Research on the Reform Countermeasures and Implementation Path of Primary and Secondary School Language Education in Hong Kong SAR, China

Abstract

According to a questionnaire and interview survey of 689 students, teachers, and parents from six primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, China, both public and government-funded schools use traditional Chinese teaching materials and Cantonese as the medium of instruction, while private schools use original English textbooks and English as the medium of instruction. All schools' self-selected teaching materials and teachers have a major colonial education legacy, in that they do not objectively introduce the growth process of Chinese culture and socialism, affecting students' ability to acquire a correct world outlook and ideal. In everyday life, students primarily speak Cantonese, and their Putonghua proficiency is poor. In Hong Kong, the competition for college entrance exams and jobs is fierce, and nearly half of students see no hope and expect to migrate to the mainland for university and employment in order to advance. This study proposed specific reform strategies and implementation methods for language teaching in Hong Kong primary and secondary schools to increase patriotism, university enrolment, and employment rates among Hong Kong students.