Abstract
The proposed project aims to improve teaching efficiency by revising the current curricula with the help of external review for two Modern Languages programmes: German and Spanish. First, 30 students at each of the two levels (A1 & A2) in Spanish and German pragrammes will participate in the two official language tests: Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE for Spanish) and Goethe Zertifikat (for German). These students will also be required to fill in a questionnaire to provide their feedback on the current curricula. The test results and the feedback will be collected and analyzed according to the reference levels defined by Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). The analyzed data (together with the current curricula) will be reported to external reviewers during pedagogical meetings at CUHK. After the meetings, external experts will issue a review report on the current curricula including their evaluations, comments and suggestions for improvement. The pedagogical teams will work on the reviews to revise the curricula. The project will help the teachers of the German and Spanish programmes to improve their curricula and pedagogical efficiency so as to bring the students up to the level of expectations of CEFR. After this project is completed, external reviewing will also be implemented in other language programmes in the department such as Korean and French. The project will not only improve language teaching, but also provide valuable reference for curricula renewal for language programmes in CUHK and in Hong Kong.
Brief write-up
Project objectives
The project aims to revise the curricula and improve the pedagogical efficiency of two modern language programs at CUHK: German and Spanish. It also aims to lead students to enjoy learning modern languages with more effective teaching approaches and to bring students up to the level of expectations fixed in Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR).
Activities, process and outcomes
70 students from German and Spanish language programs took part in the official language tests. Two external experts, one for German and one for Spanish, thoroughly reviewed and evaluated the current curricula, course materials, assignments, exam papers, students’ homework and productions in exams (both recorded oral work and written work) for all the language courses in German and Spanish programs as well as the results of the official language tests. Each of the two external experts had a meeting with the full-time teachers from each pedagogical team. External experts raised questions on the curricula design, the pedagogical materials, the organization of the teaching activities, and the activities to promote modern languages at CUHK. They shared much valuable experience with our teachers, and provided suggestions for the improvement of the current curricula. One external expert had a separate meeting with some students and had a chance to know students’ need from the perspectives of learners. Then, the two external experts issued final review reports, based on which German team and Spanish team revised the current curricula for language courses.
Deliverables and evaluation
The results will be evaluated through students’ performance in listening, speaking, reading and writing after taking language courses under the revised curricula.
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
The revised curricula will be uploaded to the department website and publicly shared from September 2022.
Impact on teaching and learning
It is expected that the revised curricula will improve the pedagogical and learning efficiency in German and Spanish programs. The engagement of students in the revision of curricula is an important factor, which helps teachers know better the need of students.
