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Module LZC-1003:
Chinese for Beginners 1

Module Facts

Run by School of Languages, Literatures, Linguistics and Media

20 Credits or 10 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr Shasha Wang

Overall aims and purpose

  1. To acquire an understanding of basic Chinese grammar;
  2. To develop a competence in listening to and understanding spoken Chinese in basic communicative contexts;
  3. To acquire and develop basic oral skills in Chinese;
  4. To enable students to pronounce and write basic Chinese characters, and read and create basic texts in Chinese.

Course content

The module is devised to suit ‘ab initio’ and post-GCSE students of Chinese and focuses on the development of basic oral, aural and written communicative skills. This module involves an introduction to pronunciation, tones, and writing of Chinese characters, as well as basic grammar and reading.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

40-49%: A limited knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and a limited ability to translate and paraphrase the prescribed range of texts. Basic oral and aural competence.

good

50-69%: A good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and a good ability to translate and paraphrase the prescribed range of texts. Good oral and aural competence.

excellent

70+%: An excellent knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and an excellent ability to translate and paraphrase the prescribed range of texts. Excellent oral and aural competence.

Learning outcomes

  1. be able to recognise and write basic characters, and read simple prose passages;

  2. be able to produce sentences and short paragraphs using basic vocabulary and grammatical constructions.

  3. be able to communicate in Chinese on basic everyday issues.

  4. be able to understand the essential features of Chinese sentence structures;

  5. be familiar with the pronunciation and tones;

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Written assignment, including essay Assignment 20
CLASS TEST Test 20
EXAM Oral Exam 20
EXAM Written Exam 40

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

Lectures– 4 hours per week for 11 weeks (1 class on writing, 1 class on grammar, 1 on oral/aural skills)

 44
Private study

reading, revising and preparing for the assessments

 146
Tutorial

Tutorials- 1 hour per week for 10 weeks (conversational+ HSK +Q&A)

 10

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Studying the countries or regions where the target language is used, including aspects of their literatures, cultures, linguistic contexts, history, politics, geography and social or economic structures. (Benchmark statement 5.10)
  • The ability to extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4, 5.14)
  • The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in short written assignments in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.14)
  • The ability to translate short passages into and out of the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • Effective oral communication and presentation skills (including delivery and argument development, discussion and defence) in the target language through individual and/or group discussions. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in oral assignments, showing familiarity with a range of topics and registers in formal and informal situations. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • Develop aural comprehension skills in the target language, supported by a wide range of appropriate materials in different media. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • The ability to read, understand and summarise written texts in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • The ability to write effective notes and access and manage course materials including electronic resources / information provided on online learning platforms and library resources. (Benchmark statement 5.15, 5.16)
  • The ability to work creatively and flexibly both independently and/or as part of a team. (Benchmark statement 5.15).
  • The ability and willingness to engage with and appreciate other cultures and to articulate to others (in written and verbal form) the contribution that the culture has made at a regional and global level. (Benchmark statement 5.7)
  • Sensitivity to and analysis of grammar and syntax in the target language, as well as basic morphology and phonology. (Benchmark statement 5.8, and 5.9)
  • Basic reading and listening skills in the target language as well as vocabulary acquisition. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4, 5.7, and 5.10)
  • The ability to make effective use of notes and to carry out independent study. (Benchmark statement 5.15)
  • Develop verbal communication skills in the target language through group work and class discussions. (Benchmark statement 5.8)
  • The ability to read, understand, translate, and write short texts in the target language (benchmark statement 5.13, 5.14, 5.15 and 5.16)
  • 1. The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in short written assignments in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.14)
  • 2. The ability to translate short passages into and out of the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 4. Effective oral communication and presentation skills (including delivery and argument development, discussion and defence) in the target language through individual and/or group discussions. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 5. The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in oral assignments, showing familiarity with a range of topics and registers in formal and informal situations. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 6. Develop aural comprehension skills in the target language, supported by a wide range of appropriate materials in different media. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • 7. The ability to read, understand and summarise written texts in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • The ability to comprehend and apply cultural idioms by studying primary and secondary materials in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)
  • Develop reading and audio-visual comprehension skills in the target language through the study of primary sources in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)

Resources

Resource implications for students

Students will need to purchase the core textbook. The core textbook is likely to cost about £15-£20. Copies of the above books will be ordered for the university library.

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/lzc-1003.html

Reading list

Core textbook: Chinese in Steps Student Book 1 (Paperback, one volume ed., incl. 1 CD)

Recommended Reading: 1． Pocket Oxford Chinese dictionary: English-Chinese, Chinese-English - Martin H. Manser, Yuan Zhu, Liangbi Wang, Yongchang Ren 2009 2． Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar - Claudia Ross 2014 3． Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar Workbook- Claudia Ross 2014 4． HaFaLa Chinese animated fast learning software: Han zi dong man xue xi ruan jian 2009 (audio-visual document)- 2009 5． Integrated Chinese Level 1 Workbook (3rd edition)- Yuehua Liu 2008 6． Colloquial Chinese 2: The Next Step in Language Learning 7． New Practical Chinese Reader vol.1- Textbook (3rd edition)- Xun Liu 2015 8． New Practical Chinese Reader vol.1 - Workbook (2nd edition)- Xun Liu 2010 9. Get started in Mandarin Chinese - Elizabeth Scurfield, Lianyi Song & Elizabeth Scurfield 2010 10. Chinese Flash Cards Kit Volume 1: Characters 1-349: Hsk Elementary Level- Philip Lee Yunkin 2012

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: