Module LZC-1003:
Chinese for Beginners 1

Overview

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.

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.

The learning outcomes of this 20-credit module are: 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.

Assessment Strategy

-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

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

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

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

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

• be familiar with the pronunciation and tones;