Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Chinese 3 continues the overview of the important sentence structures of modern standard Chinese begun in Chinese 1 and 2. Equal emphasis is placed on the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Speaking classes cover practical, everyday situations, to develop interactive competence at a basic level in a range of situations likely to be encountered in daily life in contemporary China. In addition to regular classroom activities, listening and reading skills will be further developed through the use of audio/visual, Web-based and computer-assisted language learning materials.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit students will have acquired:

1. The ability to read and write an additional 200 Chinese characters (700 in total).

2. A preliminary understanding of the basic syntax of Modern Standard Chinese and of the similarities and differences between it and English.

3. Knowledge of a grammatical framework with which to analyse and describe the vernacular Chinese under study.

4. Oral/aural skills necessary to communicate quantitatively and qualitatively in a range of everyday, practical situations.

5. Cultural (socio-political) knowledge to enhance understanding of the texts under study and the cultural sensitivity to communicate using appropriate levels of formality with Chinese from mainland China, Taiwan and various parts of the Chinese Diaspora.

Assessment

Written work: 20%
Exam and tests: 50%
Oral test and class performance: 30%

Chief examiner(s)

Robert Irving

Contact hours

4 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 2 x 1 hour tutorials) per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Chinese language

Prerequisites

VCE Chinese (CSL) or IB Chinese (students may be required to sit a placement test to determine Chinese language proficiency)

Prohibitions

CHI1903, CHI2030, CHI2903, CHI3903, CHI4030, CHI4903, CHI5030, CHI5903