Admission requirements
The course is taught in Chinese. All students must meet one of the following minimum level of Chinese language proficiency requirements: equivalent to new HSK 4 (old HSK 5) or TOCFL level 3. They must also meet all entry requirements for the MA in Chinese Studies.
Description
In order to help students develop their reading and writing skills in their academic fields of study, the selection of course materials is based on students’ academic interests, such as Chinese culture & society, economy, history, and politics. No textbook is used for this course; all materials are selected from a wide range of resources, for example, articles from newspaper/ magazines/ blogs; literature works: proses, short stories, chapters from novels.
The course consists of the four components: assignments, class activities/oral presentations, and a final exam. Class activities include intensive and extensive reading. Students will give oral presentations on the reading texts.
Throughout this semester, the writing styles and format of assignments will be discussed.
Students are expected to be thoroughly prepared and to contribute actively.
Course objectives
-Help MA students currently at an advanced level to develop their reading and writing skills by reading large amounts of varied, authentic materials and via working on written assignments with reference to the said materials.
-Help MA students to improve their command of the advanced vocabulary and language structures.
Expected learning outcomes:
-Reading: ability to read a wide range of longer authentic materials (newspaper/ magazines/ blogs and editorials) and literature works (proses, short stories, chapters from novels); can digest a large amount of reading materials with the aid of IT resources; ability to find the gist of the texts quickly.
-Writing: familiarity with common genres and styles of written Chinese; good command of advanced vocabulary and language structures.
Timetable
First semester, two hours per week.
Check timetable the departmental website.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Course Load
5 EC x 28 hours=140 hours
-contact hours: 24 hours (12 × 2 hrs/week)
-Time for preparing for the class materials: 24 hours (12×2 hours/week)
-Time needed to prepare for assignments, and oral presentations: 30 hours
-Time to prepare for the final exam: 62 hours
Assessment method
Assignments 40 %
Class activities and oral presentation 10 %
Final exam (reading comprehension and writing) 50%
The re-sit exam for the final exam is only available to students whose mark of the final exam is insufficient. The re-sit exam will then make up 100% of the mark.
Blackboard
Yes. The syllabus, course materials, assignments, schedule, and other important course information will be available on Blackboard. Log onto Blackboard before the semester begins.
Reading list
Class materials will be distributed via Blackboard during the term.
Registration
Registration through uSis
Contact
Email: Mrs. Ying-Ting Wang MA