This questionnaire is designed to provide information about language use in the professional workplace in Hong Kong. The information you provide will enable the PolyU to better understand the communication needs of Hong Kong professionals and thereby enhance teaching and learning. All data collected will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Please answer each item by filling in the appropriate number.
This section asks you to provide information about the roles of the English and Chinese languages in your professional life.
2.1 Written communication Please indicate which language(s) you use when reading or writing each text type at work by filling in the appropriate number on the scale.
Text Type
Always English
Usually English
English & Chinese equally
Usually Chinese
Always Chinese
11. Letters
12. Memos (hard copy)
13. Faxes
14. Internal email messages
15. External email messages
16. Reports
17. Minutes
18. Legal documents
19. Notices
20. Promotional materials
21. Circulars/Newsletters
22. Websites
2.2 Spoken communication Please indicate which language you are most likely to speak or listen to in the following speaking/listening situations at work.
Speaking/Listening Situations
Cantonese
Putonghua
English
23. Formal meetings/negotiations (i.e. with agenda, minutes)
24. Informal meetings/discussions
25. Staff training/development
26. Presentations
27. Conferences
28. Seminars
29. Job interviews (as interviewee/interviewer)
30. Appraisal interviews (as appraisee/appraiser)
31. Telephoning
This section asks you to indicate how often you use English for various professional purposes. Please indicate your answers by filling in the appropriate number on the following scale.
Never
Seldom (once/twice a year)
Not very often (once/twice every 6 months)
Sometimes (once/twice per month)
Often (once/twice per week)
Always (almost every day)
Seldom
Not very often
Sometimes
Often
Always
32. Letters
33. Memos (hard copy)
34. Faxes
35. Internal email messages
36. External email messages
37. Reports
38. Minutes
3.2 Reading in English Please indicate how often you read each text type in English by filling in the appropriate number on the scale.
39. Letters
40. Memos (hard copy)
41. Faxes
42. Internal email messages
43. External email messages
44. Reports
45. Minutes
46. Professional Journals /Magazines
47. Websites
48. Circulars/Newsletters
49. Legal documents
50. Promotional materials
3.3 Speaking and listening in English Please indicate how often you speak English or listen to English in each situation by filling in the appropriate number on the scale.
51. Formal meetings/negotiations (i.e. with agenda, minutes)
52. Informal meetings/discussions
53. Staff training/development
54. Presentations
55. Seminars
56. Conferences
57. Telephoning
58. Socialising with colleagues
How important are the following languages in your current job? Please fill in the appropriate number on the scale.
Completely unimportant
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Extremely important
59. Cantonese
60. Putonghua
61. Written Chinese
62. Spoken English
63. Written English
How would you assess your ability in the following languages?
Poor
Excellent
64. Cantonese
65. Putonghua
66. Written Chinese
67. Spoken English
68. Written English
What changes have you noticed in the use of the following languages since you started work?
Less important
More important
About the same
69. Cantonese
70. Putonghua
71. Written Chinese
72. Spoken English
73. Written English