George
Mason University
Department of Modern & Classical Languages
Fall 2008
Course: CHINESE 110 Elementary
Chinese - Section 003
When:
T.R. 7:20 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where:
STI 112
Instructor: Maggie Xu
Office Location: Thompson Hall 234-A
Office Hours: by appointment
E-mail: qxu5@gmu.edu
Course Website:
http://mason.gmu.edu/~kzhang
Course Description
This course is
designed for students with no prior knowledge of Chinese. CHAPTER 1 – CHAPTER 7
of the main textbook are covered. The course focuses on developing basic four skills in language and culture necessary to
communicate in speaking and in writing with native mandarin Chinese speakers.
It includes practice in writing Chinese characters using essential vocabulary
and elementary grammar for oral and written communication, exploring aspects of
Chinese culture and society, and comparing between
the Chinese language and culture and those of the students. In addition,
authentic text or audiovisual materials are used to
enhance the development of communicative competence.
Course Materials
1. Integrated Chinese Level I, Part I (2nd edition) :
textbook, workbook, character
workbook. (required)
2. Audio CDs or tapes for Integrated Chinese Level I, Part I (2nd
edition). (optional)
Course
Objectives
Language Objectives
ØBe able to read and write pinyin form premier Chinese
and to recognize around 300 characters.
ØBe able to understand and use words and expressions
introduced in Chapters 1 to 8.
ØBe able to understand and use basic sentence
structures introduced in Chapters 1 to 8.
Communication Objectives
ØBe able to communicate in writing and speaking in a
culturally appropriate manner.
ØBe able to understand authentic texts or audiovisual
materials presented in class.
Culture Objectives
ØUnderstand different aspects of Chinese culture such
as manners and daily life of Chinese people.
ØAppreciate the richness and beauty of Chinese culture
Course Requirements
As students, your strong
commitment, hard work, and consistent cooperation will be the key to the
success of this course; otherwise, it not only hurts your own individual
progress, but can also negatively affect the morale and progress of the entire
class. In order to ensure your learning experience enjoyable and fruitful, it
is highly important and imperative that you should meet the requirements and
follow the rules outlined below.
1. Attendance. Attendance of
class sessions is crucial. Students should keep in mind that part of their
grade is based on attendance and that absences count against them regardless of
the reasons. There will be no penalty for the first two missed classes. After
that, however, each absence will reduce the final grade by one percentage
point. (That is, twelve absences over the course of the semester will result in
a ten percentage point subtraction from the final grade, so even perfect scores
on all tests and homework assignments will result in a "B").
2. Preparation & In-Class
Performance. Students are required to preview and review the materials
covered in each session. A detailed session-by-session schedule is provided for
this purpose. Besides, they are also
expected to participate in all class activities. Students' in-class
participation and performance will be graded on a 15-point scale for each
session. Absence, of course, scores a zero. Pagers and cell must be turned off
before the beginning of class.
3. Quizzes and Tests. At
the beginning of each session, there will be a quiz on a ten-point scale on
speaking, listening, vocabulary and character recognition. After each lesson, a
test on a 100-point scale will be given. There
will be no make-up quizzes or tests. Students are allowed to drop two quiz grades and one test grade (including zero for a missed quiz or test).
4.
Homework Assignments. Homework will be due on the due day. We’ll
do the listening and speaking exercises in the workbook together in class.
Students are responsible for sections of the reading comprehension, grammar and
usage, and translation for which help is available from the course website (http://mason.gmu.edu/~kzhang/homeworkanswers.html).
The last section of essay writing listed in the workbook is optional and just
for extra credits. Late homework will be corrected, but penalized 50% of the
possible score.
5. Oral Presentations and Oral Test. In
order to encourage students to use what they have learned and also to improve
their speaking, students are required to give an oral presentation after each
lesson. Students are expected to incorporate as much of the studied material/
grammar/vocabulary as possible, be creative in terms of the form and content of
their presentations. For example, the presentation can be a role-play, the
telling of a story, the description of a picture or scene related to what is
covered in each lesson. At the end of the semester, there is an oral test. Students
are required to have a one-on-one meeting with the instructor. The conversation
covers 3-5 topics. Besides, students are asked to read a dialogue/text.
6. Mid-term Exam and Final Exam. There will be a written
mid-term and a final exam. 40% of the midterm exam will cover Lessons 1 to 3,
and 60% of the midterm exam will cover L4. 40% of the final exam will cover
Lessons 5 and 6, and 60% of the final exam will cover L7. The comprehensive
exams will test each student’s listening, reading, and writing skills, and
knowledge of grammar and cultural aspects. More details will be given in class.
7. Honor Code. The George Mason
University Honor Code is in effect throughout the entire duration of the course
and applies to all course work carried out inside and outside the classroom. It
is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the GMU Honor System
and Code as laid out in the Student Handbook. Please refer to http://www.gmu.edu/mlstudents/handbook/honor.html
for detailed information.
8. Policy on Disabilities. Students
with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with
the GMU Disability Resource Center (DRC) and inform the instructor, in writing,
at the beginning of the semester. Please see www.gmu.edu/student/drc or call
703-993-2474 to access the DRC.
________________________________________________________________
Grading Policy
Final grade is composed as follows:
In-class performance 15 %
Homework
15 %
Quizzes
10
%
Lesson tests 20%
Oral presentations 10 %
Oral test 10%
Mid-term exam 10%
Final exam
10 %
Grading Scale
A+ 100-97
A
96-93
A- 92-90
B+ 89-87
B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-73
C- 72-70
D 69-60
F
59-0
________________________________________________________________
Session-by-Session
Schedule
|
Date |
Class |
Homework |
|
Tuesday August 26 |
Introduction to the Course |
|
|
Thursday August 28 |
Pinyin Initials |
|
|
Tuesday September 2 |
Hanyu
Pinyin Test Chinese Writing
System |
|
|
Thursday September 4 |
L1 Dialogue I |
|
|
Tuesday September 9 |
L1 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday September 11 |
Lesson 1 Oral
Presentation Lesson 1 Test Chinese
Mid-Autumn Festival |
L1 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday September 16 |
L2 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday September 18 |
L2 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday September 23 |
Lesson 2 Oral
Presentation Lesson 2 Test One Chinese
Song |
L2 Homework Due |
|
Thursday September 25 |
L3 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday September 30 |
L3 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises
|
|
|
Thursday October 2 |
Lesson 3 Oral
Presentation Lesson 2 Test One Chinese
Poem |
L3 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday October 7 |
L4 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday October 9 |
L4 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday October 14 |
L4 Oral
Presentation Review for Mid-Term Exam |
L4 Homework Due |
|
Thursday October 16 |
|
|
|
Tuesday October 21 |
Mid-Term
Exam |
|
|
Thursday October 23 |
L5 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday |
L 5 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday October 30 |
Lesson
5 Oral Presentation Lesson
5 Test One
Chinese Idiom |
L5 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday November 4 |
L 6 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday November 6 |
L 6 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday November 11 |
Lesson
6 Oral Presentation |
L6 Homework Due |
|
Thursday November 13 |
L 7 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday November 18 |
L7 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday November 20 |
Lesson
7 Oral Presentation Review for Final Exam |
L7 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday November 25 |
Sign up for One-on-One Meeting (Final Oral Test) Preparation for Oral Test Course Evaluation |
|
|
Thursday November 27 |
No
Class! Thanksgiving
Holiday. |
|
|
Tuesday December 2 |
General Review |
|
|
Thursday December 4 |
One-on-One Meeting with the Instructor as Scheduled (Final Oral Test) |
|
|
Tuesday December 9 7:30 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. |
Final Exam |
|