AWA English Activities Program Orientation 2013-2014
A Bit of History • Education & Scholarship originally provided weekly conversation groups to 5-6 local secondary schools as well as scholarship funds to local universities. • In 2010-2011, then E&S Chair, Mei Ling Ng, reviewed schools receiving services and schools receiving funding. Based on her findings the program was modified. • In addition to the weekly conversation group (Chatterbox), three new programs were created: • Phone Pals, Western Dining Etiquette and Mock Interviews
History, cont’d • After revamping the scholarship portion of the E&S funds, monies were available to provide further support for local secondary schools. • In 2010-2011, an additional five schools were selected to receive programming and funding. These schools were given $20,000HKD and a chance to select 2 programs (other than Chatterbox). • These schools continue to receive funding (amounts vary depending on fundraising for the year) and programs.
Program Descriptions • Chatterbox: meets for one hour each week with a group of students to practice conversational English in a relaxed, fun atmosphere • Phone Pals: volunteers are matched with one student with whom they exchange one phone call per week and talk for about 10 minutes. • Western Dining Etiquette: volunteers review Western Dining Etiquette with a group of students. This program requires less volunteer time as it meets about 4-6 times per year. • Mock Interviews: volunteers review interview skills and give the students practice interviewing. Requires less volunteer time as it meets about 4-6 times per year.
Information about Hong Kong Schools • Majority of local Primary schools are Chinese medium of instruction; students are allocated to Secondary schools through their performance in three examinations taken in Primary 5 & 6. • Majority of local Secondary schools are Chinese medium of instruction post-Handover in 1997; as of 2013, 112 schools (out of 400) have returned to English medium of instruction. • Secondary students, Forms 4-6, prepare for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exam; the exam focuses on English, Mathematics, Chinese and Liberal Studies.
High Context/Low Context Cultures • Students in the Hong Kong system are taught to be quiet and listen to the teacher; our volunteers are viewed as “teachers,” therefore creating a classroom culture wherein students are often reluctant to speak casually to the teacher. • Countries in Asia, the Middle East as well as France and Greece are “high context” cultures. They may speak in a circular fashion, say “yes” instead of “no” to avoid conflict, and prefer to build trust when meeting people. • Countries in North America, Australia and most of Europe are “low context” cultures. They speak directly, expect action, and like to get “right to the point.”
High Context/Low Context cont’d • Low context communicators can come across as intimidating and indiscreet to people from high context cultures. • High context communicators can come across as evasive, dishonest and having no opinion. • Both types of communicators increase tension by the way they deal with issues. • Low context (direct) speak openly and honestly • High context (indirect) do not address issues directly
Working with students in Hong Kong • Students in Hong Kong are high context communicators. • When working with students: • Build trust first • Understand they will be “shy” but are very excited about being in the group • Although they may read and understand English, they feel concern about speaking English • They need time to take in what has been said, process it, and form answers - this can take more than 30 seconds
How You Sound to Students • Written English is very different from spoken English • For example: • Read this statement: • How much is it?
• Now just say the statement aloud. • It may sound more like: How muh chih zit?
• Try “What’s up?” Does it sound more like: “What sup?” • When one word ends with a sound and the next word begins with the same sound, this can cause two words to sound like one word: • “Been no” becomes “Beenno” • “Good deal” becomes “goodeal”
More Spoken English Challenges • Some words become reduced: • “See her” becomes “see-er” • “She had” becomes “she-ad” • “Am I late” becomes “Mi late”
Objectives of the Program • The Hong Kong Department of Education lists the following as “what they look for during the spoken section of the English exam” • Speak clearly • Speak naturally • Be confident • Listen to others (so as to respond appropriately) • Ask for clarification or repetition
English Activities Program
hank you for volunteering with the American Women’s Association
