Language and context: Some problems of teaching journalism in second language

Despite an international perception that Hong Kong is a bilingual society, the use of English - and English speaking fluency - is confined to a few elite realms of economic, political and cultural activity. Students rarely use English outside the classroom. In learning journalism in English students are greatly disadvantaged by their lack of familiarity with different English-language genres. Difficulties in comprehending spoken English in a context other than the classroom tend to hamper the students' acquisition of effective reporting and interviewing skills. The author attempted to overcome these problems with two different strategies: by utilising video technology and by taking his classes out of the classroom.