Other Courses

Source: https://cle.hkust.edu.hk/courses/other Parent: https://cle.hkust.edu.hk/courses/common-core/english

Other Courses

About Our Courses

Common Core Courses

Program Required Courses

Other Courses MA ILE MOOCs and APPs

Undergraduate English Pathways

2024-25 admission or after

Course Syllabus

Free Electives

LANG 1101

Pinyin for Non-Chinese Language Background Students

### Course Description

The course aims to enhance students’ ability to pronounce Chinese words correctly and increase their awareness of Pinyin spelling rules, tone sandhi, neutral tone, and as well as to help them identify the differences between easily confused tones, initials and finals. After completing this course, students will be able to use Pinyin as a tool to pronounce commonly used Chinese words and sentences in daily life.

### Highlights

Learn basic Putonghua phonetic system through practical, daily-life contexts
Enhance your competence in Pinyin usage with interactive Canvas tasks
Provide feedback tailored to diverse learning backgrounds

### Assessments

In-class test: Produce an accurate Pinyin script for self-introduction and identify different tones, and commonly used words and sentences written in Pinyin.
Written assignments and learning tasks:  Recognize Putonghua syllables and spelling rules and distinguish between easily confused finals and initials for effective daily communication.
Grade Type (Pass/ Fail)

### Target Students

Attributes

Non-Chinese language background students who have previously learnt Mandarin Chinese for less than 50 tuition hours.

Exclusions

LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1122-1127 (prior to 2022-23)
LANG 1412-1416, LANG 1421–1426, LANG 1513-1515

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcomes

Improved ability to engage in basic communication using Pinyin as a tool for learning words and sentences in daily life contexts.
Stronger skills in independent learning and teamwork.

Download Syllabus - LANG 1102

Chinese Characters for Non-Chinese Language Background Students I

### Course Description

The course is designed for non-Chinese language background students who have learned Chinese for less than 50 tuition hours. It aims to equip them with basic Chinese Characters knowledge for daily and social purposes through a range of familiar topics. After successfully completing the course, students will have acquired a basic knowledge of Chinese Reading and Writing skills, be able to identify information from simple passages, and write basic sentences to describe their daily lives.

### Highlights

Learn basic characters through practical, daily-life contexts
Build recognition confidence with interactive Canvas tasks
personalized feedback tailored to diverse learning backgrounds

### Assessments

Final Assessment: A written test that incorporates reading comprehension, Chinese character recognition, and topic-based writing.
Other tasks: online Learning tasks, in-class quizzes and end of course reflection.
Grade Type (Pass/ Fail)

### Target Students

Attributes

The course is designed for Non-Chinese language background students as beginners or with a proficiency level below HSK 1.

Exclusions

LANG 1103, LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1121-1127 (prior to 2022-23)
LANG 1412-1416, LANG 1421-1426, LANG 1513-1515

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcomes

Acquire functional literacy in recognizing and writing basic Chinese characters.
Develop practical skills to read everyday texts and write simple, correct sentences.
Build confidence in written self-expression and awareness of cultural context.

#### Student testimonials

“Being able to recognize and write them myself just feels so cool.”

“I really wanted to learn some Chinese characters, since you see them everywhere in Hong Kong. “

Download Syllabus - LANG 1103

Chinese Characters for Non-Chinese Language Background Students II

### Course Description

This course will equip students with Chinese reading and writing skills for daily and social purposes through a range of familiar topics at the proficiency level of HSK 1 or equivalent. Topics include talking about contact numbers and address, time, date and daily activities, making appointments, clothes, colors, and prices. This course is a continuation of LANG1102 Chinese Characters for Non-Chinese Language Background Students I.

### Highlights

Active learning environment – Interactive, hands-on sessions with real-time feedback.
Balanced task design – Discussions, simulations, character writing, and peer learning.

### Assessments

In-class test: Recognize and write commonly used characters and understand specific information from introductory and narrative texts related to daily and social contexts.
Written assignments and learning tasks: Produce accurate Chinese characters for each topic and grammatically correct sentences for daily communication.
Grade Type (Pass/ Fail)

### Target Students

Attributes

Non-Chinese language background students who have previously learnt Mandarin Chinese for less than 50 tuition hours.

Exclusions

LANG 1113, LANG 1117-1118, LANG 1122-1127 (prior to 2022-23)
LANG 1412-1416, LANG 1421–1426, LANG 1513-1515

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcomes

Improved ability to engage in basic communication in reading and writing Chinese on everyday topics.
Stronger skills in independent learning and teamwork.

Download Syllabus - LANG 1130

Cantonese for Non-Chinese Language Background Students I

### Course Description

This course equips students with the Cantonese communicative competence necessary for living and networking in Hong Kong, thus facilitating their smooth integration into the local community.

### Highlights

Emphasis on daily communication skills
Exploration of Hong Kong culture
Interactive and blended learning tasks

### Assessments

Listening Assessment: paper test in class
Speaking Assessment 1: self-introduction in class
Speaking Assessment 2: monologue and dialogue with the instructor

### Target Students

Restricted to students from non-Chinese language backgrounds
No prior knowledge of Cantonese

### Learning Experience

#### Student testimonials

"The units were well structured and well paced."
"I enjoyed my Cantonese class. Mh go sai!"

Download Syllabus - LANG 1133

Cantonese for Chinese Language Background Students I

### Course Description

This course equips students with the Cantonese communicative competence necessary for living and networking in Hong Kong, thus facilitating their smooth integration into the local community.

### Highlights

Emphasis on daily communication skills
Exploration of Hong Kong culture
Interactive and blended learning tasks

### Assessments

Listening Assessment: paper test in class
Speaking Assessment 1: self-introduction in class
Speaking Assessment 2: monologue and dialogue with the instructor

### Target Students

Restricted to students from Chinese language backgrounds
No prior knowledge of Cantonese

### Learning Experience

#### Student testimonials

“I have enhanced my Cantonese a lot through this course!!”

Download Syllabus - LANG 1210

Japanese Language and Culture for Beginners I

### Course Description

LANG1210 is a comprehensive Japanese course that builds on learners’ basic understanding of hiragana, katakana, and grammar while developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

For beginners seeking to develop practical communication skills only, consider LANG1211: Communicative Japanese for Beginners I (2 credits). If you prefer to focus on building vocabulary and grammar knowledge, the self-paced online course LANG1212: Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials I (1 credit) may be more suitable. Both LANG1211 & LANG1212 run over 8 weeks and use a pass/fail grading system.

### Highlights

Comprehensive Japanese learning pathway for beginners (below N4 level)
Engaging e-learning materials, including chatbots and videos
Exploration of Japanese culture and customs

### Assessments

Mid-term Quiz: paper test in class; grammar, reading, writing, and listening
Final Quiz: paper test in class; grammar, reading, writing, and listening
Oral Quiz: Answer questions from the instructor about the topics covered in the course
Other tasks: Cultural Presentation, Cultural Report, Pop Quizzes

### Target Students

Beginners of Japanese with proficiency below N4
Exclusion: LANG1211 & LANG1212

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcomes

Students will learn the contents of Minna no Nihongo Lessons 1-12, covering topics such as noun predicates, verb predicates, adjective predicates, and existential patterns.

Download Syllabus - LANG 1211

Communicative Japanese for Beginners I

### Course Description

This new 2-credit course is designed for students beginning their Japanese learning journey and who want to develop practical communication skills through face-to-face instruction and practice. It runs over 8 weeks and adopts a pass/fail grading system.

Students are also encouraged to take the 1-credit self-paced online course LANG1212: Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials I alongside LANG1211 to strengthen their foundation in beginner-level vocabulary and grammar.

Beginners who prefer a regular pace of study and aim to develop comprehensive skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) may consider LANG1210:Japanese Language and Culture for Beginners I.

### Highlights

8-week course
Pass or Fail grading
Interactive speaking and listening activities
Essential conversational skills such as greetings, self-introductions, and asking and answering questions

### Assessments

Class Participation: Homework, pre-class tasks, in-class quizzes, and learning activities
Final Exam: Listening and oral examination for communicative skills covered in the course

### Target Students

Beginners of Japanese with proficiency below N4
Exclusion: LANG1210

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcome

Through practical exercises and authentic interactions, students will gain confidence in using Japanese in real-life situations while deepening their understanding and appreciation of the Japanese language and culture.

Download Syllabus - LANG 1212

Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials I

### Course Description

This new 1-credit self-paced online course is designed for students beginning their journey in Japanese, with a focus on building a solid and comprehensive foundation in vocabulary and grammatical structures. It runs over 8 weeks and adopts a pass/fail grading system.

Students are also encouraged to take the 2-credit course LANG1211: Communicative Japanese for Beginners I alongside LANG1212 to reinforce their learning through face-to-face conversational practice and real-life scenarios.

### Highlights

8-week course
Pass or Fail grading
Basics of Japanese writing, sound system, grammar, and vocabulary
Flexible self-paced learning with videos, chatbots, quizzes, and a final in-person exam

### Assessments

Online quizzes: Grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening
Final in-person exam: Grammar, reading, writing, and listening

### Target Students

Beginners of Japanese with proficiency below N4
Exclusion: LANG1210

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcome

Comprehensive grammar explanations and vocabulary exercises to build a strong foundation in Japanese sentence construction, word usage, and language patterns—without live class participation.

Download Syllabus - LANG 1310

French: World Language and Culture

### Course Description

LANG 1310 is an introductory course in French language and culture, designed for beginners to develop foundational language skills and cultural awareness.

### Highlights

Interactive learning through engaging activities and real-life conversations
Exploration of diverse cultures from French-speaking regions
Creative projects for enhanced learning experiences

### Assessments

Mid-Term Exam: listening, reading, writing, speaking tasks
Final Exam: listening, reading, writing, speaking tasks
Other tasks:Cultural Presentation, Pop Quizzes

### Target Students

No prior knowledge of French

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcome

Develop basic conversational skills in French, gain cultural insights into francophone societies, and enhance critical thinking through cultural exploration.

Download Syllabus - LANG 1330

Spanish and the Other America

### Course Description

LANG1330 is an introductory course designed for undergraduate students with no prior knowledge of Spanish. This3-credit course develops students’ fundamental skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with a strong emphasis on interaction. By the end of the course, students are expected to achieve A1.1 level proficiency (CEFR), enabling them to communicate in basic everyday situations with confidence.

### Highlights

Cultural immersion into Spain and Latin America through language
Interactive class activities and small-group learning
E-learning materials and online cultural forums

### Assessments

Pop Quizzes: In-class quizzes to reinforce vocabulary, grammar, and cultural understanding
Discussion Forums: Weekly online discussions on Spanish-speaking cultures
Oral Assessment: A short in-class conversation with the instructor
Final Exam: Covers grammar, reading, writing, and listening

### Target Students

Students with no prior knowledge of Spanish
Students interested in learning Spanish for travel, cultural appreciation, or personal enrichment

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcome

Students will build the ability to:

Introduce themselves and exchange basic personal information
Understand and respond to simple questions in Spanish
Read and write basic Spanish texts
Explore and discuss cultural topics related to Spain and Latin America

Download Syllabus - LANG 2200

Japanese Language and Culture for Beginners II

### Course Description

LANG2200 is a continuation of LANG1210. This is a comprehensive course for upper-beginners with knowledge equivalent to Minna no Nihongo Lessons 1–12, covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

For learners seeking to develop practical communication skills only, consider LANG2201: Communicative Japanese for Beginners II (2 credits). If you prefer to focus on building vocabulary and grammar knowledge, the self-paced online courseLANG2202: Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials I (1 credit) may be more suitable. Both LANG2201 & LANG2202 run over 8 weeks and use a pass/fail grading system.

### Highlights

Comprehensive Japanese learning pathway for upper-beginners below N3 level
Engaging e-learning materials, including chatbots and videos
Exploration of Japanese culture and customs

### Assessments

Mid-term Quiz: paper test in class; grammar, reading, writing, and listening
Final Quiz: paper test in class; grammar, reading, writing, and listening
Oral Quiz: answer questions from the instructor about the topics covered in the course
Other tasks:Cultural Presentation, Cultural Report, Pop Quizzes

### Target Students

Prerequisites: LANG1210/LANG1211/LANG1212; or
Students with basic knowledge of Japanese (equivalent to Minna no Nihongo Lessons 1–12)
Restricted to upper-beginners with proficiency below N3 level
Exclusion: LANG2201 & LANG2202

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcome

Students will learn the contents of Minna no Nihongo Lessons 13-25, covering topics such as fundamental Japanese verb conjugations, style differences, complex sentences, noun modifications, and subjunctive mood.

Download Syllabus - LANG 2201

Communicative Japanese for Beginners II

### Course Description

This 2-credit course is designed for upper-beginner learners who want to strengthen their speaking and listening skills through interactive and face-to-face communicative practice. It runs over 8 weeks and adopts a pass/fail grading system.

Students are also encouraged to take the 1-credit self-paced online course LANG2202: Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials IIalongside LANG2201 to strengthen their foundation in upper-beginner-level vocabulary and grammar.

Learners who prefer a regular pace of study and aim to develop comprehensive skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) may consider LANG2200: Japanese Language and Culture for Beginners II.

### Highlights

8-week course
Pass or Fail grading
Interactive speaking and listening activities
Essential conversational skills expressing desires, making requests, discussing abilities, describing experiences, and giving opinions in practical situations

### Assessments

Class Participation:Homework, pre-class tasks, in-class quizzes, and learning activities
Final Exam: Listening and oral examination for communicative skills covered in the course

### Target Students

Prerequisites:LANG1210/LANG1211/LANG1212; or
Students with basic knowledge of Japanese (equivalent to Minna no Nihongo Lessons 1–12)
Restricted to upper-beginners with proficiency below N3 level
Exclusion:LANG2200

### Learning Experience

#### Course outcome

Through practical exercises and authentic interactions, students will be able to participate in conversations using expanded sentence structures, appropriate expressions, and culturally relevant communication strategies.

Download Syllabus - LANG 2202

Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials II

### Course Description

This1-credit self-paced online course is designed for upper-beginner Japanese learners and builds on LANG 1212: Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials I . It runs over 8 weeks and adopts a pass/fail grading system.

Students are also encouraged to take the 2-credit course LANG2201: Communicative Japanese for Beginners IIalongside LANG2202 to reinforce their learning through face-to-face conversational practice and real-life scenarios.

### Highlights

8-week course
Pass or Fail grading
Interactive speaking and listening activities
Essential conversational skills to express desires, give instructions, describe ongoing actions, differentiate between polite and plain speech, and construct complex sentences using relative clauses and conjunctions.

### Assessments

Online quizzes: Grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening
Final in-person exam: Grammar, reading, writing, and listening

### Target Students

Prerequisites:LANG1210/LANG1211/LANG1212; or
Students with basic knowledge of Japanese (equivalent to Minna no Nihongo Lessons 1–12)
Restricted to upper-beginners with proficiency below N3 level
Exclusion:LANG2200

### Learning Experience

### Course outcome

Students will have a solid grasp of grammar and vocabulary, enabling them to construct and understand more complex sentences.

Download Syllabus - LANG 4090

Report Writing for Final Year Engineering Projects

### Course Description

This course focuses on helping students structure their reports and use effective language for key sections. This is achieved through analyzing how engineer researchers communicate research findings conventionally.

### Highlights

A 7-week blended learning course
Pass/fail assessments
Authentic engineering research writing

### Assessments

Writing practices of individual FYP sections
Workshops with FYP draft critiques
Online Microlearning modules and quizzes

### Target Students

Engineering students undertaking their FYP with little to no research-writing experience

### Learning Experience

Learn research writing via detailed analyses, authentic examples, and AI-based writing practice.

Download Syllabus - LANG 4091

Presentation Skills for Final Year Projects

### Course description

This is a 7-week pass/fail course designed for final-year students from all disciplines who are completing a Final Year Project (FYP) or Capstone Project and wish to strengthen their oral presentation skills. Through an interactive, hands-on approach, students learn how to communicate their research clearly and confidently, covering each major section of a technical presentation in a supportive, low-pressure environment.

### Highlights

Step-by-step personalized guidance on crafting and delivering your FYP or Capstone presentation.
Opportunities to practice and receive feedback in small groups.

### Assessments

Two formal presentations

1) Interim Presentation (covering the Introduction to Methods)

2) Final Presentation (complete project presentation + visual aid)

Learning Portfolio tasks that document weekly progress in developing/refining presentation sections (e.g., Introduction, Motivation, Methods, Results, and Discussion).

### Target students

This course is ideal for final-year undergraduate students completing a Final Year Project (FYP) or Capstone Project who want to communicate their research clearly and confidently. The course is designed with Science and Engineering majors in mind, but students from any discipline who wish to develop strong technical presentation skills are warmly encouraged to join.

### Learning experience

Course outcomes

Structure and deliver clear, engaging technical presentations tailored to their audience.
Apply effective design principles to multimodal visual aids (slides, posters, or videos).
Use voice, body language, and pacing to enhance message delivery.
Handle audience questions with confidence and professionalism.
Reflect on feedback to continuously improve presentation performance.

Download Syllabus

Non-Credit Bearing Courses

Non-Credit Bearing Course: Cantonese for English Background Learners (Level 1)

This is a ten-week Level 1 Cantonese course for English background students. With a focus on speaking and listening skills, the course aims at building learners’ proficiency and confidence in using Cantonese for daily communication as well as a fast integration into the local culture. Through a communicative and functional approach, and the use of interactive activities and online learning, the course will help learners to acquire vocabulary and basic structures for use in real-life situations.

Enrolment

Enrolment details can be found here.

Click herefor registration.

Download Syllabus - Non-Credit Bearing Course: Cantonese for Chinese Background Learners (Level 2)

This is a ten-week Level 2 Cantonese course for Chinese background students who wish to continue learning Cantonese after completing the beginners’ course. The course aims at building learners’ proficiency and confidence in using Cantonese for everyday communication. Through in-class learning and online practice, learners will acquire vocabulary and colloquial expressions relevant to their needs and consolidate their mastery of Cantonese phonology and grammar.

Enrolment

Enrolment details can be found here.

Click herefor registration.

Download Syllabus - Non-Credit Bearing Course: Cantonese for Chinese Background Learners (Level 1)

This is a ten-week elementary Cantonese course for Chinese background students. It will equip learners with the Cantonese proficiency and the communication competence necessary for studying, working and living in Hong Kong. Learners will learn to extract key information from listening to Cantonese, and to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts. They will also be introduced to the phonological features of Cantonese. The thematic content of the course is designed to help them explore the multiple facets of the Hong Kong culture.

Enrolment

Enrolment details can be found here.

Click herefor registration.

Download Syllabus - Cantonese for Staff

### Description

The Cantonese for Staff is designed to help HKUST staff develop practical Cantonese skills for both everyday interactions and workplace communication. Whether you’re starting from scratch, looking to refresh your knowledge, or aiming to advance your proficiency, our tiered offerings provide a supportive and engaging learning experience.

### Courses Offered

Absolute Beginners Course – For staff with no prior knowledge of Cantonese.
Refresher Course – For those with basic Cantonese skills who wish to build greater confidence and fluency.
Workplace Communication Course (tentatively launching in mid-October 2025) – For staff with working knowledge of Cantonese who want to focus on professional and job-related communication.

### Schedule

Each course consists of 1 session × 90 minutes each week, delivered over a four-week period during lunchtime.

To support additional speaking practice, 30-mininformal small group tutorials are also held once a week for each course, offering small-group conversation practice with light topic prompts in a relaxed setting.

The three courses runs in three regular cycles each year:

February–March
May–June
September–November

### Cost and Registration

All courses and Chit-Chat Sessions are completely free of charge.

Registration details will be announced via email prior to the start of each course cycle.

For any inquiries, please feel free to contact us at: lccanstaff@ust.hk - Non-Credit Bearing Course: Cantonese x Hong Kong: Live the Exchange, Speak the City (with Chinese Language Backgrounds)

This immersive course is designed for exchange students new to Cantonese. It provides essential language skills and cultural knowledge to help navigate life in Hong Kong.

Through 5 interactive classroom sessions (80 minutes each) and 3 experiential outings, students will develop foundational Cantonese for everyday situations, such as ordering dim sum or navigating public transport.

The course also fosters connections with local students and encourages the exploration of the city’s lesser-known areas. By integrating language learning with real-world experiences, it aims to deepen students’ understanding of Hong Kong’s unique culture and daily rhythms.

Enrolment will open shortly after the Spring term begins and will be announced via HKUST email. Please note that this is a non-credit-bearing course and will not appear on your academic transcript.

Download Syllabus - Non-Credit Bearing Course: Cantonese x Hong Kong: Live the Exchange, Speak the City (without Chinese Language Backgrounds)

This immersive course is designed for exchange students new to Cantonese. It provides essential language skills and cultural knowledge to help navigate life in Hong Kong.

Enrolment will open shortly after the Spring term begins and will be announced via HKUST email. Please note that this is a non-credit-bearing course and will not appear on your academic transcript.

Download Syllabus

Other Courses

Breadcrumb

Other Courses

Free Electives

Non-Credit Bearing Courses

GenAI Literacy Module