Pre-service teachers' beliefs about the switch of medium-of-instruction and their influence on lesson planning and teaching practice

Abstract

Studies suggest that pre-service teachers' existing beliefs often serve as a lens to interpret the subject matter to be taught, guide their thoughts in lesson planning and shape their behaviour in classroom practices during their teaching practicum. This study examines how these beliefs affect pre-service teachers' conceptualization of Putonghua-medium-of-instruction (PMI) and their teaching. The findings indicate that the conceptualization of pre-service teachers about PMI ranged from code switching to curriculum integration. Their focus of lesson planning and teaching practice varied from transmission of Putonghua knowledge and detailed explanation of text information to integration of Chinese Language and Putonghua.

Keywords::

• teachers' beliefs
• pre-service teachers
• medium-of-instruction
• Putonghua
• Hong Kong
• Chinese language

Notes

^1. Putonghua is the national language of mainland China and medium of instruction across subjects in schools.

^2. Cantonese is widely used in Hong Kong. It is a branch of the spoken Chinese language representing the culture of southern China.

^3. Chinese Language is composed of the four language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking), Chinese literature, Chinese culture, moral education and critical thinking.

^4. Cantonese is a branch of the spoken Chinese language representing the culture of southern China.

^5. In Hong Kong, teachers who pass the prerequisite Putonghua Proficiency Test, (the minimum requirement is Second Class Grade B) are eligible to teach Putonghua.

^6. All informants agreed to be video-recorded during their classroom instruction. In order to alleviate their anxieties, the researcher explained the purpose of adopting this device before the classroom observations were scheduled.

^7. Software facilitates the analysis of qualitative study. QSR International.