MA in Putonghua Education
CUHK

With more and more primary and secondary schools using Putonghua as the medium of instruction for Chinese and Chinese history, demand for teachers who are proficient in the language has vastly risen.

The Master of Arts in Putonghua Education at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) caters to those wishing to teach in Putonghua and attracts teachers from local and international schools.

Course subjects include Putonghua and it dialects, language topics, and the theory and practice of language education.

“The programme highlights the importance of both theory and practice in Putonghua education,” says programme director Dr Lam Kin-ping. “It promotes the study of Putonghua and language teaching by building on existing knowledge and experiences in the implementation of language education.”

Students will be able to enrich their knowledge of linguistics and language teaching. “The programme aims to nurture educators to support Putonghua education in Hong Kong. I hope graduates of the programme will be able to contribute to popularising Putonghua education in local schools and the community,” Lam says.

The two-year, part-time programme caters to students who are full-time teachers by offering three terms in one academic year. In the first term, students will take full-day courses during the July and August school summer holidays. The second term runs from October to February, while term three runs from March to June. Classes during terms two and three are held on weekday evenings.

Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, usually with at least second-class honours, as well as proficiency in Putonghua and working experience in areas related to Putonghua education.