CIC6041.CI Practical Chinese I
The course aims on giving basic knowledge of Chinese grammar, pronounciation and writing system, and about contemporary Chinese culture. During the course students acquire readiness to engage in simple everyday conversation that helps to manage well in real everyday situations, such as greetings and introducing oneself, in a shop or restaurant etc. Also the course introduces contemporary Chinese culture and manners building the basis for further studies of Chinese language. During the course the students are supposed to learn approximately 150 characters and 300 new words.
Course title in Estonian
Praktiline hiina keel I
ECTS credits
6.0
approximate amount of contact lessons
56
Teaching semester
autumn - spring
Assessment form
assessment
Independent work
The volume of the individual work is 7 hours a week, or 1 hour a day. Total for the semester is 100 hours.
1) Students are required to memorize new words and finish all the homework that teacher gives in class.
2) Students will be assigned to finish 10 small presentations on given topics.
3) In case student has difficulty in pronouncing certain Chinese Pinyin, additional training materials on pronunciation will be given for practice.
4) For memorization of the Chinese characters, students are required to write them repeatedly in their own workbook
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon successful completion of the course the student
• understands and is able to make simple sentences using vocabulary and grammar he or she learned during the course in both written and oral form
• is able to read a short text, and to use greetings and other polite expressions, and is able to introduce himself
• understands simple instructions and is able to ask for help, order food and discuss simple topics with service workers and officials
• has some knowledge on Chinese language and culture and is able to put it in use in simple and familiar situations.
Assessment methods
Student is expected to actively participate in all classes.
A written test (75%) and spoken test (25%) in the end of term.
Study literature
Jiang, Liping. Experiencing Chinese(1). Higher Education Press. 2014
Handouts in classes and home reading assignments.
Additional information
The course contains following themes:
Pronunciation and speaking:
1. Introduction of the normative pronunciation system of Mandarin Chinese: the structure of Chinese sillable, initials and finals; four tones; aspirated consonants; sandhi or the changing of sounds and tones in speech.
2. Elementary expressions of politeness: greetings; saying good-bye; apologies; expression of gratitude etc.
3. Self-introduction: name, age, nationality, education; occupation; exchanging of contact information; home and family; friends and hobbies etc.
4. Location: here, there, up, down, inside, outside, in front, behind etc.
5. Orientation in time: before, after, now, seasons, months, parts of the day; hours.
6. Shopping: money; different currencies; using numerals in prices; buying things, barganing.
7. Simple discussions: ordering food, celebrating holidays, travelling etc.
8. Description of objects: size, colour, shape etc.
Grammar:
1. Parts of speech and parts of sentence.
2. Simple sentences: affirmative, negative, adjectival predicate.
3. Interrogative sentences: affirmative-interrogative form; interrogative pronouns and interrogative particles.
4. The usage of srtuctural particle de.
5. Numerals (prices, large numbers)
6. Measure words as parts of noun phrases.
7. Demonstrative pronouns, personal pronouns.
Vocabulary, reading and writing:
During the course the students are supposed to learn approximately 150 characters and 300 new words. They can recognise the new words in the texts, are able to write them down and combine them into simple sentences and phrases.