CBL1120

Beginning business Chinese, part 2

Scott Grant

6 points
* 5 hours per week
* Second semester
* Peninsula
* Prerequisites: CBL1110

Objectives This subject continues the introduction of students to a variety of themes and language functions in Mandarin through both text book materials and situational discourse. Students will further develop a practical knowledge of simple grammatical structures; oral and aural skills necessary for basic communication in a range of everyday practical situations; skills to read short simple text in Chinese; the ability to write short notes and compositions in Chinese characters; an initial understanding of the necessity to translate contextually rather than literally; a knowledge of the cultural context that surrounds the language skills learned.

Synopsis Introduction to modern standard Chinese, including phonetics and romanisation; Chinese character stroke order; elementary spoken and written Chinese; cultural context and background relevant to the study of Mandarin. Will include study of video material as well as text book material.

Assessment Weekly assignments and three short written tests: 20%
* Verbal skills (including classroom participation and two oral presentations): 20%
* Regular character dictation tests: 10%
* Written examination: 30%
* Oral test: 20%

Prescribed texts

Practical Chinese reader I The Commercial Press, 1989
Practical Chinese reader I: Patterns and exercises Cheng and Tsui, 1991
Chinese character exercise book for practical Chinese reader I The Commercial Press, 1989

Recommended texts

Concise English- Chinese Chinese- English dictionary OUP/Commercial Press
Beijing Foreign Languages Institute A Chinese- English dictionary The Commercial Press, 1990