  |    |
        |
 |
 | ||
| |||
 |  | |
| ||
|  | |
| ||
|  | |
| ||
| ||
|  | |
| ||
 |  | |
| · | News Releases |
| · | Multimedia Centre |
| · | Virtual Press Kits |
| · | Fact Sheets |
| · | FAQ |
| · | Contact the Newsroom |
| ||
|  | |
| ||
|  | |
| ||
Manulife Centre to hold free seminar on Chinese and English literacy development for children with learning disabilities Hong Kong – The Manulife Centre for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities will hold a free open seminar on Sunday, November 16, 2003, to introduce its literacy research project to parents, teachers and community members who are interested in literacy development for children with learning disabilities. A Manulife Centre initiative, the literacy research has had two key objectives - to enhance local teachers’ professional skills in language teaching and assist children with learning difficulties improve their Chinese and English language learning ability. Operating in collaboration with other local and overseas professionals in the same discipline for a year, the project covers development of much-needed literacy support resources, including multi-media teaching materials, to assist primary school teachers in the instruction of Chinese and English literacy. “Studies have shown that phonological awareness is critical to English reading success and morphological awareness is critical to Chinese words recognition and reading acquisition,” said Dr. Alice Cheng Lai, Project Director and Person-in-charge of Manulife Centre for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “The cognitive deficiencies of phonological processing and awareness of the basic unit of spoken and written language have caused poor performance of Chinese and English literacy for children with learning difficulties.” The upcoming seminar will provide information about the assessment and training strategies for phonological awareness of English literacy. Multi-media teaching of Chinese morphological assessment and training materials will also be introduced to the attendees. The research is an international project run by the Manulife Centre with support from the Manulife Charitable Foundation and the Hong Kong Quality Education Fund, with implications beyond Hong Kong. Ms Linda Siegel, Professor of the University of British Columbia, Canada and senior consultant to the project said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to turn theory into practice. Although the project is centered in Hong Kong, without doubt there will be wider implications, including how the Chinese community is taught English literacy in Canada.” The research also involved several other professionals in the discipline including Professor Shu Hua, Head of Cognitive Science Laboratory and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University and Dr. Ian Smythe, multi-media development consultant to the project and an international dyslexia consultant. Conducted in Cantonese, the seminar will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2003 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Chiang Chen Studio Theatre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Interested parties should contact the Centre staff at 2766 6313 or email to hskai@inet.polyu.edu.hk for further details and registration. All seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. About Manulife Charitable Foundation The Manulife Charitable Foundation is a non-profit organization set up by Manulife (International) Limited in 1998 to support and promote educational, health and charitable activities for the betterment of public welfare in Hong Kong. It has sponsored the Manulife Centre for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities since 1999 with a mandate to assist children with specific learning difficulties, and their parents and teachers, by studying how to identify children in need of assistance and help them develop to their full potential. About Manulife (International) Limited Manulife (International) Limited is a member of the Manulife Financial group of companies. Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds under management by Manulife Financial were Cdn$150.8 billion (approximately HK$865 billion) as at September 30, 2003. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com. - 30 - For more information, please contact: Helena Lee / Jeanie Ho Manulife (International) Limited Tel: 2202 1050 / 2510 3191 Fax: 2234 6875 Email: helena_lee@manulife.com jeanie_ho@manulife.com |
|
