A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency?

Anita Y K Poon

doi:10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12

A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency?

Anita Y K Poon^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Promoting the use of English as a lingua franca is doubtlessly a key process in globalisation. Hong Kong, being an international financial centre, took up the global challenge to enhance the linguistic competence of its human capital through education reform, and has invested billions of dollars in language enhancement in both school and university sectors since 2000. The present paper reports on an overseas English immersion programme offered by a university in Hong Kong, and explores whether immersion is an effective means to enhancing English proficiency. The paper first provides a backdrop for the Hong Kong government’s policy on overseas English immersion implemented in 2001–2002. Then the design, content, operation and assessment of the overseas English immersion programme in a teacher education programme are described. Finally, the effectiveness of overseas immersion is discussed in light of globalisation and English language teaching and learning.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities
Subtitle of host publication	Influences of Globalised Processes in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia
Editors	Chi-hung Clarence Ng, Robert Fox, Michiko Nakano
Publisher	Springer Singapore
Pages	249-273
Number of pages	25
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9789811004315
ISBN (Print)	9789811004292, 9789811091605
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12
Publication status	Published - 7 May 2016

Publication series

Name	Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects
Volume	33
ISSN (Print)	1573-5397
ISSN (Electronic)	2214-9791

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education

User-Defined Keywords

Cultural Awareness
English Proficiency
English Teacher
Language Proficiency
Language Teaching

Access to Document

10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12

Cite this

Poon, A. Y. K. (2016). A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency? In C. C. Ng, R. Fox, & M. Nakano (Eds.), Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities: Influences of Globalised Processes in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia (1st ed., pp. 249-273). (Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects; Vol. 33). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12

Poon, Anita Y K. / A Global Challenge : Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency?. Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities: Influences of Globalised Processes in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. editor / Chi-hung Clarence Ng ; Robert Fox ; Michiko Nakano. 1st. ed. Springer Singapore, 2016. pp. 249-273 (Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects).

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Poon, AYK 2016, A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency? in CC Ng, R Fox & M Nakano (eds), Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities: Influences of Globalised Processes in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. 1st edn, Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol. 33, Springer Singapore, pp. 249-273. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12

A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency? / Poon, Anita Y K.
Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities: Influences of Globalised Processes in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. ed. / Chi-hung Clarence Ng; Robert Fox; Michiko Nakano. 1st. ed. Springer Singapore, 2016. p. 249-273 (Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects; Vol. 33).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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AB - Promoting the use of English as a lingua franca is doubtlessly a key process in globalisation. Hong Kong, being an international financial centre, took up the global challenge to enhance the linguistic competence of its human capital through education reform, and has invested billions of dollars in language enhancement in both school and university sectors since 2000. The present paper reports on an overseas English immersion programme offered by a university in Hong Kong, and explores whether immersion is an effective means to enhancing English proficiency. The paper first provides a backdrop for the Hong Kong government’s policy on overseas English immersion implemented in 2001–2002. Then the design, content, operation and assessment of the overseas English immersion programme in a teacher education programme are described. Finally, the effectiveness of overseas immersion is discussed in light of globalisation and English language teaching and learning.

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Poon AYK. A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency? In Ng CC, Fox R, Nakano M, editors, Reforming Learning and Teaching in Asia-Pacific Universities: Influences of Globalised Processes in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. 1st ed. Springer Singapore. 2016. p. 249-273. (Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects). doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-0431-5_12

A Global Challenge: Overseas Immersion as an Effective Means to Enhancing English Proficiency?

Abstract

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