Staff language courses

D. Staff language courses

Staff Chinese Language Courses 2021 – 2022

Applications are invited for enrollment in subsidized courses in Chinese for University staff and their spouses in 2021 – 2022.

1.Subsidized Courses in Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua)

Course Code Course Title Semester 1 & Semester 2
CB1 Beginner’s Cantonese Mon & Fri
12:30 – 1:20 pm
PF1 Beginner’s Putonghua for Non-Cantonese Speakers Tue & Thu
12:30 – 1:20 pm
Enrollment: 20 students per course

Academic Terms
Semester 1 September 6 – November 19, 2021
Semester 2 January 17 – April 22, 2022

Course Content
The emphasis of each course is on the spoken language, in particular daily conversations. The Jyutping and the Hanyu Pinyin System are used for the romanization of Cantonese and Putonghua respectively.

Fee
A University subsidy has made it possible to keep the fee down to $2,400 per person per course. The fee chargeable will be deducted from the successful applicant’s payroll account after the first lesson. Tuition fees, once paid, are not refundable.

Enrollment
The 20 places for each course will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. Application form (A) can be downloaded here. Please apply on or before August 25, 2021. All late applications will not be considered. Any course with an enrollment of less than 10 will be cancelled.

Withdrawal
If, for any reason, you wish to withdraw from the course after you are admitted, you should notify the Head of the School of Chinese in writing as soon as possible.


2. Part-time Tuition in Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua)

Schedule of Fees (Cantonese or Putonghua)

Class size Full rate per session (50 minutes)
per student
Half-rate per session (50 minutes)
per student
Individual tuition $530.00 $265.00
Class of 2 students $265.00 $132.50
Class of 3 students $177.00 $88.50
Class of 4 or more students $133.00 $66.50

For many years the University has subsidized part-time tuition by charging members of staff at half-rate. The University has provided an annual fixed sum of money as subsidy for the School of Chinese to operate under the half-rate scheme. Under this scheme, members of staff enjoy the half-rate for their tuition once a week as long as the subsidy balance is in the black; but once the subsidy is exhausted, members of staff will be charged the full rate thereafter should they wish to continue. It should be noted that staff’s additional sessions and staff’s spouses are required to pay the full rate despite of the availability of subsidy.

Unless you have stated clearly your intention to study for only part of the term in your original application form, we shall advise the Finance and Enterprises Office at the beginning of each term to deduct from your payroll account the tuition fee payable for the term. Tuition fees, once paid, are not refundable.

Academic Terms
Semester 1 September 13 – November 26, 2021
Semester 2 January 17 – April 22, 2022
Summer Semester May 2 – June 24, 2022

Enrollment
The closing date for applications for Part-time Tuition (Cantonese or Putonghua) is August 25, 2021. Application form (B) can be downloaded here. All late applications will not be considered.


3. Free Places Tuition in Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua)

The University annually provides 14 “Free Places” for staff who wish to learn survival Chinese.

The subsidy covers free individual tuition for 20 sessions (50 minutes each) per student from September 13, 2021 to April 22, 2022. Please note that additional sessions will be charged at the full rate of $530 each. Student may consider continuing the tuition on a self-financed basis at $530 per session in Summer Semester between May 2 and June 24, 2022.

“Free Places” are allocated on the basis of the following principles:
(a) First priority is given to those members of staff who have paid their Part-time Tuition in 2019-2020 and/or 2020-2021.
(b) Second priority is given to those who have enrolled in the Subsidized Courses in Chinese in 2019-2020 and/or 2020-2021 but have not enjoyed the Free Places offer within that period.
(c) If the number of applicants is over 14, those who have enjoyed the Free Places offer in the previous five years will not be considered in 2021-2022.

Academic Terms
Semester 1 September 13 – November 26, 2021
Semester 2 January 17 – April 22, 2022
Summer Term May 2 – June 24, 2022

Enrollment
The closing date for applications for Free Places Tuition (Cantonese or Putonghua) is August 25, 2021. Application form (C) can be downloaded here. All late applications will not be considered.


Notes:
1. Application
Please return the completed application form to the Chinese Language Centre via email at alecchan@hku.hk by no later than August 25, 2021.

2. Tuition Fee
Tuition fees, once paid, are not refundable. Due to budget and administration constraints, our Centre is unable to arrange for another timeslot for student’s cancellation of any scheduled tutorial(s).

3. Enquiries
Please send your enquiries to the Chinese Language Centre at alecchan@hku.hk.