Prospectus

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Mandarin 3 (Upper-)Intermediate

Course
2017-2018

Admission requirements

This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies who have passed Mandarin 1 Beginners and Mandarin 2 Pre-Intermediate.

Description

This course aims at the development of integrated skills with special focus in improving students’ reading and translation skills. It introduces frequently used grammatical structures in order to solidify the learner’s knowledge of Chinese grammar. The expanding of cultural knowledge about China and its people is an integral part of the course.

Course objectives

Oral productions & Listening:

Learners will acquire communicative skills enabling them to describe experiences and events. They will be able to organize and present their viewpoints on familiar topics. (roughly corresponding to CEFR B1 level)

Visual perception:

Learners will be able to read and understand texts with more complex sentences on familiar matters containing frequent vocabulary. They will also be able to understand everyday material such as brochures, short official documents, written advertisements or announcements. (roughly corresponding to CEFR B1 level)

Written production:

Learners will acquire 320 (approximately 1200 after the third course) vocabulary items. They will be able to write some short texts on familiar topics, or a letter describing personal experiences. After this course learners will master basic Chinese grammar constructions and expressions, which is sufficient for basic daily conversation and easy translation (roughly corresponding to CEFR B1 level)

Learners will be familiar with cultural aspects of everyday life in China.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.

Mode of instruction

Two two-hour tutorials every week, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your tutor in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent will result in a lower of the participation grade with 0.5 for every absence after the first two (2) times.

Course Load

Total course load for this course is 5 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), this equals 140 hours, broken down by:

  • Attending classes: (4 hours per week over 12 weeks) 48 hours

  • Preparing classes, exams and extra activities : 86 hours

  • Assessment hours (exams and other assessment): 6 hours

Assessment method

  • Learning aim: Master the writing system of Mandarin-characters. Assessment: Weekly class dictation tests.

  • Learning aim: Use of the target language to give a short report/ answer the teacher’s short questions. Assessment: the first in-class oral assignment (individual interview).

  • Learning aim: Use of the target language to communicate with each other on different topics. Assessment: second oral assignment (individual interview).

  • Learning aim: Use of the correct grammar to organize sentences and improve reading capability in Mandarin. Assessment: final writing/reading exam.

Weighing

Partial Grade Weighing
Class Dictation Test & Participation 20%
Oral Assignment I: Individual Interview 20%
Oral Assignment II: Individual Interview 20%
Final Reading / Writing Exam 40%

End grade

To successfully complete the course, please take note that the end grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the in-class oral and listening performance and exams.

Resit

If the end grade is insufficient (lower than a 6), there is a possibility of retaking the full 80% of the exam material (40% Individual Interview; 40% Writing Test). No resit for the tutorial (participation) is possible.

Retaking a passing grade

Please consult the Course and Examination Regulations 2017 – 2018.

Exam review

How and when an exam review takes place will be determined by the examiner. This review will be within 30 days after official publication of exam results.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for tutorial groups. Students are requested to enroll on Blackboard for this course, but only after correct enrolment in uSis.

Reading list

Compulsory Literature

  • Yuehua Liu et al. 2010. Integrated Chinese level 2 part 1 Textbook (third edition, simplified and traditional characters). Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company. ISBN: 9780887276804 / 9780887276798

  • Yuehua Liu et al. 2010. Integrated Chinese level 2 part 1 Workbook (third edition, simplified and traditional characters). Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company. ISBN: 9780887276835

Recommended Literature & Other Sources

  • Claudia Ross, Jing-heng Sheng Ma. 2006. Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar. London: Routledge. ISBN: 0-415-70010-8

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis can be found here.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable.

Contact

Z. Yang

When contacting lecturers or tutors, please include your full name, student number and tutorial group number.

Remarks

This course uses Integrated communicative language learning method. Therefore active participation in the classroom activities is essential for successful learning outcomes.