Biliterate and trilingual. Five | Cannot avoid politics "mother tongue teaching" is simply a false proposition

After the reunification, Hong Kong’s language policy has moved from a "two-literature" to a "two-literature and three-lingual" era.

This was originally a policy goal that fits local realities and is far-sighted. Unfortunately, it has not been implemented. As a result, the society still "emphasizes Britain over China", and students are accused of "Both China and Britain are inferior."

One of the key problems is that although the SAR government advocates the use of "mother tongue teaching" in conjunction with "biliteracy and trilingualism", it can't even clarify what is "mother tongue", and even dare not face the changes in the concept of "mother tongue" that changes with the times. , But the language policy was distorted by politicized operations.

"Reflection on Biliteracy and Trilingualism" Series Report No. 7

Although the SAR government advocates the use of "mother tongue teaching" in conjunction with "biliteracy and trilingualism", it can't even clarify what a "mother tongue" is, and even more dare not face the changes in the concept of "mother tongue" that changes with the times, but are politicized The operation distorts the language policy.

(Photo by Lu Yiming)

A series of biliterate and trilingual reports will be published this week:

Biliterate and trilingual.

1. The language drift of Hong Kong people-"Bibliography and Trilingualism" has become "Emphasis on English than Chinese"

Biliterate and trilingual.

2｜The history of colonialism opens the "English wave"

Biliterate and trilingual.

3. The myth of "internationalization" constitutes "English hegemony"

Biliterate and trilingual.

Four｜Blind "elitism" contributes to "English fever"

Biliterate and trilingual.

Five | Cannot avoid politics "mother tongue teaching" is simply a false proposition

Biliterate and trilingual.

六｜Unclear target language policy emphasizes "efficiency" and ignores "function"

Biliterate and trilingual.

7. How should the SAR government revise the "biliterate and trilingual" policy?

For details, please read the in-depth report of the "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly Report No. 289, published on November 1, 2021,