New publication on protecting the public's health during novel infectious disease outbreaks

Explore this insightful Cambridge Element by our Prof. Louise Cummings, published by Cambridge University Press. The work delves into two significant public health crises: the emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in British cattle and the COVID-19 pandemic. It contends that a group of arguments called the informal fallacies functioned as cognitive heuristics and facilitated public health reasoning during both crises. These arguments, which include the argument from ignorance, the argument from authority, and circular argument, are particularly well adapted to the type of uncertainty that surrounds the emergence of novel infectious diseases.  By bridging gaps in knowledge, these arguments can facilitate reasoning when evidence about these diseases is limited and the need to take action is urgent. The Element charts a public health journey beginning in the 1950s with a disease called kuru, then examines the response to the emergence of BSE in 1986 and extends to the present day with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Open access to the publication from HERE.

Prof. Hu Guangwei and Prof. Li Shaofeng ranked among the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Hu Guangwei and Prof. Li Shaofeng have been honoured among the World's Top 2% Most-cited Scientists in the newly-released 2024 Stanford/Elsevier list. Prof. Hu and Prof. Li have been recognised for their exceptional achievements in the field of Communication and Textual Studies, specifically within the sub-theme of Languages and Linguistics. At the same time, Prof. Hu is ranked 45th worldwide in the field. Their consistent excellence in advancing our understanding and application of communication theory and practice has profoundly impacted the academic community and beyond. This international recognition highlights the outstanding research, dedication, and intellectual contributions of Prof. Hu and Prof. Li. Their inclusion in this elite list of scholars is a source of immense pride and inspiration to  our Department. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Hu Guangwei and Prof. Li Shaofeng. Let us celebrate their significant achievements and continue to support their invaluable contributions to the academic world.   About the Stanford/Elsevier List The World's Top 2% Most-cited Scientists lists, compiled by Stanford University, acknowledge both lifetime achievements and recent research contributions. Over 100,000 leading scientists globally are categorised into 22 subject fields and 174 sub-fields. The lists utilise various indicators, including citations, scientific research output, and a composite measure of citation impact, covering data up to the end of 2023.  

Building bridges through debate: PolyU Debate Club’s 12-day journey in Bangladesh (2-13 June 2024)

The PolyU Debate Workshop, sponsored by our department's English Debate Club, was held at the Presidency International School in Bangladesh over a span of 12 enriching days from 2-13 June 2024. From insightful discussions and games to spirited debates, the resounding feedback from the workshop participants has been positive. Witnessing students' curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the workshop was truly inspiring. With 22 secondary school students actively participating in the workshop, the collaborative efforts and dedication showcased by the members of the English Debate Club, who are PolyU students themselves, have undoubtedly contributed to the great success of this event, which has been met with great appreciation from both the participating students and the local school authorities. The encouragement and support the PolyU Debate Workshop received is an inspiration for future educational initiatives and endeavours.

BAEAL Year 2 student Leung Yu Hong clinches gold medal at the 1st AUSF Wushu Championship

We are delighted to share the extraordinary success of Leung Yu Hong, a Year 2 student in our BA (Hons) in English and Applied Linguistics programme. He secured the gold medal in the Men’s Sanda 60kg category at the AUSF 1st Asian University Wushu Championship in Harbin, China, from 19-22 June, which brought 87 athletes from 12 Asian countries and regions together. Yu Hong humbly expressed his gratitude for this accomplishment, "PolyU supports athletic careers and maintains a flexible balance between academics and athletics. Assisting athletes in bringing honour to Hong Kong and striving for excellence. I’m able to focus entirely on the competition when I compete. The hybrid learning mode makes my study more flexible and better time management." Including Yu Hong, three PolyU Wushu athletes achieved one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal at the Championship. Let us come together to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of these athletes and eagerly anticipate their continued success in the days ahead. Click HERE to learn more.

English Debate Club won a grand finalist award at the 2024 Taipei Debate Open

QIN Xin, Eric, a talented member of the English Debate Club, chalked up another grand finalist award at the 2024 Taipei Debate Open! The tournament took place at the National Chengchi University from July 27 to July 29, which gathered some of the region’s best debaters to compete in British parliamentary style. Eric collaborated with partners from Macau University of Science and Technology in a debate performance that showcased his ability to think quickly on his feet and work effectively with his teammates. Congratulations to Eric on this outstanding achievement! Join our PolyU English Debate Club to hone your debating skills and become part of our debating community!

New joint article on the implications of platformization for online language teaching

Our Dr Nate Ming Curran has co-authored an article with Faculty of Humanities’ Doctor of Applied Language Sciences (DALS) student Jinyan (Stephy) Wang, in the prestigious journal TESOL Quarterly. Their article, "Competing for Views and Students: The Implications of Platformization for Online Language Teaching," examines the accounts of two popular English teachers on the social media platform Douyin. The article delves into the impact of platformization on TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), exploring how it shapes the identities of language teachers in the realm of social media. To learn more about this insightful research, please click HERE for the full article (open access).

Awardees for The Stephen Evans Best Paper Award 2024

Two PhD students received The Stephen Evans Best Paper Award 2024. They are: CHIGBU Godswill Uchechukwu. His thesis's title is “Religious othering in Nigeria’s electoral discourse: Towards a critical religious tolerance”. WU Xiaoyan Ivy. Her paper's title is “Mainland Chinese students’ psychological adaptation to Hong Kong: an intergroup communication perspective”. Please join us in congratulating them. Their exceptional research work has set a great example for academic excellence!  More about The Stephen Evans Awards can be found on the website HERE.

New book on individual differences and task-based language teaching

This new book by our Prof. Shaofeng Li, published by John Benjamins Publishing Company, consists of a collection of empirical studies and research syntheses that investigate the role of individual difference (ID) variables in task-based language teaching (TBLT)—a pedagogical approach that emphasizes the importance of the performance of meaning-oriented tasks in facilitating second language learning. TBLT is subject to learner-external as well as learner-internal factors, with the former referring to task- and context-related factors, and the latter to ID factors pertaining to learner traits, dispositions, or propensities. To date, the research has focused primarily on learner-external factors, and there has been insufficient and unsystematic research on individual difference factors. This volume brings centre stage this important but under-researched dimension by means of a comprehensive, in-depth examination of the role of key ID factors in TBLT. The volume integrates theory, research, and pedagogy by spelling out the mechanism through which IDs influence learning attainment, behaviours, and processes, examining evidence for theoretical claims, and discussing ways to apply research findings and cater to individual differences in the task-based classroom. More information about the book can be found on the website HERE. 

English Training Program for Migrant Workers - Second Batch

The English Training Program for Migrant Domestic Workers, a collaborative initiative between our Department and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (IMWU), proudly celebrated the achievements of 84 migrant domestic workers who have successfully completed a 4-month English training course on 16 June 2024. The milestone was marked by a certificate presentation ceremony attended by distinguished guests and community members, including Prof. Eric Friginal (Professor and Department Head of ENGL), Supartini (Executive Committee member of IMWU), and Endah Rachmi Yuliarti (Consul of the Information and Socio-Cultural Affairs at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong). The English Training Program aims to equip migrant workers with essential linguistic tools to enhance their work efficiency and foster better social interactions within local communities. This is the second batch of the program, which has seen remarkable growth, doubling in size and now accommodating a more linguistically diverse group of participants. The program offers two levels of instruction: Beginner and Intermediate Classes for Migrant Domestic Workers. Participants attended classes twice a month, engaging in immersive and hands-on learning experiences that helped them acquire various skills, including communication, vocabulary, grammar, and writing. The impact of the program has been significant. Upon completion, 70% of participants felt confident in using English, while 83% reported a significant positive impact on their relationships with employers. Moreover, 84% felt the program had a substantial positive effect on their interactions with the local community. These outcomes highlight the program’s success in not only improving language proficiency but also in enhancing the overall quality of life for migrant domestic workers. The program continues to thrive and will welcome its third cohort, commencing in mid-July 2024, with 90 participants. Dr. Jeffry Oktavianus, Assistant Professor and project leader, commented that this expansion reflects the growing demand and the program’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of migrant domestic workers. Click here to watch the highlights.

Migrant Worker Lives Matter Symposium (24 May 2024)

Our Department hosted the first Migrant Worker Lives Matter Symposium on 24 May 2024. This half-day symposium, co-organised with two migrant worker NGOs, Pathfinders and Mission for Migrant Workers, brought together people from different sectors across Hong Kong, including policy makers, academics, migrant worker NGOs, migrant domestic workers (MDWs) and their employers. A total of 140 people signed up for the symposium - 130 in person and 10 online - and they discussed some of the most pressing issues facing MDWs in the city, including their social inclusivity, access to healthcare, and the employer-employee relationship. Some of the conclusions and recommendations for practice that came out of the symposium include: more ethical recruitment practices and transparency about the recruitment process; more accessible information about health issues available to MDWs in their own language: more information about MDWs’ rights and pre-hire training to employers; and more open communication about the challenges faced by both MDWs and their employers to foster more positive relationships. The symposium also highlighted the importance of collaboration among all MDW stakeholders to address the structural issues faced by many MDWs and ensure their wellbeing and social inclusion in the city.