Students going into Form Six who have studied mainly in Chinese can apply to join an intensive language programme to improve their English skills. Senior Education Officer Fok Lee Yu-hing said students admitted to Form Six could apply for the course, run by the British Council. 'Its purpose is to help students who have studied through the medium of Chinese to attain the standard of English required by local tertiary institutions,' Mrs Fok said. 'The course has an introduction to the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing necessary for the Hong Kong Advanced- Level Use of English examination. Students are taught by qualified and experienced native English-speaking teachers,' she said. The programme is in three stages. The first is the two-week pre-Form Six course to be held from August 18 to August 28. The second stage is a four- week course to be held next summer, and the last stage, a two-week Form Seven course, will be held over the Lunar New Year holiday in 2000, before students enter tertiary institutions. Application forms are available from schools and District Education Offices. Applicants in Form Six should return the forms to the Education Department (Schools Division), 14th floor, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, through principals of the schools offering them places before 5 pm on Monday. Students obtaining Form Six places through the central allocation should return their forms to the Education Department through the principals of the schools admitting them before 3 pm on August 15. Those going to private schools where admission is not governed by the Secondary Six admission procedure, should also return their forms through the principals of the schools admitting them not later than 3 pm on August 15. Private candidates should forward completed application forms through principals of the schools offering them Form Six places, together with a copy of their HKCEE admission slips and a copy of their results, not later than 3 pm on August 15. The list of successful applicants will be posted at the following places at 10 am on August 15: The British Council Head Office, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty. Education Department Kowloon Sub-Office, Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road, Kowloon. Eligible applicants who are late in obtaining Form Six places through the central allocation or from private schools, will be advised of the results as soon as possible. They are reminded their application forms must be returned to the Education Department through principals of the schools admitting them before 3 pm on August 15.
