A New Generation: profiling Hong Kong tertiary English learners

Abstract

The new tertiary curriculum in Hong Kong has resulted in the emergence of a new generation of learners who, compared with previous generations, enter university with one year less prior exposure to English. This paper reports a subset of questionnaire findings from a large-scale profiling study which has a particular focus on understanding these new learners’ English learning experiences. Questionnaire surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the students’ first semester in university. The first looked at their secondary school English learning experiences and the second at their English language experience within the university. Their language needs and exposure to English both in and out of class were investigated because besides academic interaction, university education should include opportunities for social networking. The results provide crucial information for pedagogical development of language support for these learners and a picture of their English language environment.