Fruitful U-life: My Growth Inside and Outside the Classroom

Mok Tsz Ki, Year 4 student from the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language in 2022/23

As a BA(TCSL) student, I have benefited greatly in the past two years. BA (TCSL) is a unique programme which focuses on teaching Chinese as a second language. The two-year programme has provided relevant subject knowledge for us to prepare for the future. The courses we study include subjects for second language teaching and those related to Chinese language, literature, and culture. The programme has made me realise that learning Chinese for non-Chinese speaking students is very different from learning Chinese for native speakers. Therefore, the pedagogical approach for teaching non-Chinese speaking students should be tailored to their needs.

The most unique feature of the programme is the arrangement of internships. To allow students to gain more exposure to second language teaching, the programme includes an internship at a university in Beijing with rich experience in second language teaching. The experience of dealing with adult learners is very different from that of dealing with children. In addition, the programme also arranges lesson observations in international primary schools in Hong Kong. These experiences have equipped us to better interact with different students in our future teaching.

After graduation, most students choose to study Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), while others may first go to primary and secondary schools to accumulate experience as assistant teachers. Thanks to this programme, graduates can have many opportunities for further education and employment.

Photo with the Programme leader, Dr Zhang Ling

Photo with the course instructor, Ms Wang Chanjuan