Chinese level I 2014-2015 Kenston High School Instructor: Wang Laoshi Classroom: C225 Email: Beatrice.Wang@kenstonapps.org Office hour: 7:10-14:30 2nd Semester Sec 7:45-9:12 Text book: Experiencing Chinese, Textbook (Simplified Character Edition), Level One, IA, First Edition, International Language research and develop centre. COURSE GOALS & OBJECTIVES Chinese Level I is an introductory class of Mandarin Chinese and is designed for learners who have no or very limited exposure to Chinese. This course employs a holistic and communicative approach in teaching the four skills in language, with a strong emphasis on the practical usage of the acquired knowledge in daily life. As an inseparable element of language learning, Chinese culture will be introduced, associated with the topics in each lesson. In general this class will cover the following contents: Pinyin—Chinese Romanization system Basic vocabulary (140-180 words) and the corresponding characters Basic grammar and sentence structures Basic conversations and survival Chinese Social-culture information COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Attendance A. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class day. Your attendance and active participation at each class session is required. B. To enhance your classroom performance, it is essential that you come to class 1/7 well-prepared. Your attendance and classroom performance will be evaluated and reflected in your final grade. C. Coming 15 minutes later or leaving 15 minutes earlier without teacher’s permission will be considered as an absence for the whole class hour. D. As a general policy, NO absence will be excused. Each absence without PROPER DOCUMENTATION will result in lowering your grade by 2%. Proper documentation includes official letter from physicians, parents or legal guardian, or principal in Kenston High School. E. Students with PERFECT ATTENDANCE through the semester will receive 2% extra credit on their final grades. *THE CHINESE CLASS DEFINES ‘PERFECT ATTENDANCE ‘AS NOT HAVING EVEN ONE-MINUTE LATENESS, EARLY LEAVING OR EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR ANY REASONS. 2. Homework WRITTEN: Workbook is to be turned in completed and neatly IN CLASS on the due date. One day later will result in a 15% deduction. Two days will result in a 30% deduction. Any later homework more than two days will be counted as a ZERO and NO excuses will be accepted. It’s your responsibility to ask classmates and/or check online for the due date of assigned homework if you miss the class. ORAL: SPEAK CHINESE AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. 3. Quizzes/Dictation Quizzes/Dictation are given frequently in the class to access your achievements and progress. No make-up quiz is allowed. 4. Presentation & Skit There will be some pair presentations and skit projects in the semester. You are expected to work with your teammates on writing the script, rehearse it before coming to class and performing it without notes in hand in class. Specific requirements of the content will be given in class. 5. Chapter Tests There will be one Pinyin test and four chapter tests in this school year. Pinyin test will be held after Pinyin instructions. Chapter test will be held after every quarter is completely taught and always contain materials learned in previous lessons. The detailed will be given before the test. 6. Final Exam 2/7 The final exam is a comprehensive test covers everything taught in each semester. It includes one oral test and one written test. No make-up test is allowed unless documented emergencies happened. MAKE-UP TESTS WILL BE 10% OFF THE INITIAL MARK WITHIN 3 DAYS. GRADING To avoid miscalculation of your grades, you are responsible to keep ALL copies of your quizzes, tests, and the other assignments for the record of your scores. Please keep them in a folder and give it to your Chinese teacher. You need to see me if you have any concerns about the grade before final written test. THERE WILL BE NO NEGOCIATIONS AFTER THAT. The final grade will not be changed and your grade will be based on the results of the following components: (Total 100%) First Semester 40% Second Semester 40% Final 20% Each Semester includes the following percentages. (Total 100%) Attendance and Participation Homework Speak Chinese Quiz Presentation & Skit Chapter Tests 20% 20% 20% 10% 10% 20% *The teacher reserves the rights to adjust the final grade of the students by their classroom performance. Active participation may push an F up to D if the grade is close. Percentages follow this grading scale: Letter Grade Grading Scale Regular Honors AP A 92-100% 4.0 4.5 5.0 A- 90-91% 3.7 4.2 4.7 B+ 88-89% 3.3 3.8 4.3 3/7 B 82-87% 3.0 3.5 4.0 B- 80-81% 2.7 3.2 3.7 C+ 78-79% 2.3 2.3 3.3 C 72-77% 2.0 2.0 3.0 C- 70-71% 1.7 1.7 2.7 D+ 68-69% 1.3 1.3 1.3 D 60-67% 1.0 1.0 1.0 F Below 60% 0 0 0 I-Incomplete Work 0 0 0 CLASSROOM RULE(READ CAREFULLY!) 1. NO chewing gum and food are allowed in class! 2. Cell-phones and any electronic devices MUST be turned off in class. NO TEXTING! 3. Use Chinese as often as possible. 4. Get permission to leave your seat 5. Hands up before ask question. 6. Stay seated until Wang Laoshi dismisses you. 7. Be appropriate for a high school classroom. 8. If YOU need to Bring Your Own Devices for learning, Wang Laoshi will tell you, then please do. Consequences If you break a rule, Wang Laoshi will ask you to: Stop, think and make it right! * 1st time --- a five minute period of no talking * 2nd time --- Notify parents or legal guardian * 3rd time --- a fifteen minute detention at the end of that day or the next day * 4th time or Severe DISRUPTION OR DISRESPECT --- Referral Anything accumulated to 5 times---Notify Principal. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT 4/7 Pursue your coursework with integrity and honesty. Students related to any types of academic misconduct will be referred to the PRINCIPAL with no exceptions. Repeated acts of dishonesty can result in Suspension or Dismissal from the Kenston High School. USEFULL RESOURCES outside the classroom For Pinyin practice: Pinyin Workshop: http://ealc.ucdavis.edu/tutoring/pinyin-workshop-materials Pinyin practice: http://pinyinpractice.com/wangzhi/ Pinyin with sounds: http://www.zdic.net/appendix/f8.htm For writing Chinese characters with stroke orders: Chinese character: http://www.cchar.com/ Estoke: http://www.eon.com.hk/estroke/ (Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKJYHr9pW28) Nciku: http://www.nciku.com/ Online dictionaries: nciku: http://www.nciku.com/ Chinese-English Talking Dictionary: http://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/chinese-dictionary.php For more useful resources, http://www.chinesecio.com/cms/en/learning?langsw=en please ***WELCOME TO CHINESE LEVEL I*** 5/7 visit: Chinese I Class Schedule Overview (Subject to change) 1.Week of Jan 6- Jan 12 (five days) Greetings 2.Week of Jan 13- Jan 20 (five days) Greetings 3.Week of Jan 21- Jan 27 (five days) Names 4.Week of Jan 28- Feb 3 (five days) Classmates 5.Week of Feb 4- Feb 10 (five days) Classmates / What’s in your bag? 6.Week of Feb 11- Feb 19 (six days) Chinese Spring Festival 7.Week of Feb 20- Feb 26 (five days) What’s in your bag? 8.Week of Feb 27- Mar5 (five days) My Family 9.Week of Mar 6-Mar 13 (six days) End of Third Quarter: REVIEW AND CHAPTER TEST 10.Week of Mar 16-Mar 20 (five days) My Family / My Home 11.Week of Mar 23-Mar 27 (five days) My Home 12.Week of Apr 7-Apr13 (five days) Personal Items / Names 6/7 13.Week of Apr 14-Apr 20 (five days) Personal Items / Animals 14.Week of Apr 21-Apr 27 (five days) Animals 15.Week of Apr 28-May 4 (five days) Friends 16.Week of May 5-May 11 (five days) Friends / Famous People 17.Week of May 12-May 18 (five days) Famous People 18.Week of May 19-May 27 (six days) End of Fourth Quarter: REVIEW AND FINAL TEST 7/7