Rethink urged on qualifications for teaching English

Having served as a marker for the English Language Proficiency Assessment (LPA), I believe the Education Bureau’s decision to replace the LPA qualification with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) deserves a rethink.

LPA, which is designed specifically for aspiring teachers, is a tool that better meets Hong Kong’s demand for educators. IELTS, in essence, focuses on students’ skills relevant to undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

IELTS measures one’s vocabulary knowledge, while LPA question types require candidates to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text, including its logic and the writer’s motives. The tailored design of LPA question types, for sure, offers a more accurate assessment of a future language teacher’s ability to handle the curriculum in Hong Kong.

More importantly, the reliability of some IELTS results can be questioned. The IELTS authority offers an alternative to the paper exam, IELTS

Online. IELTS Online allows examinees to complete the reading, listening and writing tasks at home with a speaking assessment conducted via video conferencing. Some overseas institutions do not accept this digital mode of assessment.

However, the Education Bureau’s announcement does not clarify if teachers should only take the traditional IELTS format. While this matter requires swift attention, it is imperative for the bureau to accept the paper exam only to avoid further hindrances to recognising local English teachers’ qualifications.

The reduced supply of English teachers is indeed an issue we need to deal with. But whether that means the qualifications required for becoming a language teacher should be lowered should be considered with a great deal of prudence. The declining English ability of Hong Kong students is a perennial problem. Would substituting LPA with IELTS exacerbate Hong Kong’s weakening competitiveness? Officials must cautiously revisit this question.

Alison Ng, assistant lecturer, Centre for Applied English Studies, University of Hong Kong