Dissemination Activities

The Transition of DSE Chinese Integrated Writing Skills to University Academic Writing

Dr. Cheong Choo Mui, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong
Dr. Yung Wan Shan JoJo, Lecturer, School of Education and Language, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

In today's age of rapid digitalization, proficient writing skills play a vital role in the academic performance of students across all levels of education. Previous research and assessments indicate that secondary school students lack training in writing based on multiple sources, which can hinder their academic writing when they enter university. These challenges include: (1) Insufficient ability to gather relevant writing materials and assess their quality and credibility; (2) Difficulty in maintaining a proper balance between incorporating source materials and expressing their own perspectives; (3) Trouble in selecting pertinent information and synthesizing it to develop their own viewpoints based on multiple sources. To shed light on these issues, this seminar will draw upon writing tasks, questionnaires, and interviews conducted as part of two research projects. It aims to uncover the difficulties and strategies encountered by secondary school students when engaging in integrated writing tasks. Additionally, the seminar will explore the characteristics and methods of citation in academic writing among first-year university students. Practical suggestions will be provided to enhance students' academic writing abilities and facilitate a seamless transition from secondary school to university, ultimately establishing a strong foundation for successful academic careers.

Choo Mui Cheong is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. She started her career as a Chinese language teacher in both Singapore and Hong Kong and led Singapore Chinese language curriculum reform as a curriculum specialist in the Ministry of Education, Singapore. Her research theorises students’ learning of integrated literacy skills, through the study of how learners write from their reading of source material. She contributed by identifying critical features of students’ cognitive processing and designing effective pedagogical approaches in the field of Chinese language pedagogy and assessment. Her achievements are highly recognised, and she has published a total of 29 publications. She is also a member of or consultant to curriculum and assessment committees in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Wan Shan JoJo Yung is a lecturer in the School of Education and Language at the Hong Kong Metropolitan University. She specialized in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language and has published in Journal of Chinese Language Education, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, Writing & Pedagogy and so on. Her research interest focuses on the second language pedagogies and teaching Chinese to non-Chinese speaking students in Hong Kong.

1) The seminar will be conducted primarily in a face-to-face mode; Those who cannot attend the seminar in-person could apply for online participation (via Zoom) with justifications;

2) Interested parties please register online (Click HERE~) on a first-come, first-served basis;

4) Seats reserved for registrants will be opened to on-the-spot registrants 15 minutes after the start of the seminar.

5) The Zoom link will be sent to the online participants via registered email addresses two days before the seminar starts.

~ This work is funded by the Language Fund under Research and Development Projects 2021-22 of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR), Hong Kong SAR. ~