English Project “Putonghua should be used to teach Chinese in Hong Kong schools.” Recently, there have been debates on the use of Putonghua to teach Chinese.

English ProjectEnglish Project“Putonghua should be used to teach Chinese in Hong Kong schools.” Recently, there have been debates on the use of Putonghua to teach Chinese. What are the arguments in favor of the statement above and those against? What conclusion can y

ou reach?

Have you ever imagined Miss W.Y. Lee use Putonghua to teach Chinese? Do you like it? Why?

Give your opinion now!

Why do people Why do people make this make this proposal?proposal?

(1)Hong Kong has been handed over to China(2) The economic of China is growing rapidly(3) Putonghua is the lingua franca of China(4) Chinese level of students is declining

Reasons for introducing this Reasons for introducing this proposalproposal

(5)Students’ Putonghua skills is declining

Can understandPutonghua

CannotunderstandPutonghua

Can speakPutonghua

Cannot speakPutonghua

Check Point 1Check Point 1

• Which is NOT the reason of introducing using Putonghua to teach Chinese?

A) A trend of more peopole working overseasB) Hong Kong has become a part pf ChinaC)Chinese level of Hong Kong people is decliningD) Putonghua is the lingua franca of China

Ans: A

What are the What are the advantages of advantages of

using Putonghua using Putonghua to teach Chinese?to teach Chinese?

A research done by Po Leung Kok Chan NaA research done by Po Leung Kok Chan Nam Cheung Primary Schoolm Cheung Primary School

• Students who use Putonghua to learn Chinese get 5 marks higher than the normal classes in the Chinese tests.

• They also get 7-11 marks higher than other classes in Chinese composition

Using Putonghua to learn Chinese enhance students’ proficiency in Cantonese

and Putonghua

ResearchResearch ExplanationExplanation

The advantages of using The advantages of using Putonghua to learn ChinesePutonghua to learn Chinese

• Students can have better oral, writing and reading skills.

• Improve written Chinese and fluency of Putonghua

• More students come from China and this helps them have better understanding in the lessons

Our interviewee’s ideaOur interviewee’s idea

• Using Putonghua as medium of instruction in Chinese lesson is a good policy to introduce to schools as It brings great benefits to the students

Ms FanSpokesperson of Hong Kong Putonghua Vocational Sc

hool

Check Point 2Check Point 2•(1) The policy of “Putonghua as me

dium of instruction” can help to develop which kind of language skill?A) oralB) comprehensionC) compositionD) all of the above

Ans: D

Check Point 2Check Point 2

• (2)We have an interview with spokesperson from a school. Which one is it?A) Hong Kong Putonghua Vocational SchoolB) Hong Kong Putonghua institute C) Hong Kong Institute of Putonghua educationD) Hong Kong Putonghua School

Ans: A

What are the disadvantaWhat are the disadvantages of using Putonghua tges of using Putonghua t

o teach Chinese?o teach Chinese?

-Difficulties faced by students in learning

-Difficulties faced by teachers in teaching

The disadvantages of using Putonghua as mediThe disadvantages of using Putonghua as medium of instruction in Chinese lessonsum of instruction in Chinese lessons

Difficulties faced by students in Difficulties faced by students in learninglearning

(1)Cannot understand the lesson as students cannot master the language well

(2) Difficult to dictate Chinese by Putonghua

(3) Hesitate to give response in class

A survey conducted in Yan Chai HospiA survey conducted in Yan Chai Hospital Choi Hin To Primary schooltal Choi Hin To Primary school

• a decrease of 25.6% of students believed that Chinese lesson is easy to learn after adopted the policy of using Putonghua as medium of instruction.

• students face difficulties in Chinese dictations after Putonghua as medium of instruction was adopted

Conclusion reached after the Conclusion reached after the surveysurvey

• There are still difficulties faced by students when carrying out this proposal although there are a number of benefits to them.

Difficulties faced by teachers in Difficulties faced by teachers in teachingteaching

(1)Limited resources provided for teachers

(2) Benchmark examinations may need to be introduced to ensure teachers can master Putonghua well->high workload & pressure

Check point 3Check point 3

• (1) Primary students have faced difficulties in which aspect as mentioned?A) comprehensionB) writingC) dictationD) none of the above

Ans: C

Check point 3Check point 3•(2) Why teachers face high press

ure at work as mentioned just now?A) sitting for benchmark examinationB) poor result of studentsC) short holidayD) all of the above

Ans: A

What is our What is our opinion?opinion?

Our point of viewOur point of view

(1)There should be more training for teachers

(2) More resources should be introduced for teachers

(3) More time should be spent before changing syllabus

(4) Opinions should be collected from different parties

ConclusionConclusion

This is a practical issue but need more time for various preparation before introducing it

Discussion Discussion Time!Time!

Discussion Questions

•Question 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5Question 6Question 7Question 8

(1) You are a mother of a kindergarten student. You want your 5-year-old daughter to enter a school which use Putonghua to teach Chinese. You will have an interview for the entry of the school. What will you say in the interview to persuade the principal accepts your daughter’s application?

(2) You are a businessman, will you choose a student who use Putonghua to learn Chinese or a student who use Cantonese to learn Chinese? Give at least three reasons to support your view.

(3) You are a legislator who do not support using Putonghua to teach Chinese. Now, you have to give a speech in the legislative Council to support your view. You have to give at least three strong reasons to support it.

(4) You are a Chinese teacher. You have to make a draft to comment on the issue of using Putonghua to teach Chinese for the city forum.

(5) You are chairperson of Putonghua club in a school that uses Cantonese to teach Chinese. As there is a trend of declining Chinese standard in your school. You have to make a proposal to the principal. In the proposal, you have to include the suggestions on how to improve students’ Putonghua standard and persuade the principal to change the medium of instruction of Chinese lessons from Cantonese to Putonghua.

(6) “It is important to use Putonghua to teach Chinese as Putonghua is the lingua franca of China and Hong Kong has become part of China.” Do you agree? Give at least three reasons to support your answer.

(7) You are a primary six student. You are now selecting a secondary school, you can choose schools that are using Putonghua as medium of instruction in Chinese lessons or using Cantonese as medium of instruction in Chinese lessons. Which kind of school will you choose? Give at least three reasons to explain your choice.

(8) You are now being invited as a guest speaker in a PTA meeting of a school that is using Cantonese as medium of instructions in Chinese lessons. You need to give a speech on the proposal of Putonghua as medium of instructions.