More than 180 English teachers from China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have acquired effective teaching methods during the past summer vacation offered by the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd), announced HKIEd here Friday.

Six lecturers in English and 12 student of HKIEd, together with17 volunteer helpers, have spent three weeks in Inner Mongolia in August to conduct the training program.

The academics of the HKIEd Department of English conducted lessons and tutorials aiming to enhance the Mainland primary and middle school teachers' English proficiency and to impart effective strategies for teaching English. The project was assisted by HKIEd students and volunteer helpers, who helped in both the lessons and after-class English learning activities.

The summer program was highly praised by the Inner Mongolian teachers. Many said they were inspired by the innovative interactive teaching methods and the specially designed teaching materials. They also valued greatly the chances of enhancing their spoken English proficiency through the numerous learning activities in an English-speaking environment.

Coordinator of the program May Lee said the team had deliberately adjusted the teaching methods taught, so as to address the differences in the educational systems of Hong Kong and the Mainland.

"Our tailor-made program can help ensure that students are actually able to apply what they have learnt in their Mainland classrooms. Otherwise, we would be imparting nothing but textbook theories," said Lee.

Four outstanding Mongolian teachers participating in the program will also be awarded scholarship to attend a three-week course at the HKIEd in October this year.

source: Xinhua