Chinese Courses

This course is designed for non-Chinese language background students who have learned Chinese for less than 50 tuition hours. It focuses on developing foundational communicative skills for daily and social interactions, such as greetings, shopping, and making simple requests. 

• Practical daily-life topics covering study, campus life and social interactions 

• Interactive blended learning tasks on Canvas for consolidation 

• Personalized feedback for students with diversified backgrounds 

• Oral Assessment 1: Self-Introduction at the Chinese Corner   

• Oral Assessment 2: Introducing Life in Hong Kong   

• Other Assessments: Midterm and Final Test, Course Participation Tasks  

Attributes 

• The course is designed for Non-Chinese language background students as beginners or with a proficiency level below HSK 1. 

Exclusions 

• LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1120 -1127 (prior to 2022-23) 

• LANG 1412-1413, LANG 1415-1416, LANG 1421-1424 

Course outcomes  

• Understanding foundational grammatical structures and sentences, engaging in practical conversations in social contexts on topics such as self-introduction, making friends and hobbies, and with correct pronunciation and intonation. 

• Developing confidence in simple daily conversations, to participate in small group activities, to gain initial awareness of cultural differences, and to practice fundamental communication skills appropriate for everyday situations. 

Student testimonials 

• “现在，我有很多中国朋友！” 

• “I can call my friends to play basketball together in Chinese, that’s awesome!” 

• “I tried to tell the taxi driver in Chinese that I wanted to go to HKUST, and guess what? He understood me! 😊” 

At the proficiency level of HSK 3, this course will equip students with solid communicative competence in social situations and for study and work. Topics include discussions in Mandarin Chinese about university majors and future occupations and talking to agents about renting and travelling. 

• Interactive blended learning tasks on Canvas for consolidation 

• Personalized feedback for students with diversified backgrounds 

• Differentiated learning focussing on and TA support for different skills 

• Oral Assessment 1: Engage in practical conversations on renting an apartment 

• Oral Assessment 2: Impress others with your future-plan presentation 

• Other tasks: Online checkpoint tasks and midterm & end-of-course written tests 

Attributes 

• Non-Chinese language background students who have previously learnt Mandarin Chinese for up to 150 tuition hours, or who have achieved a proficiency level of HSK 2 

Exclusions 

• LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1123-1127 (prior to 2022-23) 

• LANG 1413, LANG 1415-1416, LANG 1421-1424 

Course outcomes 

• Understanding complex grammatical structures and sentence patterns, engaging in interesting conversations relating to academic, social and work contexts, with better pronunciation and intonation. 

• Being confident in talking to people, to work collaboratively in a group, to enhance awareness of cultural diversity, and to apply appropriate communicative skills in relation to the context, people involved and intended aims. 

Student testimonials 

• “我和中国朋友说话时更有信心了！也越来越能听明白他们说什么了！” 

• “I know how to bargain with an estate agent!” 

• “I use what I have learned here to prepare my personal statement and job interview in Chinese!” 

At the advanced level, LANG 1413 equips students with strong communicative competence in spoken and written Chinese in various social, academic and professional situations. The topics covered include lifestyles of Chinese people, economic development and environmental protection, technological development and personal privacy, etc. 

• Classroom learning connected to real-world scenarios to foster practical application 

• Communication skills strengthened through interactive and collaborative activities 

• Diverse feedback improving students’ ability to monitor and evaluate learning 

• Oral Assessment 1: An individual speech based on a topic in the textbook 

• Oral Assessment 2: Small group discussion on a controversial issue 

• Other tasks: Online checkpoint tasks and midterm & end-of-course written assignments 

Attributes 

• Non-Chinese language background students who have previously learnt Mandarin for up to 300 tuition hours, or who have achieved a proficiency level of HSK 4 or above 

Exclusions 

• LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1123-1127 (prior to 2022-23) 

• LANG 1416, LANG 1421-1424 

Course outcomes 

• Understanding a varied range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures, engaging in elaborate conversations within academic, social and professional contexts, with better pronunciation and intonation. 

• Showing confident in talking to people, to work collaboratively in a group, to enhance awareness of cultural diversity, and to apply appropriate communicative skills in relation to the context, people involved and intended aims. 

Student testimonials 

• “The materials were easily accessible, convenient, and effective for learning the phrases and words that can be applied in real-life.” 

• “I found the materials useful, and the instructor and class very engaging.” 

• 「完成此課程，我的說話能力提高了，同時提高了分析和批判性思考能力。」 

• 「討論話題擴展了我的知識，令我深入理解當代中國，亦增加了文化意識。」 

This course will equip students with foundational reading and writing competence in daily and social situations. Topics include self-introduction; talking about family members, occupations, countries and nationalities; describing appearances, numbers and addresses, and time, date and daily schedule; and asking and giving directions. 

• Interactive online learning tasks on Canvas to enhance preparation and consolidation 

• Targeted instructional support and feedback addressing varied learner profiles 

• Written Assessments 1 & 2: Chinese character recognition, reading and writing tasks about the topics covered in the course  

• Other tasks: Online learning tasks and end-of-course reflection 

Attributes 

• Non-Chinese language background students who have previously learnt Mandarin Chinese for up to 50 tuition hours 

Exclusions 

• LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1122 -1127 (prior to 2022-23)  

• LANG 1412-1413, LANG 1415-1416, LANG 1421-1424 

Course outcomes 

• Confidence in reading and writing basic simplified Chinese 

• Ability to communicate appropriately in different situations 

• Skills to monitor and reflect on one’s own learning progress 

• Greater appreciation for cultural diversity 

Student testimonials

• "I learned a lot about writing in this lesson."
• "Best class ever!"
• "It becomes very stimulating with the introduction of the time, when we can start describing things that are not just strictly present more easily."
• "The classes connect learning with daily things to help better understanding."

Targeting at students of non-Chinese language background, this course focuses on enhancing students’ reading and writing skills, including their ability to recognize and write Chinese characters, as well as developing their understanding of written Chinese and writing competence for daily life and social situations. Topics include daily routines, weather, directions, sightseeing, etc. 

• Diverse learning tasks for preparation and consolidation 

• Communicative practice in using language through collaborative activities 

• Personalized learning by applying acquired knowledge to real-life experiences 

• Reading and writing assessments 1 & 2: To understand information from texts, recognize and write commonly used characters, and write short narrative or practical texts for daily life and social purposes.  

• Other tasks:  Reflective task and pre-class & post-class learning tasks. 

Attributes 

• Non-Chinese language background students who have previously learnt Mandarin Chinese for less than 100 tuition hours, or who have achieved a proficiency level of HSK 2 or equivalent 

Exclusions 

• LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1122 -1127 (prior to 2022-23)  

• LANG 1412-1413, LANG 1416, LANG 1421-1424 

Course outcomes 

• Confidence in reading and writing standard simplified Chinese 

• Greater sensitivity to cultural differences 

• Increased ownership of learning with enhanced self-directed learning skills 

Student testimonials  

• “I really loved the way there were discussions to engage. Also, there were interactive class exercises before and after class which helped to consolidate.” 
• “I really liked the learning material and topics ... they are useful in the everyday world ... the homework was very helpful to keep me on track ...” 

Enhancing students’ professional competitiveness through tailored training in spoken Putonghua and Standard Written Chinese, LANG 1416 emphasizes the development and application of effective language skills and communication strategies in making oral presentations, participating in group discussions, and producing commentaries on current affairs. 

The course is available in three streams. LANG 1416 C and P use Cantonese and Putonghua respectively as the medium of instruction, whereas 1416 I is mainly offered for students with Chinese proficiency lower than Chinese language background students but obviously higher than non-Chinese language background students. All three streams share the same course objectives, contents and assessment methods, and adopt Putonghua in assessment tasks. 

• Best practices for delivering professional knowledge in communication 

• Essential skills for perceptive and persuasive current affairs commentary 

• Structured guidance on reflective writing to enhance learning 

• Assessment 1: Present an innovative technology to a targeted audience while showcasing your knowledge and expertise. 

• Assessment 2: Comment on a current issue in an objective and unbiased manner during a group discussion, and compose a commentary on current affairs. 

Attributes 

• Students who attained Level 3 in Chinese Language in HKDSE or its equivalent for C and P sections 

• Students of Chinese language background coming from international schools for the I section 

Exclusions 

• LANG 1421-1424 

Course outcomes 

• Communicate effectively in spoken and written Chinese, using appropriate strategies to engage the audience or readers and showing critical thinking, problem-solving skills and cultural awareness. 

• Develop confidence in conversations, and learn to participate in small group activities cooperatively. 

Student testimonials 

• 「我覺得這一門課不單止所教的內容有趣，還有課程難度適合我們去提升中文水平，啟發了我對中文的興趣。專業知識的口頭報告和時事討論給我機會去講普通話。另外，兩者的題目選擇彈性和自由度很大，這樣的課程安排讓我有更大的動機去學中文。」 

• 「科大這個中文課真的給了我一些可以實用的中文技能，幫助我能有效表達自己心裏想寫的東西，如果沒有字數和時間的限制，我應該會寫得更多。」 

Student work showcase 

LANG1421 aims to enhance students’ abilities to use Chinese effectively in the context of digital media for social, professional, and academic purposes. It will also help raise students’ awareness of the new linguistic demands of living and working in the contemporary Chinese community. 

• Integration of digital literacy and Chinese communication for digital natives 

• Digital communication context-oriented language learning 

• Training for personalized and creative Chinese speaking and writing 

• Assessment 1 (differentiated): A short talk in a video, a blog, OR a blog with an embedded video commentary 

• Assessment 2: A group webcast AND an individual social media post for an original public welfare project 

• Students who have a background in Chinese and a strong interest in the use of Chinese in digital media 

• Exclusions: LANG 1411-1415, LANG 1120-1127 (prior to 2022-23) 

Course outcomes 

• Critically analyze information obtained from worldwide sources of Chinese digital media. 

• Make full use of sophisticated skills to speak in Putonghua and write in Standard Chinese to communicate ideas on digital media platforms 

Student testimonials 

• 「在 13 個星期的課業中我經歷了從應用數字工具到探索溝通的本質的轉變。通過課業，我對中文寫作產生了更濃厚的興趣，而且我體驗和學到了以觀衆為本位的内容設計思路，得到了在數字工具與内容製作中尋找平衡點的體悟。」 

• 「身為視頻剪輯的『小白』，我從抗拒到練習，逐漸扭轉了過去只關注文字內容的思維方式。在學習了同學們評估一的作品之後，我意識到多模態的材料不僅可以吸引新媒體時代受眾的閱讀興趣，還可以在適當的位置佐證或突出觀點。於是在評估二B的寫作中，我也開始有意識的進行文字的加粗、排列以突出重點，還引入了圖片材料來證明活動的真實性。」 

• 「這學期最重要的收穫，是培養了『文化語境』的思維習慣。現在準備任何內容時，我都會先站在受眾的文化背景思考：『這樣的表達符合他們的文化背景嗎？能理解嗎？』這種思維轉變，讓我體會到新媒體只是媒介，而溝通的核心永遠在於人與人之間的理解與連結。」 

LANG1422 enhances students’ workplace communication skills through targeted training in professional writing and speaking. It focuses on practical applications such as preparing for job interviews and developing solutions to workplace-related problems using appropriate Chinese communication strategies. 

• Authentic workplace communication simulations 

• Systematic instruction in professional Chinese writing genres 

• Oral persuasive skills for professional presentations and stakeholder engagement 

• Assessment 1: Impress employers with a confident self-introduction and clear responses in a simulated job interview. 

• Assessment 2: Solve real workplace problems in a field through a group proposal and engaging team presentation. 

• Native speakers of Chinese 

• Those preparing for future careers 

• Interested in improving professional Chinese writing and speaking skills 

• Exclusion: LANG 1411-1415, LANG 1120-1127 (prior to 2022-23) 

Course outcomes 

Communicate effectively in spoken and written Chinese for professional contexts, using appropriate strategies, problem-solving skills, and cultural awareness. 

Student testimonials 

• 「课程内容既实际又有趣，尤其是视频履历、撰写建议书和资金申请书的练习。这些活动极大地提升了我在求职过程中的能力，让我感受到理论与实践的结合。」 

• 「匯報的機會讓我找到了追尋我夢想的感覺。我一直以來都想創業且四處進行路演，只不過在全英文的環境中，我覺得很難突破。這次的機會讓我更加確信自己的志向，並能激發我更進一步的努力。」 

Student work showcase

Designed for students with Chinese language background, this course focuses on developing their skills in critical thinking, cross-cultural interaction, teamwork and self-learning. The course adopts a context-based approach, aimed at raising students’ concern about social issues. 

• Development of Global Competency 

• Effective information gathering from various materials on hot global issues 

• Use of standard Chinese for writing different types of articles 

• Assessment 1: Oral and Written Recommendation for a Youth-Friendly City 

• Assessment 2: Speech and Commentary on “Gen Z and the Shifting 21st Century” 

• Native speakers of Chinese 

• Individuals interested in globally hot topics 

• Exclusions: LANG 1411-1415, LANG 1120-1127 (prior to 2022-23) 

Course outcomes 

Express well-reasoned opinions on social issues in both spoken and written Chinese, based on critical thinking, audience awareness, and contextual understanding. 

Student testimonials 

• “Video footages are included which help me to understand more about the relevant skills required for the assignment, e.g. spoken language.” 

Student work showcase 

LANG1424 enhances students’ Chinese writing and analytical skills through cultural studies. It focuses on describing cultural phenomena, summarizing literature, and constructing critical arguments while fostering cultural awareness. 

• Cultural analysis and critique 

• Critical thinking and logical argumentation on cultural issues 

• Major assessments: Analytical writing and cultural critique on selected cultural issues and concepts 

• Other assessments: Peer evaluation, online exercises, and reflective tasks 

• Students with a background in Chinese 

• Those interested in academic writing and cultural studies 

• Exclusions: LANG 1411-1415, LANG 1120-1127 (prior to 2022-23) 

Course outcomes 

• Coherent academic Chinese writing skills 

• Logical argumentation and enhanced cultural awareness 

Student testimonials 

• 「本課程啟發我如何根據不同的場景，將課堂上學到的運用在自己的專業領域中。」 

• 「課程給我構建了一套完整的理論框架，為我的學術生涯做好了充足的前期準備。」 

• 「這門課對我的影響不僅體現在撰寫文章的能力這一層面，更是在潛移默化中影響了我思維的方式，並辯證地看待之前我習以為常的觀點。我抱著想要學習中文學術寫作的目的報了這門課，但收穫卻遠超最初的期待。」