Job Discussion Forums

[ChrisRose]

I am just writing a little report / essay on the common problems and weaknesses of teaching methodologies for implementation of effective teaching of the Cambridge Young Learner programs in Hong Kong.

Just wondering where I should post it when finished?

Now, please don�t flame me saying do some simple online research. Just post some suggestions for me here.

Thanks in advance
Chris

[ozman]

What about the British Council in Hong Kong - after all, they run the exams. Or direct to UCLES in Cambridge.

Also the principals of various primary schools might be interested, because many of them engage outside language schools to tutor their students for the exams. Maybe it's worth contacting someone in the primary section at the EMB. Or the publishers of some of the YLE textbooks on the market - I think OUP do it but I'm not sure.
OZMAN

[ChrisRose]

Thanks or the reply, but looking for websites / journals and or any interested parties whom would like a copy.

I don't think the British Council require it. That is actually an interesting point. The council are competent to teach the Cambridge YL courses and benefit form the number of students who enrol for the exams.

The problem is the number of agencies that lack the resources, to effectively teach the Cambridge YL courses.

They fail to purchase the listening materials, use teaches who aren't competent in the use of the materials, and the agencies fail to provide the necessary teaching aides to use them effectively.
In reality the Cambridge Young Learner Programmes were a great motivational idea for both parents and young learners which is now being milked for finical gain and counter productive for effective teaching and leaning.

When we take into consideration the teaching and learning aims of the programmes and compare them to both the local curriculum and general English courses, you will see that the aims are identical. The main difference being the quality of the materials and supporting aides.

The materials for the Cambridge courses allow for maximum flexibility in teaching styles and methodologies. Unfortunately, due to the popularity of agencies offering the courses as extra curricular, market forces take over. Hence a large proportion of less than experienced teachers, lack of budgets for production of teaching aides, an absence of effective placement testing, or the desire to risk reject fee paying student!

I have been thinking of developing a quick placement test for the programmes and a list of general teaching aides.
However first I shall finish the essay and hopefully find some suitable places to post it.

Chris

[once again]

I have taught these courses on a number of ocassions...and found that the material supplied by Cambridge itself to be the worst. It is nothing but cut out pieces of the supplementary book and stick them in the main book. All of this takes up huge amounts of time, and just how do students benefit from it?
Rather general in my assumptions I know...but Cambridge itself leaves a lot to be desired in this respect.

[Roger]

I think those in use in HK are a little different to those I see in the mainland. Those we use in the mainland are printed in Xi'an. There is a lot to gripe about.

In HK, I would try their distributor. As far as I know there is a similarly-named organisation in HK that distributes them there (location is perhaps on HK island).

[ChrisRose]

There in lays the dual edged sword.

Maxium flexibility for professional teachers with access to adiquate resources and time to prepare.

Unfortunetly, the majority of agencies, lack the resources, and with the low pay, ther eis little encouragment for teachers to manufacture the necessary materials for the lessons.

If you take the time, visit the Cambrige ULCES website and download the curiculum for the Yougn Learner Programmes, look at the evaluation and testing criteria. You will see the aims are very straight forward. It is after all English for Young learners!

That having been said, I would suggest you just choose suitable core materials (NOT necessarily branded as CAMBDGE YOUNG LEARNER COURSE BOOKS) for; listening, speaking, reading and writitng.

The same viusal aids, activity charts, reader books, and listenign activities can be used for any other young learners courses, and with superior results compared to those of the bulk of the exisiting Cambridge Materials.