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Research Articles

Vol. 23 No. 3: Special Issue: A Global Perspective on Service-Learning and Community Engagement in Higher Education

Service-Learning Benefits for English Language Learners: A Case of China-Hong Kong Cross-Border English Teaching

Submitted
December 19, 2019
Published
2019-12-19

Abstract

This study examines the burgeoning trend of Hong Kong university students conducting English language teaching as service-learning in mainland China, specifically in rural primary schools. The study reports the results of a questionnaire administered to Hong Kong undergraduate students after a series of such trips spanning a 4-year period. In particular, the study examines the students’ perceptions of their own service orientation, cultural exchange experience, and language-learning outcomes. The findings allow for a broader qualitative discussion of the potential benefits for English language learners engaging in service-learning through teaching English. Recommendations focus on the potential for such trips to bolster the confidence and motivation of long-time English language learners, such as Hong Kong students.