Researchers at the education faculty of the University of Hong Kong urged students to use proper language on the Internet following a study by the institute that indicated adverse impacts of the cyber world on teenagers' reading abilities.

The study, assessing the Chinese and English reading abilities of 1,283 primary four students, recorded a slight improvement with students scoring 566 points and 423 points in Chinese and English tests respectively, compared to 532 points and 381 points in a similar study four years ago.

A score of 566 points or above indicates native language proficiency.

Despite the improvement, the study also revealed that students who regularly read other people's blogs only scored between 541 and 550 points in the Chinese test, and between 392 and 413 points in the English test, lower than the average Hong Kong standards.

Students who used such online communication tools as ICQ or MSN Messenger once or twice per month scored 573 points in the Chinese test, better than those who chatted in online chat rooms everyday.

Students using the short messaging system (SMS) provided by mobile phone networks everyday only scored 537 points in the Chinese test, 35 points lower than those who used the system once a month.

Similar results go for the English test.

Students who spent time in online forums or newsgroups everyday only scored 414 points in the English test.

Associate dean of the faculty Tse Shek-kam attributed the low scores to improper use of language in the cyber world.

"Students use symbols or numbers on the Internet, for example, they use '4' for the word 'for'," he said. "Besides, the more time students spend in the cyber world, the less time they spend on reading proper literature."

Meanwhile, the study showed no evidence that sending children to after-school tutorial classes will help improve their language skills. More than half of the students who took private tutorial classes only scored 557 points in the Chinese test and 414 points in the English one, lower than the 580 and 434 points recorded respectively for the remaining students.

"Tutorials are often just a repeat of what is taught in schools and where tutors check the students' homework," Tse said. "Parents should spend the money on these traditional tutorial classes on tutors who would read the students stories. That is much more effective in helping with their language-learning."

The study also raised concern over unequal access to learning resources.

Tse said the government has increased spending on education in recent years, allowing schools to apply for project-based funding and tailor-made curriculum.

"As a result, some schools get more resources and are able to provide tailor-made curriculums. The education reform has enabled some schools to move forward faster, but it also leaves some struggling and lagging behind," he said.

He suggested the government provide more subsidies to schools with low-achieving students.

(HK Edition 07/10/2008 page1)