Modern Languages: Mandarin Chinese

Modern Language: Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese I

This introductory course in the Chinese language and culture emphasizes interpersonal language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing through daily situations such as school routines, family, and food. With the help of Pinyin (Chinese sound system), students will be able to read Chinese with ease. Chinese characters are introduced with Chinese character radicals serving as building blocks to help students visualize the writing system. Cultural experiential activities including Kungfu, Taichi, dancing, singing, Chinese painting, costume drama and movie viewing are integrated in the course to develop students’ cultural competency and improve students’ language skills. As an important part of the introductory course, cross cultural comparison and discussion provide students with new perspectives and understanding of different cultures. Student-centered learning activities give students the opportunity to showcase their language skills and leadership abilities.

Mandarin Chinese II Honors

Students continue to learn essential skills to communicate through speaking and writing, as well as begin to develop more advanced reading and listening skills. Grammar is presented using a communicative model, which emphasizes the delivery of language instruction in a meaningful context, as students progress from the novice toward the intermediate level. This course stresses the development of presentational speaking and writing, and engages students in interpersonal conversations and short informal writing to express their thoughts and discuss familiar topics using more complex sentences. Through regular exposure to cultural documents such as current events, films, art and music, students grow to understand important dynamics in contemporary and traditional Chinese culture and its relationships with other cultures. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Mandarin Chinese I.

Mandarin Chinese III Honors

Mandarin Chinese III Honors is an intermediate level language course. This course combines accelerated reading materials with multimedia audio-visual training to further develop students’ integrated language skills – reading, listening, speaking and writing – with an emphasis on effective communication. The course also covers many topics that engage students in comparing and discussing the differences between Chinese and western cultures. The goal is to deepen students’ understanding and appreciation of a modern Chinese language and culture. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Mandarin Chinese II Honors.

Mandarin Chinese IV Honors

Mandarin Chinese IV Honors is an intermediate-advanced level language course. Students’ language skills and cultural competency are further improved through the use of extensive reading, audio/visual materials and discussion on Chinese cultures and traditions, contemporary issues faced by people in daily life. Students express their opinions on a wide range of topics through communicative approach and task-based language learning. While improving students’ language proficiency is the general goal of the course, the emphasis is placed on strengthening students’ ability to communicate and share their own ideas and viewpoints in Chinese. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Mandarin Chinese III Honors.