In this course, you will study the fundamentals of Mandarin Chinese: conversation, basic writing, listening and reading comprehension, vocabulary building, grammar, and culture. This course fosters understanding of Chinese-speaking people through cultural comparison and development of written and spoken communication. It will enhance your perspective of humanity.

No prerequisites or prior knowledge are needed.

The following guidelines are intended to provide a quick overview of the course for prospective students. After the semester begins, please refer to the comprehensive syllabus and schedule posted on Blackboard. 

1. One version of the textbook: Either Simplified OR Traditional (NOT Both)

Integrated Chinese Volume 1 Textbook (4th ed.), Yuehua Liu and Tao-chung Yao et al. Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company. 

Traditional Text: ISBN 9781622911349 (without supplemental reading) OR 9781622917471 (with supplemental reading)

Simplified Text: ISBN 9781622911356 (without supplemental reading) OR 9781622917457 (with supplemental reading)

2. One version of the workbook: Either Simplified OR Traditional (NOT Both)

Integrated Chinese Volume 1 Workbook (4th ed.) 

Traditional Text: ISBN 9781622911318

Simplified Text - ISBN 9781622911363

Please feel free to contact your professor if you are not sure which version to choose. 

Grading System

Please note:  students must receive a grade of C or better in order to continue with Chinese 1412.

Tests and Final

The tests and final will be administered online through Blackboard using Respondus Lockdown Browser. Learn more: Respondus Lockdown Browser Student Quick Start Guide. 

• Test One covers pinyin and Lessons 1-2; 
• Test Two covers Lessons 3-4; 
• Test Three covers Lessons 5-6; and 
• The Final is comprehensive and covers Lessons 1-8. 

Regular and careful preparation for and review of each lesson is the best way to prepare for the tests and the Final. Make-up tests due to special circumstances will need advance notice given to and approval by the instructor. 

Oral Tests

You will have an oral test for every two lessons and a final comprehensive oral exam. Guidelines, dates, and time will be given during the semester prior to the exam. Make-up tests due to special circumstances will need advance notice given to and approval by the instructor.

Class Participation

You are expected to be in class as scheduled and participate in group activities.

Please follow the schedule posted on Blackboard closely to find out the dates for submitting homework, tests, and final exam.

This online course is not self-paced. It starts and ends in the same academic term as on-campus courses, and it has due dates and deadlines for various assignments, tests, projects, etc. assigned by your instructor. All work (including assignments and tests) must be completed by the due date set in the syllabus. Final grades will not be posted until the end of the semester regardless of when you finish all your tests and assignments.

This online class will be met twice a week via Zoom. Students are required to attend these lectures.

Tests will be given and taken on Blackboard using Lockdown Browser. Students are required to download Respondus Lockdown Browser.

Learn more: Respondus Lockdown Browser Student Quick Start Guide

Other than class meeting and tests, these class activities will also be conducted through Blackboard: handout distribution, homework assignments and submissions, and discussion forum. Your instructor also send announcements to the class via Blackboard relating to schedule changes, special reminders, other notices and information. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have access to your ACC email account and Blackboard and set up alerts on discussion forums if needed.

This online lecture format class will emphasize all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The grammatical explanations will be given at a level that will help students achieve all four skills at the elementary level. Students will sometimes be required to work in pairs or small groups virtually. Your active participation in the class is required for the success of the class.

You are expected to learn the phonetic system during the first two weeks. Accuracy of pronunciation will be emphasized throughout the course by focusing on grasping the phonetic sound and tone of all the words and expressions learned. Recorded assignments will help you grasp the pronunciation of the phonetic symbols.

Students are expected to practice writing at home. The Workbook and Character Workbook assignments will be helpful in developing listening, reading, and writing skills. The online audio links will aid you in the comprehension and pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese.

Class Outline

Please refer to the class schedule on Blackboard for details on the content of each class as well as assignment and test deadlines. 

At the end of Chinese 1411, students should be able to do the following:

CRITICAL THINKING:

-Analyze a written or spoken passage in Mandarin Chinese to understand the context, including time, location, and references to different characters and draw inferences about the content of passages.

-Utilize brainstorming and appropriate sequencing and visualization techniques to organize their writing.

-Utilize language creatively to talk about their interests, friends and families, home life, and studies.

-Compare and contrast between traditional Chinese cultures and their own, regarding greetings, addressing each other, family structure, expressing love, ways to decline or reject an invitation, and etiquette when dining out or being a host and a guest.

-Discuss and explain the linguistic and cultural diversity in the Chinese society.  

TEAMWORK (Interpersonal Skills):

-Interview and present classmates, and tell information about them.

-Create dialogues with partners talking about their daily lives and other topics related to them.

-Help one another with pronunciation, sentence structures, and vocabulary.

-Brainstorm in groups to plan an activity

-Discuss perspectives on cultural differences with partners or groups

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Civic and Cultural Awareness):

-Compare and contrast aspects of the formation of names, dates/times, and mailing addresses in Chinese with their own society.

-Compare and contrast the use of basic kinship terms in the Chinese society with their own.

-Identify and articulate the appropriate way to reject and decline invitations or ideas based on common courtesy, etiquette, and gestures in the Chinese society.

-Compare and contrast strategies of showing politeness and hospitality in the Chinese society with their own.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

-Reflect on their personal interest and goals in learning Mandarin Chinese.

-Acquire effective study habits for language learning.

-Utilize various resources outside of class to practice Mandarin Chinese.

-Demonstrate time management skills by successfully completing assignments and tests on time.

COMMUNICATION (Written, Oral and Visual Communication):

-Accurately pronounce words based on their phonetic formation, including tone.

Within the scope of content and vocabulary covered in Chinese 1411,

-Demonstrate the ability to comprehend short written dialogues and reading passages.

-Demonstrate the ability to ask and answer questions in affirmative nature, questions with “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “who,” as well as tag questions.

-Demonstrate the ability to comprehend the main idea, as well as specific details.

-Generate and articulate statements in writing or speaking to greet, discuss your family, hobbies, food and drink preferences, and daily routine, make appointments, and comment on your performance in familiar activities.