Courses Offered by the CEAL

I. Common English Courses
The CEAL offers two common courses, English for Communication I and II (LCE101 and LCE102),
to First Year students on degree programmes in Chinese, Cultural Studies, History, Philosophy, Visual Studies, Business Administration and Social Sciences. These courses aim to:

1. improve students’ general English proficiency;
2. equip students with skills necessary to study in the medium of English, focusing particularly on the
   types of skills necessary for a liberal arts education;
3. provide students with a basis for the effective development of employment-related skills; and
4. help students acquire independent English-learning strategies.
   

II. Free Electives
The CEAL offers a number of Second and Third Year free elective courses on a rotating basis. These are:

• LCE202 Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
• LCE301 Thinking through English
• LCE302 English Skills for Employment
• LCE303 Enhancing English Proficiency Skills
• LCE304 English through Language Arts
• LCE305 Academic Writing in English
• LCE306 Advanced Integrated English Language Skills
• LCE307 News and Views
  
  

III. Third Language Courses
To meet the demands of students for third languages, CEAL offers both credit-bearing and non-creditbearing courses in French, Japanese and Spanish. These courses are term courses and are offered at two levels: Beginners and Post-Beginners. For enrolment in Post-Beginners courses, students are required to have already taken the relevant Beginners course or 42 hours of study in an equivalent Beginner course of the language concerned or obtained approval of the instructor.

SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY THE CEAL
The CEAL runs several programmes which offer additional help and encouragement for language enhancement.

Examinations
The CEAL provides help for students preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination in the form of a one-credit course (LCE303) lasting 7 weeks.

Consultations
Students are encouraged to set up their own learning programmes. Consultations are available to provide guidance and to suggest materials and learning targets.

Discussion Groups
Discussion groups aim to develop oral fluency and improve students’ confidence when speaking English so that they may be better prepared to cope with the demands placed on them in their university careers and future professions.

Workshops / Seminars
Workshops are held regularly on different topics, and students are encouraged to participate actively. Topics may be of general interest or related to students’ immediate needs such as job application skills.

Writing Tutorial Service
Guidance is available for students who wish to develop their writing skills. This tutorial service aims to encourage students to identify their individual weaknesses when writing English and find ways to improve them.