A method for receiving downlink channels at a user equipment in a wireless communication system. The method according to one embodiment includes monitoring a downlink control channel in a subframe including a plurality of symbols from the base station; and decoding a downlink data channel in the subframe according to the downlink control channel. If a parameter on a starting symbol of the downlink control channel within the plurality of symbols is configured via Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer signaling, the starting symbol of the downlink control channel is determined according to the parameter, otherwise, the starting symbol of the downlink control channel is determined according to a control format indicator.