I am a native speaker of Cantonese and, for more than 10 years, taught English in Hong Kong. Because one teacher was posted to my school, I had the opportunity to observe firsthand the NET Scheme in operation. My school has more than 900 students and 12 local English teachers. A large proportion of the students are from struggling single-parent families.
Some students are recent immigrants from mainland China, at the lowest level of the economic ladder.
Unlike recent immigrants, many Hong Kong students are sophisticated in their outlook, holding down part-time jobs while attending school. However, as a result, they are often tired in class and need prompting just to stay awake. Added to the problem of classroom motivation is the fact that some students stay in school solely to qualify for welfare income for their families. Our curriculum is designed by the Education Board's Curriculum Department, with little room for innovation. A typical daily classroom procedure includes initial settling down to provide a workable atmosphere, reviewing the last lesson, teaching new items, drilling, and so on.