Postgraduate Courses

a) Under a policy approved by the Senate, exceptions to the general University policy stating that English is the medium of instruction will be permitted when the courses are related to the area of Chinese studies and are approved by the School of Humanities and Social Science. Courses approved to be taught in Chinese carry a [PU] or [CA] notation in the course description, which indicates the spoken language used in teaching: [PU] stands for Putonghua; and [CA] for Cantonese.

b) Courses marked with a [C] in the course description are not taught in Chinese but may require students to read materials in Chinese. Students who have difficulty reading materials in Chinese should consult the instructor concerned prior to enrolling in these courses. For undergraduate courses, alternative English reading materials may be provided.

c) Some courses may use different medium of instruction/materials, either in Chinese or English, for different sections. They will be denoted by a combination of [CA], [PU], [C] and [EN]. Students will need to check the medium of instruction/materials to be used before course enrollment.

d) Undergraduate courses marked with [BLD] or [SPO] may be offered in the mode of blended learning or self-paced online delivery respectively, subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.

• LANG 5000

  Foundation in Listening & Speaking for Postgraduate Students

  [0-3-0:1]
  Description

  For students whose level of spoken English is lower than ELPA Level 4 (Speaking) when they enter the University. The course addresses the immediate linguistic needs of research postgraduate students for oral communication on campus using English. To complete the course, students are required to attain at least ELPA Level 4 (Speaking). Graded P or F.
• LANG 5005

  Communicating Research in English

  [0-3-0:1]
  Corequisite(s)

  LANG 5000

  Exclusion(s)

  LANG 5001, LANG 5002, LANG 5010, LANG 5071, LANG 5080, LANG 5081

  Mode of Delivery

  [BLD] Blended learning

  Description

  This course aims to help research postgraduate students to develop skills they need to understand how to successfully communicate research in English to academic, cross-disciplinary and non-specialist audiences. Students who fail to satisfy the University's English language requirement are advised to complete LANG 5000 before enrolling for this course. Graded P or F.
• LANG 5030

  English Communication for Postgraduate Engineering Studies

  [0-3-0:1]
  Description

  This is an English for Academic Purposes course specially designed to assist postgraduate students in addressing linguistic challenges while pursuing a MSc in Engineering. It aims to enhance students’ academic presentation, discussion and writing skills. Students will also learn how to make use of existing electronic resources and various English dictionaries for effective and life-long learning. Graded P or F.
• LANG 5070

  Advanced Critical Writing for Academic Purposes

  [0-3-0:3]
  Exclusion(s)

  LANG 5070H (prior to 2017-18)

  Description

  For students of the MSc in Global China Studies. The course aims to develop students' ability to produce written texts of a range of genres, appropriate to the academic context, and demonstrating adequate control of syntax, lexis and style.

  Intended Learning Outcomes

  On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • 1.
    Write a range of academic texts demonstrating appropriate control of syntaz.
  • 2.
    Recognize and produce the essential features of different written genres, including critical reviews, summaries and abstracts.
  • 3.
    Distinguish clearly between facts and opinions and extract salient points in written texts.
  • 4.
    Develop written arguments with reference to different sources.
  • 5.
    Demonstrate critical awareness of accuracy in written English, including texts written by your peers.
• LANG 5072

  English Academic Writing on Chinese Culture

  [0-3-0:3]
  Description

  The course is intended to provide students with essential training in academic writing, with a focus on the language used in the context of Chinese culture. This is a compulsory foundation course for all students in the MA program in Chinese Culture.

  Intended Learning Outcomes

  On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • 1.
    Demonstrate the common genres of academic writing, including abstract, literature review, argument essay and research article.
  • 2.
    Identify common referencing format & referencing skills, including quoting, paraphrasing & summarizing.
  • 3.
    Describe how academic texts are structured and how various devices are used for improving the coherence and cohesion of academic writing.
  • 4.
    Recognize how hedging and qualifying language strengthens and weakens arguments and common fallacies in academic writing.
  • 5.
    Explain the importance of identifying purposes and audience before writing, which affects the writing style and tone.
  • 6.
    Distinguish specific language and vocabulary for academic writing.
• LANG 5101

  Basic Chinese for International Management

  [0-6-0:3]
  Description

  This is a course restricted to students in the MSc in International Management program with no previous knowledge of Chinese. It aims to offer them a foundation in language so that they can communicate effectively and appropriately in spoken Putonghua and written Chinese in undemanding contexts. Basic mastery of the Chinese phonological and syntactic systems by students is also expected.
• LANG 5330

  Basic Spanish for International Management

  [0-5-0:2]
  Description

  This is a course restricted to students in the MSc in International Management program with no previous knowledge of Spanish. It aims to offer them a foundation in the language so that they can communicate appropriately in Spanish on a variety of relevant topics, and integrate more comfortably into a study environment in which knowledge of a European language other than English is assumed.