柏聖文：港人英語嚴重倒退

(星島日報報道)即將御任的英國駐港總領事柏聖文警告，若香港要成為真正的國際都會，必須加快發展文化及保育，而非只專注於發展成經濟及金融中心。他並嚴正指出港人英語水平正嚴重下降，亦有礙港發展成為國際都會。

其實香港就是有太多人用母語廣府話來溝通。我們接觸外國人的機會少，不但不學好英語，反而要求外國人學習廣府話。因此香港人學習外語的動機變得很低。在生活中，既不創造英語環境，又不積極學習英語。英語能力自然會退步。正如當我少跟台灣朋友接觸後，我的國語已經退步不少。當我台灣的朋友跟我交談的時候發現我說話非常不靈光。可見，語言能力是不進則退的。



We know that over 90% of Hong Kong citizens are Chinese whose mother tongue is Cantonese. We have very little chance to meet foreigners. We have not yet improved our English and also ask foreigners to learn Cantonese. Therefore, the motivation of Hong Kong citizens to learn English well becomes very low. We do not create an English environment in daily life and do not learn English actively. Our English is certainly worsen. It is quite similar to the case that after I had less conversation with my Taiwan friend, my Mandarin is getting worse especially on the pronunciation. When we met each other again, she found that I cannot speak in Mandarin as well as before. It is quite clear that language capability is either improved or worsen.