Welcome to our world of Hong Kong Sign Language programme!
Hong Kong Sign Language is a language of the Deaf community in Hong Kong. It is a visual-gestural language having its own grammar.
In our course, you will acquire the language for
effective communication in everyday situations and appreciate the natural grammar of the language and explore the Hong Kong Deaf culture. Being taught by Deaf instructors, you will have an authentic experience of communicating with deaf people through various language activities.
Lay your hands onto the language of Hong Kong Deaf people. With your hands, you can search for the path into the Deaf world.
Applicable to students admitted in 2025-26 and thereafter
Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 units of courses, with at least 6 units at 3000 or above level, as follows:
| Units | |||
| (1) | Required courses [a]: | ||
| (a) HKSL1000 Hong Kong Sign Language I and HKSL1002 Hong Kong Sign Language II, or HKSL1003 Hong Kong Sign Language I&II | 6 | ||
| 6 | ||
| (2) | Elective Courses: | ||
| BMBL3002, 3003 or any HKSL courses at 3000 or above level | 6 | ||
Total: | 18 |
Explanatory Notes:
| 1. | This Minor Programme is not applicable to students who major in Bimodal Bilingual Studies. |
| 2. | Linguistics Major students can only take HKSL courses to fulfill the requirement of (2). |
| 3. | No more than 9 units of courses taken to fulfill the requirements of the students’ Major Programme(s) and other Minor Programme(s) respectively can be used to fulfill the requirement of this Minor Programme. |
| [a] | Students who have prior knowledge of Hong Kong Sign Language before admission may be exempted from taking HKSL1000, 1002, 1003, 2001, 2002 and 2003. They should seek the advice of the Department to take substitute courses in accordance with their academic qualifications. |
| Code | Course Title | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| HKSL1000 | Hong Kong Sign Language I | 3 |
| HKSL1001 | Hong Kong Sign Language Taster | 1 |
| HKSL1002 | Hong Kong Sign Language II | 3 |
| HKSL1003 | Hong Kong Sign Language I & II | 6 |
| HKSL1100 | Exploring Deafhood | 3 |
| HKSL2001 | Hong Kong Sign Language III | 3 |
| HKSL2002 | Hong Kong Sign Language IV | 3 |
| HKSL2003 | Hong Kong Sign Language III & IV | 6 |
| HKSL3001 | Hong Kong Sign Language V | 3 |
| HKSL3002 | Hong Kong Sign Language VI | 3 |
| HKSL3003 | Hong Kong Sign Language V & VI | 6 |
| HKSL3100 | Special Topics in Hong Kong Sign Language | 3 |
HKSL1000 Hong Kong Sign Language I (Course Outline)
This course introduces basic communication in Hong Kong Sign Language. The course adopts a communicative approach, and learners are systematically guided to acquire the language for effective communication in everyday situations. Emphasis will be placed on the essential grammar of the Hong Kong Sign Language. It also offers a general introduction to the culture and customs of the local Deaf community.
Note: For students who have learnt Hong Kong Sign Langauge before, please contact the teachers of the language programme for placement test.
HKSL1001 Hong Kong Sign Language Taster (Course Outline)
[This course is offered via asynchronous online mode. Students should register the course via KEEP, a CUHK eLearning platform where the course materials are uploaded.]
This online course enables students to acquire some basics of Hong Kong Sign Language and the general principles for communicating with deaf people in a visual-gestural modality. With different videoed scenarios, students are systematically guided to acquire elementary signing skills for fulfilling basic communication needs in everyday situations. Emphasis will be placed on a range of simple, general-purpose expressions, which allow students to converse with local deaf people, as well as prepare themselves for learning the language further.
Students intending to take any of the one-unit language courses to be offered via online mode must read the following information:
One-unit Online Language Courses – Information for Students
HKSL1002 Hong Kong Sign Language II (Course Outline – Section A) (Course Outline – Section B) (Course Outline – Section C) (Course Outline – Section D)(Course Outline – Section E)
This course adopts a communicative approach to teaching basic communication in Hong Kong Sign Language. Through exposure to situational dialogues and interactive activities, students will acquire the language for effective communication in everyday situations. They will acquire a more in-depth understanding of Hong Kong Sign Language with respect to its vocabulary and grammatical constructions. Selected topics on Deaf culture and customs will be introduced to enhance students’ understanding of the local Deaf community.
Pre-requisite: HKSL1000
HKSL1003 Hong Kong Sign Language I & II (Course Outline)
This is a summer intensive Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL) course, covering the full syllabus of HKSL1000 and 2000. This course covers beginner level of HKSL grammar. It provides students with the basic skills of comprehension and expression in a variety of communicative tasks and situations. Students will acquire some basic vocabulary and grammatical constructions of HKSL through exposure to situational dialogues and interactive activities. Topics include 1) basic formation of a sign (i.e. five parameters of a sign) 2) basic sentence types and some of their distinctions as marked by non-manual features (i.e. grammatical features not articulated with the hands) 3) grammatical use of space as reflected in the pronominal system. In addition to language-based communication through HKSL, students will also be taught to appreciate other communication methods using gestures, including mimes, pantomimes, body language and facial expressions. Selected topics on various aspects of deaf culture and customs will be introduced to enhance students’ understanding of the local deaf community.
Note: For students who have learnt Hong Kong Sign Language before, please contact the teachers of the language programme for placement test.
HKSL1100 Exploring Deafhood (Course Outline)
Deaf people form a distinct minority group within most societies. This course offers a critical overview of the environments in which sign languages and Deaf communities develop in different parts of the world through which the history, culture, life experiences and ways of deaf people in the local context will be examined. Two key concepts – Deafness and Deafhood, the first describing the state of being deaf from a medical perspective as opposed to the latter, a cultural perspective, will be introduced and discussed. To facilitate discussion, Deaf and hearing guests will be invited to offer their unique perspectives on practical, educational and social aspects of being deaf. Documentaries, film, theatre and other Hong Kong Sign Language performance art will be used to enhance students’ understanding of Deafhood.
No prerequisites.
HKSL2001 Hong Kong Sign Language III (Course Outline)
This course adopts a communicative approach to teaching communication in Hong Kong Sign Language. It aims to strengthen students’ comprehension and expression skills in various communicative tasks and situations. Students will learn to express simple descriptions or comments on familiar topics, personal interests, and personal experiences. They will continue to acquire vocabulary and grammatical constructions through exposure to situational dialogues and interactive activities. Selected topics on Deaf culture and customs will be introduced in class or out-of-class activities to enhance students’ understanding of the local Deaf community.
Pre-requisite: HKSL1002 or 1003
HKSL2002 Hong Kong Sign Language IV (Course Outline)
This course adopts a communicative approach to teaching communication in Hong Kong Sign Language. It continues to strengthen students’ skills of comprehension and expression in a variety of communicative tasks and situations. Students will learn to express simple descriptions or comments on selected topics like personal experiences or plans. They will also learn to comprehend complex sign language texts on both concrete and abstract topics. Selected topics on Deaf culture and customs will be introduced in class or out-of-class activities to enhance students’ understanding of the local Deaf community.
Pre-requisite: HKSL2001
HKSL2003 Hong Kong Sign Language III & IV (Course Outline – Section A) (Course Outline – Section B)
This course covers the full syllabi of Hong Kong Sign Language III and Hong Kong Sign Language IV. This course adopts a communicative approach to teaching communication in Hong Kong Sign Language. Students will strengthen their comprehension and expression skills in a variety of communicative tasks and situations. Students will continue to acquire vocabulary and grammatical constructions through exposure to situational dialogues and interactive activities. Students will learn to express simple descriptions or comments on selected topics like personal experiences or plans. They will also learn to comprehend complex sign language texts on both concrete and abstract topics. Selected topics on Deaf culture and customs will be introduced in class or out-of-class activities to enhance students’ understanding of the local Deaf community.
Pre-requisite: HKSL1002 or 1003
HKSL3001 Hong Kong Sign Language V (Course Outline – Section A)(Course Outline – Section B)
This course adopts a communicative approach to sign language teaching. This course emphasizes developing the skills for expressing personal opinions and arguments. Students will strengthen their comprehension of complex sign language texts on both concrete and abstract topics. They will learn to command a larger vocabulary and complex sign language structures. Students are encouraged to analyze selected issues in the local Deaf community and the world.
Pre-requisite: HKSL2002 or 2003
HKSL3002 Hong Kong Sign Language VI (Course Outline – Section A)(Course Outline – Section B)
This course adopts a communicative approach to sign language teaching. It continues to train students’ comprehension and expressive skills with emphasis on narration of personal experiences and short stories. Students will learn to command more vocabulary and complex sign language structures. Students are encouraged to analyze selected issues in the local Deaf community and the world.
Pre-requisite: HKSL3001
HKSL3003 Hong Kong Sign Language V & VI
This course covers the full syllabi of Hong Kong Sign Language V and Hong Kong Sign Language VI. The course adopts a communicative approach to sign language teaching. This course emphasizes developing the skills for expressing personal opinions and arguments, as well as constructing longer narratives e.g. personal experiences and short stories. Students will strengthen their comprehension of complex sign language texts on both concrete and abstract topics. Students will learn to command a larger vocabulary and complex sign language structures. Students are encouraged to analyze selected issues in the local Deaf community and the world.
Pre-requisite: HKSL2002 or 2003
HKSL3100 Special Topics in Hong Kong Sign Language (Course Outline)
This course aims at enhancing students’ understanding of selected area(s) of Hong Kong Sign Language, Deaf culture and identity or Deaf communities and communication. Issues to be discussed under the area of Hong Kong Sign Language may include language policy, language documentation and basic human rights in sign languages and accessibility. Academic perspectives on Deaf culture, the Deaf experience, and the effects of educational settings on Deaf culture are issues to be discussed under the area of Deaf culture and identity. Under the area of Deaf communities and communication, the course will discuss “hearing” as a label for non-deaf people, deaf lives in a society built through sounds and the rise of deaf communities in different parts of the world. Topics will vary from year to year. Offerings with different subtitles can be taken up for credit, up to a maximum of two times.
Tang, G. 2007. Hong Kong Sign Language – A Trilingual Dictionary with Linguistic Descriptions.
The Chinese University Press.
Centre for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/cslds
Deaf Organization websites:
Hong Kong Society for the Deaf
http://www.deaf.org.hk
Hong Kong Association of the Deaf
http://www.deafhongkong.org.hk
Y’s Men’s Centre for the Deaf, HK Chinese YMCA
http://www.ymca.org.hk/big5/index.php?c=62&t=1
Hong Kong Sign Language Association
http://www.hksla.org.hk
