Overview

Building on the foundation of the first year modules of Chinese for Beginners, this module includes classes on written language skills, listening comprehension and translation in/from English and oral communication skills. It will further develop proficiency and fluency in Chinese. Written language skills will focus on different types of writing, including exposition, argument and letter. Listening comprehension classes will draw from contemporary authentic materials. Oral skills will develop fluency that will prepare students for their semester or year abroad in China.

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 conduct dialogues on a wider range of sophisticated topics.

• Be able to produce coherent paragraphs using a good range of vocabulary and grammatical construction, and translate more complex sentences and short texts from English into Chinese and vice versa;

• Be able to read Chinese texts of a reasonable length;

• Be familiar with features of Chinese sentences and use them correctly in a range of different contexts, and develop relevant oral, aural and written skills;

• Have extended the knowledge of Chinese as learned in Year 1 and substantially increased the vocabulary both in spoken and written forms;

• To familiarise students with lexis relevant to their forthcoming residence abroad, and other sociocultural contexts.