Hong Kong

This course introduces basic spoken and written Korean, oral practice for various everyday situations, grammatical structures, and vocabulary and practical expressions. Students do not need any prior knowledge of Korean. At the end of the course students are able to conduct conversation on topics such as everyday greetings, asking and giving information, and number expressions. Texts: SOGAND KOREAN 1A, Korean Language Education Center. Assessment: attendance (5%), assignments (45%), oral exam (10%), and a final exam (40%).

This course examines major trends and issues in international relations of East Asia. Instead of providing a comprehensive survey of the history, culture, and national policies of countries in the region, it mainly addresses four issues in the course: What are major trends in regional IR? What is the source of conflict in the region? What are the common interests that unite peoples and states of East Asia? How does the region organize itself? It explains dynamics and patterns of regional international relations in a broad geopolitical and geoeconomic context. Topics in discussion include major powers’ role in the region, the Korean Peninsula, the Taiwan Strait, ASEAN, Southeastern Asia and regional institution-building.

This course examines the study of international relations from 'global south' perspectives, focusing on the question of development. It covers: Eurocentrism; capitalist modernity; the Western challenge; the expansion of Europe; the 'great divergence'; imperialism and colonialism; 'catch-up' strategies; state-led industrialization; the neoliberal approach of the Washington Consensus; the rise of China; urbanization; informalization and gender relations; migration; social movements and revolution; Covid-19; and climate change. 

This course examines features of contemporary Europe and the European tradition including the cultures, history, religions, ideas, politics and economic conditions in Europe.

This course examines the Cantonese language as spoken in Hong Kong. The language will be discussed in its areal and historical context. Grammatical topics will include parts of speech in Cantonese, verbal aspect, noun classifiers, and sentence-final particles, with a particular focus on aspects of syntax which diverge from written Chinese and Putonghua such as dative, passive, and comparative constructions. Topics of sociolinguistic interest such as the use of Cantonese as a written language, ‘lazy pronunciation,’ and Cantonese as an endangered language will also be addressed.