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More Putonghua? Hong Kong students need more than just language lessons

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Chinese words are displayed in class at an international school. Photo: Paul Yeung

The Herculean task of learning a new language, especially Putonghua, can bring even the bravest to their knees. To those who learn Chinese as a second language at an international school, I know your pain.

Chinese class becomes a time to relax, eat the leftover siu mai from break or even to start working on the assignment due next period. I may be exaggerating, but to be frank, the level of interest and engagement in Chinese class noticeably plummets relative to that of more interesting subjects such as Higher Level Economics.

Is more Chinese the answer? On behalf of the international school population, I say nay

Clearly, there is something wrong here. But who, or what, is to blame?

Recently, Heather Du Quesnay, departing English Schools Foundation (ESF) chief executive, expressed her desire to develop a stronger Chinese curriculum.

Students in secondary school currently receive two hours of Chinese teaching a week. In response to this, the overbearing Asian mother would shriek: “More Chinese!” But is more Chinese the answer?

On behalf of the international school population, I say nay.

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