George
Mason University
Department of Modern & Classical Languages
Spring 2008
Course: CHINESE 110
Elementary Chinese - Section 002
When:
T.R. 7:20 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where:
W 1001
Instructor: Qin 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 8
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 (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 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. 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 to 7, and 60% of the final exam will cover L8. 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 January 22 |
Introduction to the Course |
|
|
Thursday January 24 |
Pinyin Initials |
|
|
Tuesday January 29 |
Hanyu
Pinyin Test Chinese Writing
System |
|
|
Thursday January 31 |
L1 Dialogue I |
|
|
Tuesday February 5 |
L1 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday February 7 |
Lesson 1 Oral
Presentation Lesson 1 Test |
L1 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday February 12 |
L2 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises Celebrate
Chinese New Year |
|
|
Thursday February 14 |
L2 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday February 19 |
Lesson 2 Oral
Presentation Lesson 2 Test |
L2 Homework Due |
|
Thursday February 21 |
L3 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday February 26 |
L3 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises Learn a
Chinese Poem |
|
|
Thursday February 28 |
Lesson 3 Oral
Presentation Lesson 2 Test |
L3 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday March 4 |
L4 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday March 6 |
L4 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday March 11 |
Spring
Break! No Class ! |
|
|
Thursday March 13 |
Spring
Break! No Class! |
|
|
Tuesday March 18 |
Midterm
Exam |
L4 Homework Due |
|
Thursday March 20 |
L5 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday |
L 5 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday March 27 |
Lesson
5 Oral Presentation Lesson
5 Test |
L5 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday April 1 |
L 6 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday April 3 |
L 6 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday April 8 |
Lesson
6 Oral Presentation |
L6 Homework Due |
|
Thursday April 10 |
L 7 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday April 15 |
L7 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and WB Exercises |
|
|
Thursday April 17 |
Lesson
7 Oral Presentation Lesson
7 Test |
L7 Homework Due |
|
Tuesday April 22 |
L8 Dialogue 1 Pattern Drills and Exercises Learn
a Chinese Pop Song |
|
|
Thursday April 24 |
L8 Dialogue 2 Pattern Drills and Exercises |
|
|
Tuesday April 29 |
Lesson
8 Oral Presentation Course Evaluation Sign up for the one-on-one meeting |
L8 Homework Due |
|
Thursday May 1 |
One-on-One Meeting with the Instructor as Scheduled |
|
|
Tuesday May 6 |
General Review |
|
|
Thursday May 8 7:30 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. |
Final
Exam Have a great summer! See you next
semester! |
|