In the ongoing battle to boost English standards in Hong Kong, language teachers are on the frontline. While all teachers must deal with students of differing abilities and strengths, non-native speakers face particular challenges. To help them, the British Council established the English Language Teachers Network three years ago. Since its inception, the network has grown to include more than 700 members from schools across Hong Kong. The network runs up to six workshops a year where teachers learn practical skills for teaching various aspects of English such as creative writing, phonology and reading skills. 'It's an area where they can come together and exchange experiences. In the workshops there's a lot of learning from your peers,' said Peter Loughran, head of Adult Learning at the British Council. The network also runs a website where teachers can network with other members and download lesson plans. Mr Loughran said the ELT Network, which is free for practising English language teachers, gave teachers an opportunity to discuss their experiences and learn about innovative teaching techniques. 'It offers them a view on what the latest methodologies are from the UK. That's all designed to create a buzz around teaching English in the classroom and that all feeds through to increased ability,' he said. Mr Loughran said one of the main aims was to address concerns that English standards were deteriorating in Hong Kong. 'One of the ways we can do that is by engaging with local teachers to give them access to different ideas with teaching which can be used in the classroom,' he said. 'They're a very important group for us in meeting that need to address the state of English in Hong Kong.' Whitney Chan Tin-chee, a primary school teacher at St Anthony's School in Pokfulam, has been a member of the network since it was established. Ms Chan said the workshops were a chance to talk to other teachers about different teaching methods and to learn new skills. 'They share with us some practical ideas that I can bring to my lessons,' she said. Paul Lip Chi-hong, a secondary school teacher at Caritas Institute in Prince Edward, who joined the network about a year ago: 'I think it's a great experience for teachers to interact and build our knowledge of English teaching,' he said. The network currently runs workshops at its Admiralty offices but early next year it will extend to locations in Kowloon and the New Territories to make them more accessible to teachers in these areas. View www.britishcouncil.org/hongkong-eltnetwork
