Media

A Study of Chinese and English Reading Literacy of Primary School Students in Hong Kong

04 Jul 2008

The purposes of the study are: (i) to understand the bilingual literacy of primary 4 students; (ii) to investigate factors including parents, teachers, schools and students themselves may affect students' reading literacy and their attitudes; (iii) to study teaching strategies and methods enhancing students' reading literacy; and (iv) to compare HK students' reading literacy with other countries in order to understand our reading literacy in international standard and to provide a reference for schools and policy-makers. The study is funded by Research Grants Council.

The Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research, Faculty of Education, HKU invites members of the media to attend a press briefing named "A Study of Chinese and English Reading Literacy of Primary School Students in Hong Kong", at which the following issues will be addressed:

• Comparison between students' Chinese and English reading literacy in 2004 and 2007;
• Exploring factors affecting students' English reading literacy:
  
  (i) To investigate whether factors such as tuition outside schools and domestic helpers can increase students' English reading literacy;
  
  (ii) To explore classroom teaching, pre-school reading activities, family activities and other strategies for the purpose of enhancing students' reading literacy; and
  
  (iii) To illustrate how digital devices and activities, e.g., TV and computer games, NDS, PSP, MSN, ICQ, affect students' reading literacy.

HKU researchers Professor Tse Shek Kam, Mr Lam Wai Ip, Joseph and Dr Loh Ka Yee, Elizabeth will jointly give a presentation of the findings at the press briefing, the details are:

Date: July 9, 2008 (Wednesday)
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Venue: Room LG01, Hui Oi Chow Science Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
Language: Cantonese (Q&A session in Cantonese, English and Putonghua)

For media enquiries, please contact: HKU Faculty of Education, Development and Communications Officer, Ms. Queenie Wong (Mobile: 9220 5840 / Tel: 2219 4270 / E-mail: qlpwong@hku.hk ).