WORLD LANGUAGE COURSES

Mandarin 2

Prerequisite: Mandarin 1B, Mandarin 1, or placement test.

In Mandarin 2, students continue to cultivate their language communicative skills and competence from novice-mid to novice-high level while deepening their knowledge of Chinese culture. Students at this level can communicate, present, and exchange information about familiar topics using memorized phrases and simple sentences. Students are able to handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions. Students refine their speaking and listening skills as well as their ability to read, type, and write 250 to 300 Chinese characters. Students also participate in at least two Chinese cultural events in the greater Los Angeles area.

Mandarin 3

Prerequisite: Mandarin 2 or placement test.

In Mandarin 3, students continue to refine their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to novice high level. At this stage, learners can communicate and exchange information about familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, supported by memorized language patterns. They can also engage in short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions. At the end of the course, students will be able to produce, interpret, exchange, and compose personal opinions and state various topics beyond basic needs. Students work with short literary texts and authentic multimedia materials on familiar topics, such as school life, travel, and social media. Students make important cultural connections and comparisons with their own culture. Students continue to learn simplified Chinese characters and Pinyin.

Mandarin 4

Prerequisite: Mandarin 3 or placement test.

Students further develop their linguistic and cultural competence in Mandarin in all three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) in the novice-high/intermediate-low range. At this stage, students have the ability to participate in conversations on a number of familiar topics. Students handle more complex social interactions by using a variety of sentence structures and express themselves beyond basic level. Students discuss, compare and contrast, support, and persuade their opinions. Moreover, students produce extended paragraphs related to the external environment. In dealing with texts, students continue to develop their receptive and productive skills by interpreting, narrating, describing, and discussing topics ranging from personal experience to community events. Students explore topics including the Chinese holiday celebrations, education and school life, food, pop culture, travel and transportation, sports, and China economics. Students expand their knowledge of Chinese traditional culture and arts such as calligraphy, paper cutting, poetry, movies, literature, etc. Students continue to learn characters in simplified forms with pinyin.

Honors Mandarin 4

Prerequisite: Departmental approval.

An intermediate-low to intermediatemid course, Honors Mandarin 4 focuses on the development of linguistic range and cultural competence in all three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational). At this stage, students have the ability to participate in conversations on a number of familiar topics. Students handle more complex social interactions by using a variety of sentence structures and expressing themselves beyond the basic level. Students discuss, compare and contrast, support, and persuade. Moreover, students produce extended paragraphs related to the external environment. Students will focus on a variety of real-life topics about education and school life, traveling and daily life experience, technology, and social media. In dealing with texts, students continue to develop their receptive and productive skills by interpreting, narrating, describing, and discussing topics ranging from personal experience to community events. Students will also continue their exploration of the Chinese culture and start to learn to describe cause and effects of events. Classwork involves communicative activities, dialogues, and paired/group practice. A variety of materials are used to reinforce language skills. Students are expected to conduct conversations and write essays on these topics by the end of the school year.