong was conducted in Dec., 1997, followed by semi-structured interviews of 14 student-teachers in the sample. Analysis of the survey and interview results revealed the characteristics of student-teachers’ conceptions of citizenship and the factors in shaping them. Their interest and concern relating to the promotion of Civic Education was also explored. The implication on Civic education curriculum development in teacher education was then discussed.

In Hong Kong and Macau, educational practitioners and student teachers who are committed to a career in education usually join some professional organizations in their local communities. In the past, little effort had been made by professional organizations to pull students, educational practitioners, and the interested professionals in the two territories - Hong Kong and Macau - together. In 1998, the ACEI: Hong Kong and Macau Branch was founded by a group of teacher educators with the aim at linking students, parents, education practitioners, and other interested professionals of the two territories together in a collaborative effort to promote education quality, professional growth, exchange of ideas, as well as the inherent rights and well-being of children in home, school and community. Also, it fosters interaction among student teachers, teachers, administrators, counselors, and educators to exchange ideas and develop friendships across international boundaries (Hong Kong, Macau, USA, and other countries), as well as to provide an opportunity to publish materials that help members keep up with the important issues and current trends in the field of education. The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) was founded in 1892 by a group of school teachers and other interested professionals in the United States. With over 130 branches in the US and other countries, ACEI is now one of the oldest organizations of its kind which shares a dual commitment to the fulfillment of every child's potential and to the professional development of classroom teachers. This workshop will help participants understand more about the functions of the ACEI: Hong Kong and Macau Branch. Information will be shared concerning how professional development of student teachers and educational practitioners in the two territories could be enriched through regional and international linkages, cooperation and participation in ACEI activities.

Learning Study has been used as a teacher professional development programme in the hope of improving classroom teaching and learning in the cities of both Gothenburg and Hong Kong. This case sharing session first presents two English Language Learning Studies focusing on teaching reading comprehension strategies: one is a Primary Six case conducted in Gothenburg and the other a Secondary Two case in Hong Kong. Then comparison is done between the two cases, with their similarities and differences discussed and highlighted. The session is finally concluded with implications drawn on conducting Learning Study and improving the teaching and learning of reading comprehension strategies in English Language.

This study examines the problem of sexism in English language teaching materials used in Hong Kong and Australia. The study investigates the relative frequencies with which females and males are referred to or depicted in verbal and pictorial texts, the order of appearance of males and females, the depiction of their domestic, occupational and social roles, and the use of masculine generic constructions.

The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes of final year students in teacher preparation programs in Hong Kong and Taiwan toward including students with disabilities into regular settings, and to further examine the influences of attitudes on the development of adapted physical education programs. A 15-item questionnaire was used to investigate students' attitudes and concerns toward inclusion. Seventy-seven students from Hong Kong and Taiwan participated in this study. The results of the survey indicated that students in Hong Kong and Taiwan philosophically support inclusion, although there were many concerns and different opinions regarding inclusion. The survey indicated that students from both locations thought special schools and teachers with special training will provide better education for students with disabilities than general teachers, and indicated the needs for more academic preparation for inclusion. The findings also suggest that without well prepared support services and other accommodations, students with disabilities will not benefit from these educational environments.
[Copyright © 2005 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.]

This is a narrative study to inquire the experiences of my inner self through my life journey in teaching and learning of dance. Stemming from my experience as a student, a secondary school PE teacher, and a PE lecturer I have become critically aware of the need for learning of dance. Dance, probably more than games and gymnastics, offers many opportunities for integrating movement experiences with various aspects of the curriculum. The Hong Kong Curriculum Development Council (1995) states that at least two periods per week should be allocated to physical education and the teaching of dance should be included if the teacher aim to produce a balanced program. However, dance tends to receive less attention in physical education program, and most male PE teachers are found reluctant to teach dance. The inclusion of dance certainly depends on whether teachers consider it important for children to become skillful in and knowledgeable about expressive movement forms. The value we place on dance is personalized and revealing text in attempt to help others to rethink and recreate the meaning in learning and teaching of dance.

This paper is the first phase of the project entitled “A Critical and Comprehensive Review of the Development of Social Education Curriculum at the Primary Level in Hong Kong”. In this phase, the contextual factors leading to the developmental changes of primary social education curriculum from 1967 to 1997 are traced and analysed so as to prepare grounds for a comparative study of the counterparts in Shanghai. The methodologies of documentary analysis and informal interviews are utilized to substantiate the induction approach that draws conclusion from various sources and data. It is hoped that this preliminary study will shed light on the phylogenetic accounts for the primary social education curriculum in Hong Kong, with particular emphasis on the external and internal forces that have interacted in shaping its changes.

The Vernacular Normal School for Men (VNSM) was established in September 1920 by the Hong Kong Government under the governorship of Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs (1919-1925) to solve the problem of shortage of qualified schoolteachers. Together with the Vernacular Normal School for Women (VNSW, 1920-1941) which was opened in the same year, the two teacher training institutes supplied the majority of the qualified Chinese teachers in Hong Kong during the ensuing two decades. This paper, using documentary sources and information obtained from interviewing some graduates of the Vernacular Normal School for Men, discusses the background to the establishment of the School, its staff, students and curriculum, and the closure of the School, as well as its contribution to the progress of Hong Kong’s basic education.