| Subject Code |
Subject Nature/Title |
No of Credits |
| The Chinese Language Block |
| CBS503 |
Language in Society |
3 |
| This subject introduces students to the basic concepts, theories, research methods and major findings in sociolinguistics. It pays special attention to facts and findings in Chinese and Cantonese sociolinguistics. The subject intends to stimulate students' interest in sociolinguistics and help them recognize, observe, and study sociolinguistic issues and phenomena in their daily lives. |
| CBS505 |
Research Methods in Language Studies |
3 |
| This subject aims to provide a systematic training on research methodology in language studies, which is indispensable for students wishing to conduct research on language-related study topics at postgraduate level. |
| CBS506 |
Introduction to Educational Linguistics |
3 |
| Students who have not taken subjects on pedagogical linguistics could learn the basic concepts of Linguistics, research areas and applications by taking this subject. For students who have taken general Linguistics classes before, by taking this subject, they will review and update their knowledge, enhancing it by learning about the pedagogical applications of the traditional areas of the study of sounds, words, sentences and meanings, as required to become competent Chinese teachers, who can deal with foreign students needs coming from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. |
| CBS507 |
Teaching Chinese Vocabulary to Non-Native Learners |
3 |
| Students will get acquainted with recent research on foreign language vocabulary teaching/learning in general (mostly based on English) and on Chinese vocabulary building and acquisition in particular. A general introduction of vocabulary knowledge and the cognitive process related to learning words is followed by practical/pedagogical examples and techniques of building up foreign learners’ vocabulary skills. The students will learn how to prepare suitable graded teaching materials for the learners (readers with exercises and audiovisual materials) and how to develop the best assessment methods for the growth of vocabulary. This course also encourages them to experiment with their new methods, so that they can make the strenuous procedure of word learning more pleasant and motivating for foreigners. |
| CBS5099 |
Comparative Linguistic Analysis between Japanese and Chinese |
3 |
| This subject aims to empower students in their learning of Japanese and Mandarin Chinese by helping them learn about these languages, giving them sound and solid knowledge about the fundamental function and meaning of the key linguistic systems and structures of Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. By using this functional understanding of the subject’s content as an analytical tool, students will be able to analyse texts in both languages, and based on these text analyses, they will be able to compare and contrast the two languages in terms of important and highly valued text types (genres) such as those of the media and literature. These new insights into Japanese and Mandarin Chinese based on evidence from authentic text in context will also enable students to consolidate and expand their own language capacities. |
| CBS5101 |
Deploying Functional Text Typology in Japanese, Chinese and English |
3 |
| This subject introduces a language-based approach to develop a comprehensive map of a text typology of texts in Japanese, Chinese and English based on contextual parameters (activity, interactants, role played by text). It locates various types of text in these languages and also of multimodal texts that include visual images in the text typology and identifies rhetorical/linguistic and multimodal features of texts according to the text type (register, genre) they belong to. By doing so, the subject aims to help students develop an archive of texts based on the typology that can be a key resource in charting courses for the developments of academic and professional discourse and activity. Medium of instruction is both Japanese and English in order to enable non-/Japanese language speakers to explore the functional text typology in Japanese, Chinese and/or English. |
| CBS512 |
Introduction to Chinese Language Testing |
3 |
| Principle of language measurement, Development of language tests, Assessing listening, Assessing speaking, Assessing reading, Assessing writing, Measurement scales, Language test validity, Language test reliability, Item analysis, Basic descriptive statistics, Item and test relatedness, Assessing language for specific purposes (LSP), Bilingual measurement |
| CBS514 |
Introduction to Cantonese Studies |
3 |
| This subject introduces students to various linguistic properties of Cantonese in a principled manner, so as to enable them to understand the differences between Cantonese and Putonghua and to pursue comparative study between the two in the future. Topics include the classification of Chinese dialects; Cantonese sound system and Romanization schemes; standard pronunciation; written forms of Cantonese; word formation; syntax and semantics of Cantonese particles; and the major syntactic differences between Cantonese and Putonghua. |
| CBS515 |
Applied Lexicology and Lexicography |
3 |
| This subject aims to acquaint students with fundamental issues in lexicology and its application in various fields. Scope of study includes the introduction of basic notions in Chinese lexicology—the differences between Chinese characters, morphemes, words and phrases; the morphological structure of the Chinese language; relationship between lexicology and rhetorical studies; delimitation of word items and automatic Chinese text processing; construction of word list for language teaching and language testing; and compilation and retrieval of lexical items in Chinese dictionaries |
| CBS516 |
Contrastive Analysis |
3 |
| The role of this subject is provide students with an overview of the basic principles of contrastive analysis and the linguistic differences between Chinese (including Cantonese and Putonghua) and English by making use of everyday examples so that they can apply the subject knowledge and analytical skills to solve linguistic problems in these languages they may encounter in the workplace. This subject will also contribute to the development of critical thinking, global outlook and cultural appreciation, and life-long learning. |
| CBS517 |
Computer Tools for the Language Professionals |
3 |
| This subject aims to generate students who are familiar with the possibilities of IT in aiding the language professional’s work. The contents include: the Chinese, English and multilingual language environments of computer systems and the WWW, language corpus systems and database systems, computer-based information retrieval, computer-assisted language translation, and computer-assisted language teaching and learning. |
| CBS518 |
Computer Assisted Chinese Language Teaching |
3 |
| This subject aims to produce students armed with the fundamental knowledge and effective skills of computer-assisted language teaching and learning, especially in the application domain of Chinese teaching. Students will be confident in the use of various computer tools in language teaching and testing, and be capable of developing new tools to meet their own specific needs. In addition to local computer support, Web-assisted remote language teaching will also be introduced. |
3 |
| CBS519 |
Modern Rhetoric |
3 |
| This subject attempts to acquaint the students with the major content of modern rhetorical studies from both theoretical and applied perspectives. Analysis will mainly be made on modern Chinese data, but examples in English, classical Chinese will also be covered. After taking this subject, students are expected to be able to comprehend and critically evaluate theories and studies in the subject; to be able to synthesize and effectively apply such approaches and techniques to the analysis of Chinese communication as well as that of literary and translation works; to have developed interests to further explore the related fields with the aim of learning to conduct beginning research works; and to be able to actively apply theoretical notions and methods to the solving of work-related practical issues in rhetoric. |
| CBS520 |
Modern Chinese Characters and Information Technology |
3 |
| This subject provides students with an understanding of the interrelationship between Chinese characters and information technology (IT), so that they can make the most out of the Chinese language in the IT context and IT in the Chinese context. Equipped with the above knowledge they will be able to solve various problems encountered in IT involving Chinese characters and Chinese writing. |
| CBS521 |
Applied Chinese Language Studies |
3 |
| This subject is designed to orient students towards an intellectual outlook to mediate between the theories gained about Chinese language and the possible applications of these theories to practical situations such as language teaching and other professional disciplines in the biliterate and trilingual environment in Hong Kong. Topics such as characteristics of Hong Kong written Chinese, influence of translation on Chinese language, and standardization of Cantonese will be discussed. |
| CBS527 |
Chinese Language Education in Primary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| This subject aims to provide students with a basic understanding on the Chinese language education in Hong Kong and to level up professional competence in the teaching and learning of Chinese Language in primary and secondary schools. The subject explores major issues including principles and strategies of Chinese teaching and learning, the conceptual basis and methods of teacher professional development, etc. |
| CBS528 |
The Development and Implementation of Chinese Language Curriculum in Hong Kong |
3 |
| This subject aims at providing the students with a systematic outlook on Chinese Language education in Hong Kong in the principle of Curriculum and the framework of Applied Linguistics. The subject covers major issues in linguistic description and sociolinguistic variations that are relevant to Chinese language pedagogy and its future development in the bilingual and bicultural society of Hong Kong |
| CBS580 |
Applied Corpus Linguistics |
3 |
| This subject introduces the development and methods of electronic linguistic data collection, management and analysis for linguistic research and other applied purposes. The empirical side of authentic linguistic data for the teaching of Chinese is of utmost importance and future educators need to be capable of preparing their up-to-date teaching materials using the corpus methods. They will learn about well established corpora for the major languages of the World, problems of Chinese language corpora and will be trained to use the optimal software to efficiently use them for their own career. The initial emphasis on written Chinese will gradually shift to capturing the spoken language for teaching purposes. |
| CBS581 |
Teaching Chinese Grammar to Non-native Speakers |
3 |
| This is a practical course which builds on prior knowledge of Chinese grammar. It aims to help students to explore the ways in which knowledge about Chinese grammar can be applied in the practice of Chinese language teaching. It also helps students to understand the implications of pedagogical grammar and the ways in which it can be put to use in the classroom. |
| CBS585 |
Using Reading to Teach Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages |
3 |
| This course has two directions: It provides an overview of recent research on reading theories applied to foreign language teaching, and leads to their applications for Chinese instructors. The theoretical reflection points students to their own research and dissertations, while the practical application trains them to work out intensive reading programs for international students. |
| CBS586 |
Teaching of Chinese Characters and Words to Non-native Learners |
3 |
|
This course introduces to students the basic structure and evolvement of Chinese characters, the morphological pattern of Chinese words, the psychological processes of character and word acquisition, analysis and explanation of word meaning, and analysis & compilation of teaching materials on Chinese characters and words. |
| CBS592 |
Psycholinguistics |
3 |
| Psycholinguistics studies the psychological and neurobiological factors that allow humans to acquire, use, understand and produce language. The first part of the subject offers a systematic introduction to the key topics in psycholinguistics, examining the mental processes involved in speech perception, word recognition, language comprehension and production. The second part of the subject focuses on Chinese psycholinguistics, differences between processing Chinese and processing English, and bilingual processing in relation to translation and interpretation. The subject intends to stimulate students' interest in psycholinguistics and help them recognize how the mind and brain deal with language in general, and Chinese and English in particular, in daily life communication and in professional contexts such as language teaching, translation and interpretation. |
| CBS594 |
The Psychology of Reading and Reading Difficulties |
3 |
| The purpose of this subject is to provide students with a general overview of the key theories related to developmental dyslexia (specific reading difficulties) and to provide hands-on experience, as assistants to professional speech therapists, in implementing a theory-driven treatment to primary students with developmental dyslexia. |
| The Chinese Literature Block |
| CBS540 |
Fiction in the Ming and Qing Era |
3 |
| The subject aims to explore the characteristics and significance of representative works of Chinese fiction in the Ming and Qing periods. Various classic fiction will be discussed and studied from the cultural and literature perspectives so as to raise the students’ capability in analyzing and appreciating classic fiction. |
| CBS541 |
Chinese Opera and Literature |
3 |
| This course focuses on literary studies of Cantonese opera, in comparison with other traditional and regional Chinese opera genres such as Peking opera and Kun opera. The course is designed to introduce students to the historical development of Chinese opera, the relationship between Chinese language and opera songs, and the literary analysis of play scripts. It will also enable students to appreciate and comment on these masterpieces |
| CBS542 |
Topics in Studies of Chinese Literature |
3 |
| This subject provides updated surveys of selected topics in the study of Chinese literature with the aim of familiarizing students with the frontiers of research in Chinese literature. |
| CBS543 |
Selected Readings of the Eight Writers of the Tang and Song Era |
3 |
| In classical prose writing, the Tang and Song era is considered the peak, serving as a link between the previous era and the following era. Eight writers have been acclaimed as masters of the art: Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan of the Tang Dynasty, and Ouyang Xiu, Zeng Gong, Wang Anshi, Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe of the Song Dynasty. To have a comprehensive understanding of their works, a wide range of genres from each writer are selected to be studied in three ways: the uniqueness of their writing; their styles in contrast with that in the previous era; and how these writers inherited the tradition and how they influenced the late comers. |
| CBS544 |
Poetry of the Tang and Song Era |
3 |
| This subject offers a critical study of selected works of Tang poetry and Song ci with a focus on their stylistic development and artistic achievement. The subject is divided into two parts. In the first part, poems in different periods of Tang Dynasty (early, high, middle and late) are selected for reading. The emphasis will be on the works of Li Bai, Du Fu, Gao Shi and Wang Wei. In the second part, Song ci of Liu Yong, Su Shi, Zhou Bangyan (of Northern Song), Jiang Kui and Xin Qiji (of Southern Song) will be selected for in-depth study. The course also covers works of the distinguished female ci author Li Qingzhao. Students are encouraged to get familiar with their works and style. |
| CBS545 |
Selected Readings of Vernacular Fiction |
3 |
| This subject offers a critical survey of Chinese vernacular fiction. It helps students to gain knowledge of classical, modern and contemporary Chinese vernacular fiction by providing the historical background, structure, characterization, plot and other arts of fiction. Excerpts for in-depth analysis will be selected from the following works: “Sanyan”, “Erpai”, “Shuihuzhuan”, “Xiyouji”, “Hongloumeng” “A-Q Zhengzhuan”, “Hulanhezhuan”, “Ziye”, “Biancheng”, “Niaoyu”, “Ren A ! Ren” “Furongzhen”, “Qiqie Chengqun”, and “Changhenge”, etc. |
| CBS546 |
Hong Kong Literature |
3 |
| This subject aims to provide students with general knowledge of Hong Kong literature with a focus on the popular literature such as reflected in the selected works from poetry, prose and fiction. Students are expected to be familiar with the development of Hong Kong literature; to appreciate poetry, prose, novel and drama in Hong Kong literature; to obtain the abilities of appreciating and analyzing the work of Hong Kong literature from different angles; to understand the relationship between the Hong Kong literary works and society; and improve their teaching ability of Chinese literary. |
| CBS547 |
Literary Discourse Analysis |
3 |
| This subject draws on recent developments and achievements in literary stylistics, cognitive pragmatics, critical discourse analysis and cognitive linguistics in attempting to provide an experimental forum in applying linguistic analytic methods to the analysis of Chinese literary texts. Analysis will be made on a wide range of texts including Pre-Qin discourse subsumed under Ming and Bian discussions, Tang poetry, Ming-Qing Novels, and Contemporary poetic works and novels. |
| CBS548 |
Contemporary Chinese Society through Literature |
3 |
| 本科目旨在介紹中國當代最近30 年的文學現象，將文學的批評性和社會的觀察性相融合，結合文學批評理論﹐引導學生閱讀和討論這一文學時代反映當代場景和生活的最具社會影響力的一批作品﹐瞭解這個時代的文學特點和思潮。並通過文學的歷史敘述、特有的語境、敘事話語的方式﹐感性地認識改革開放後的當今中國。使學生對當代中國社會的政治歷史背景、現今中國社會整體化的特徵、經濟發展進程中的社會現象、意識形態﹐價值取向、審美意識等有所把握﹐尤其是對當下中國社會所面臨的主要社會風險，新的民生問題予以關注。同時力圖提升語文教育工作者自身的文學鑒賞和文學批評水平，提高中國當代文學、中國國情、中國文化的教學能力。 |
| Other |
| CBS593 # |
MACLL Dissertation – for MACLL students only |
9 |
| The role of this subject is to provide students with a platform to demonstrate their mastery of the fundamental concepts of linguistics and literature theories, the ability to extend them to the analysis of the Chinese language and literature, and the ability to carry out a small-scale research, from formulating a problem to writing up the final report. This subject will also contribute to the development of critical thinking, synthesizing and organizing abilities, and life-long learning. |
