Summary

Level:

This module will be offered to students who have completed Chinese 2 or who already have some knowledge of Chinese, e.g. 6 months up to 1 year of study or work in the native speaking countries - equivalent to that covered by the Chinese 2 syllabus, and those who have the potential and motivation to achieve the next two levels' proficiency within one year.

Main Objectives:

To build upon previously learned knowledge to use more complex grammar and sentence patterns, understand authentic texts, further develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills to deal with a wider range of predictable situations, and gain more insights into Chinese culture. This level allows the students to take fast pace to cover the syllabi of two levels and achieve the outcome of Chinese 4 by the end of the study. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught and assessed.

Credits:

This is a 24 or 30 CREDIT module.

Teaching:

4 hours' language classes per week for 21 weeks.

Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore the minimum expected amount of study is 240 hours, which averages over 10 hours per week. A substantial amount of independent study is therefore required.

Availability of module:

Available as a day-time module, commencing Week 2, Term 1.

Tutor:

Zhiqiong Chen

Text-books:

Course Description:

This module will focus on understanding of more complex grammar and sentence patterns, communicating on a wider range of topics with an improved oral fluecy and accuracy, practising some advanced reading and writing techniques. Students are encouraged to present one's opinions and participate in discussions in class. The module is based on units 18 to 32 of New Practical Chinese Reader 2 and 3. The stimulus material (aural, written and visual) not only provides further consolidation of Chinese grammar but also offers students more insights into everyday life and culture in China. The text-book provides written text in both characters and pinyin tones. The workbook, however, gives greater prominence to characters. There are homework and online resources which consolidate and assist classroom learning.
 

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 and reports
• increase their intercultural knowledge and understanding of contemporary Chinese society.