An inquiry into program designs of MA in teaching Chinese as an international language in HK universities

The paper is one of the studies in the series of how to train teachers in teaching Chinese as an international language. The paper reviews and examines the programs of Master of Arts in Teaching Chinese as an International Language (MATCH hereafter) offered by four universities in HK by collecting and analyzing program information that is publicly available in order to achieve a better understanding of the MATCH program designs by different universities in Hong Kong and their pedagogical rationale behind them. The paper looks into the program designs mainly from two perspectives: program structure and program content. The program structure that reflects the designers' prospects and values (Please elaborate on it.) In reference to the program, involves the fields of studies and the requirements and credit-bearing systems of compulsory and elective subjects while the program content provides program subjects in detail. The inquiry results of this paper show that, as far as the program structure is concerned, similarities among the MATCH programs offered by four universities exist, such as the required amount of prescribed work and the fields of studies covered in compulsory courses. There is also uniqueness in each program such as the targeted students, the focus of learning activities and the alternative choices provided in completing the program. In terms of the program content, the results prove a wide diversity in elective courses not only the number but also the subjects offered among four universities. Of all findings of the inquiry, the significant one that this paper would like to draw attention to lies in the question, what role the internship plays in a teacher training program.