| Subject Code |
Subject Title |
No of Credits |
| 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. |
| 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 measure |
| CBS513 |
Topics in Studies of Chinese Grammar |
3 |
| This subject provides updated surveys of selected topics in the study of Chinese grammar with the aim of familiarizing the students with the frontiers of research in Chinese grammar. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| CBS536 |
Chinese Language Survey |
3 |
| To help students develop research instruments and methods for systematically collecting both linguistic and non-linguistic data, this subject introduces basic techniques and procedures for designing and conducting language surveys of various types. These techniques and procedures include sampling, questionnaire design, and elicitation. Special attention will be given to designing surveys that yield data on variations within and across linguistic varieties, how to identify significant patterns in the data, and how to conduct relevant statistical tests on the data. The subject also covers field methods for Chinese dialectology. |
| 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. |
| CBS566 |
Translation Studies |
3 |
| 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 translations; who have an awareness of basic issues concerning translation as a profession. It will also assist students to examine texts and analyze the linguistic and socio-linguistic issues underlying communication across cultures. |
| CBS574 |
Second Language Acquisition and Foreign Language Learning |
3 |
| The role of this subject is to provide an overview of the current theoretical and practical issues about second language acquisition and foreign language learning from an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on work in theoretical linguistics, psycholinguistics, cognitive science, and sociolinguistics. Special attention will be paid to the implications of research for language teaching. This subject will also contribute to the development of critical thinking, global outlook and cultural appreciation, and intellectual curiosity. |
| 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.
|
| CBS591 |
Intercultural Communication |
3 |
| This subject aims to provide a general introduction to the key theories of the field of intercultural communication, and applications for the Chinese instructors working at the focal point of international encounters, which is indispensable for students wishing to work in intercultural environment |
| 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. |
| CBS5099 |
Comparative Linguistic Analysis of 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. |
| CBS538 |
MACL Dissertation |
9 |
| The role of this subject is to provide students with a platform to demonstrate their mastery of the fundamental concepts of linguistics theories, the ability to extend them to the analysis of the Chinese language, 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. |
