Chinese 4 for language degree students (LL314)
Summary
Level
Pre-requisite: prior knowledge of Chinese:
- Completed Language Centre Chinese 3 or equivalent levels
- AS level or lower grades of IB or A level
- A B1 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference)
- 6 months or more intensive study or work in the native speaking countries only
Main Objectives
- To further develop linguistic and cultural competence in using Chinese in various social and study/work-related contexts
- To understand ideas in complex texts
- To produce text on topics on a wider range of topics
- To achieve B1+ and work towards B2 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of reference)
Credits
This 30 CREDIT module is also available for 24 CREDITS.
Teaching and Learning
One weekly session for 21 weeks, organised as:
- Three-hour face-to-face class on campus
- Some independent study will also be set
Students will take part in an online exchange with a university in China.
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: culture component assessment (15%)
Term 3: one reading / writing test (40%) + one speaking test (35%)
Tutors:
Zhong ZHENG
Zhong.Zheng@warwick.ac.uk
Core Texts:
- New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook 3 (2nd Edition), Liu Xun. Beijing Language University Press, 2012. (ISBN:7-5619-3255- 1)
- New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook 4 (2nd Edition), Liu Xun. Beijing Language University Press, 2012. (ISBN: 7-5619-3431-9)
- New Practical Chinese Reader Workbook 3 (2nd Edition), Liu Xun. Beijing Language University Press, 2011. (ISBN: 7-5619-3207-0)
Course Description:
The module will focus on improving the following:
- gaining further consolidating Chinese grammar
- understanding and oral production of natural and authentic linguistic patterns, with more detailed analysis of important words and phrases
- understanding texts on social and study/work related topics
- using more advanced reading and writing techniques
- gaining more insights into social issues and everyday life in China today
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
- develop their oral fluency and accuracy in a range of predictable and unpredictable situations
- gather information from authentic texts of a variety of informal and formal genres
- produce reasonably long essays on both social and study/work related topics, using simplified characters
- increase their intercultural knowledge and understanding of contemporary Chinese society
- critically evaluate texts relating to culture and engage where appropriate with scholarly debates
- conduct and present independent research into one area of culture
By the end of the module, students should be able to achieve B1+ standard of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
Syllabus:
Topics
- food culture in China
- climate and weather
- transport and environmental protection
- loans and consumption attitude
- gender equality
- job opportunities
Grammar
- sentences indicating the existence or emergence of something
- complex conjunctives
- structural particles
- summary of complements and complex sentences
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
