Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers
Encyclopedia
The Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers (abbreviation: LPAT ; ) is an assessment examination for the language proficiency
of teachers in Hong Kong
. According to regulations, any teachers teaching English language
or Putonghua
(a.k.a. Mandarin Chinese) in Hong Kong, where Cantonese Chinese
is mostly spoken, must have passed the LPAT, i.e. achieved a grade of not lower than Level 3 in each part of the assessment.
(HKEAA) and the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong Government. There are two assessment examinations held annually in March and September, candidates are required to apply for the examination in beginning of October(?-no later than one month-?) before the examination commence and application is open to public. However, after 2006, the examination will be held once only in March. Since the Academic Year of 2004, all new language teachers are required to have the minimum requirement of LPAT met before they can start teaching full-time.
HKEAA administer the oral and written portion of the examination, while the classroom language assessment is administered by the EDB.
Language proficiency
Language proficiency or linguistic proficiency is the ability of an individual to speak or perform in an acquired language. As theories vary among pedagogues as to what constitutes proficiency, there is little consistency as to how different organizations classify it...
of teachers in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. According to regulations, any teachers teaching English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
or Putonghua
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
(a.k.a. Mandarin Chinese) in Hong Kong, where Cantonese Chinese
Standard Cantonese
Cantonese, or Standard Cantonese, is a language that originated in the vicinity of Canton in southern China, and is often regarded as the prestige dialect of Yue Chinese....
is mostly spoken, must have passed the LPAT, i.e. achieved a grade of not lower than Level 3 in each part of the assessment.
Introduction
The LPAT examination is jointly held by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment AuthorityHong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority , administers the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination .-History:The agency was established in 1977...
(HKEAA) and the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong Government. There are two assessment examinations held annually in March and September, candidates are required to apply for the examination in beginning of October(?-no later than one month-?) before the examination commence and application is open to public. However, after 2006, the examination will be held once only in March. Since the Academic Year of 2004, all new language teachers are required to have the minimum requirement of LPAT met before they can start teaching full-time.
HKEAA administer the oral and written portion of the examination, while the classroom language assessment is administered by the EDB.
English Language
The English language examination consists of five papers:- Reading (Comprehension),
- Writing,
- Listening,
- Speaking, and
- Classroom Language Assessment.
Putonghua
The Putonghua examination consists of four papers:- Listening and Recognition,
- PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
, - Oral, and
- Classroom Language Assessment.