Beyond Proficiency: Fostering Intercultural Dialogue in the EAP Classroom

Join Helen McAllister for ‘Beyond Proficiency: Fostering Intercultural Dialogue in the EAP Classroom’, a session for practitioners navigating the complexities of the modern, multicultural university. Registration Room A607, PolyU Thursday 5 March, 3-4pm. In this session, we will explore how linguistic and cultural diversity can be reframed from being a potential barrier into a powerful educational resource. Drawing on the pedagogical framework of "thinking through making", we will discuss the use of "alternative learning spaces" and creative visual processes - such as model building and zine-making - to help students navigate cultural differences and reduce the natural anxiety of adjusting to new environments. Participants will gain insights into fostering truly inclusive learning environments that promote student validation, compassion and a sense of belonging. Please read Why UK universities should support all students in developing their intercultural communication skills before the session. Helen McAllister is a freelance consultant on language and intercultural communications education and a BALEAP Accreditation Scheme assessor of English for Academic Purposes provision in higher education. She was previously Associate Dean and Director of the Language Centre at University of the Arts London, has worked for the British Council, including on their accreditation scheme, and taught English in five different countries. She is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE.

Rubicon Podcast Season II: The Feeling Goes On

The Rubicon students are crossing over into Season II and invite everyone to follow.  You are now just one click away from previewing the podcast’s new all-video format, which features the creative efforts of students from a swath of faculties.   ELC podcast channel Thank you for supporting and sharing PolyU’s undergraduate podcast, hosted by the ELC and created by students for the local community.    See you on the other side!  Team Rubicon 

Second Annual ELC2011 Feature Article Competition

We are pleased to announce the second annual ELC2011 feature article competition. Come to Room A305 to view the posters and articles and take part in the competition. Dates: Monday 23 February until Friday 13 March Venue: Room A305 (CILL) ELC2011, Advanced Reading and Writing, is one of the ELC’s LCR Electives. The second assessment in the subject involves writing a multimodal feature article on a topic that the student is personally connected to. ELC teachers have selected seven of the best articles from the previous semester and converted them into posters for the competition. QR codes on each poster point to the full article. Come to Room A305 to view the posters, read the full articles, and vote for the one that you find most engaging. All students are welcome! Staff can also vote by using their ‘connect’ account. Student authors stand to win great prizes. Students who vote in the competition can win through posting the ‘best comment’ and through a special lucky draw. Find out more about ELC2011 by joining this Co-pilot Agent Chatbot (use your connect account; please use your laptop / desktop computer to access the agent) Think more about the seven articles by joining this Riffbot (no account needed) Be sure to come and join this event!

Masterclass Series of CILL workshops

The ELC is pleased to announce a new Masterclass Series of CILL workshops. The first two workshops are available for booking now. Details below: Title: Picture Perfect: Mastering Phone Photography & Expression Details: Turn Hong Kong’s streets into your studio while learning to craft captions that bring your photos to life. Facilitator: Calum Page Where: CILL A305 When: Wednesday 4th February 12.30-14.30 Title: The Power of Storytelling: Turn Moments into Meaning Description: Learn how to shape simple ideas into short, compelling narratives. Facilitator: Chrissy Burns Where: CILL A305 When: Thursday 5th February 10.30-12.30 Sign up here

CILL Help Desk

Do you have questions about learning English? An assignment task? Some quick advice for a presentation or interview? Then visit the CILL Help Desk. It’s available Monday to Friday from 1:30 to 2:30 pm where you will find the friendly and knowledgeable ELC CILL Help Desk teacher. You can ask the teacher anything about vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, English learning strategies, assessment tasks and much, much more! CILL Help Desk for AI Speaking Tools New for this semester! We also have a new helpdesk where you can get advice on the AI Speaking Tools available in CILL on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Find out about TalkPal and Yoodli which are both available on CILL computers. These tools can help you improve your speaking, interviews, and presentations … anything speaking related! You can also ask about the AI tools during the usual helpdesks from 1:30pm, and you can ask the special help desk any of the other questions you’d ask at the usual help desk! Remember, no booking is needed: just drop in anytime during the hours above at the open area in Room A305.

English Chat Corner in Room A305 - CILL

The ELC’s English Chat Corner aims to help students build confidence and skills to speak fluently in an informal manner with interesting topics and discussions. Students can meet the Chat Corner hosts, who are PolyU students, and chat about different topics without needing to register. Come and join us at CILL A305 from Mondays to Fridays from 12:30–1:30 and 2:30–3:30 starting from Week 3 – 26 January 2026.

Experiences of AI Feedback and Grading in University Language Centres

Join us for an interactive session on university language centre experiences of AI feedback and grading. Topics and Presenters include: Three AIs, Three Feedback Styles: How ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude Respond to English learners' Argumentative Writings Tiffany Tsz-Yin Pang City University of Hong Kong A Comparative Analysis of Three AI Tools for Automated Marking and Feedback Compared with Human Grading Aditi Jhaveri and Eunice Tang Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Student Critical Evaluation of AI Feedback Rita Gill Singh and Mable Chan Hong Kong Baptist University  What AI Revealed About our Writing Rubrics Adam Forrester The Hong Kong Polytechnic University  Sign up More Details  Session Information  Experiences of AI Feedback and Grading in University Language Centres  Wednesday 7 January  12:30 - 14:00  HKPolyU, CityUHK, HKUST and HKBU Colleagues  Room BC202, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University   Refreshments provided 

ELC2011 CILL Feature Article Competition Results

The ELC2011 CILL Feature Article competition finished on Friday 24 October. Many students took part in the competition by visiting CILL in Room A305, reading the articles, voting on the one that they found most engaging and then leaving a comment explaining why they found the article engaging. Two winning comments were chosen. Beneath the surface of “not understanding words” lies a deep well of loneliness. The author’s struggle with feeling unheard, coupled with the lack of institutional support (like when counseling felt unhelpful), highlights how language barriers can harm mental health. It’s not just about missing conversations—it’s about the grief of not being able to share your thoughts, feelings, or even your sense of humor. For high school students, this is a reminder: empathy matters. A smile, an invitation to join a group, or a patient ear can ease someone’s isolation, even if we don’t fully grasp their background.” Winning Entry by ZHENG Yanxi about article number 3, Lost in translation. “I used to be confused about why Hong Kong people are so obsessed with Chiikawa. Is it cute? This article perfectly answers this question. I know the reason is that Hong Kong has always been a culture melting pot. This article also explains how the trend positively affects Hong Kong culture, society and economic nature. That is exactly so meaningful.” Winning entry by CHEUK Hang Yam about article number 5, Totally obsessed with Chiikawa. All the articles can be found on this padlet. Thanks to all the students for their great work in creating these articles, and all the students who participated in the competition. Current and future students of ELC2011 will find these sample feature articles very useful as they write their own articles. The competition will run again in semester 2 with all new articles!

Happy Halloween at CILL!

Looking for a frightfully fun way to get into the Halloween spirit? Come join us at the Centre for Independent Language Learning (CILL) in Room A305 for a spooktacular celebration running until 31 October 2025! The space has been transformed with spooky decorations, and there's a generous supply of treats and candies waiting to be enjoyed: first come, first served! Whether you're dropping by between classes or just curious to see what eerie surprises await, CILL offers a chillingly good time for all. It’s a great chance to relax, connect with fellow students, and soak up the festive atmosphere while exploring what CILL has to offer. There are also our expert ELC teachers on hand to offer guidance. Whether you're haunted by academic writing or cursed with citation confusion, our team is here to banish your doubts and conjure up confidence in your language skills at the Helpdesk or WAP. And if you're feeling tongue-tied or your speaking skills need a little resurrection, we've got Workshops and SAP to bring your confidence back to life. Don’t miss out! Swing by Room A305 and treat yourself before the ghosts vanish!

READ@PolyU: Meet the Author - David Nicholls

The PolyU Library is excited to announce the concluding event of their campus-wide reading programme this year.  Acclaimed author Mr David Nicholls features in a special conversation to discuss his bestselling novel One Day, which has been selected as the 2025 Common Book for READ@PolyU. The novel follows Emma and Dexter, two fresh graduates whose lives intertwine every 15th of July over two decades, exploring their evolving relationship and the impact of time on their dreams and choices. The witty, heartfelt story explores themes of love, friendship, ambition, and the unpredictable twists of life’s journey. During the event, Mr Nicholls will spend the first 30-40 minutes sharing insights into his creative process for One Day, followed by a Q&A session. Date: 16 October 2025 (Thursday) Time: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Format: Online via Zoom (Moderated by Mr Dean A.F. Gui, English Language Centre) Quota: 200 participants. Register to reserve your seat.  Registration  Have a Question for David Nicholls? Post it to Win a Prize! Want a chance to win another bestseller by Mr Nicholls? Join the Library’s Instagram campaign for a chance to win one of his novels: You are Here, Us or Starter for Ten. Steps to Participate: Post your thought-provoking question related to One Day on your Instagram account, using the hashtag #PolyUReads_David_Nicholls. Email a screenshot of your post to lbueo@polyu.edu.hk. Deadline for submission: 14 October 2025 (Tuesday) After the deadline, the questions will be compiled and sent to Mr Nicholls for his consideration. During the Q&A session, he will answer 5-7 of the most intriguing questions submitted via Instagram before addressing further questions from the audience. If your question is chosen, you will receive his bestselling book as a prize. About the Author David Nicholls is a novelist and screenwriter for TV and film. He has written six bestselling novels, including One Day, Us (long-listed for the Booker Prize) and his latest, You Are Here. His TV adaptation of Patrick Melrose, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, was Emmy-Nominated and won him a BAFTA for Best Writer.