Empowering Local English Teachers for Enhanced Early Childhood English Education in Hong Kong

• In Event: Empowering Educators: Fostering Learner-Centered Approaches and Resilience Across Global Classrooms

Abstract

The importance of English has driven teaching English as a second language (ESL) worldwide. This study aimed to improve ESL teaching and learning in Hong Kong local kindergartens within the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework. During the 2-year participatory research, the research team focused on professional development (PD) activities tailored to different strata in language and context and collaboratively refined English teaching and learning. The findings showed that the whole-school approach to PD raised English awareness, garnered support, and created a more ESL-friendly environment. Teachers’ pedagogy and English input quality increased, along with students’ English literacy skills and communicative interests. This initiative offers insights into PD practices and ESL teaching and learning in Hong Kong’s local ECE context.

Authors

• Xuan Wang, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education

• Qing Liu, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education

• Payal Mansukani, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education