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
The course is designed for the students who can understand a wide variety of subjects in Chinese but find it challenging to understand and speak Chinese in official or formal situations, such as news, TV programs, formal speeches, talks on specific academic topics.
In order to help students develop their listening and speaking 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 online resources (TV programs, online news websites, podcasts and so on).
The course includes three components: assignments, class activities, and oral presentations. Students are required to give oral presentations related to their research interests.
Students are also expected to prepare adequately and to contribute actively during the semester.
Course objectives
-Help to improve students’ listening and speaking skills by working with authentic audio/video materials.
-Help MA students currently at an advanced-mid level to improve their speaking skills through group discussion and giving oral presentations, with special attention to accuracy, fluency, vocabulary and familiarity with IT resources.
Expected learning outcomes:
-Listening: can understand spoken Chinese with/without accents, including topics relating to their academic interests; ability to understand formal and informal Chinese without too much effort; can infer the meanings from the context when encountering new words.
-Speaking: can describe concrete as well as abstract ideas with advanced vocabulary and language structures, and ability to do oral presentations in their research field, with special attention to accuracy.
Timetable
First semester, two hours per week.
Check timetable
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: 20 hours
-Time to prepare for the mid-term exam and the final exam: 72 hours
Assessment method
Assignments 15%
Class activities and oral presentations 15%
Mid-term exam 30%
Final exam 40%
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