Join the ELC's Speaking Assistance Programme!

The Speaking Assistance Programme aims to help students gain the confidence and skills to speak fluently in a variety of university and workplace settings. The programme is based on a negotiated programme. Students are expected to decide what aspect of speaking they would like to focus on before attending a session. The teacher's role is that of guide and feedback provider. Examples of oral topics include: social discussion, debate of a current affairs topic, presentation practice and pronunciation focus. We have a range of materials, games, videos, and worksheets for students to use if they so desire. Alternatively, students may bring their own resources.  More details Booking

Join the ELC's Writing Assistance Programme (WAP)

The Writing Assistance Programme is offered to all students enrolled in UGC-funded degrees. Our goal is to help you become a better writer by providing you with professional feedback on your writing that can hopefully develop your writing skills and confidence.  We are not a proofreading service and we do not correct errors for you, but we will help you identify possible errors and areas of improvement.  We are happy to show you strategies for improving your writing, such as how to:  generate and develop ideas organise your content in logical paragraphs understand the expectations of your target reader learn paraphrasing and referencing skills find appropriate ways to express your ideas explain grammar points More details Book here

Keynote by Prof Glenn Stockwell at AHKLC 2025 Symposium

The first plenary speaker at the AHKLC 2025 Symposium (22-23 May 2025) was Prof Glenn Stockwell, Professor in Applied Linguistics at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. In a packed Chiang Chen Studio Theatre at PolyU on the first day of the Symposium, Prof Stockwell explored the realities of AI in the language classroom.   During his talk, Stockwell contended that while AI will not replace teachers, it will change their roles, and educators must adapt to these changes. He further stressed that technological capacity does not equate to pedagogical value and that while AI tools are powerful, they are not educators and should not be relied upon to replace human teaching.  You can watch the full plenary below:  Summary of plenary  Full transcript of plenary 

AHKLC 2025 Symposium - Opening Speech by Dr Julia Chen

The AHKLC 2025 Symposium was successfully held on 22-23 May 2025. Over 200 educators from Hong Kong and the region registered for the event. During the opening ceremony, attendees heard an opening speech by Dr Julia Chen, Director of the Educational Development Centre at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. During her speech, Dr Chen stressed the critical role of language centres in universities, particularly in the context of the challenges posed by Generative AI. She highlighted that language is not just a communication tool but a vehicle for thinking and understanding diverse cultures. The full speech can be seen below.   Summary of speech Full transcript of speech

STiLE-New Issue Out Now

There is a new issue for STiLE, the journal for the scholarship of teaching in language education. The articles in the new issue are all based around customising GenAI for language learning.  Go here for all the articles: https://www.stile.hk/osp/issue/view/5  For a summary of the articles, listen to this short podcast.  STiLE: VOLUME 3, Special Issue, 9 May 2025 Available NOW! 

AHKLC 2025 Symposium Day 2

Day 2 of the AHKLC 2025 Symposium continued where Day 1 left off with more networking, exchanging of ideas, and understanding of common issues as we further investigated how AI is impacting language teaching and learning.   The day started with a plenary from Dr Takako Aikawa, a senior lecturer in global languages at MIT.  Dr Aikawa talked about the evolving roles of teachers and pedagogical innovations in the age of GenAi. The full talk can be seen here.   After a short break, the second plenary of the day was delivered by Prof Ursula Wingate from King’s College London. Her talk focused on GenAI policies and practices, and the need for staff and student education related to AI. The full video of her talk can be seen here.  After another series of parallel sessions featuring both English and Chinese presentations, the day ended with a roundtable discussion featuring three of the keynotes, Prof Glenn Stockwell, Dr Chao-Mei Tu and Prof Ursula Wingate, and the Head of the AHKLC, Dr Wesley Curtis. The four panellists faced questions about how language education can be repositioned in the age of AI. A recording of the discussion can be seen here.   Find out more at the AHKLC 2025 Symposium Playlist. 

AHKLC 2025 Symposium Day 1

Day 1 of the AHKLC 2025 Symposium was filled with vibrant discussions, innovative ideas, and meaningful connections as we explored the intersection of AI and language education. The organisers give a heartfelt thank you to all attendees, presenters, and panelists for contributing to such a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. Find out more at the AHKLC 2025 Symposium Playlist.

ELC Surveys on AI Teachers and Subjects being Replaced by Language Exit Tests

The ELC advocates the student-centred classroom with AI playing the role as an assistant. Although AI teachers replacing human teachers has been in the news recently with, for example, Adelaide University having tentative plans to phase out face-to-face lectures, and closer to home HKUST has introduced an AI lecturer in one of its subjects, the power of AI to replace all the features that a qualified human teacher brings to the classroom is not yet possible. The ELC keeps abreast of these changes and has long been at the forefront of innovations such as co-hosting the Symposium on Repositioning Language Education in the Age of AI, sharing resources on how GenAI can be used in the language classroom, and making materials more accessible through AI created podcasts. Language exit tests are also back in the news with local universities such as Lingnan and EdUHK requiring students to take a language exit test, while other universities such as Hong Kong Metropolitan University and the PolyU offer reimbursement to student taking language tests. The ELC already offers online resources and F2F workshops for students planning to take IELTS. Language tests can act as a motivational tool to encourage students to improve their language skills, but it is debatable whether a test alone can lead to sustained language improvement.  The ELC was interested to find out student views about AI teachers and language exit tests. At the end of each semester, Student Staff Consultative Meetings (SSCMs) are held for each ELC subject, and during these meetings in the last semester students were asked for their views on the above. Full reports can be found at these links (AI Teachers and Exit Tests), or you can listen to a short podcast talking about the reports below. In summary, students recommend retaining and enhancing the current interactive language courses and using AI as a supplementary tool to support human teachers. This approach addresses the potential benefits of AI while retaining the irreplaceable human elements in fostering a dynamic and holistic learning environment. Students also expressed concerns about a compulsory language exit test.

AHKLC Symposium Podcast

The AHKLC Symposium 2025 is coming soon! We have four great plenary speakers at the Symposium - Dr Takako Aikawa, Prof Glen Stockwell, Dr Chao-Mei Tu and Prof Ursula Wingate. What will they be talking about? Listen to this short podcast to hear a short discussion on their upcoming talks. More details about the speakers can be found on the Symposium website: https://events.polyu.edu.hk/ahklc2025/plenary_speaker

Revealing the Secrets of Professional English: from the Private Sector to Public Service

The Art and Secrets of Professional English: From Private Sector to Public Service Date: 16 May 2025 (Fri)        Time: 3:00pm to 4:00pm    Venue: A607     Amy Hung’s Biodata Amy has had an unusual and varied career covering luxury industries in the private sector serving the select few and in the public sector serving all citizens of Hong Kong.  She started out in the finance industry and was later headhunted to the auction industry.  At the height of COVID-19, she decided to utilise her Master’s degree in International Health Management and joined the Department of Health as Research Officer.  She is currently working for the Health Bureau in Dental Policy Implementation. Blurb of the Sharing Session Step into the dynamic world of Amy Hung!  With experience in private banking, high-end auctions, and government departments, Ms Hung will reveal the interesting differences in English use across industries, from the polished formality of prestigious realms to the precision of government documents.  Packed with office culture insights, amusing real-life stories, and practical tips, this talk will uncover hidden nuances of workplace English that are rarely discussed.  Don’t miss this chance to inspire your learning and teaching with insights from authentic workplace experiences across different industries. Register here.   This event is co-presented by the Business English Interest Group and the Centre Staff Development Committee of the English Language Centre All PolyU Students & Staff are welcome