CHI1210

Intermediate Chinese, part 1

Robert Irving

6 points
* 5 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: VCE Chinese (CSL) or equivalent. Recognition of characters in `Practical Chinese reader I' assumed. Students who have passed the first language stream of VCE Chinese are not permitted to enrol in this subject and will be required to sit for a placement test to determine their Chinese language proficiency.

Objectives Students of CHI1210 (Intermediate Chinese) will develop an understanding of the basic syntax of modern standard Chinese and of the similarities and differences between it and English; knowledge of a grammatical framework with which to analyse and describe the vernacular Chinese under study facilitating progression to later study of formal written Chinese; the ability to read simple modern vernacular texts; oral/aural skills necessary to communicate quantitatively and qualitatively in a range of everyday, practical situations; 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.

Synopsis Intermediate spoken and written standard Chinese. In addition to regular classroom activities, listening and reading skills will be further developed through the use of audio/visual and computer-assisted language learning materials.

Assessment Weekly homework exercises: 20%
* Examinations (3 hours): 50%
* Aural/oral tests and class performance: 30%

Prescribed texts

Liu Xun and others Practical Chinese reader II Commercial Press
Ling-Hsia Yeh Practical Chinese reader II: Patterns and exercises simplified character edition, Cheng and Tsui
Zhang Yajun and others Spoken Chinese 900 Shanghai Education Press

Recommended texts

Beijing Language Institute (ed.) Concise English- Chinese Chinese- English dictionary OUP/Commercial Press