THE EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

Course Outline
Part I

Programme Title : Three-year Part-time BEd in Professional and Vocational

Education / Three-year Part-time BEd in Special Needs
Programme QF Level : 5
Course Title : English for Effective Communication in Academic and
Social Contexts
Course Code : CLE 1247
Department : Centre for Language in Education
Credit Points : 3
Contact Hours : 39 hours
Pre-requisite(s) : Nil
Medium of Instruction : English
Course Level : 1

Part II

The University’s Graduate Attributes and seven Generic Intended Learning Outcomes
(GILOs) represent the attributes of ideal EdUHK graduates and their expected qualities
respectively. Learning outcomes work coherently at the University (GILOs), programme
(Programme Intended Learning Outcomes) and course (Course Intended Learning Outcomes)
levels to achieve the goal of nurturing students with important graduate attributes.

In gist, the Graduate Attributes for Undergraduate, Taught Postgraduate and Research
Postgraduate students consist of the following three domains (i.e. in short “PEER & I”):
 Professional Excellence;
 Ethical Responsibility; &
 Innovation.

The descriptors under these three domains are different for the three groups of students in
order to reflect the respective level of Graduate Attributes.

The seven GILOs are:

1. Problem Solving Skills
2. Critical Thinking Skills
3. Creative Thinking Skills
4a. Oral Communication Skills
4b. Written Communication Skills
5. Social Interaction Skills
6. Ethical Decision Making
7. Global Perspectives

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1. Course Synopsis
This course aims to help students acquire linguistics skills in both academic and social
contexts. It is designed to prepare students to write coherent and organized academic texts by
developing essential skills in critical thinking, reading and writing. In addition, students will
be given chances to explore how language functions in social context and the ways in which
linguistic and non-linguistic features affect communication. The course will also enhance
students’ speaking skills in the workplace through English.

2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

CILO1 Understand the connection between audience, context and discourse in
academic and social contexts
CILO2 Recognize the linguistics skills required for effective communication in
social environment
CILO3 Produce an academic writing that is organized and well structured
CILO4 Demonstrate the ability to make appropriate correspondence in the
workplace

3. Content, CILOs and Teaching & Learning Activities

Course Content CILOs Suggested Teaching &

Learning Activities
Identify and analyse typical communication CILO1,2 Reading activities
patterns and linguistic features of spoken and Group discussion
written exchanges in academic and workplace Individual work
contexts

Acquire the necessary skills required for CILO3 Group work

producing an academic writing, including areas Peer review
such as structuring an academic paper, Teacher’s feedback
presenting own viewpoint and giving
appropriate citation

Give information in spoken and written CILO4 Video viewing

exchanges in social context Role play
Self-evaluation

4. Assessment

Assessment Tasks Weighting CILOs

(a) Writing assessment 50% CILO1,3
i. First draft of writing an academic essay
ii. Final version of writing an academic
essay
(b) Blended Learning Tasks 20% CILO2,4

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 i. Forum Discussion
ii. APA quiz
(c) Speaking assessment 30% CILO2,4
i. Presentation (as in Workplace situation)

5. Required Text(s)
All course materials are provided. Please download the handouts from Moodle and bring
a hard copy or your laptop to the class.

6. Recommended Readings
Appelbaum, M., Cooper, H., Kline, R. B., Mayo-Wilson, E., Nezu, A. M., & Rao, S. M.
(2018). Journal article reporting standards for quantitative research in psychology:
The APA Publications and Communications Board task force report. American
Psychologist, 73(1), 3.

Caraivan, L. (2015). Guidelines for business correspondence. Quaestus, 7, 215-220.

Levitt, H. M., Bamberg, M., Creswell, J. W., Frost, D., Josselson, R., & Suárez-Orozco,
C. (2018). Journal article reporting standards for qualitative research in psychology:
The APA publications and communications board task force report. American
Psychologist, 73, 26-46.

7. Related Web Resources

Nil

8. Related Journals
Nil

9. Academic Honesty
The University adopts a zero tolerance policy to plagiarism. For the University’s policy
on plagiarism, please refer to the Policy on Academic Honesty, Responsibility and
Integrity with Specific Reference to the Avoidance of Plagiarism by Students
(https://www.eduhk.hk/re/modules/downloads/visit.php?cid=9&lid=89). Students should
familiarize themselves with the Policy.

22 September 2019