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Peace Chiu

Some parents in Hong Kong are going the distance to ensure their children speak English fluently, with confidence and with an accent that is closer to that of traditional native speakers.
While David Fung Wai-tak is now a fluent English speaker who speaks with a slight Hong Kong accent, he said he was not always so proficient, despite studying at a local school that taught in English.
“Besides English, classes were mainly in Cantonese, though we had English written materials for non-Chinese classes,” he said.
Pronunciation errors: do they point to a decline in Hong Kong’s English standards?
When Fung went to Switzerland at age 18 and the US a few years later to study, he realised the importance of being fluent and more native-like in English.
“Our classes were conducted in English and I communicated with the foreigners in English. Because I did not regularly speak English since I was young, there were a lot of words I did not know how to pronounce, so I had some difficulties communicating with my friends,” he said.


But the father-of-two was glad that the environment forced him to speak a lot of English. It also helped that he had an interest in learning more, proactively seeking help about the pronunciation of words he did not know.
When he became a father, Fung made sure he provided his children with the best possible resources for them to speak English fluently, be confident in using the language and have the pronunciation of native speakers.
Being able to speak English well increases one’s competitiveness, and it is easier for a child to start young as he or she can absorb fastest then
Parent David Fung Wai-tak
Besides speaking to them in English since they were young and playing them English songs, he enrolled his daughter and son at the Singapore International School in Hong Kong so that they could use the language frequently and learn it like a first language.
“With the exception of more English-speaking schools like Sacred Heart Canossian College and Diocesan Girls’ School, students in most public schools do not use English much to communicate outside of English classes.”
With a belief that his children would be able to pick up Cantonese because of its widespread usage in Hong Kong and from speaking to their relatives, Fung prioritised an English-speaking environment when picking a school for his children.
While Singaporeans are known for their Singlish accent, Fung said he noticed that English teachers at Singapore International School did not speak with a thick Singaporean accent. Another reason he picked the school was its balance between learning written and spoken English.
All classes at the school are conducted in English, with the exception of Mandarin and social studies at certain levels, Fung said.
From what he observed and what his children told him, English lessons often included group discussion and presentation elements, which gave students ample opportunity to speak the language, he said.
With most of the students being Singaporeans, with a number of Caucasians and Japanese, English becomes a common language for communication in the school, Fung said, adding this way, his children can pick English up like a first language.
“It’s not that local schools are not good, but with most students being locals, they will naturally speak Cantonese. Speaking English will make you seem pretentious,” he said.
While Fung noted that his children also spoke with a bit of local accent, he said it was more important for them to be confident in using the language so they would not fear communicating with English-speaking foreigners.
“English is used commonly around the world, and has social and economic capital. Being able to speak English well increases one’s competitiveness, and it is easier for a child to start young as he or she can absorb fastest then.”


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Focus

Accent on fluency: how young Hongkongers can polish their English skills

David Fung with children Brendon Fung Yau-yim and Audrey Fung Sum-yue. Photo: Bruce Yan

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Hong Kong

Education

Finding the right school is vital to ensuring that youngsters gain command of the language


Accent on fluency: how young Hongkongers can polish their English skills

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Finding the right school is vital to ensuring that youngsters gain command of the language

Finding the right school is vital to ensuring that youngsters gain command of the language