Guest lecture 24.04.2012 / 16:00 - 18:00: Research methods of survey and ethnography: Professional communication in English and Chinese in Hong Kong
13.04.2012
Location: Main building, Aalto University School of Economics, A 408, 4th floor, Runeberginkatu 14-16, 00100, Helsinki, FI
Professor, Director of the Research Centre for Professional Communication in English (RCPCE) in the Department of English of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Winnie Cheng gives a lecture at the Aalto University School of Economics:
Research methods of survey and ethnography: Professional communication in English and Chinese in Hong Kong
Research into professional communication in English is growing fast. In Hong Kong, the Research Centre for Professional Communication in English (RCPCE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has been conducting trans-disciplinary and collaborative research projects with different professional organisations in order to deepen our understanding of professional communication in English (and Chinese) and better serve the communication needs of different professional communities.
The presentation describes a few on-going projects that adopt the research methods of surveys (questionnaires and interviews) and ethnography (both shadowing and involving the participant as the researcher) in the study of professional communication in English and Chinese. It also describes conceptual and analytical frameworks in communication and intercultural communication that are adopted in the description, interpretation and explanation of research findings. Major research findings and their implications for teaching and research are discussed.
The projects that will be discussed are first, communicative competencies of professionals in engineering and second, a day in the life of professionals in the four key industries in Hong Kong.
More information about RCPCE: http://www.engl.polyu.edu.hk/rcpce/
The event is free of charge and open for all who are interested. The lecture will be held in English. The event is organised by the Department of Communication, Aalto University School of Economics.
More information: Professor Eija Ventola, eija.ventola(at)aalto.fi