English Across the Curriculum: Writing Effective Assignment Questions, Assessing Language in Student Presentations and Improving Students' English Use in Assignments

Facilitator: Dr Damian Fitzpatrick, English Language Teaching Unit, CUHK
Facilitator: Dr Tracey Costley, Department of English, CityU
Facilitator: Dr Julia Chen, PolyU, ELC
Date:09 Oct 2015
Time:12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Venue:TU411

This workshop is for academic staff members from non-English disciplines on how to (i) write more effective exam/essay questions and titles, (ii) assess language performance in oral presentations, and (iii) encourage students to pay attention to English use in their assignments.  Participants will be introduced to practical suggestions, established methods, and concrete resources. The workshop, with speakers from PolyU, CUHK and CityU, is organised by the UGC-funded inter-institution project Professional Development in Enhancing English Across the Curriculum, and supported by the CoP in Enhancing Students’ English Abilities. Registration priority will be given to academic faculty with teaching responsibility.


This practical workshop is divided into 3 parts.

Part 1: Writing effective exam/essay questions and titles

Speaker: Dr Damian Fitzpatrick (CUHK), lecturer with the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Abstract: This workshop is for academic staff members who would like to learn more about the language used to prepare essay questions and titles. The session will explore some of the challenges involved in constructing these types of questions and will look at aspects such as effectively communicating purpose, aim and scope.


Part 2: Assessing language in oral presentations

Speaker: Dr Tracey Costley (CityU), Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of
English at City University of Hong Kong.

Abstract: This workshop looks at ways of assessing oral presentations for students' use of English language as well as for their content and delivery. We will look at criteria used in a number of different international contexts and consider possible adaptations for the context of Hong Kong.

 

Part 3: Encouraging students to pay more attention to English use in discipline assignments

Speaker: Dr Julia Chen (PolyU), Associate Director of the English Language Centre in PolyU, and the Principal Investigator of the UGC-funded inter-institution project Professional Development in Enhancing English Across the Curriculum.

Abstract: This section of the workshop explores concrete measures to get students to write/speak English better in their content/discipline subject assignments, thereby reducing the time academic staff need to spend 'deciphering' what students are trying to express in their term papers or presentations.

EDC Coordinator: Leona Li