Chinese
Language Centre The Chinese University of Hong Kong
FAQ
– Part-time programmes
A.
General
B.
About the Centre/ University
C. About the Programme/ curriculum
D. Abour admission and application
A.
General
Q1.
What are the differences between full-time regular
programmes, part-time programmes
and summer intensive programmes?
Answer: a
comparison table is shown here:
|
|
Full-time regular programmes |
Part-time programmes |
Summer intensive programmes |
| LEARNING RELATED |
| Award-bearing programmes
available |
8 programmes
on Chinese as a foreign language are offered.
Putonghua
-
Certificate Programme in Putonghua as a Foreign/ Second Language 普通話(對外漢語)證書課程
-
Diploma Programme in Putonghua as a Foreign/ Second Language 普通話(對外漢語)文憑課程
-
Advanced Diploma Programme in Putonghua as a Foreign/ Second Language 普通話(對外漢語)高等文憑課程
Cantonese
-
Certificate Programme in Cantonese
as a Foreign/ Second Language 粵語(對外漢語)證書課程
-
Diploma Programme in Cantonese
as a Foreign/ Second Language 粵語(對外漢語)文憑課程
-
Advanced Diploma Programme in Cantonese
as a Foreign/ Second Language 粵語(對外漢語)證書課程
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Chinese Local Language and Culture (Cantonese)中國地方語言文化（粵語）基礎證書課程
Chinese
Reading
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Chinese Characters 漢字基礎證書課程
|
4 programmes
for native Chinese speakers and 4 programmes
for non-native Chinese speakers are offered.
Putonghua
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Putonghua for Non-native Chinese
Speakers 普通話（非華語人士）基礎證書課程
-
普通話（華語人士）證書課程
-
普通話（華語人士）文憑課程
Cantonese
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Cantonese for Non-native Chinese Speakers 粵語（非華語人士）基礎證書課程
-
Certificate Programme in Chinese
Local Language and Culture (Cantonese) 中國地方語言文化（粵語）基礎證書課程
-
粵語（華語人士）證書課程
-
粵語（華語人士）文憑課程
Chinese Reading
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Chinese Characters 漢字基礎證書課程 |
2 programmes
on Chinese as a foreign language are offered.
Putonghua
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Putonghua for Non-native Chinese
Speakers 普通話（非華語人士）基礎證書課程
Cantonese
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Cantonese for Non-native Chinese Speakers 粵語（非華語人士）基礎證書課程
|
| Course load per week/ intensity |
3 sessions a day. 5 days per week.
Approximate 190 sessions per semester. |
2 – 3 sessions a day.
1-2 days per week.
Approximate 30-40 sessions per semester. |
3-6 sessions a day.
5-6 days per week.
Approximate 84 sessions per programme. |
| Level available |
Putonghua: L1 to L6
Cantonese: L1 to L6 |
Putonghua: (Non-native Chinese
speakers)
elementary to upper intermediate
level. (Native Chinese speakers) elementary to advanced level.
Cantonese: elementary to intermediate
level |
Putonghua: L1 to L3 (depends on
months)
Cantonese: L1 |
| New course dates /
No. of intakes per year |
3 intakes.
Fall (Sep. – Dec.)
Spring (Jan. – Apr.)
Summer (Jun.-Aug.)
|
4 intakes for beginner courses
(Jan., Apr., Jul., Oct.)
2-4 intakes for other level courses.
|
2 intakes in a year for July (S2)
and August (S3) programme. |
| Lesson time |
Weekday daytime, either morning or
afternoon class
|
Weekday evening, weekend morning
or weekend afternoon.
|
Weekday daytime |
| Class location |
CUHK Shatin
main campus (Fong Shu Chuen Building and Fong Yun Wah Hall) |
CLC Tsim
Sha Tsui Learning
Centre or CUHK Shatin main campus |
CUHK Shatin
main campus |
| STUDENT SUPPORT |
| Student visa sponsorship |
Yes (for students studying at least
12 credits) |
No |
Yes |
| Accommodation support |
Summer on-campus dormitory |
No |
Summer on-campus dormitory |
| Student card (for CUHK on-campus
facilities) |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| STUDENT COMPOSITION |
| Age range and average age |
17-60 (average ~28) |
17-60 (average ~33) |
17-50 (average ~21) |
| Nationality |
Korea 27%, Japan 19%, Europe 16%,
Other Asian countries 14%, North
America 13%, Central and South America 4%, Middle
East 3%, Australasia 3%, Africa 1% |
China 33%, Europe 18%, North America
13%, Japan 8%, Hong Kong: 7%, Korea 6%, Other Asian countries
9%, Australasia 5%, Central and South America 1%, Middle East
1%, Africa < 1% |
North America 30%, Japan 30%, Europe: 20%,
Other Asian countries 15%, Others
5% |
| Occupation |
Professionals, housewives, working
holidays, college students etc. |
Working people, Working holidays |
Majority: current university students |
Note: Figures above are for reference
only. Student composition figures may change from time to time.
Q2. I am not a native
Chinese speakers but I have lived in China/ HK/ Taiwan for 10 years.
Can I study the Cantonese/ Putonghua courses
for native Chinese speakers?
Answer: First,
please understand the following differences:
|
|
Courses for non-native Chinese speakers |
Courses for native Chinese speakers |
| Textbook |
Mainly written in English, with pinyin/
Yale-romanization. English meaning/
glossary is provided |
Written in traditional Chinese only with pinyin/ Yale-romanization. No English meaning is provided. |
| Medium of teaching (at least for
elementary level) |
Cantonese course: Cantonese and English.
Putonghua course: Putonghua and English.
Chinese Reading course: Cantonese
and English. |
Cantonese course: Cantonese and Putonghua
Putonghua course: Putonghua and Cantonese
|
| Student composition |
Students from different nationalities
and background who learn Chinese as a foreign/ second language. |
Cantonese course: students who are
born and raised in China, Taiwan or Singapore who have used Chinese
all their lives.
Putonghua course: students who
are born and raised in Hong Kong who have used Chinese all their
lives.
|
| Curriculum |
Include the reading and writing of
Chinese characters |
Teach only the spoken components
of Cantonese/ Putonghua.
Illustrate examples in local context
only (Hong Kong and China) |
| Class size |
8-20 |
13-25 |
| Course intensity |
40 sessions per semester, 3-4 sessions
a week. |
Putonghua course: 30 sessions per
semester, 3 sessions a week.
Cantonese course: 40 sessions per
semester, 3-4 sessions a week. |
| Part-time award-bearing programme available |
Putonghua
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Putonghua for Non-native Chinese
Speakers 普通話（非華語人士）基礎證書課程
Cantonese
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Cantonese for Non-native Chinese Speakers 粵語（非華語人士）基礎證書課程
-
Certificate Programme in Chinese
Local Language and Culture (Cantonese) 中國地方語言文化（粵語）基礎證書課程
Chinese
Reading
-
Foundation Certificate Programme
in Chinese Characters 漢字基礎證書課程 |
Putonghua
-
普通話（華語人士）證書課程
-
普通話（華語人士）文憑課程
Cantonese
-
粵語（華語人士）證書課程
-
粵語（華語人士）文憑課程
|
| Continuing Education Fund (Subject to applicants’
eligibility) |
Available to 2 programmes
only namely (1) Certificate Programme
in Chinese Local Language and Culture (Cantonese) 中國地方語言文化（粵語）基礎證書課程 and (2)
Foundation Certificate Programme in Chinese Characters 漢字基礎證書課程. Benchmarking exam result
is not a pre-requisite of funding. |
Available to Putonghua
programmes only. Attaining a pass result
in a CEF designated benchmarking exam result is a pre-requisite
of funding. |
Since the
pedagogy is different between the two types of courses, and there were
unfavorable experiences in the past, the Centre strongly discouraged
students against the crossed options. The Centre normally does not allow
non-native speakers taking native speaker courses. The Centre, however,
will grant exception if the applicants fulfill the following criteria:
1.
Attained
HSK Advanced level.
2.
Completed
the CLC
advanced level written placement available online which will indicate
the reading and writing level of the applicants. The division head will
initially judge whether the students are suitable to the course. Click
here for traditional Chinese version
and here for simplified
Chinese version.
3.
Sign
a declaration
to show your understanding of the differences in study arrangement.
4.
No
refund and course transfer are allowed once accepted.
Q3.
Will the award-bearing certificate(s) I received
from CUHK-CLC
recognized in Hong Kong
and China?
Answer: the
CLC
award-bearing programmes have been offered
in accordance with the HKSAR Qualifications Framework
and registered with the HKSAR Qualifications
Register. Yet, it is always at the employers and institutions’
discretion whether they will consider the certificate(s) a key qualification
towards offering of a job position or studentship. There may be some
other key areas which will affect the offer, such as public exam result
and performance in an interview.
Q4.
Are CLC
students the same as CUHK students?
Answer: CLC
programmes open to all and the programme
itself is not Undergraduate or Postgraduate programme.
CLC students
study Chinese language courses only. On the other hand, the CUHK undergraduate
programmes and postgraduate programmes
are subject to keen competition, tight quota and stringent requirements
in admission. CUHK students study subjects of different disciplines.
These are the major differences between “CLC”
students and “CUHK” students which bring about the difference in entitlements.
CUHK students
enjoy all the concessions and incentives offered by the HKSAR government
and the university facilities, while CLC
students can enjoy only part of them.
CLC
students can be sponsored student visa similar to that in CUHK students.
Student visa holders are entitle to health care services in public clinics/
hospitals at local resident rate. CLC
students can ride the school bus free of charge, using the school library
and enjoy the university amenities. Eligible full-time CLC
students can apply for MTR
student travel scheme and live in dormitory on campus in Summer.
CUHK students
can enjoy living in on-campus dormitory during regular term time for
1 year; using university clinic and dental services, job counseling
services and a computer platform to manage their study courses and grades.
In addition, the HKSAR policy of "relaxation of employment restriction
for non-local students” and “immigration arrangement for non-local graduates”
are applicable to CUHK UG/ PG students only and not language students.
|