Language Use across Disciplines

The aim of this focal research area is to examine and/or explore:

	language attitudes and beliefs among faculty and students
	levels and types of language awareness among faculty and students

	the making of language policy at university level in Hong Kong
	the relationship between language and disciplinary content in teaching and learning processes
	the effectiveness of English enhancement provision
	the nature and effectiveness of innovations in teaching delivery and learning support
	the role of assessment in assuring communicative standards and benchmarking graduates against international norms
Many of these key areas inevitably intersect with other focal areas, but the broad spectrum of this tertiary focus is justified by the need to add to our understanding of the special ESL-medium nature of tertiary study in Hong Kong

Meeting Schedule

3 June 2008 (Tuesday) 12:45-2pm	Discussion of paper 'Learning as boundary-crossing in school-university partnership' (2007), co-authored by Amy B. M. Tsui and Doris Y. K. Law	Hui Oi Chow LG02
13 May 2008 (Tuesday) 12:45-2pm	Discussion of Paper 'Contradictory Discourses: Learning and Teaching In and Through English in an English-Medium University in Asia' (2007), Co-authored by Chris Davison and John Trent	Hui Oi Chow LG02
4 Mar 2008 (Tuesday) 1-2pm	Discussion Session: Integrating content and language in higher education curricula – perspectives from English first-language and English as Additional Language (EAL) higher education contexts	Runme Shaw 204
28 Nov 2007 (Wednesday) 12:45-2pm	Informal Lunchtime Session with Prof Constant Leung	Runme Shaw 205
5 Nov 2007 (Monday) 12:45-2pm	Introductory Meeting cum Abstract-writing Workshop for Two Summer 2008 Conferences	Runme Shaw 202

Focal Group Members (*Convenor)

Research that group members are currently undertaking around the focal area

-	Second Language Learning Motivation and Interaction
-	Education- Maths, Science/Clinical therapy (Yr 1 undergraduates)
-	Postgraduate supervision
-	New 4 Year curriculum-resources
-	Family Medicine, interested in Medical and Health Science Education, CMI to English medium Medical Faculty
-	Science health education, focus on teachers' problems in bilingual context, also the new Liberal Studies
-	Physics, Biology- pre/post testing, Question- what linguistic aspects interfere?
-	Language attitudes in Year 1 Econ and Finance, CMI background
-	Education- Linguistics- research on language and content subjects, social issues in content disciplines
-	Legal English usage & web-mediated self-directed learning, E-M policy in Hong Kong, with legal education case study

Constituent Theme-funded Projects

-	Visitorship of Dr Brian Paltridge, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney, Australia, 28 January-10 February 2007

Activities initiated by the focal area

-	Seminar "The Role of 'this' in English Academic and Research Writing" by Prof John Swales, University of Michigan, USA, 5 Feb 2008
-	Four Year Undergraduate Curriculum Reform Seminar: "English across the Curriculum: Addressing Communication Issues within Disciplinary Curricula" by Prof John Swales, University of Michigan, USA, 5 Feb 2008 (jointly organised with the Steering Committee on 4-Year Undergraduate Curriculum, CAUT)