This Mandarin Chinese course is mapped against HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) level 3.
This Mandarin language module is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University, as well as public who are interested in improving their language skills. It is particularly for learners who have completed Level 5 Elementary Chinese at Open Languages or have already attained a HSK2+ level of the language. Through a variety of methods students will keep developing a higher intermediate competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking Chinese and an understanding of the Chinese grammar. At the end of this 12-week module, learners will have reached an B1 proficiency level in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
They will be able to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst studying/working in higher education where the language is spoken, as well as talking about a person’s life stories or favourite books, topics in depth. They will have a good understanding of life and culture in China and intercultural skills necessary for their language proficiency level.
Syllabus
This module will cover Unit 1-4 in Discover China Book 3.
Week 1
- Developing vocabulary on university courses, programs, modules, and requirements.
- Understanding expressions on feelings and concerns.
- Talking about results by using resultative complements.
- Asking for and giving advice.
Week 2
- Talking about the future using 会/将
- Giving extra information using 再说/而且
- Expressing preferences using 还是…吧
- Talking about the level of difficulties of a course or learning a new skill.
- Writing emails asking for or giving information.
Week 3
- Developing vocabularies on books, libraries, and book reviews.
- Identifying directions and locations.
- Understanding general comments about books
Week 4
- Learning expressions to write book reviews.
- Learning how to give advice on directions inside a building, or sections within a library.
- Studying grammars/expressions, limiting the range of statement [“对…来说”], emphasising faces and negating assumptions [“不是…而是…”], expressing surprise [ “没想到…”], and making recommendations [“给…推荐“]
Week 5
- Asking for directions, or opinions about books and libraries.
- Writing book reviews.
- Learning some extra expressions and making comparisons with different terms.
Week 6
- Developing vocabulary on assignments, quizzes, and deadlines.
- Learning expressions for clarification, instructions, and rubrics in any tests/exams
- Asking for and giving clarification through repetition.
- Learning how to start or end a conversation politely
Week 7
- Learning expressing ‘any’ using 什么….都…
- Making suggestions using 不如…怎么样?
- Stating a rationale using 根据…
- Learning how to express formality with different words/expressions.
Week 8
- Writing quiz questions and giving instructions.
- Building conversations on time schedule and plans.
- Making comparisons among similar terms and practice their different uses.
Week 9
- Developing vocabulary on talking about someone’s life stories, such as accomplishments, achievements, life episodes, etc.
- Identifying opinions, understanding the importance or turning points in one’s life journey.
- Expressing the importance of some notable events in a life story
- Asking for or giving opinions through reasoning, agreeing, or disagreeing.
Week 10
- Expressing ‘even’ with 甚至
- Expressing ‘be worth’ using 值得
- Expressing purpose using 为了
- Stating causes using 由于
- Writing a simple life story of someone, or an autobiography
Week 11:
- Review on the previous lessons and mock exam.
Week 12:
- Written and speaking tests will take place this week. Completing the assessment is required for students taking the course as part of their degree. For all other students, taking the tests is also strongly recommended, as a measure of your progress and learning.
Textbook details:
Discover China: Student Book Three (Discover China Chinese Language Learning Series)
- Author: Shaoyan Qi
- Publisher : Macmillan Education (24 May 2013)
- Language : English
- Pocket Book : 184 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0230406416
- ISBN-13 : 978-0230406414
We recommend our students to buy their textbooks from Blackwell’s on campus. They have a price match policy and you can pre-order over the phone with them and pick the book when you are on campus.
Study Hours
The total number of study hours for this module is 150 hours, in line with undergraduate university modules. This includes class meetings, assessment preparation and self-directed study in line with guidance from the course lecturer.
If you are studying on the extracurricular mode, we recognise that the total number of hours that you may be able to study every week may depend on your availability and previous experience studying languages, however, expected contribution to classes, homework completion, and learning outcomes will not vary.
Course Lecturer: Xiaoxiao Hou
Xiaoxiao holds a Bachelor's degree in Pedagogy and Musicology from Jiangnan University, a Masters in Musicology from Durham, and a degree in Applied Psychology from Leeds in the UK. Currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Liverpool, her interdisciplinary research focuses on the impact of music on the wellbeing and memory of individuals with dementia. With over 7 years of experience, she teaches Mandarin Chinese and has worked at various institutions in the UK. As a skilled musician, she began playing piano and Guzheng at a young age, achieving top-level performance distinctions in China. Xiaoxiao has performed concerts in China and the UK, showcasing her expressive style in diverse settings, including major UK theatres and educational institutions.
Fees for language courses are £180/£90.
Please note that the ‘last date available to book’ date is only a guide. We reserve the right to close bookings earlier if courses are over- or under-subscribed. In order to avoid disappointment, please be sure enrol as soon as possible. Registrations will not be processed until the following day if received after 3pm.
Visit our fee bands page to see which fee applies to you.
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