English chaps are dilettantes, only half-heartedly open to improvement (9)

I believe the answer is:

emendable

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'english chaps are dilettantes only half-heartedly open to improvement' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'english chaps are dilettantes only half' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'chaps' becomes 'men' (chap can mean a man).
'are dilettantes' becomes 'dab' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'only' becomes 'sole' (synonyms).
'half' indicates taking half.
'sole' with half the letters taken is 'le'.
'e'+'men'+'dab'+'le'='EMENDABLE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for emendable that I've seen is " not beyond redemption?".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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