through which students can comfortably communicate in a variety of settings. Classes are led in Mandarin, and English is only used to help in the explanation of grammar. Materials include textbook, workbook, DVDs, periodicals, websites, online programs, and language computer programs, with access to iPads as virtual language lab tools. As students advance in each level of study, they will gain further insight into the Chinese language and culture enabling them to participate more fully in a global community and marketplace.
CHINESE 10 - Chinese Year. For students with no previous or limited experience with Chinese. As students embark on their journey in learning Chinese, they will find themselves immersed in the language and its culture. The focus of Chinese 10 is to introduce students to both the Mandarin Chinese language and Chinese culture. It is a highly interactive course designed to help students build a solid foundation in speaking and listening skills while introducing Chinese characters. Students are immediately immersed in the spoken language through the use of short stories, videos and authentic materials. Teachers and students read and also create comprehensible and compelling stories together. Students narrate stories, describe pictures, and make Chinese videos. Elements of Chinese culture including Chinese cooking, calligraphy, painting and music, and topics on diversity, equity and inclusion are discussed. During the spring semester, students have opportunities to test their language skills through email exchanges and video conferencing with native Chinese students.
CHINESE 20 - Intermediate Chinese Year. Prerequisite: Chinese 10 or its equivalent. This course is a continuation of Chinese 10. It builds on the skills learned in Chinese 10 and continues to use stories and authentic materials to improve students’ ability to narrate, describe and express opinions. Authentic materials are introduced in the form of stories, short news articles, current affairs, movies, and music videos to help students increase their vocabulary and acquire more complex grammatical structures. Topics on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion and the life of overseas Chinese are discussed. Chinese 20 continues to expose students to elements of Chinese culture such as poetry, proverbs, colloquial expressions, and different cultural artifacts. E-mail exchanges and project collaboration with Chinese schools provide opportunities for students to practice interpersonal communication skills and intercultural exchange.
CHINESE 30 - Advanced Chinese Part I Year. Prerequisite: Chinese 20 or its equivalent. A continuation of Chinese 20, Chinese 30 will strengthen students’ ability to communicate in Mandarin and help them transition to an intermediate level of proficiency. This class will be conducted mostly in Mandarin. Students will learn more extensive vocabulary and complex grammatical structures through authentic materials. Students will read Chinese stories, blogs, news and watch movies. The class will continue to expose students to Chinese culture such as Chinese poetry, proverbs, colloquial expressions, cooking, calligraphy, and different cultural artifacts. Students will collaborate with Chinese students in China throughout the year to write about and discuss a variety of topics such as traveling, interviewing for study abroad programs, college application, job hunting, Chinese cuisine, market, and architecture, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion.
CHINESE 41 - Advanced Chinese Part IIa Fall. Prerequisite: Chinese 30 or its equivalent. Chinese 41 provides students with various opportunities to further develop their aural, oral, and writing proficiency skills. This course is taught almost entirely in Mandarin Chinese and interweaves the study of Chinese language and culture. Students learn more complex sentence patterns and vocabulary through the use of a wide range of primary resources. The course explores themes of traveling, life outside the classroom, literature, art performance, going abroad, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will collaborate with Chinese native speakers on cultural projects throughout the semester.
CHINESE 42 - Advanced Chinese Part IIb Spring. Prerequisite: Chinese 30 or its equivalent. This course consolidates the students’ overall aural, oral, and writing proficiency. It is taught almost entirely in Mandarin Chinese and develops students’ awareness of social and environmental issues, including global societal changes brought by China's economic development, environmental protection, feeding the world and marching towards prosperity. Students are encouraged to initiate self-expression and discussion of current events. Students will continue to work with native Chinese speakers to practice interpersonal and intercultural exchange.
CHINESE 43 - Chinese Literature Fall. Prerequisite: Chinese 30 or its equivalent. In this course, students will read a variety of Chinese literature works of various literary genres selected from different historical periods, including Chinese poetry, prose, drama etc. Based on the reading of the literature works, students will discuss and research topics in Chinese history and culture. The course is mainly conducted in Mandarin Chinese. THIS COURSE WILL NOT BE OFFERED IN 2023-2024.
CHINESE 44 - Chinese Culture Spring. Prerequisite: Chinese 30 or its equivalent. 13
