Students enrolling in English-language learning courses are increasingly making use of the government's Continuing Education Fund (CEF) scheme to finance their efforts to improve their English skills.
Karen Ngeow, assistant programme director in charge of Business English courses at HKU SPACE (the Hong Kong University School of Professional and Continuing Education) says a significant number of people are making use of the scheme to subsidise tuition fees.
'There has been a noticeable trend among business and professional people ... taking advantage of the government initiative.'
Ms Ngeow says English-language training is integral to business success in the global setting. 'Our courses are designed to improve language skills, confidence, employability and personal effectiveness.'
HKU SPACE offers two business English programmes: a Certificate in Business English (90 hours) and a Diploma in Business English (120 hours). A hallmark of the programmes is that they are designed and managed by the full-time staff, with the support of part-time teachers. Classes have no more than 28 students each, and each course is activity-focused, with 30 per cent instruction and 70 per cent student-centred interaction.
'Group sessions focus on business communication. The trainers recreate authentic business scenarios and concentrate on the language needed for meetings, discussions, presentations, debates, expressing opinions and negotiating,' said Ms Ngeow.