English Courses
Source: https://cle.hkust.edu.hk/courses/common-core/english Parent: https://join.hkust.edu.hk/zh-hans/admissions
Breadcrumb
English Courses
- About Our Courses
- Common Core Courses
- Program Required Courses
- Other Courses
- MA ILE
- MOOCs and APPs
- Undergraduate English Pathways
- Course Syllabus
Other Courses MA ILE MOOCs and APPs
Undergraduate English Pathways
Which courses should I take?
English courses for undergraduate students admitted in 2024-25 or after:
Students are streamed to different pathways according to their English qualifications on admission:
- Courses for Pathway 1: for students who have met the English admission requirement.
- Courses for Pathway 2: for students who whose proficiency level is beyond the English language admission requirement.
HERE are the details of the streaming criteria.
For submission of English Language qualifications for streaming, students please present physical true copy of their public exam results to the Academic Registry (Room 1381, 1/F, Academic Building, Lifts 17-18).
English courses for undergraduate students admitted in 2022-23 or 2023-24
English courses for undergraduate students admitted in 2021-22 or before
Common Core Courses
English Communication Area: English for University Studies (EUS) Course
- LANG 1402
English for University Studies
### Course Description
This is an English for Academic Purpose (EAP) course with a primary focus on language development and proficiency. The course also helps students develop academic literacy skills.
### Highlights
- Developing effective language skills and language learning habits and practices
- Evaluating useful and appropriate resources and learning strategies for university education
- Exploring multiple perspectives in academic discussions
### Assessments
- Speaking Task 1: Give a spoken monologue and engage in academic group discussion
- Speaking Task 2: Deliver a short academic speech
- Writing Task: Write a short academic essay
- Self-Directed Learning (SDL) Tasks and Activities: 3 required tasks which help students achieve their language learning goals and a reflective writing task
### Target Students
- Required course for first year Pathway 1 students.
- Students are pre-registered into different streams based on their English language proficiency upon admission to HKUST.
### Learning Experience
#### Student testimonials
- “The course makes me more confident on speaking English."
- “Feedback is very useful."
#### Course outcomes
- develop logical arguments in academic writing and speaking
- select appropriate content and language for the audience, context and purpose; for spoken and written contexts
English Communication Area: English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) Courses
- LANG 1406
Academic English for Business Studies
### Course Description
LANG1406 aims to develop ability to communicate accurately and appropriately to business audiences –with critical thinking, collaboration and creativity–in business contexts in the university and beyond.
### Highlights
- Chatbot and interactive microlearning support for assessment development
- Communicative practice with personalized feedback
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: Work with a group to persuade a business audience with a pitch about a real-world business communication problem in Hong Kong.
- Assessment 2: Inspire a business audience with your written business proposal for a business innovation to solve a real-world business communication problem in Hong Kong.
- Other tasks: in-class checkpoints and end-of-course language test.
### Target Students
Required course for all business students.
### Learning Experience
#### Student testimonials
- "I believe this course has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and valuable feedback, and I consider it an excellent foundation for starting my bachelor's degree."
- “LANG 1406 is a course that has helped me improve a lot in presentations and writing.”
Download Syllabus - LANG 1407
Academic English for Engineering Studies
### Course Description
LANG1407 aims to develop ability to communicate appropriately to target audiences with critical thinking, collaboration and creativity in engineering contexts in the university and beyond.
### Highlights
- Chatbot and interactive microlearning support for assessment development
- Communicative practice with personalized feedback
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: Enhancing ability to communicate with clarity and precision in engineering contexts through a creative project.
- Assessment 2: Building communication and critical thinking skills by analysing real-world problems with peers and integrating feedback into your learning process.
- Other tasks: in-class checkpoints and end-of-course language test
### Target Students
Required course for all engineering students
### Learning Experience
#### Course outcomes
- gain a clear understanding of key ethical issues engineers face in professional practice.
- learn how to analyze engineering topics and deliver confident, well-structured presentations.
- develop the ability to reference appropriate engineering codes of ethics when needed.
- build teamwork and collaboration skills through engaging group assignments.
Download Syllabus - LANG 1408
Academic English for Humanities and Social Science Studies
### Course Description
This course develops transferable academic literacy skills in researching and developing a credible and persuasive academic argument through a range of communication methods. This takes place within the context of the humanities and social science discipline.
### Highlights
- Chatbot and interactive micro-learning support for assessment development
- Communicative practice with personalized feedback
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: enhance your ability to critique source material through a spoken critique forum
- Assessment 2: produce discipline-related texts through a written argumentative essay
- Other tasks: in-class checkpoints and end-of-course language test
### Target Students
Required course for all undergraduate on Global China Studies and Quantitative Social Analysis programs.
### Learning Experience
Gain transferable skills such as literature searches and literature evaluation, building a persuasive argument and appropriate use of multimodal and linguistic features to communicate to a particular audience.
#### Sample of previous student infographic poster
Download Syllabus - LANG 1409
Academic English for Science Studies
### Course Description
LANG1409 aims to develop ability to communicate appropriately to target audiences–with critical thinking, collaboration and creativity–in science contexts in the university and beyond.
### Highlights
- Chatbot and interactive microlearning support for assessment development
- Communicative practice with personalized feedback
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: Inspire the public with a science concept through a short science talk
- Assessment 2: Interest the public in your science research through a scientific blog post
- Other tasks: in-class checkpoints and end-of-course language test
### Target Students
Required course for all science students
### Learning Experience
#### Student testimonials
- “Every scientist needs to be able to engage other people in science. This course made me understand how I can have more impact as a scientist.”
- “I learned how to make science interesting to other people!”
- “As I'm planning to work in the science field or in science communication, this course has been extremely useful to me. I learnt how to cite and find sources properly and this course aroused my interest in communicating science to the public and debunking their misunderstandings.”
- “It has been a valuable and memorable part of my university experience. I have gained a lot from the learning materials you provided, especially in understanding and applying synthesis techniques.”
- “All the explanations were very clear and all the in-class activities helped acquire and consolidate the course content. As a result, I feel like I have learnt a lot of useful knowledge and skills that I am certain to use in subsequent language courses and my life in general.”
English Communication Area: Advanced Communication Courses
- LANG 2063
Writing for Workplace Success
### Course Description
LANG2063 helps master workplace writing by focusing on thoughtful approaches and strategies to craft impactful communication that adapts to diverse professional scenarios.
### Highlights
- Combines theory and practice in workplace communication
- Focuses on real-world authenticity, reflecting workplace communication dynamics and challenges
- Includes checkpoints to support steady progress
### Assessments
- Individual Workplace Scenario Project: Create professional documents for a hypothetical startup, explaining writing choices for audience, purpose, and context. (spoken and written components)
- Group Genre Analysis Project: Analyze a chosen workplace genre, applying strategies to build transferable skills for future professional contexts. (spoken and written components)
### Target Students
- Ideal for students who want to enhance their workplace communication skills and learn how to craft effective, audience-focused messages. It is especially suited for those seeking to apply communication theories to real-world scenarios and develop transferable writing strategies.
- Prerequisite(s): LANG 1403, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409
- Exclusion(s): LANG2061
### Learning Experience
#### Student Testimonials
- “I learned that each time you write a document in a new genre, you can do some analysis to write it effectively.”
- “I learned how language and format and even minor details can affect how your message is perceived by your readers.”
#### Course outcomes
- Practical workplace writing skills that are adaptable across industries, enabling you to craft professional workplace communication with clarity and impact.
- Confidence in analyzing and producing audience-focused messages by applying communication theories and strategies to real-world scenarios.
Download Syllabus - LANG 2064
Speaking for Workplace Success
### Course Description
LANG 2064 develops advanced spoken communication skills to influence workplace audiences, focusing on personal branding, intercultural awareness, crisis management, and effective business meeting and communication strategies.
### Highlights
- Communicative practice based on business scenarios with personalized feedback
- Interactive microlearning support for assessment development
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: Engage potential employers and investors by creating a Personal Branding Video.
- Assessment 2: Develop effective business meeting strategies by applying both intercultural communication and politeness theories in a written Business Meeting Reflection.
- Assessment 3: Enhance crisis response strategies and communication by drafting a press statement and conducting a simulated crisis press conference.
- Other tasks: Complete microlearning lessons supporting course assessments. Complete peer evaluation and crisis press conference reflection.
### Target Students
- Designed for students who are:
- curious about language use and interactions in professional and intercultural contexts
- interested in careers involving strong communication skills
- aiming to enhance their career prospects by developing a personal brand
- Pre-requisites: LANG 1403, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409
- Exclusion(s): LANG 2062
### Learning Experience
Gain transferable skills in persuasive communication, critical analysis, intercultural competence, crisis management, personal branding, and effective workplace interaction to influence and lead in diverse professional settings.
Download Syllabus - LANG 2065
Research Writing
### Course Description
LANG 2065 equips students from any discipline to confidently tackle advanced academic writing for research projects and adapt academic texts for public audiences to engage and persuade.
### Highlights
- Explore common and discipline-specific conventions to effectively adapt your academic writing style.
- Learn advanced synthesis, citation strategies and rhetorical techniques to critically position your ideas and stance.
- Use Gen AI tools and chatbots to support research and writing with academic integrity.
### Assessments
- A critical analysis of research writing in your discipline
- A research report from a small-scale research project
- Repurposing research to engage through infographics
- Review peers’ writing and evaluate peers’ contributions to teamwork
### Target Students
- Ideal for undergraduate students planning to pursue or currently engaged in research work or who simply want to develop in advanced academic writing skills
- Prerequisite(s): LANG 1003, 1403, 1404, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409
- Exclusion: LANG 3060
### Learning Experience
#### Student testimonial
“Many of the topics we covered would be relevant in completing our UROP summer coursework or final thesis, thus I am very satisfied with the content and structure of the course.”
#### Transferable skills
- Use Gen AI tools to assist research.
- Adapt research writing to your discipline’s conventions.
- Strengthen arguments with advanced synthesis, citation, and rhetorical strategies.
- Communicate research to the public using infographics.
Download Syllabus - LANG 2066
Dynamic Science Communication: Engaging Audiences with Science Busking
### Course Description
LANG2066 delves into the art of STEAM communication, equipping students to engage and inspire diverse audiences. By combining creative storytelling, hands-on demonstrations, and impactful busking performances, students will learn to simplify and energize complex ideas across a wide range of scientific disciplines–spanning pure science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, technology and medicine.
### Highlights
- STEAMfluence Game Overview
- Engaging in a gamified learning experience and role-playing adventure to become a STEAM Influencer, unlocking skills, earning rewards, and competing in challenges.
- Combining storytelling, public speaking, and live experiments in creative performances to captivate audiences during dynamic STEAM busking shows.
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: Create a 2-minute reel on a STEAM topic.
- Assessment 2: Collaborate on a group STEAM busking performance video, supported by dedicated in-class project time.
### Target Students
- Ideal for students passionate about making STEAM–including mathematics, engineering and related fields–accessible and engaging. It is especially suited for students eager to inspire and educate diverse audiences through dynamic communication.
- This course is also suitable for students who feel nervous when speaking. The course helps students deliver talks more confidently in ways that really connect with the audience.
- Especially useful for students aiming to go into the following careers:
- careers in teaching: become an engaging teacher!
- careers in research: persuade potential funders more effectively!
- careers in industry:promote your research and ideas with impact for key stakeholders in business!
- careers in media and marketing:explain technical concepts to non-experts professionally!
- Prerequisite(s): LANG 1403, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409
### Learning Experience
#### Transferable skills
- Dynamic communication skills that can be applied to presentations, public speaking, and professional networking.
- Confidence in simplifying complex ideas and tailoring messages for diverse audiences—an essential skill for careers in education, science, media, and beyond.
#### Student work samples
2-min reels
- Anson SIT Kwan Yi
- Charlotte LEUNG Siu Hei
- Chloe CHEUNG
- Evelyn Jade WONG
- Haley CHEONG Hei Lam
- Rai Kana ABHIMATTA
- Sparkle LEE Yat Tsun
Busking highlights
Download Syllabus - LANG 2067
Digital Communication: Expressing Your Perspective in Digital Spaces
### Course Description
LANG2067 helps students create and share digital artifacts, such as podcasts, vlogs, and digital portfolios, and craft engaging multimodal content tailored to specific audiences. Students also reflect on the ethical implications of digital media use by critically analyzing authentic digital content and their social influence.
### Highlights
- Engaging in a formative process of ideating, pitching, promoting, and creating a vlog/podcast project.
- Publishing the work through platforms dedicated to student scholarship.
- Applying effective storytelling to digital communication.
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: A production pitch of the vlog/podcast project
- Assessment 2: A promotional reel to engage an audience and following
- Assessment 3: Final vlog/podcast project
- Assessment 4: Learning portfolio reflecting on learning over the course of the semester
### Target Students
- Ideal for creative, collaborative, and reflective students who want to critically explore digital media and enhance their digital communication.
- This course would also appeal to students who want to showcase their work to broader audiences.
- Prerequisite(s): 1403, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409
### Learning Experience
#### Course outcomes
- develop online multimodal communication skills
- create compelling digital identities that showcase their learning and enhance their digital communication
- utilize audience awareness, relevant evidence, storytelling, and multimodality to create compelling digital artifacts
#### Showcase
Download Syllabus - LANG 2068
Speaking with Impact
### Course Description
LANG2068 helps studentscraft and deliver impactful public speeches. It enhances confidence and stage presence, while developing spoken communication skills for academic, personal, and professional success.
### Highlights
- Hands-on experience in public speaking to build confidence and refine delivery.
- Personalized feedback supported by peer evaluations interactive microlearning modules that target effective use of voice, body language, persuasive techniques, and visual aids.
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: A live elevator pitch
- Assessment 2: A recorded influencer advocacy video
- Assessment 3: A live persuasive PechaKucha presentation
### Target Students
- This course is designed for students of all language proficiencies who wish to speak with confidence, clarity, and impact in a variety of settings.
- Whether you lack confidence or you are already an experienced speaker, this course provides practical tools and strategies for improvement, regardless of your starting point.
- Prerequisite(s): 1403, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409
### Learning Experience
#### Course outcomes
- Critical thinking and persuasive abilities to influence and inspire diverse audiences.
- Confidence, adaptability, and creativity for effective communication and presentation in academic, professional, and social settings.
Download Syllabus - LANG 2069
Supercommunication Offline and On: The Art of Connecting
### Course description
LANG 2069 equips students with the language and communication strategies and social-emotional competencies necessary to build meaningful connections through conversation offline and online.
### Highlights
- reflecting on social identity and social-emotional competence and how these impact communication.
- evaluating conversations in academic, social and professional contexts to identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
- developing key skills including: asking deep questions to connect, active listening and storytelling.
### Assessments
- Participating in and analysing the ‘Fast Friends Procedure’ – a procedure intended to increase connection.
- Collaboratively analysing examples of one type of ‘important conversation’ to help present a protocol for a successful conversation.
- Compiling a portfolio of reflections on your development as a communicator.
- Sharing a response to reading on a chosen topic with a small group.
### Target students
- Any student who wants to connect with others but also themselves and develop strategies to navigate conversations with empathy and identify and overcome communication barriers.
- Prerequisite(s): 1403, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409
### Learning experience
- This course requires students to take anactiveand reflective approach to their learning, and connect with others on the course.
- Students work collaboratively and co-create knowledge.
- The course helps strengthen emotional connections and communicate effectively in conversations in diverse contexts.
Download Syllabus - LANG 2071
From Proposal to Applause: Navigating the Academic Conference Journey
### Course description
LANG2071 helps students develop research communication skills, craft conference abstracts, gain first-hand experience in organizing a mini-academic conference and presenting at academic conference.
### Highlights
- Early exposure to the whole cycle of empirical research, with AI literacy support.
- Hands-on experience in organizing an authentic student-led conference.
- Acquire audience-centered academic communication skills and story-telling technique.
### Assessments
- Mini-Research Project: writing a Research Summary
- Conference Abstract
- Organizing a Mini-Conference
- Conference Presentation
### Target students
- Students who are interested in advancing their academic language literacy and accumulating research-related communication skills.
- Students who plan to pursue further academic study such as MPhil or PhD degree.
- Prerequisite(s): LANG 1403, 1404, 1406, 1407, 1408, or 1409.
### Learning experience
Students will gain transferable skills such as research communication and presentation skills, critical reading skills, conference organization skills, through experiential learning and challenge-based learning.
Students will receive exposure to real-life conference examples in different disciplines and develop interdisciplinary awareness of academic conventions.
Humanities Area: Broadening Courses
- LANG 1405
Mediated Me: An Introduction to Digital Literacy
### Course Description
LANG1405 is an introductory course exploring the impact of digital media texts (such as podcasts, wikis, and social media like YouTube) on academic, professional, and social communication practices.
### Highlights
- Creating your own meme/reel on your chosen scenario or topic
- Using your knowledge of multimodality and audience to create an influencer style video that can be shared online
### Assessments
- Assessment 1: A multimodal influencer style assessment divided into three parts; a short introduction to the topic, a meme or reel about the topic with a rationale describing your process and choices, and an influencer style video on the topic with an accompanying video or written rationale.
- Assessment 2: A weekly group online discussion from weeks 5 to 10.
### Target Students
- Ideal for curious, creative, and reflective students who want to critically explore digital media and enhance their communication skills through the creation and analysis of digital texts like memes, videos, and online discussions.
### Learning Experience
#### Student testimonials
- “I thoroughly enjoyed the class and have indeed learned a great deal from your course. The engaging lectures and class assignments inspired me to explore the field of digital literacy.”
- “[The course] has really intrigued my interest and helped me notice the multimodality elements that exist in real life.”
- “I have learnt so many concepts regarding digital literacy through online and face to face interactions with classmates. The video assignment allows me to practice my editing skills as well, which is a fresh and interesting experience!”
#### Showcase of student videos
Download Syllabus - LANG 2090
Exploring Language and Communication with Big Data
### Course Description
LANG2090 introduces corpus linguistics, a method for studying language through large-scale data. Students learn how to uncover patterns in authentic language use by analysing existing corpora and building their own language datasets. By exploring how language functions across different domains—such as health, business, and digital communication—students will develop digital literacy, quantitative research skills, and a deeper understanding of the role of language in society.
### Highlights
- Using corpus tools to conduct hands-on analyses of real-world language data
- Exploring topics of own interest (e.g. public discourse, online communication) through a group project
- Enhancing ability to interpret and communicate insights using data visualization and analytical writing
### Assessments
- An individual analytical essay develops skills in comparative analysis across genres or registers
- A group-based corpus project to investigate language in a domain relevant to students’ interests
### Target Students
- Suitable for students from all disciplines
- No prior experience in programming or linguistics needed
- Ideal for students curious about language, communication, or data
### Learning Experience
#### Course outcomes
- practical experience working with digital language data
- transferable skills in research, critical thinking, and data interpretation
- ability to uncover hidden patterns in everyday language which equips students with valuable insights applicable to fields such as communication, education, media, and business
Download Syllabus - LANG 2091
Phonetics and Speech Technology
### Course Description
This course offers a hands-on exploration of the science behind human sounds and speech and their applications in speech technology. Students learn what aspects of speech are important for designing effective AI speech systems, how to analyze speech data using scientific methods, and how to apply these insights to solve real-world challenges. From voice assistants to language learning apps, the knowledge and skills gained provide a competitive edge in fields such as improving customer interactions with voice technology, advancing research in neuroscience and acoustic technology, enhancing branding and marketing through speech analysis, improving human-AI interaction, or refining pronunciation for professional and confident communication.
### Highlights
- analyze human speech using free, user-friendly software tools
- explore own interests, from understanding foreign accents to improving speech synthesis or studying how humans and machines communicate.
### Assessment
- Final project: explore topics of interests or relevance (e.g. synthesized speech, code-switching, foreign accents)
- Out-of-class work: small group-based tasks to develop skills for the final project
- Other assessments: two in-class tests
### Target Students
- No prior knowledge of phonetics or speech technology needed.
- This course would appeal to any student interested in technology, AI, business innovation, engineering solutions, neuroscience research, or communication; these are fields of direct practical applications for this topic.
### Learning Experience
#### Course outcomes
- Develop ability to use industry-relevant tools and software to analyze speech, opening doors to careers in human-AI interface, automatic speech recognition, language technology, and more.
- Gain technical and analytical skills that can be applied to diverse fields
#### Practical applications
Speech technology has applications in many fields:
- Engineering: Enhance speech technology systems, design human-computer interfaces, or improve voice recognition software.
- Science: Advance research by analysing speech data for research in neuroscience or bioacoustics.
- Business: Leverage speech analytics to enhance customer experience, optimize AI-driven services, and understand consumer behavior.
- Humanities and Social Sciences: Examine how speech shapes cultural identity, language policy, and social inclusion, and critically assess the ethical implications of speech technology.
Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities Program (UTOP) Area: Experiencing Courses
- UTOP 2401
Language Teaching Service-Learning Internship
pending approval