President's Award
The English Language Centre is honoured with the President’s Award for Excellent Performance/Achievement in the “Services” category by academic staff in 2012. The winning team comprises Dr Julia Chen (Team Leader), Dr Juliana Chau, Ms Shari Lughmani, Dr Svetlana Chigaeva, Miss Winnie Wu, Dr Joe Ching, Dr Jane Robbins, Mr James Evans, Dr Voyce Li, Mr Helton Tang, Miss Emily Chan and Ms Marie Ng.
The team started working with secondary school English language teachers in the spring of 2010, training them in areas such as the acquisition and evaluation of English writing and reading skills, and assessment for learning. The project was such a resounding success that it was re-run the following year, and expanded to include reading and writing training for S5 students and speaking skills training for S6 students. These projects together reached around 60 teachers and 2000 students from 36 secondary schools in two and a half years, and provided services benefiting various stakeholders, including English language learning and teaching in the PolyU, since the findings gathered in these projects contributed to the development of LCR subjects in the 4-year curriculum.
The President’s Awards Presentation Ceremony was held on 14 December, 2012 at the Jockey Club Auditorium. A press conference for the ELC winning team was scheduled for the same day and the ELC Award was reported in four local newspapers.
Julia Chen
NSS Project Leader
ELC launches high-level LCR English courses
This semester the ELC has launched its advanced elective courses for students with a higher proficiency in English. These are for our students who entered PolyU with the highest DSE grades in English (5 and above) and completed the advanced-level core LCR subject, Advanced English for University Study, in Semester 1. This semester these students have chosen from three electives on offer Advanced English Reading and Writing Skills, Persuasive Communication and English in Literature and Film.
A second course for Higher Diploma students, English Communication Skills 2, has also been launched this semester along with the ELC’s first learning service subject, Advancing English Oral Presentation through Teaching.
Advanced English Reading and Writing Skills (ELC2011) is suitable for students who have a general interest in reading and writing English materials. It focuses on both leisure and critical readings, and encourages students to write reflections and articles that truly matter to them. It aims to help them become more effective readers, focusing on developing their facility to read a variety of texts in a critical manner, and being able to discuss the stance of the writer as well as their own reflective response to a text.
On successful completion, students will be able to examine a variety of texts, including literary texts, and
- identify salient ideas and implications
- distinguish unsupported claims from supported ones, and fallacies from valid arguments
- produce critical or interpretative texts which discuss and evaluate texts and writer positions and
- write and discuss critical responses to various texts.
Persuasive Communication (ELC 2012) helps student to develop persuasive speaking and writing abilities in the context of topical issues both internationally and in the Hong Kong community. Students learn persuasive strategies and language, then apply them in class and in assignments.
At the end of the semester, students should be able to communicate persuasively and effectively in an English-medium environment through
- writing persuasive texts intended for a variety of audiences
- communicating persuasively in oral presentations and
- making persuasive arguments in formal discussions
English in Literature and Film (ELC 2013) introduces students to a range of literary genres in English and aims to enable them to consider differences in media representations of genres, and to appreciate and negotiate the meanings of a variety of literary texts. It is also intended that the subject will help students further develop literacy, as well as higher order thinking and life-long learning skills. It pairs up literature with a film companion, in three compact units – Prose, Poetry, and Drama, examining their relationship to each other and the influences they may have on students’ lives.
Upon successful completion, students will be able to
- examine and analyse literary texts on various themes from different perspectives
- discuss literary techniques employed by writers
- appreciate and articulate differences in textual and visual media representations
Advancing English Oral Presentation through Teaching (ELC2S01/2002) aims to help students develop the knowledge, language and skills needed to deliver effective presentations in different contexts. Through engaging them in a teaching service component, in which subject participants facilitate an English reading programme for Chinese mainland primary school children, they develop a stronger sense of social, civic and national responsibility.
By the end of the semester, students will be able to
- plan, structure and deliver presentations that meet different needs and speaking purposes
- deliver presentations with clear articulation and vocal variety
- apply the knowledge and skills learnt to deal with some of the complex issues in the service setting
- develop a sense of empathy for learners who need assistance in learning English
- reflect on their role as a responsible member of the community
English Communication Skills II (ELC 0012) aims to help Higher Diploma students to study effectively in the University’s English medium learning environment, and to improve and develop their English language proficiency for study and work purposes.
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- participate actively in group discussions
- use appropriate tone and style in workplace related written communication
- write effective short reports
Semester 1 in figures
We were all expecting semester 1 of this academic year to be bigger than ever, but just how big was it? Here is Semester 1 at the ELC in Figures:
Total number of students taught by the ELC in Semester 1: |
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3YC students across |
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subjects | ||||||||||
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4YC students taking the ELC’s |
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new LCR subjects, comprising: | ||||||||||
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students taking English for University Study | ||||||||||||
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HD students taking English Communication I | ||||||||||||
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students taking Practical English for University Study |
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students taking Advanced English for University Study | ||||||||||||
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students taking English Learning Enhancement courses |
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students took |
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CAR subjects with the English Reading |
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other PolyU departments.
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One of these was the ELC’s first CAR subject, Science fiction as a reflection on humanity, taken by |
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Number of postgraduate students |
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ELC to host Writing Roundtable
The ELC is hosting a one-day Writing Roundtable on 24 May 2013. It will bring together English Language teachers from tertiary institutions, and creative writers and professionals from literary fields in Hong Kong, for a discussion on how students' academic and creative literacy could be supported across various academic disciplines and through different genres.
The Writing Roundtable will be conducted in the format of panel discussions in creative and academic strands where participants will share their experiences and opinions. Having met the first cohort of the four-year undergraduate university curriculum, this roundtable will allow us to share rich experiences.
Keynote speakers for the creative and academic strands are author Xu Xi and Dr Paul Stapleton respectively.
For more information on how to register, visit the ELC Writing Roundtable website at http://writingroundtable.elc.polyu.edu.hk/
Shari Lughmani
Roundtable organsiser
English classics, contemporary best-sellers, short stories, titles from movies – these were just some of the books showcased in the ELC English Book Fair 2013 (6 to 8 February) at the Centre for Independent Language Learning (A305) of the ELC. This annual event ran for the third time this year with the help of ELC Reading Group and Swindon Book Company Limited, aiming to further cultivate an interest in reading English books among PolyU students and staff. The books in the fair had been carefully selected by ELC teachers, and the fair met with an enthusiastic response from students and staff of different departments. Hope to see you again at the fair next time!
David Wong
Book Fair Co-ordinator
In Semester 1 and early Semester 2, the Centre for Independent Language Learning (CILL) held four seminars on very different topics. The first was on "How to think and respond quickly in English for oral presentation/impromptu speech" which was met with an overwhelming response on 31 October 2012. Our speaker was Mr Barnabas Cheung, who is a past President of the Victoria Toastmasters Club of Hong Kong. He was also the first recipient of the Patrick Chim Most-Distinguished Toastmaster Memorial Award and Toastmaster of the Year in Hong Kong. Participants were very interested in the seminar which was very interactive. The participants enjoyed the session very much and learnt a lot, some of the students even standing up to deliver impromptu talks, trying to think on their feet.
The next CILL seminar was entitled “How to become a smart writer at University: Exploring secrets of editing and developing writing” and was held on 21 November 2012. The speaker was Ms Shari Lughmani, who is Senior Lecturer in ELC and has taught and developed materials for academic, business and creative writing. The seminar was well received and participants have learnt smart ways of revising work related to the English Reading and Writing Requirements in the four-year curriculum.
The third seminar was held on 6 December 2012 and the speaker was Mr Alfred Lee. Sharing on the title “Plato’s Fear: How the power of language works”, Alfred led the participants to explore the power in a simple three-step approach and learn how English language works for learners, and participants enjoyed the talk very much.
In order to enhance the reading culture on campus, the fourth CILL seminar "What to read after Tuesdays with Morrie" was held on 8 February 2013, and a 3-day book fair was also held from 6 to 8 February in CILL. Our speaker was Ms Sannie Tang, who is a Language Instructor and the Reading Group coordinator of the ELC. Participants were interested in Sannie's insightful sharing as Sannie introduced lots of very good books. They raised questions on how to read for pleasure and borrow interesting readers from CILL and the library.
CILL Book of the Month
In line with the PolyU's promotion of reading, the CILL team recommends a 'Book of the Month' each month. Background information, movie DVDs and the readers are provided in CILL for our users to consult as they read the books, and we hope these extra resources will enhance their reading experience. We hope you enjoy the books we have chosen. Here are our book picks for the next few months:
March - Last Light by Alex Scarrow
April - Vernon God Little Little by DBC Pierre
May - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Jun - Good Will Hunting by Matt Damon & Ben Affleck
July - The Secrets of a Family Album by Isla Dewar
Aug - Switch Back by David Alexander
Joe Ching
CILL Co-ordinator
After their first semester here at PolyU we asked our new teachers to introduce themselves and tell us what they think of life at PolyU.
Hello, I’m Nalini Chavali and I am from India. I have been in Hong Kong since 1978 – back then it was a very different city (at least from my perspective!). I’ve been an English teacher since 1995 – first at the secondary level and later on, at university. I joined the ELC last September and I must say it has been a great experience. I have met a lot of interesting students who have a great deal of enthusiasm and zest for life. On the whole, it has been a very positive and enjoyable experience. My interests are travelling to exciting destinations, trying out new recipes and reading. I am also fascinated by Hong Kong’s exciting back streets and alleys – I can never get tired of them. Last semester, one of my students embarked on a project to document them - his black and white photographs of Mong Kok’s street markets were absolutely stunning!
Hello! My name is Monica Chavez and I’m thrilled to be able to tell you a little bit about me. I have a first degree in Psychology from the University of Tamaulipas and a MA and PhD in applied linguistics from the University of Liverpool. Parallel to my undergraduate studies, I took a certificate in English language teaching (ICELT) from the University of Cambridge. After several years teaching General English I developed a love for academic language: the formality, clarity and precision of scientific language captivated me. Following my passion, I embarked on a PhD about the way writers and readers interact with each other in scientific texts. I have taught English in Mexico, the UK and now Hong Kong, and as much as teaching is my main passion, I’m also interested in positive psychology, entrepreneurship and learning other languages.
Hello, I’m Denise Cheung. I was born and bred in Hong Kong. Having finished my undergraduate studies in translation and interpretation, I worked briefly as a translator with the government and then joined the anti-corruption body as an investigator. The 5-year challenging graft-busting experience has confirmed that disciplinary force is not what I’m after. I took a break and continued my studies in translation and interpretation in the UK, where I explored my interest in teaching and language by further taking a post-graduate course in TESOL. After coming back to Hong Kong, I started teaching English, from which I find the sheer enjoyment of helping students improve their learning and apply their language skills through interacting with them and understanding their needs. Teaching at PolyU is simply an extension of this pleasure. As an avid film-goer, cinema is my second home. Films give me an opportunity to understand the way in which different cultures use images and language to tell their stories in a different way, not to mention providing an excellent springboard for learning a language.
My name is Zuzana Chvatíková. I have BA and MA in Teaching English as a Second Language and Certificate of English Teaching to Adults, as well as BA in Music. I have taught in The Czech Republic, Australia and Hong Kong. Teaching PolyU students has so far been an unforgettable experience. I am mainly interested in teaching language skills in a practical way where I use methodology that enables students to have an excellent chance to use the skills, they have just learned, in real tasks. Such approach is very suitable for face-to-face lessons, where I make full use of the uniqueness of the personal encounter and the concentration inter-group communication allows. As a result, students not only learn new language skills but they also realize why they need to have them, which subsequently gives them confidence and further enables them to keep improving without much external help. Such approach has brought great results throughout my career and I have particularly enjoyed applying it at ELC courses at Polyu.
Howdy, I’m Geff Heathman. I was born and bred in California – the fruit and nut state. Though I have now lived about half of my life in Asia, I still regard California as an amazing place; you could experience an earthquake, visit the awesome national parks and beaches, or even witness a drive-by shooting. Life in Hong Kong has been equally enchanting; I especially enjoy hiking the trails of Lantau, BBQing by the beach, and jostling about on the MTR.
Hello, I’m Lucas Kohnke and I was born in the year of the Dragon. I have been fascinated with Asia since I first discovered egg rolls. I’m an avid traveler and passionate food lover and can often be found trying out new eateries around HK during my spare time. I’m looking forward to working with you at PolyU.
Hello! I’m Adrian Ting. I was born in Hong Kong but lived in the UK for many years. As an avid language learner (or as a rather hopeless science student), I chose to study French and Spanish at school and Swedish at university. I then went on to obtaining the Cambridge CELTA and started my career teaching overseas students studying in London. Since returning to Hong Kong in 2001, I have taught English to many different age groups and levels, ranging from kindergarteners to in-service teaching professionals. I look forward to working with you at PolyU!
