We are delighted to announce that the Gadget Writing Competition of this year has concluded. We thank Professor Gregory James for kindly acting as our adjudicator to select the best pieces. Please click here to view the results. All winning entries are available for reading in the SAC.
Course Description
A one-year discipline-oriented course for all Engineering students, which focuses on enhancing English language skills, developing team-building skills and building confidence in learning and using English.
Objectives and Content
Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
- to increase students' confidence and ability in the skill areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing.
- to develop students' team building skills through group work.
- to help students think critically about their life at the university and role as university students through themes such as "Setting goals and succeeding at university", "Relating to people from different cultures" and "Engineering and Society".
Content
The course is divided into two parts: Part 1 (Fall Semester) and Part 2 (Spring Semester).
Part 1
During the course, students will:
- be introduced to English pronunciation;
- develop their awareness of and ability to listen to features of connected English speech (sentence stress, weak forms and linking);
- complete listening tasks in and outside the classroom; and
- develop their discussion and interaction skills.
Part 2
During the course students will:
- be introduced to a range of online resources that aim to help them write accurately and professionally;
- develop their ability to proofread written work effectively;
- complete reading and writing tasks;
- continue to work on their pronunciation; and
- make individual oral presentations.
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Intended Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes
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By the end of the Fall Semester, you will be able to: |
| Competency-building |
Listening
- comprehend spoken English delivered in natural speed with connected speech features.
Speaking
- participate in an academic discussion using a range of interactive strategies.
- read aloud prescribed texts, demonstrating accurate pronunciation and connected speech features.
Vocabulary
- provide evidence of understanding of a range of thematic words and expressions that are related to the given discussion topics.
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| International outlook |
- articulate the benefits and challenges of a culturally diverse setting.
- identify the communication skills, personal qualities and behaviours appropriate in a multi-cultural environment.
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| Graduate Attributes |
By the end of this semester you will be able to … |
Competency-building |
Writing:
- identify the needs and concerns of a general reader of an academic paper;
- write a coherent academic paper on an innovative gadget or technology, using a problem-solution structure; and
- apply basic proofreading skills to improve accuracy in writing.
Presentation Skills:
- identify the needs and concerns of a general audience of an informative presentation on a semi-technical topic;
- explain the features and functions of an innovative gadget or technology in a coherent presentation to a general audience, using clear language and a problem-solution structure;
- present ideas and key concepts using appropriate stress, pausing and clear language;
- maintain a reasonable level of fluency in a presentation; and
- use appropriate body language and delivery techniques to enhance communication effectiveness.
Vocabulary:
- understand and use the words at levels 6 and 7 of the Academic Word List.
Grammar:
- identify and correct a range of common errors made by Chinese learners.
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Vision and orientation to the future |
- set realistic goals for grammar improvement and vocabulary building, and use recommended materials, tools and resources to achieve these goals.
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