Foreign Languages Credit-bearing Courses *
This course is for complete beginners without any previous knowledge of French. It aims to give students the ability to conduct a very basic conversation in French (introducing oneself or another person, talking about one’s preferences, telling the date, …). To achieve this, a range of classroom activities will be conducted, to which an active participation is strongly recommended. Basic pronunciation and grammar skills will also be taught.
Prerequisite: FREN1005 French I or equivalent
This course builds on the acquisitions of French I and aims to give students the ability to conduct a simple conversation in French. To achieve this, a range of classroom activities will be conducted, in which active participation is expected. Basic pronunciation and grammar skills will also be taught. By the end of French II, students should have reached the A1 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
This course aims to equip students with some of the language and cultural skills needed to handle a short stay in France. By the end of the course, students should be able to use French in some of the most common travelling and daily life situations. They should also have a better understanding of various aspects of current French society.
Prerequisite: FREN1006 French II or equivalent
This course builds on the acquisitions of French I and II and aims at giving students the ability to conduct a conversation in French in order to deal with daily life situations. To achieve this, a range of classroom activities will be conducted, to which active participation by students is expected. Pronunciation and grammar skills will also be taught. In French III, students will be working at the A2 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Prerequisite: FREN2005 French III or equivalent
This course builds on the acquisitions of French I to III and aims at giving students the ability to conduct a simple conversation in French. While many of the activities are still concerned with communicating information, the focus is progressively switching to expressing ideas and opinions and arguing for or against them. To achieve this, a range of classroom activities will be conducted, to which active participation is expected. Pronunciation and grammar skills will also be taught. In French IV, students will be mostly working at the A2 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), with some activities being at B1 level.
Prerequisite: FREN2006 French IV or equivalent
This course builds on the acquisitions of French I to IV and aims at giving students the ability to conduct conversations in French. While many activities are still concerned with communicating information, the focus is more and more on expressing ideas and opinions and arguing for or against them. To achieve this, a range of classroom activities will be conducted, to which active participation is expected. Pronunciation and grammar skills will also be taught. In French V, students will be working at the A2/B1 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
This course introduces students to contemporary French society. It uses movies as a medium to present some of French society’s current major issues. These topics are then discussed and analysed cross-culturally. This course is taught in English. No prior knowledge of French is necessary.
This course aims to introduce the German language and culture to beginners. It combines linguistic and communicative skills with a balanced emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and listening. Special stress is placed on mastering the sound system and the basic grammatical forms, as well as building basic receptive and productive skills in German for effective daily communication. The course also helps students develop their critical thinking through in-class discussions about the cultural dimensions of the language and acquire strategies to learn “how to learn German”. The aim is for students to reach level A1.1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Prerequisite: GERM1005 German I or equivalent
This is a continuation of German I. The course will introduce the German language and culture relating to travelling and work. Students will learn to communicate effectively in everyday situations such as travelling and shopping, finding jobs, and consulting doctors. An integrated approach to language skills will be adopted, and materials and activities that are relevant to travelling or studying in Germany will be presented in context. Students encounter relatively more difficult texts and be able to express themselves using more complex structures. The course also helps students develop their critical thinking through in-class discussions about cultural issues such as jobs, leisure time and environmental protection. The aim is for students to reach level A1.2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Prerequisite: GERM1006 German II or GERM 3005 Business German or equivalent
This is a continuation of German II. The course will present the German language and culture in greater depth to advanced beginners. It offers a balanced range of language skills through further syntax acquisition: reading and text analysis, oral expression and communicative skills. Giving directions, good customer service, going shopping and to parties are general situations for using spoken German. The course also helps students develop their critical thinking through in-class discussions about cultural issues such as lifestyles. The aim is for students to reach level A1.2 and beyond in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Prerequisite: GERM2005 German III or equivalent
This course further develops the students’ knowledge of German grammar and vocabulary. They will learn to use their German more independently in writing, listening and speaking. They will engage in simulated small talk at home and in a work setting. The course also helps students develop their critical thinking through in-class discussions about cultural issues such as family life in German speaking countries and correct behaviour during invitations at home and in a restaurant. They will expand their vocabulary and learn grammatical structures for communicating in everyday life. The aim is for students to reach level 2.1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Prerequisite: GERM1005 German I or equivalent
In this course, students will further develop all four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, and continue to review and learn additional grammar points. Emphasis will be given to writing and speaking fluently for business purposes. Students will also learn more about German businesses and their cultures, as well as the German code of business and ethics. The aim is for them to reach EU level A1.2.
Prerequisite: GERM1006 German II or GERM3005 Business German or equivalent
This course explores creative writing in three primary genres: short stories, poetry and drama. Students will examine exemplary works in the context of writing, and they will write, discuss and revise their own works in each genre. As they study the works of famous exemplary writers and develop their own style, they learn more about the elements in each genre and get a deeper understanding of German culture. Students will finally organize their own exposition in a library foyer in Hong Kong at the end of the course. Classes will be conducted in German and English.
This course aims to help students explore/understand crucial aspects of modern German culture and society. They will learn to understand the sources of behaviour, customs and attitudes, while comparing them with Hong Kong, and respective mainland Chinese behaviour. The Cultural historian Prof Hermann Bausinger notes in the preface of his book Typisch deutsch that common definitions of what “German” is include many stereotypes and prejudices. However, it is not possible to make a clear-cut distinction between stereotypes and reality. Moreover, one has to consider the way other nationalities look at what is considered typically German in order to find out whether these stereotypes are true or not.
Prerequisite: GERM2006 German IV or equivalent
This course will bring students’ knowledge of the German language up to and beyond the European Framework Level A2.1. They will learn and practise the grammar patterns and vocabulary required. Under the guidance of the class teacher, students will engage in reading, writing and speaking exercises of various types, covering topics from daily life, e.g. school, work, health and festivals.
This foundation course is designed for total beginners who have never studied Japanese before. The Japanese phonetic system, writing system, basic greetings, sentence structures and practical vocabulary that are suitable for beginners will be introduced in this course. It also provides opportunities for students to understand Japanese culture, and to develop the ability to communicate in basic Japanese such as introducing oneself, daily expressions, telling the time and the date and talking about one’s daily life. Students’ active participation in classroom activities and role-plays is expected.
Prerequisite: JPSE1005 Japanese I or equivalent
This course is a continuation of JPSE1005 Japanese I. It helps develop students’ practical language skills for daily conversation, such as expressing or discussing feelings, preferences, personal experiences and hobbies in elementary Japanese. Interesting classroom activities are specially designed to help build students’ communication skills in Japanese and active participation is expected. Japanese culture and Japanese lifestyle will also be introduced with the aid of videos.
This course enables students to explore contemporary and traditional Japanese society and culture and to gain a thorough understanding of the complex and deeply rooted relationship between society, culture and language. Students are encouraged to learn a wide range of vocabulary and expressions commonly used in the Japanese society and a broad spectrum of the Japanese culture through a variety of text genres (e.g. newspapers, magazines, movies, drama, animation, comics, pop songs, and the internet).
Prerequisite: JPSE1006 Japanese II or equivalent
This course is a continuation of JPSE 1006 Japanese II. It is designed to enhance students’ knowledge and Japanese language proficiency at elementary level. Students will further develop their abilities to conduct daily conversations such as making requests, seeking and giving permission, expressing prohibition, possibility, ability and experience. They will also study verb conjugation and read extended texts. Students’ active participation in various language activities, free conversations, role-play, group work and presentations is expected. Authentic materials available in the mass media will be selected to explore Japanese culture and lifestyle.
Prerequisite: JPSE2005 Japanese III or equivalent
This course is a continuation of JPSE 2005 Japanese III. It provides intensive practice to help students build Japanese language skills and learning communication strategies at pre-intermediate level. Students will further develop their speaking and listening skills in Japanese. Specific communication skills and language structures will be taught. Formal and informal Japanese expressions will also be introduced through various language activities, everyday conversations, role-plays, short drama and performance. Japanese culture and lifestyle will be explored with the aids of videos, TV programmes, readings and music.
Prerequisite: JPSE2006 Japanese IV or equivalent
This course is a continuation of JPSE 2006 Japanese IV. It helps students to develop their interpersonal and intercultural communication skills and to understand current issues in Japan. Through intensive training, such as role-play, group work, oral presentation and reading of texts, students will learn sentence structures, expressions, communication skills and interaction strategies at the upper intermediate level of Japanese language proficiency. Students are encouraged to express their viewpoints on topical issues, giving reasons and explanations for opinions. Japanese culture and lifestyle will be explored with the aid of videos, TV programmes, readings and music.
Prerequisite: JPSE2005 Japanese III or equivalent
This course is designed to develop students’ interpersonal, interpretive and presentation skills in business communication in Japanese. Topics covered include typical and essential expressions for various business communicative situations in reading and written contexts. Through studying the communication patterns in Japanese business contexts, this course prepares students to work in Japanese companies and/or communicate with Japanese clients. Formal and informal expressions and honorific expressions in Japanese will be taught. Students are required to conduct oral presentations on Japanese business, commercial and economic issues. Students are strongly encouraged to develop their own understanding of the language and Japanese social system from both inside and outside the classroom.
This course is a continuation of Japanese V (JPSE3005). It aims to bring students’ Japanese language knowledge and skills to the advanced-intermediate level, and to further deepen their understanding of the Japanese culture, social life, and business customs and practices. Through intensive training, group work, and situation-based learning, students will acquire the required language structures, vocabulary, as well as culturally-appropriate communication skills and interaction strategies to express their opinions and thoughts. A variety of materials, including YouTube videos, TV programmes, songs, and reading texts, will be used to illustrate Japanese culture and life style.
The aim of this course is to introduce complete beginners to the Spanish language, working on the four language skills: speaking, reading, writing and listening to Spanish. Students will also learn about Spanish culture and customs.
Prerequisite: SPAN1005 Spanish I or equivalent
The aim of this course is to further develop students’ knowledge of the Spanish language and continue working on their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills at beginner’s level. Furthermore, through the study of culture, students will better understand the peoples of the Spanish speaking world. By the end of Spanish II, students should have reached the A1 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Languages).
Prerequisite: SPAN1006 Spanish II or equivalent
This course aims to increase students’ knowledge and skills in the use of Spanish language, with continued practice of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Further development of students’ knowledge of Spanish and Latin-American culture is included. In Spanish III, students work at the A2 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Languages).
Prerequisite: SPAN2005 Spanish III or equivalent
This course further increases students’ knowledge and skills in the use of Spanish language, with continued practice of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students’ knowledge of Spanish and Latin-American culture is further expanded. In Spanish IV, students continue to work at the A2 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Languages), with some activities being at B1 level.
Prerequisite: SPAN2006 Spanish IV or equivalent
This course aims to further increase students’ knowledge and skills in the use of Spanish language at a more advanced level, with continued practice of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students’ knowledge of Spanish and Latin-American culture is further expanded. In Spanish V, students work mostly at the B1 level of the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Languages).
This course aims to enable students to understand the Spanish Civilization on aspects related to history, art, culture and society as the basis of the customs, attitudes and values of contemporary Spain. By considering culture as a social construct, students will reflect on the difference between Spanish cultural values and their own. They will also develop an appreciation for and understanding of great works of Hispanic fine art, architecture, music and literature. A variety of teaching materials will be used with a special emphasis on films.
* To register for credit-bearing courses, please go to AR (Academic Registry) – BUniPort (University Cyber Port System)
#Note: 1. Please refer to the lists on the BUniPort for the courses offered during the Semester. 2. Classes may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment
^For JPSE1005, 1006, and 2005, students without prior knowledge of Chinese characters should consult their instructor at the beginning of the semester. Chinese characters are an essential part of the course and will not be taught separately.
Notes:
1. Modules are run only if there is sufficient enrollment.
2. The Language Centre will make the final decision on the Modules to be offered in each semester.^
Foreign Languages Supplementary Courses (Non Credit-bearing Courses)**
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![](https://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/main/wp-content/uploads/2425a_Japanese_V2-768x1086.png)
![](https://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/main/wp-content/uploads/2425a_Spanish-768x1086.jpg)
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This course aims at giving students a basic and pragmatic introduction to the French language, through interactive and communicative activities.
By the end of the course, students should be able to :
(1) hold a short conversation in French (e.g. greet people and introduce themselves);
(2) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of very basic concepts of French grammar.
Prerequisite: Minimum 60 hours of French studied (classes, self-study, etc.)
This course is addressed at students who are working towards the level “A1” of the CEFR in French. They will get acquainted with the format of the official “DELF A1” exams and practice their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills using DELF-style activities.
Prerequisite: Minimum 120 hours of French studied (classes, self-study, etc.)
This course is addressed at students who are working towards the level “A2” of the CEFR in French. They will get acquainted with the format of the official “DELF A2” exams and practice their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills using DELF-style activities.
This introductory course is designed for beginners in French. Students will learn the basics of greetings and self-introductions in French, such as giving their name, age and nationality, talking about where they live and their field of studies or work. By the end of this course, they will be able to have a simple conversation in French, asking and answering questions about the above-mentioned topics.
This introductory course is designed for beginners in French. Students will get acquainted with simple expressions to get ready for a first trip to France. They will learn how to get around while exploring Paris and the French regions. By the end of this course, they will be able to find their way in the city and know how to name various places.
This introductory course is designed for beginners in French. Students will learn how to order food, buy products at the market or go window-shopping. By the end of this course, they will be able to use key expressions and simple questions-answers to interact in a shop or a restaurant.
Prerequisite: Minimum 40 hours of French studied (classes, self-study, etc.)
This course is addressed at students who already have at least a basic knowledge of the French language. They will learn how to prepare a CV, write a cover letter and send simple emails in French. By the end of this course, they will know the basics of applying for an internship or a job in French.
Prerequisite: Completion of SUPF1010 French I (Part 1) or having studied French for at least 20 hours.
This course builds on the acquisitions of French I (Part 1) and aims at giving students a basic and pragmatic introduction to the French language, through interactive and communicative activities.
By the end of the course, students should be able to :
(1) hold a short conversation in French (e.g. discuss about a piece of clothing one intends to buy);
(2) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of very basic concepts of French grammar.
Prerequisite: Minimum 200 hours of French studied (classes, self-study, etc.)
This introductory course is designed for beginners in French. Students will learn how to order food, buy products at the market or go window-shopping. By the end of this course, they will be able to use key expressions and simple questions-answers to interact in a shop or a restaurant.
The main objective of the course is to introduce the elementary features of Germany’s language and culture.
Students will get an introduction of the phonetic system, basic vocabulary such as the numbers up to 100, as well as basic grammar points (e.g., verb conjugation in the present tense, personal pronouns, possessive articles, gender & number forms of nouns, word order in statements and questions).
Students will also learn about selected social, political and topical events or major historical events in recent German history (e.g. the re-unification of East and West Germany) when those events occur naturally in the context of the lessons.
By the end of the course, students will be able to distinguish between the formal and informal manner of speech in German and conduct simple dialogues in German such as greeting and introducing each other, describing other people (country of origin, age, profession) as well as ordering food in a restaurant.
Prerequisite: Completion of SUPG1010 German I (Part I) or having studied German for at least 20 hours.
The main objective of the course is to deepen the knowledge of both the language and culture of Germany. Building on the basic grammar points introduced in Part 1, new grammatical features will be introduced such as three genders of German nouns, plural of nouns, definite and indefinite articles, positive versus negative sentences, adjectives and separable verbs. In addition, students will continue to learn about historical events in 20th century German history (e.g. WWII)
By the end of the course, students will be able to conduct dialogues used when groceries shopping, making payments, going to a restaurant, describing one’s apartment and talking about daily routines.
This introductory course is designed for absolute beginners. Students will acquire basic knowledge on the systems of Japanese writing and phonetics, simple sentence structures and commonly used vocabulary such as words for daily greetings. This course also provides great opportunities for students to have a basic understanding on the Japanese linguistic structures as well as the Japanese culture. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to engage in simple conversations with native Japanese on topics such as introduction of oneself and discussions of university lives.
Prerequisite: Completion of SUPJ 1010 Japanese I (Part 1) or having studied Japanese for at least 20 hours
This foundation course is designed for students who have completed Japanese I (Part 1) (SUPJ1010) or who have studied the language for at least 20 hours. Students’ language skills and their knowledge of the Japanese culture and society will be further enhanced through this course. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to communicate with native Japanese on a wider range of topics such as shopping, dining, family, daily routines and campus life.
The main objective of the course is to introduce both the language and culture of Korean. Along with the basic grammar points and phonetic system of Hangeul, students will also be able to experience the beauty and passion of Korean through history, arts, music and drama.
By the end of the course, students will be able to conduct simple dialogues in Korean such as greeting people and introducing oneself in the Korean manner.
Prerequisite: Completion of SUPK1010 Korean I (Part 1) or having studied Korean for at least 20 hours.
This course is for students who have studied at least 20 hours of Korean. The main objective of the course is to introduce both spoken and written language in Korean while focusing on the development of communicative language skills.
Along with the basic grammar points and simple dialogues in the Korean manner, students will also be able to experience the beauty and passion of Korean through history, arts, music and drama.
By the end of the course, students will be able to conduct simple dialogues in Korean such as talking about locations/days/dates of weeks, current activities, past experiences, asking and answering about destinations and location in the Korean manner, etc. Students will also be able to read and write a simple journal entry.
This course introduces both the language and culture of the Hispanic world. Along with the basic grammar points and phonetic system, students will also be able to experience the beauty and passion of the language through history, arts and music. By the end of the course, students will be able to conduct simple dialogues in Spanish such as greeting, introducing oneself in the Spanish manner, giving and asking for information about family and friends, as well as describing people and places.
In this course, you will watch a selection of award-winning Spanish movies and reflect on the cultural content that we can learn from them. At the end of this course, you will be able to understand and explain particular cultural aspects of Spain’s culture.
In this course, you will learn basic expressions and useful language insights that will allow you to successfully communicate with Spanish-speaking people when you travel to Spain and/or Latin America. At the end of the course, you will be able to maintain very basic interactions with Spanish speakers in a travel/holidays context (greetings, asking for directions, basic traveling vocabulary, etc.).
Did you know that the most listened artist on Spotify (for three years in a row; 2020-2022) sings in Spanish? In this course, you will discover and learn about today’s most influential Latin American and Spanish artists and songs. At the end of this course, you will know who these people are, why are they so influential, and the basic meaning of their songs.
In this course, you will learn alternative and innovative ways to approach the Spanish language’s particularities that will help you to communicate more efficiently and fluently. At the end of the course, you will be able to understand and appropriately use some of the core linguistic and grammar items of the Spanish language at the beginner level.
In this course, you will learn basic expressions and useful language insights that will allow you to start communicating in Spanish and will make your approach to the Spanish language easier. At the end of the course, you will be able to maintain very basic interactions with Spanish speakers in limited contexts (greetings, personal information, etc.).
Prerequisite: Completion of SUPS1010 Spanish I (Part 1) or having studied Spanish for at least 20 hours.
This course is a continuation of Spanish I (Part 1). By the end of the course students will be able to maintain simple dialogues on a range of practical topics: talking about personal interests, shopping, ordering food in a restaurant, asking for directions in a city etc. A wide range of interactive activities are included to practice all language skills. The course also introduces the food, music and traditions of Spanish and Latin American countries.
* Supplementary Courses are open to UGC-funded undergraduate and postgraduate degree students as stipulated by the UGC, while foreign language courses (French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish) can be taken by non UGC-funded students (excluding those from the School of Continuing Education).
** Some courses may not be offered every semester. For the latest information regarding the Supplementary Courses offered, please refer to the online registration website.
Students who have fulfilled the attendance requirement of supplementary courses may apply for a Certificate of Attendance before a specified deadline. Please click here for details.