CHIN110: Elementary CHINESE
(6 credits; no prerequisite)
|
Last Day to Add: February 4
Last Day to Drop: February 20
Selective Withdrawal Period:
February 23-March 27 |
Instructors:
|
Name |
Section(s) |
Classroom |
Office |
Email |
Phone |
Office Hours |
|
Chen, Xi |
001: MWF 10:30 - 12:20 |
STI-112 |
234-A Thompson |
xchen8@gmu.edu |
703-993-1631 |
T/R 10:30am-11:45am and by appointment |
|
Wu, Mei |
002:
TR 7:20 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
ENT-279 |
131-Carrel I Thompson |
mwu5@gmu.edu |
|
By appointment |
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 orally 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 development of communicative
competence.
Course Materials
1. Integrated Chinese Level
I, Part I (3nd edition): textbook, workbook, character
workbook
(required).
2. Audio CDs or tapes for Integrated
Chinese Level I, Part I (3nd 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 7.
ØBe able to
understand and use basic sentence structures introduced in Chapters 1 to 7.
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 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.
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 as marked in the session-by-session
syllabus. 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, in
addition to a final oral presentation in front of the class, there is an oral
test. Students are required to have a one-on-one meeting with the instructor.
The conversation covers the topics we have learned in class. Besides, students
are asked to read a dialogue/text of their choice, followed by another
dialogue/text of instructor’s choice.
6. Final Exam. There will be
no midterm but a final written exam. 40% of the the final exam will
cover Lessons 1-6, and 60% of the final exam will cover L7. The comprehensive
exam 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.
Coursework Breakdown
Students’ final grades are composed
as follows:
Class Participation 10 %
Homework 20 %
Quizzes and Tests 30 %
(Quizzes 10%；Tests 20%)
Oral Presentations 15 %
(Presentations for L 1-6 9%; final presentation 6%)
Individual Oral Test 10 %
Final Exam 15 %
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 Schedule
|
Date |
Class |
The Homework Due |
|
1/21
(Wed.) |
Introduction & Chinese
Pronunciation |
|
|
1/23
(Fri.) |
Chinese Pronunciation |
|
|
1/26
(Mon.) |
Chinese Pronunciation Let’s celebrate Chinese New Year! |
|
|
1/28
(Wed.) |
Quiz + Chinese Pronunciation and
Chinese Writing |
|
|
1/30
(Fri.) |
Chinese Writing |
|
|
2/2
(Mon.) |
Pinyin Test + L1 Dialogue I |
Introduction (character workbook) |
|
2/4
(Wed.) |
Quiz and L1 Dialogue II |
L1 Dialogue Ⅰ(character workbook) |
|
2/6
(Fri.) |
Quiz L1 Grammar and Pattern Drills |
L1 Dialogue II (character
workbook) |
|
2/9
(Mon.) |
Quiz + L1Listening, WB Exercises
and Presentation |
|
|
2/11
(Wed.) |
L1 Review and Test |
L1 Workbook due |
|
2/13
(Fri.) |
L2 Dialogue I |
|
|
2/16
(Mon.) |
Quiz+L2 Dialogue II |
L2 Dialogue Ⅰ(character workbook) |
|
2/18
(Wed.) |
Quiz + L2 Grammar and Pattern
Drills |
L2 Dialogue Ⅱ(character workbook) |
|
2/20
(Fri.) |
Quiz + L2 Listening, WB Exercises,
Oral Presentation |
|
|
2/23
(Mon.) |
L2 Review and Test |
L2 Workbook due |
|
2/25
(Wed.) |
L3 Dialogue I |
|
|
2/27
(Fri.) |
Quiz + L3 Dialogue II |
L3 Dialogue I(character
workbook) |
|
3/2
(Mon.) |
Quiz + L3 Grammar and Pattern
Drills |
L3 Dialogue Ⅱ(character workbook) |
|
3/4
(Wed.) |
Quiz +L3 Listening, WB Exercises,
Oral Presentation |
|
|
3/6
(Fri.) |
L3 Review and Test |
L3 Workbook due |
|
3/9 Mon 3/11 Wed 3/13 Fri |
|
|
|
3/16
(Mon.) |
L4
Dialogue I |
|
|
3/18
(Wed.) |
Quiz + L4Dialogue II |
L4 Dialogue Ⅰ(character workbook) |
|
3/20
(Fri.) |
Quiz +L4 Grammar and Pattern
Drills |
L4 Dialogue II (character
workbook)
|
|
3/23
(Mon.) |
Quiz + L4 Listening, WB
exercises Ⅰ |
|
|
3/25
(Wed.) |
L4 Review + Test Ⅱ |
L4 Workbook due |
|
3/27
(Fri.) |
L5 Dialogue I |
|
|
3/29
(Mon.) |
Quiz + L5 Dialogue II |
L5 Dialogue Ⅰ(character workbook) |
|
4/1
(Wed.) |
Quiz + L5 Grammar and Pattern
Drills |
L5 Dialogue Ⅱ(character workbook) |
|
4/3
(Fri.) |
Quiz + L5 listening, WB exercises |
|
|
4/6
(Mon.) |
L5 Review and Test |
L5 Workbook due |
|
4/8
(Wed.) |
L6 Dialogue I |
|
|
4/10
(Fri.) |
Quiz +L 6 Dialogue II |
L6 Dialogue Ⅰ(character workbook) |
|
4/13
(Mon.) |
Quiz + L6 Grammar and Pattern Drills |
L6 Dialogue Ⅱ(character workbook) |
|
4/15
(Wed.) |
Quiz + L6 Listening, WB exercises |
|
|
4/17
(Fri.) |
L6 Review and Test |
L6 Workbook due
|
|
4/20
(Mon.) |
L7 Dialogue I |
|
|
4/22
(Wed.) |
|
L7 Dialogue Ⅰ(character workbook) |
|
4/24
(Fri.) |
Quiz +L7 Grammar + Pattern Drills |
|
|
4/27(Mon.) |
L7 listening, WB exercises |
sign up for individual meeting |
|
4/29
(Wed.) |
Preparation for Final Oral
Presentation |
|
|
5/1
(Fri.) |
Final Oral Preparation |
L7 Workbook due |
|
5/4
(Mon.) |
Review for Final |
|
|
5/6(Wed) |
Final Exam
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