This paper reports a critical discourse analysis of the 2025 English Language Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide (Primary 1-6) in Hong Kong, its "Major Updates" leaflet and posters, and the English Language Education Curriculum Framework of National Security Education. Situated within Hong Kong’s biliterate (Chinese and English) and trilingual (Cantonese, English, Putonghua) policy, the study interrogates how these texts construct English language education at the intersection of global competitiveness, local identity, and national integration (Evans, 2013). The study combines corpus-assisted keyword and collocation analysis with close textual and multimodal analysis (Kress, 2010; Flowerdew & Richardson, 2017). Findings show that recurring lexis (e.g., "21st century skills", "global citizenship", "proper values and attitudes") and metaphors of "foundation", "journey" and "bridge" frame English as a vehicle for lifelong learning, global mobility and moral formation, while legitimising a tightly managed reform agenda. Modal verbs ("must", "should", "are encouraged to"), nominalisations ("implementation", "assessment", "standardisation") and headings such as "Vision", "Learning Goals" and "Values Education" produce a discourse that oscillates between promoting school-level autonomy and prescribing central standards, positioning teachers as both agents and constrained implementers (Luke, 2002; Rogers, 2011). Meanwhile, references to equity, diversity and plurilingualism sit alongside limited guidance for marginalised learners and non-standard Englishes, and the integration of National Security Education layers patriotic and civic agendas onto communicative goals through depoliticised multimodal design (Curdt Christiansen, 2014; Kress, 2010; Wodak & Meyer, 2016). The paper discusses implications for critical engagement with curriculum texts and for rethinking English language education.

Authors:
Catherine Shee-hei Wong, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Catherine Wong Shee-hei is currently a Lecturer in the School of Education and Languages at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU).

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

Bookmark