Guidelines for Chinese Course Selection.

Guidelines for Chinese Course Selection

 

Introduction

The Chinese Communication Common Core course is an integral part of the HKUST Common Core Program, and students must complete one of these courses to fulfil the requirements for graduation. Because students come to HKUST with widely varying Chinese learning backgrounds and proficiency levels, the Center for Language Education (CLE) offers two categories of Chinese Communication Common Core courses: one for students with a Chinese language background and one for students without a Chinese language background. 

To help students take ownership of their studies and build self-management skills, the CLE provides Chinese Course Selection guidelines to help them choose a course suited to their level. Instructors may also require students to drop a course that does not match their proficiency, based on their assessment of the student's learning needs and level. Students who decline to do so may receive an "F" grade at the end of the course. 

For the course selection process, please note the following: 

  1. Students are expected to assess their own language proficiency honestly and to exercise integrity throughout the course selection process. 

  1. Following instructors' advice, students may switch to a more suitable course during the add/drop period or in future semesters. 

  1. Students who are seriously considering taking a course should attend it during the add/drop period, so as not to miss important information about the course. 

 

Procedures

According to your Chinese language background, please select an appropriate Chinese course group below for the corresponding guidelines.

課程組別: 面向中文為母語的學生

course group: for non-Chinese language background students

 

FAQs

Enquiries on course registration can be sent to lcstdadvice@ust.hk.

QDo I have to attend a placement interview to be recommended a Chinese course?

No.  Students can select a Chinese course by themselves according to the above guidelines and procedures.   Non-Chinese language background students can refer to this guideline for details.

QCan I seek advice from course coordinators or class instructors?

Yes, you may. Please refer to this Course Coordinator Contact List for details.

QWhat should I do if I have already met the enrolment requirements?

Please add the course you plan to take on the Student Information System (SIS) directly. Please note that instructor consent is required for the courses for Non-Chinese language background students.

QHow do I register for a Chinese Communication course on SIS and obtain instructor consent?

Please follow the procedure below: 

  1. Complete the online form corresponding to your language background (DSE / True Beginners / Others). 

  1. You will receive a course recommendation from the Chinese Course Registration System (CCRS) within 2–3 working days. 

  1. If the recommended course is not suitable for you, please complete the Chinese Course Registration Advising (CCRA) form promptly to request individual advising. 

  1. If the recommended course is suitable for you, submit an approval request on SIS and await consent from CLE, which will be processed within 2–3 working days. 

  1. If you find the course unsuitable during the Add/Drop period, please contact your course instructor promptly to arrange an adjustment in the CCRA system and resubmit an approval request on SIS. 

QWhy can I not register for the LANG 1416I directly on the SIS?

LANG 1416I is designed for students with special language learning needs whose Chinese proficiency is typically lower than that of Chinese-background students but higher than that of non-Chinese-background students. Instructor consent is therefore required for registration. 

To register, please submit a request on SIS and attend classes as scheduled. The class instructor will assess whether the course is suitable for you before granting consent. Please note that instructor consent is similarly required for LANG 1511–1515. 

QI have submitted an approval request on SIS but have not yet received a response from the instructor. When will my request be approved?

As instructors handle a high volume of requests, please allow 2–3 working days for your SIS approval request to be processed. We appreciate your patience.

Q If I find the course I have enrolled in unsuitable after attending class, can I still change to another class?

Yes, you may. Please consult your class instructor first and ensure that all necessary procedures are completed before the end of the Add/Drop period.

QWhat if I fail to enroll in a course due to oversubscription?

You will need to enroll in the course in a future semester.

QCan I take more than one Chinese Communication course?

Yes, you may take more than one Chinese Communication course as a free elective. 

QI am a student on a Taught Postgraduate (TPG) programme. Am I eligible to take credit-bearing, Common Core Chinese courses?

TPG students are not eligible to take Common Core Chinese Communication courses, as TPG programmes are self-financed (i.e. not funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC)).

QCan I add or drop courses after the Add/Drop period?

Requests to add or withdraw from a course after the Add/Drop period will not be accepted except under extenuating circumstances, and require the approval of the course instructor, the student's major department, and the Dean (or the Dean's designate).

QCan I apply for credit transfer for Chinese Communication courses?

No. Chinese Communication courses have been designed to be sufficiently demanding even for students whose first language or educational background is Chinese. Therefore, credit transfer is not applicable for these courses.