CHIN110:
Elementary CHINESE
(6 credits; no prerequisite)
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Last Day to Add: February 4
Last Day to Drop: February 20
Selective Withdrawal Period:
February 23-March 27 |
Spring 2009
Course: CHINESE 110
Elementary Chinese - Section 002
When:
T.R. 7:20 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: ENT 279
Instructor: Mei Wu
Office Location: Thompson Hall 131 carrel I
Office Hours: by appointment
E-mail: mwu5@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 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-by-Session
Schedule
|
Date |
Class |
Homework |
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Thursday January 22 |
Introduction to the Course |
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Tuesday January 27 |
Pinyin Initials |
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Thursday January 29 |
Hanyu
Pinyin Test Chinese Writing
System Celebrate Chinese New Year |
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Tuesday February 3 |
L1 Dialogue I |
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Thursday February 5 |
L1 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills |
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Tuesday February 10 |
WB Exercises Lesson 1 Oral
Presentation Lesson 1 Test |
L1 Homework Due |
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Thursday February 12 |
L2 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills |
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Tuesday February 17 |
L2 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills |
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Thursday February 19 |
WB Exercises Lesson 2 Oral
Presentation Lesson 2 Test |
L2 Homework Due |
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Tuesday February 24 |
L3 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills |
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Thursday February 26 |
L3 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills Learn a
Chinese Poem |
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Tuesday March 3 |
WB Exercises Lesson 3 Oral
Presentation Lesson 2 Test |
L3 Homework Due |
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Thursday March 5 |
L4 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills |
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Tuesday March 10 |
Spring
Break! No Class ! |
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Thursday March 12 |
Spring
Break! No Class! |
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Tuesday March 17 |
L4 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills |
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Thursday March 19 |
WB Exercises Lesson 4 Test |
L4 Homework Due |
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Tuesday March 24 |
L5 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills Learn
a Chinese Song |
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Thursday |
L 5 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills |
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Tuesday March 31 |
WB Exercises Lesson
5 Oral Presentation Lesson
5 Test |
L5 Homework Due |
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Thursday April 2 |
L 6 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills Learn
a Chinese Idiom |
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Tuesday April 7 |
L 6 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
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Thursday April 9 |
WB Exercises Lesson
6 Oral Presentation |
L6 Homework Due |
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Tuesday April 14 |
L 7 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills |
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Thursday April 16 |
L7 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills |
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Tuesday April 21 |
WB Exercises Review |
L7 Homework Due |
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Thursday April 23 |
General
review Course Evaluation Sign up for the one-on-one meeting |
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Tuesday April 28 |
One-on-One Meeting with the
Instructor as Scheduled |
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Thursday April 30 |
Final
oral test |
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Tuesday May 5 |
General
review for Final |
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Tuesday May 12 7:30 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. |
Final
Exam Have a great summer! See you next
semester! |
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