Abstract
To be in line with CUHK’s strategic plans to support language enhancement, eLearning and internationalization, as well as the new strategic directions of encouraging both local and non-local students to learn a foreign language; this project proposes to develop Cantonese as a second language (CanSL) taster courses for CUHK students. Two CanSL courses, including one CanSL taster course for international students (1 unit) and one CanSL taster course for Mandarin-speaking students (1 unit), will be developed in this project. These two taster courses are designed as self-paced asynchronous online language courses providing multimedia learning materials and systematic curriculum to equip CUHK students with some basic Cantonese phrases and to arouse students’ interest in Cantonese language as well as their incentive to continue learning the language. The proposed curriculum presents Cantonese usage in basic daily scenarios and helps student familiarize themselves in these social settings. The two CanSL taster courses focus on helping students engage in basic daily social interaction using Cantonese. The two courses aim to engage students in exploring new learning experiences of Cantonese through innovative technology and pedagogical design. The courses will be offered via asynchronous online mode through a CUHK eLearning platform named KEEP. The two courses offer students flexibility in course enrolment and study mode in order to promote second/foreign language learning with less pressure from assessment and grades. The two taster courses can motivate students to further their language learning by enrolling in 3-unit language courses after completion of the 1-unit online taster courses.
Brief write-up
Project objectives
Yale-China Chinese Language Centre (CLC) offers credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing Cantonese as a second language courses to CUHK international students and Mandarin-speaking students. All credit-bearing and non-credit bearing Cantonese courses have asynchronous micro-module to enhance Cantonese learning outside language classroom. The needs analysis (TDLEG 2016-19 project: CSL Initiatives: Needs analysis and Tutorial System) conducted in 2018 and surveys done by CUHK indicate that there is a growing need of an asynchronous online course offering to these 2 groups of CUHK students and students can learn Cantonese at their own pace. This project fills this gap and provide more choices for CUHK students. The project develops 2 asynchronous online Cantonese courses to CUHK international students and Mandarin-speaking students.
Activities, process and outcomes
Two Cantonese taster courses have been created in KEEP and are being offered to CUHK students.
1. CLCC1001 Cantonese Taster Course for CUHK International Students (1 unit)
Course description:
This course is an asynchronous online course offering to CUHK International students. This taster course focuses on helping students start engaging in basic daily social interaction using Cantonese.
2. CLCC1101 Cantonese Taster Course for CUHK Mandarin-speaking Students (1 unit)
Course description:
This course is an asynchronous online course offering to CUHK Mandarin-speaking students. This taster course focuses on helping students start engaging in basic daily social interaction using Cantonese.
Deliverables and evaluation
A set of questionnaires has been designed and will be disseminate to enrolled students to collect feedback. A 6-point scale was used in the online course evaluation. Students showed satisfaction with the course (CLCC1001:4/6; CLCC1101: 4.33/6). Students reflected that “course content is of appropriate difficulty” (CLCC1001) and the course “shows some examples of the usage of some simple words and phrases of Cantonese” (CLCC1101).
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
The 2 Cantonese taster courses are publicized in Yale-China Chinese Language Centre’s official website and newsletter. Collaboration has been established with Postgraduate Hall and colleges to disseminate promotional materials. Promotional materials are also disseminated via CUHK mass mail.
Impact on teaching and learning
This project supports the internationalization initiatives of the University with innovative course design and teaching methodology. This project also encourages CUHK students to learn a second/third language and promote Internationalization at Home.
