Diploma Programme in General Studies for the Deaf

Objectives

The objectives of this Programme are:

  1. To equip young and talented deaf adults with literacy skills in English at an intermediate level.
  2. To equip young and talented deaf adults with an academic point of view over fundamental issues in Deaf Studies.
  3. To raise educational opportunities for young and talented deaf adults.

Programme Structure

The Programme is a full-time ten months programme, consisting of four modules.

The four modules and their outlines are listed as follows:

  • Module 1 – Expanding General Knowledge through English
    • In this course, English learning materials on general knowledge covering humanity, basic science, geography, society and nature will be offered to students as reading and writing exercises. Students will be allowed to choose exercises related to areas that interest them most, do the reading and writing exercises, and present what they have learnt from the texts in class for a general discussion. It is hoped that through individual learning and in-class discussions both the general knowledge and English proficiency of the students will be enhanced.
  • Module 2 – Exploring Deaf Studies: Deaf History & Deaf Community
    • This course will briefly discuss some of the major concepts of deaf history and deaf community documented in the literature. It will be shown that the course of deaf history round the globe is mainly shaped by the establishment of formal deaf education and in particular, the language policy adopted by the educators. Particular focus will also be given to how deaf communities develop in different places of the world, and the role of sign language in the cohesion, development and continuation of these communities.
  • Module 3 – Exploring Deaf Studies: Language & Education
    • The course will offer a brief overview to the controversies surrounding the use of language by deaf people in the social and educational context. Topics that will be covered include:
      1. the language development of deaf children
      2. the role of sign language in the cognitive, psychological and social development of deaf children
      3. language policy in deaf education
      4. impacts of the language policy on the deaf community
  • Module 4 – Hong Kong Sign Language III
    • This course adopts an interactive approach, where learners are systematically guided to acquire HKSL for advanced language uses including narration of events, elaboration of ideas, discussion and telling stories. Grammar topics of HKSL including spatial grammar, role shifts, complex predicates, aspectuality, quantification and classifier constructions will be taught.