Centre to help teachers
A NEW resource centre to give instant and continuous teaching support to English Language teachers via computers will be set up at the University of Hongkong (HKU) later this year.
The Centre for Professional Support for English Language Teachers (CEPSELT) would put Hongkong at the forefront of teachers' education internationally, said Dr Amy Tsui Bik-may, the centre's director and an HKU lecturer.
CEPSELT would provide service via an electronic bulletin board, giving teachers immediate assess to an informative database.
Items of support include teaching materials, pedagogic grammar, student errors, ideas for teaching, testing items bank, educational issues, examination syllabi and language games.
''Teachers could send in questions they come across in English language teaching or make suggestions. They could also message each other to exchange ideas or solicit help,'' Dr Tsui said.
Teachers, especially those in remote areas, no longer have to travel long-distance to attend training courses or to get information from resource centres.
Ten schools would be linked up this October, with another 10 early next year, reaching 40 more by the second half of the year. Another 50 to 100 could be linked up between June 1995 and May 1996 if sufficient funds allow.
The Hongkong Telecom Foundation has donated $2.76 million to cover the centre's first-year expenses from June, including salaries.
''We have the potential to reach all secondary schools and possibly primary schools as well,'' Dr Tsui told Young Post. Funding is still being sought for the second and subsequent years.
