Date: Tuesday, 15 October, 2013
Speaker: Dr. Michelle R. Raquel, ELC, PolyU
Abstract:
The Excel@English Scheme: Supporting Language Learning outside the Classroom
Dr. Michelle R. Raquel
HK Polytechnic University
Maintaining and developing Hong Kong tertiary students’ English proficiency throughout their studies continues to be a challenge. Although English is the medium of instruction in Hong Kong universities, anecdotal evidence suggests that if English is not a formal subject of study, proficiency levels could decline or even hinder academic success. Tsui (2012) claims that this decline could be attributed to the fact that English is not the lingua franca in Hong Kong universities and this limits opportunities for English language use outside the classroom. To address this problem, the Hong Kong PolyU English Language Centre (ELC) has launched the Excel@English Scheme (EES), a platform through which students can learn about and then obtain support and participate in current non-formal language learning activities offered within the University. This initiative aims to provide first-year undergraduates and higher diploma students with a structure for self-directed English language learning by keeping track of their efforts and their progress outside the classroom.
This presentation discusses the principles, opportunities, and challenges involved in launching the EES. It will outline the unique features of the Scheme – the DELTA as a diagnostic test, required learning plans, and the mentoring system. This is followed by a discussion on the issues involved in getting students in monitoring students’ progress and in sustaining their motivation to participate and complete the Scheme until the end of the academic year. The presentation concludes with a discussion on initial responses from students and mentors as a means of supporting language learning outside the classroom.