For most students, it's tough enough trying to learn one foreign language. But under the Hong Kong government's policy of bilingualism and trilingualism, local students are expected to master two languages - Putonghua and English - on top of their native Cantonese.
Until fairly recently, however, their instructors may never have received formal training in teaching the languages. That is because many teachers of other subjects were simply 'drafted' into language teaching after primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong ran short of qualified instructors. Those temporary arrangements eventually became permanent.
In 2001, the government moved to rectify that situation. With the move towards a 'knowledge-based' economy, language skills were seen as essential to maintaining the local workforce's edge in competing for service industries in the region.
Now, to continue teaching, instructors of Putonghua and English must pass a benchmark test showing they meet a minimum standard of reading, writing, comprehension, speaking and assessing students' use of language in classrooms.
Serving teachers were given five years to make the grade. But when the last test results before the cut-off were announced last May, more than 2,000 Putonghua and English teachers still hadn't met the requirements.
Although the Education and Manpower Bureau hailed the benchmarking procedure as a success, it remained a slap in the face for many language teachers even after they had passed.