Chinese, Program of African and Asian Languages: WCAS

Home > Programs > Chinese

Chinese

Click here for faculty contact information.
____________________________________________________________________

African and Asian Languages
AAL 111 - 1/2/3 - 20, 23-27: Elementary Chinese: Chinese I

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces grammar, 600 single characters and 1600 compound words of modern standard Mandarin Chinese. It emphasizes speaking and reading as well as writing. We use texbooks compiled by Beijing Language Institute and Peggy Wang.

PREREQUISITES: None

TEACHING METHOD: Four regular class hours and one language lab hour are for pronunciation drills, analysis of sentence structure, sentence buildup, etymology of Chinese words, translation, conversation and dictation. In class, after explaining grammar and characters in English, the instructor will use Chinese for oral drills, sentence buildup, and conversation. Outside of class, the students should use the language lab regularly.

EVALUATION METHOD: Classroom performance, language lab attendance, written assignments, oral reports, quizzes, a midterm exam and a final exam.

____________________________________________________________________

African and Asian Languages
AAL 111 - 1/2/3 - 21, 22, 28: Elementary Chinese - Accelerated Chinese I

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed for students who have acquired some oral proficiency from home, but lack formal training and literacy. It introduces grammar, 900 single characters and 2000 compound words of modern standard Mandarin Chinese, i.e. vernacular Chinese. It emphasizes reading as well as writing. Students will learn to read essays and short stories. They will learn to write notes, letters, and essays. They will also learn to make speeches in public in Chinese. The textbooks that we use are compiled by Beijing Language Institute, Princeton University and Beijing University.

PREREQUISITES: 1 year of Chinese in high school or consent of instructor.

TEACHING METHOD: Four regular class hours are for analysis of sentence structure, sentence buildup, etymology of Chinese words, translation, conversation and dictation. In class, after explaining grammar and characters in English/Chinese, the instructor will use Chinese for discussion. After class student should spend 30 minutes doing writing assignments regularly.

EVALUATION METHOD: Classroom performance, written assignments, oral reports, quizzes, a midterm exam and a final exam.
____________________________________________________________________

African and Asian Languages
AAL 112 - 1/2/3 - 20, 23, 24, 25: Chinese II - Second-Year Chinese

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course is designed to build up a basic vocabulary for conversation, reading and writing, and improve students' comprehension in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

PREREQUISITES: --successful completion of the Chinese I sequence, or placement by the coordinator of language instruction.. P/N is allowed (but may not be used if the course is to count toward satisfaction of the WCAS foreign language proficiency requirement).

TEACHING METHOD: Five regular class hours for the etymology of Chinese words, analysis of sentence structure and conversation. Students are expected to participate actively in classroom discussions.

EVALUATION METHOD: Class attendance, written assignments, three written quizzes, mid-term and final.

READINGS: Practical Chinese Reader II; Laughing in Chinese

____________________________________________________________________

African and Asian Languages
AAL 112 - 1/2/3 - 21, 22: Chinese II - Accelerated Second-Year Chinese

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course emphasizes speaking, listening comprehension, reading as well as writing. Students will learn to read and write essays. The texbooks used are compiled by Princeton University. For students who had some proficiency in the language before joining Northwestern's Chinese program.

PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of the Accelerated First-Year Chinese I sequence, or placement by the coordinator of language instruction. P/N is allowed (but may not be used if the course is to count toward satisfaction of the WCAS foreign language proficiency requirement).

TEACHING METHOD: Four regular class hours for the etymology of Chinese words, analysis of sentence structure, and conversation. In class, Chinese will be mainly the means for instruction and discussion.

EVALUATION METHOD: Classroom performance and written assignments, oral quizzes, written quizzes, a mid-term exam and a final exam.

READING: Intermediate Reader of Modern Chinese
____________________________________________________________________

African and Asian Languages
AAL 213 - 1/2/3 - 20: Chinese III - Third-Year Chinese

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course is designed to enhance students' abilities in speaking, reading, and writing Chinese. Students read modern Chinese novels, stories, and essays. An introduction to the literature in the language.

PREREQUISITES: Chinese II or placement; P/N is allowed.

TEACHING METHOD: We use Chinese to discuss our readings. Students are also expected to write short essays based on Chinese literary works.

EVALUATION METHOD: Classroom performance and essay assignments (30%), weekly quizzes (20%), two exams (20%) and a final (30%)

READINGS: Ba Jin, Jia; Cao Yu, Lei-yu; and other Chinese writers

____________________________________________________________________

African and Asian Languages
AAL 213 - 1/2/3 - 21: Chinese III - Accelerated Third-Year Chinese

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Sections 21, 22 and 24 of Chinese II are accelerated. This course emphasizes speaking, listening comprehension, reading as well as writing. Students will learn to read and write essays. The textbook used are compiled by Princeton University.

PREREQUISITES: Accelerated Chinese I or consent of instructor. P/N is allowed.

TEACHING METHOD: Four regular class hours for the etymology of Chinese words, analysis of sentence structure and conversation. In class, Chinese will be mainly the means for instruction and discussion.

EVALUATION METHOD: Classroom performance and written assignments, oral reports, written quizzes, a midterm exam and a final exam.

READING: Chih-p’ing Chou and Der-lin Chao. (1992) Intermediate Reader of Modern Chinese. Text & Vocabulary Sentence Patterns Exercises. NJ: Princeton University Press.

____________________________________________________________________

African and Asian Languages
AAL 314-1/2/3 - 20,21: Chinese IV

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to further improve students' reading and writing abilities in Chinese language and Chinese literature. Students will be exposed to essays, prose, movies, short novels, and poems in their original forms either in classical Chinese or modern Chinese. In terms of authors, students will be introduced to Gao Xingjian, Lu Xun, Ba Jin, Hu Shi, Jian Menglin, Xiao Qjan, Long Yingtai, Mao Dun, Wu Jingzi, Cao Xue Qjin, and the Three Sus; ranging from novelists to playwrights to poets, covering from the period of 1000 AD to today. Students will discuss these readings in class and then write their argumentation papers either in Chinese or in English.

PREREQUISITES: 3rd year Chinese, or placement test, or the consent of instructor.

EVALUATION METHOD: Grading: Attendance 10%, Paper One 30%, Paper Two 30%, Paper Three 30%.

READINGS: China's Peril and Promise: An Advanced Reader, Princeton University Press; Advanced Chinese Course, Peking University Press. Supplementary materials (to be purchased at a later date).