Project on Multilingual and Cross-Cultural Communication Training for Future Leaders Funded by GEF

The project “Multilingual Communication Training and Cross-Cultural Communication Course for Future Leaders”, led by our Chair Professor Chu-Ren Huang(CBS), has received a support of HK$539,642 from the Gifted Education Fund (GEF). The project will run for 15 months and the beneficiary target is Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 students. With the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies being the host of this project, its partners include the Department of English and Communication, HK PolyU-PKU Research Centre on Chinese Linguistics, Centre for Translation Studies, Research Centre for Professional Communication in English, International Research Centre for the Advancement of Healthcare Communication, and the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong.

FH Project Funded by the University’s Project of Strategic Importance Scheme 2021-22

Dr Si Chen(CBS) and her research team has been awarded HK$2M by the University’s Project of Strategic Importance Scheme. The funded project is entitled “Robot-assisted speech and musical training in improving speech prosody production and processing by Cantonese-speaking autistic children”. Twenty-six applications were submitted for this round of exercise and fourteen of them were funded.

Secretary for Food and Health Visits Speech Therapy Unit

Representatives of our Speech Therapy Unit, together with the Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Head of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies met with the Secretary for Food and Health, Prof. Sophia Chan, during her visit to the University on 15 December 2021. The visit was organised by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and our Speech Therapy Unit was invited to introduce to Prof. Chan its clinical facilities as well as the teaching and training of our speech therapy students. The Speech Therapy Unit also provides clinical service to the community to meet the societal demands for treating speech and communication disorders in children and adults.

FH Student Won PolyU Most Outstanding Student Award

Our student Miss Ho Hiu Man received the Most Outstanding PolyU Student Award this year. Hiu Man is a final-year BACBS student. She is a lover of Chinese language and literature and is dedicated to preserving and promoting Cantonese Opera. She has also been actively participating in community services. The Faculty would like to congratulate Hiu Man on her outstanding achievements. PolyU organises the Outstanding Students Award Scheme annually to award full-time final-year students who excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits during their studies.

Call for Nominations: Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2022

The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award has three levels, namely Department, Faculty and University levels. In addition to the recipients of the Department Award, graduates of the Faculty level programmes (such as Doctor of Applied Language Sciences and BA(Hons) in Language Studies for the Professions) are also eligible to be nominated for the Facutly Award. We are pleased to announce that the Faculty of Humanities(FH) is now calling for nomination for the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2022. The award aims to give public recognition to FH graduates for their diverse accomplishments and contributions. Award Categories There are four award categories: Professional Achievement Entrepreneurial Achievement Scholarly Achievement Community Service Achievement Candidate who is aged under 40 by the end of the award year can be considered under the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Faculty awardees of current year may be nominated to the Outstanding Alumni Award at University level. Eligibility The nominated candidate must be a bona fide graduate who has successfully completed full-time or part-time programme offered by PolyU Faculty of Humanities* (or its forerunners: Hong Kong Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College, Hong Kong Polytechnic; and its constituent units: School of Professional Education & Executive Development and Hong Kong Community College) which led to academic award accredited by the respective Institution. Recipients of Outstanding Alumni Award at departmental level and graduates who have completed programmes offered at Faculty level, such as Doctor of Applied Language Sciences and BA(Hons) in Language Studies for the Professions, are eligible for nomination to the award. The proposer can be PolyU graduate, Honorary Graduate, University Fellow, PolyU staff, current PolyU Council and Court member and current Advisory Committee member. There is no limit to the number of nominations to be submitted by each proposer. However, the proposer cannot be the candidate himself/ herself or a direct relative of the candidate. *including graduates from the former Faculty of Communication Nomination and Deadline 14 January 2022 Award Details and Nomination Form Completed forms shall be sent to emily.ip@polyu.edu.hk by 14 January 2022 (Friday). Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Ms Emily Ip by email (emily.ip@polyu.edu.hk) or by phone (3400 8224).

FH Speech Therapists Featured on Local TV Programme Explaining Articulation Disorder

Clinical Associates Dr Cymie Ng and Mr Wong Chun Ho from our Speech Therapy Unit were invited to talk about articulation disorder on a local TV programme. In addition to identifying features of the disorder and sharing tips to help parents improve the articulation of their children, our speech therapists also demonstrated how to use games and activities to conduct effective speech therapy. Click here for the video: https://fb.watch/9tOWUsiY3Y/

PolyU Arts and Humanities Rises in THE Subject Ranking

PolyU’s subject ranking in Arts and Humanities has jumped from 126-150 to 101-125 in the World University Rankings 2022 announced by Times Higher Education (THE) yesterday. The Faculty will continue to strive for enhancement and to fulfil our core missions of nurturing talents, discovering knowledge, and impacting the society. The THE rankings by subject, similar to the THE World University Rankings, assesses universities by 13 performance indicators but the methodology has been recalibrated to suit the individual fields.

Prof. Louise Cummings on Her New Book ‘Language in Dementia’ – PolyU Excel x Impact

Our Associate Dean and Professor of the Department of English, Prof. Louise Cummings, talks about her new book Language in Dementia in the latest issue of Excel x Impact, the University’s magazine. The new book looks into dementia’s impact on language and communication. Different neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy were analysed in this study. To read more: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/publications/excelximpact/issue/202107/research-innovation/identifying-warning-signs-of-dementia

Hong Kong Linguistics Olympiad Team Shines at IOL 2021

All members of our Hong Kong Linguistics Olympiad (HKLO) team won medals — one Gold, two Silver and a Bronze medals — at the 18th International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) held between 19-23 July 2021: Xie Lingrui (La Salle College) Ip Tsz Oi (Diocesan Girls' School) & Ian Tam (La Salle College) Ng Truman Toby (St. Paul's College) The HKLO team has also achieved the highest average team score for the individual competition. The team is jointly trained by the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies and the Department of English. Please visit the HKLO page for more information about the team.

Dr Peng Gang Awarded RGC Research Fellowship 2021/22

Dr Peng Gang from the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies has been awarded the RGC Research Fellowship (RFS) 2021/22. The RGC received 30 nominations this year and 10 nominees have been selected for RFS awards. The RFS aims to facilitate exceptionally outstanding researchers' full dedication to research and development through providing sustained support and relief from teaching and administrative duties.