| Subject Code |
Subject Nature/Title |
| CBS500 |
Semantics and Pragmatics |
| This subject aims to systematically introduce the basic concepts, theories, research methods and major findings of modern semantics and pragmatics. It pays special attention to facts and findings in Chinese semantic and pragmatic studies, and endeavours to illustrate the applied potentials of such studies. Also expounded are the relationships between form and function, meaning and use, and language and cognition. |
| CBS503 |
Language in Society |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| CBS507 |
Teaching Chinese Vocabulary to Non-Native Learners |
| 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. |
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CBS508 |
Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language Through Literature |
| This subject introduces prospective Chinese-language teachers to the use of literary texts in the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language. The subject first provides an introduction to Chinese literature from a Western perspective: basic issues and approaches that form the foundation for the reading of Chinese literature in Western countries. This is the foundation for an exploration of how literature fits into Chinese language pedagogy. Then the subject covers a variety of specific topics, demonstrating how literature can be used as a pedagogical supplement in the teaching of both written and spoken Chinese. Finally, students will be asked to carry out independent projects modeling the use of literature in pedagogy. |
| CBS5099 |
Comparative Linguistic Analysis between Japanese and Chinese |
| 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. |
| CBS513 |
Topics in Studies of Chinese Grammar |
| The up-to-date development and the latest methodology in the studies of Chinese grammar are introduced in this subject. Topics in the methodology part include the selection of research field and research topic, the collection of language data, the review of linguistic literature and the format of argumentation. Topics in the latest development part include but not limited to these that are mentioned in Chinese Language I and II but have not been discussed in great details. |
| CBS514 |
Introduction to Cantonese Studies |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| This subject aims to provide students with an understanding of the basic principles of contrastive analysis and to familiarize them with the methods of applying these principles to a number of similarities and differences between Chinese and English. The emphasis of the subject will be on the basic grammatical properties of these two languages, drawing from current research findings in language typology. Students are expected to be able to analyze linguistic problems they may encounter in their use of language, such as language teaching and translation. |
| CBS517 |
Computer Tools for the Language Professionals |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| CBS519 |
Modern Rhetoric |
| 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 |
| This subject provides students with a comprehensive understanding of modern Chinese characters and the related 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| CBS532 |
Description of Chinese I: Words and Sentences |
| This subject helps students to get an overall picture of Chinese, to gain solid knowledge on the structure of Chinese, to understand the evolution from Classic Chinese to contemporary Chinese, and various genres in Classic and contemporary Chinese. It discusses issues like Chinese and its dialects; Putonghua and Modern Standard Chinese; morphemes and words; structure of compounds; semantic relations between words; lexical changes; word classes; sentence structure; various sentence types, stylistic issues, and genres and registers. |
| CBS530* |
Description of Chinese II: Sounds and Script |
| This subject is an alternative to CBS533. It has a Hong Kong orientation with local Cantonese users in mind. It describes the two concrete ends of the Chinese language: the sounds when spoken and the script when written. The part on sounds covers the phonology of Modern Standard Chinese and that of Cantonese as well as rudiments of traditional Chinese phonology. |
| CBS533* |
Description of Chinese II: Sounds and Script |
| This subject enables the students to get an overall picture of Chinese sounds and script, especially their uniqueness and diverseness, to gain solid knowledge on phonological and graphological structures of Chinese, and the sound change and evolution of Chinese scripts. It discusses the relationship between sounds and script; phonology; Cantonese phonology; Putonghua phonology; traditional Chinese phonology; phonological variation; study of script; the characteristics of Chinese script; Chinese script in the context of information technology. |
| CBS543 |
Selected Readings of the Eight Writers of the Tang and Song Era |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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。 |
| CBS549 |
Teaching the Uses of Media for Teaching Chinese to Foreigners |
| This course offers a general introduction to the diverse uses and applications of media in and available materials for the teaching of Chinese to foreign learners. It provides a systematic overview of contemporary media, which can provide authentic language, history, literary and cultural materials, illustrations for an efficient instruction. The course emphasizes electronic media, television, radio, internet and their useful content. |
| CBS554 |
Introduction to Chinese Culture and Classics |
| The subject consists of a series of 14 lectures, covering major issues of the traditional Chinese culture: the emergence of humanism and its realization in the early Chou Dynasty; the schools of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, and their influence on Chinese culture; Buddhism in China and the religious function of Confucianism; the changes of dynasty and systems of government; the conflict and harmony between rural areas and the kingdom; the ideology in education and the selection system; the spirit of science and scientific inventions; and the essence of classical Chinese literature, music, painting, and drama. Retrospective discussions will be conducted with supplements of relevant classics. |
| CBS558 |
Supervised International Chinese Teaching Internship I (6 credits) |
| This course provides our MA students the supervised language teaching experience in a foreign country which makes them suitable for an international and intercultural teaching and research career. Providing this possibility to a small number of eligible and willing students emphasizes the balance of theoretical studies and practical application in our TCFL programme. |
| CBS559 |
Supervised International Chinese Teaching Internship II (9 credits) |
| This course provides our MA students the supervised language teaching experience in a foreign country which makes them suitable for an international and intercultural teaching and research career. Providing this possibility to a small number of eligible and willing students emphasizes the balance of theoretical studies and practical application in our TCFL programme. |
| CBS566 |
Translation Studies |
| This subject aims to produce students who understand the factors involved in communication across two languages; who have an awareness of the different levels of meaning in a text; who can use this awareness to evaluate both source texts and their own translations; who have an awareness of basic issues concerning translation as a profession and know something of recent information technology resources for translators. It will also assist students to examine texts and analyse the linguistic and socio-linguistic issues underlying communication across cultures. |
| CBS573 |
Methodology of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language II
(It is a compulsory subject for students admitted on or before 2009/10) |
As a follow-up subject to Methodology I, this subject aims at providing students with some hands-on experience in language teaching. Students will be engaged in two modes of activities. The first is the viewing of virtual classroom teaching videos, followed by evaluative discussions on the pros and cons of teaching methodology. Sources of virtual teaching will be collected on a global basis, with the possible support of other Chinese-teaching Institutes around the world.
The second mode is for the students to participate in activities of teaching Chinese as a foreign language. |
| CBS575 |
MATCFL Final Year Project (6 credits) |
| A 6,000 word thesis together with IT or multi-media materials documenting some aspect of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. This may be taken to include, for example, the development of teaching materials and documentation (e.g. on video) of their testing in class. The thesis should be both description and evaluation of the process of development and testing, and an evaluation of the materials developed. |
| CBS576 |
MATCFL Dissertation (9 credits) |
| A 24,000 word academic dissertation on any theoretical or practical aspect of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language |
| CBS580 |
Applied Corpus Linguistics |
| Applied Corpus Linguistics 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 |
| Teaching Chinese Grammar to Non-native Speakers 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 |
| CBS582 |
Advanced Legal Translation |
| This subject aims to introduce students to the practice of legal translation. This subject establishes a theoretical framework for legal translation and offers extensive practice in translating key documents in a wide range of legal fields. The purpose of this subject is to enable students to gain insights into legal translation at postgraduate level. |
| CBS585 |
Using Reading to Teach Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages |
| 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 |
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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 |
| 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. |
| CBS595 |
Supervised local internship for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language |
| This course provides our MA students the supervised language teaching experience in the Hong Kong setting, which helps them mature towards an international and intercultural teaching and research career. Providing this possibility to eligible and willing students emphasizes the balance of theoretical studies and practical application in our TCFL programme. |
| CBS5101 |
Deploying Functional Text Typology in Japanese, Chinese and English |
| 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. |
* CBS530 and CBS533 are mutually exclusive.
