2014 Spring Liberal Studies Program

01 March 2014

Overview This program aims to provide participants with knowledge and skills which enable them to become better democratic citizens. The course comprises a selection of lectures and educational visits. Not only will the participants learn about the historical and theoretical background to the modern political order, they will also have the opportunity to explore practical issues in the public policy process as well as topics of current and continuing interest at lectures delivered by renowned guest speakers. > Details

2014 Spring 20th Century World History Seminar

26 February 2014

Course Description The seminar aims to give students a broad overview of the international history of the 20th Century, chronologically covering the period between the First World War to the end of the Cold War and the advent of Globalization. Lectures will be facilitated by narratives, texts, figures, motion pictures and maps. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate the cultural, economic, political, and intellectual developments of the modern world. > Details

Chinese History and Culture III

06 January 2014

Overview This course will divide the period from the Song to Ming Dynasties into three parts. The first part will continue to explore the Han regime development, and lead students to understand how Song’s centralized national policy, and various systems built after Ming Taizu rejuvenated the country, were influenced by the event when Zhao Kuangyin was acclaimed as the emperor and found the Song dynasty because of the military revolt in 960. The first part will also deliberately introduce the political developments of three successively established minorities, namely Liao, Jin and Yuan, so to provide students a clearer understanding of the multi-ethnic and multi-regime era of Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan. As well, though introducing historical relics, the instructor will explain the brilliant achievements and impact of Song and Yuan dynasties’ material cultures. The final part will explore the attitudes to seek government positions, and to life, of scholars in the Song and Ming Dynasties. > Details

2014 LPAT Preparatory Seminar (Writing)

07 February 2014

Course Description: This LPAT preparation seminar has two purposes: (1) to help struggling teachers clear their professional hurdle and pass the LPAT (Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers), and (2) to use the training program as a tool to ignite teachers’ passion for English. This seminar will focus on helping teachers tackle the Writing paper, which had the lowest passing rate in 2013. (Another seminar offered later will focus on the similarly challenging Speaking paper.) The instructor is also willing to address concerns over other LPAT papers upon request. > Details

2013 Winter English Literature Seminar

27 November 2013

Overview This course explores the major non-prose genres: free-style poems, sonnets, and Shakespearean drama. Students will intensively cover the basics of poetic and literary analysis. The course begins with a shorter but major form of poetry – sonnets. Then, they will explore the trials, comic tribulations and refined irony found in Shakespearean comedy The Merchant of Venice. Finally, students will study iconic poems of the Victorian lore such as those by Browning, Tennyson, and Rossetti. > Details

Chinese Classics Programme (4)

18 November 2013

Course Overview This course focuses on the close reading of Chinese literary classics, namely the philosophical texts of the pre-Qin times, the prose and poetry of Tang and Song dynasty, the novels of Ming and Qing dynasty, and historical records of ancient China. Through these ancient texts, students will learn about the intriguing historical figures, lesser-knwon stories, and famous sayings of Classical China. > Details