Chinese 1 (LL130)
Summary
Level
Absolute Beginners only. People with some knowledge of Mandarin will NOT be allowed to take this module. Please note, final year students are not normally permitted to take non-accelerated beginners modules.
Main Objectives
- To enable students to acquire simple sentence patterns and ways of expressions.
- To develop basic skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing in a range of predictable everyday situations.
- To begin to develop strategies for learning Chinese.
- To achieve A1 and to work towards A2 standard of the CEFR (Common European Framework of reference).
Credits
This 30 CREDIT module is also available for 24 CREDITS.
Teaching and Learning
One weekly blended session for 21 weeks, organised as:
- Two-hour face-to-face class on campus
- Some independent study will also be set
If health & safety restrictions are required, teaching may move online.
Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore for a 30 credit module, the minimum expected amount of study is 300 hours, which averages over 10 hours per week. A substantial amount of independent study is therefore required. Students can make use of Moodle to facilitate this.
Assessment:
Term 1: one interim test (10%)
Term 2: one listening test (15%)
Term 3: one reading / writing test (50%) + one speaking test (25%)
Tutors:
Zhiqiong CHEN
Course Texts (must be bought by student)
-
New Practical Chinese Reader (2nd edition), Textbook 1 (Units 1-11), Liu Xun. Beijing Language University Press, 2010. (ISBN: 9787561926239)
- New Practical Chinese Reader (2nd edition), Workbook 1 (Units 1-11), Liu Xun. Beijing Language University Press, 2010. (ISBN:9787561926222)
Course Description
Based on an interactive approach, the module will focus on grasping speech sounds and tones, acquiring essential listening and speaking skills, and practising basic reading and writing techniques in characters. The stimulus material (aural, written and visual) not only provides an introduction to the language but also offers students an insight into Chinese culture. The text-book provides written text in both characters and pinyin, together with an underscored English translation. The workbook, however, gives greater prominence to characters. There are homework and online resources which consolidate and assist classroom learning.
Successful completion of Chinese 1 qualifies students to progress to Chinese 2.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Gain insights into everyday life in the Chinese-speaking communities
- Apply a basic knowledge of grammar appropriate to the level
- Begin to develop language learning strategies to understand gist and specific information
- Write simple texts in simplified Chinese characters
- Interact in simple way, and ask and answer questions on familiar topics
By the end of the course, students should be able to perform at Level A1 Basic user (breakthrough) of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
Syllabus
The syllabus will include the following:
Topics
Greetings and general courtesy; ordering drinks and food; identifying people and getting personal information; finding one's way around; talking about one's major and one's university; talking about one's family; making an appointment; celebrating one's birthday; talking about one's likes and dislikes; shopping.
Grammar
Word order in Chinese sentences; basic sentence structures; different forms of questions; attributives expressing; possession; some commonly used adverbs; numbers from 1-100 and numeral-measure words as attributives; prepositional phrase; sentences with double objects; sentences with serial verb phrases.
Subject-specific and transferable skills
- Written and spoken communication
- Strategies for understanding gist and specific information
- Intercultural Awareness, Professionalism, Digital Literacy, Teamwork, Problem-solving
Can count towards the Warwick Award
