George Mason University
Department of Modern & Classical Languages
Fall 2014 Intensive Intermed Chinese – 77448 CHINESE 209-001
Class Meeting Time:
MWF 09:30 am – 11:20 pm
Class Meeting Place:
Robinson Hall B205
Instructor:
Mr. Jigme Ngagpo
Office Location:
Aquia 374
Office Hours:
MWF 08:50am-09:20am, 11:30am-12:00pm and by appointment
E-mail:
jngagpo@gmu.edu
Course website: http://mason.gmu.edu/~kzhang/index.html
Course Objectives
This course is an intensive intermediate Chinese. The first part of this course (L8-L10) is a sequel to
elementary Chinese and the second part (L11-L15) is a sequel to intermediate Chinese. It will continue to
focus on oral proficiency in daily communication and essential social interactions in Chinese, on expansion
of both oral and written vocabulary, and on competent usage of Chinese idiomatic expressions and
grammatical structures. By the end of the semester, students are expected to be able to:

Communicate fluently in Chinese in social interactions such as talking about weather, ordering
food, shopping, and so on..

Present well-organized information about yourself, your family, friends, work/study, and some
aspects of American and Chinese cultures.

Read and write approximately 600 single and compound Chinese words.

Obtain the knowledge of Chinese culture, which is an inseparable part of Chinese language
Textbooks:
Integrated Chinese Level I Part I (L8-L10), Level I Part II (L11-L15). Simplified Character Edition,
3nd Edition (includes Textbook, Workbook, Character Workbook)
Course Requirements
Students’ own work is the key to success in this course. Students are required to:
1. Preview and review the lessons by listening to the tape/CD before and after classes;
2. Participate actively in class with the teacher and your classmates;
3. Do the homework in the Workbook, and turn it in on due day;
4. Attend class consistently and punctually. There will be no penalty for the first two missed classes. After
that, each absence will reduce the final grade by one percentage point. (That is, twelve absences in one
semester will result in a 10% point deduction from the final grade. Thus, even if perfect scores are earned
on all tests and homework, "B" will be the final grade for the course due to excessive absences).
Quizzes and Tests
There will be four (8) tests that cover Lessons 8 to 15 respectively. The tests will test listening, reading, and
writing skills, as well as knowledge of grammar and cultural aspects. Each test is worth 5% of the student’s
final grade. There will be two (2) quizzes for each lesson. There are a total of 16 quizzes for the whole
semester, but students are allowed to drop two (2) quiz grades. There will be no make-up quizzes and tests.
Presentations and Speaking Test
In order to encourage students to use what they have learned and improve their speaking, students are
required to give an oral presentation after each lesson and a final presentation (group video project) at the
end of the semester. Students are expected to incorporate as much of covered materials/
grammar/vocabulary as possible, and to be creative in terms of the form and content of their presentations.
For example, the presentation can be a role-play, telling of a story, or description of a picture. At the end of
semester, in addition to a final presentation in class there is a speaking test. Students are required to have a
one-on-one meeting with the instructor. The conversation will cover topics covered in class. More details
will be given in class.
Final Exam
There will be no midterm but there is a final written exam. 40 percent of the final exam will cover Lessons
8-10, and 60 percent will cover Lesson 11-15. The comprehensive exam will test each student’s listening,
reading, and writing skills, and knowledge of grammar and cultural topics. More details will be given in
class.
Honor Code
The George Mason University Honor Code is in effect throughout the entire duration of the course and
applies to all coursework inside and outside the classroom. It is the responsibility of each student to be
familiar with Mason’s Honor System and Code as laid out in the Student Handbook. Please refer
to http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/ for detailed information.
Policy on Disabilities
Students with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with the Mason’s
Office of Disability Services (ODS) and inform the instructor in writing at the beginning of the semester.
See ods.gmu.edu or call 703-993-2474 for more info.
Coursework Breakdown
Students’ final grades are composed as follows:
Class Participation 20%
Homework
15%
Quizzes and Tests 30% (Quizzes 10%；Tests 20%)
Presentations
10%
Individual meeting 5%
Final Exam
20%
Grading Scale
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
97-100
93-96
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
60-69
0-59
Extra Credit
Some Extra Credit opportunities will be offered to anyone who would like to go extra miles to learn in
more depth about Chinese language, culture, art, or literature. However, no extra credit points will be
accepted after the final exam.
Session Schedule
8/25 Mon
Introduction & Review
Week 1
8/27 Wed
L8 Part I, Text & Vocabulary
8/29 Fri
L8 Part I, Grammar & Practice
W2, 9/1 Mon
Labor Day (No Class)
9/3 Wed
L8 Part II, Text & Vocabulary
Quiz
9/5 Fri
L8 Part II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
W3, 9/8 Mon
Test & Presentation
Homework due
L9 Part I, Text
9/10 Wed
L9 Part I, Vocabulary, Grammar &
Practice
Quiz
9/12 Fri
L9 Part II, Text & Vocabulary
W4, 9/15 M
L9 Part II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
9/17 Wed
Test & Presentation
L10 Part I, Text
Homework due
9/19 Fri
L10 Part I, Vocabulary, Grammar &
Practice
Quiz
W5, 9/22 M
L10 Part II, Text & Vocabulary
9/24 Wed
L10 Part II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
9/26 Fri
Test & Presentation
Homework due
Review
W6, 9/29 M
L11 Dialogue I, Text & Vocabulary,
10/1 Wed
L11 Dialogue I, Grammar & Practice
10/3 Fri
L11 Dialogue II, Text & Vocabulary
W7,10/6 M
L11 Dialogue II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
Quiz
10/8 Wed
Test & Presentation
Homework due
L12 Dialogue I, Text
10/10 Fri
10/13 Mon
L12 Dialogue I, Vocabulary,
Grammar & Practice
Quiz
Columbus Day recess
Monday classes meet on Tuesday.
Week 8
10/14 Tue
L12 Dialogue II, Text & Vocabulary
10/15 Wed
L12 Dialogue II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
10/17 Fri
Test & Presentation
Homework due
Review
W9,10/20 M
L13 Dialogue I, Text & Vocabulary
10/22 Wed
L13 Dialogue I, Grammar & Practice
10/24 Fri
L13 Dialogue II, Text & Vocabulary
W10,10/27M
L13 Dialogue II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
10/29 Wed
Test & Presentation
Homework due
Quiz
Review
10/31 Fri
L14 Dialogue I, Text & Vocabulary
W11,11/3 M
L14 Dialogue I, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
11/5 Wed
L14 Dialogue II, Text & Vocabulary
11/7 Fri
L14 Dialogue II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
W12,11/10M
Test & Presentation
Homework due
Review
11/12 Wed
L15 Dialogue I, Text & Vocabulary
11/14 Fri
L15 Dialogue I, Grammar & Practice
W13,11/17M
L15 Dialogue II, Text & Vocabulary
11/19 Wed
L15 Dialogue II, Grammar & Practice
Quiz
11/21 Fri
Test & Presentation
Homework due
Review
W14,11/24M
Review & Exercise
11/26 Wed
Thanksgiving
11/28 Fri
NO Class
W15, 12/1 M
Preparation for Final Oral
Presentation
Quiz
12/3 Wed
Presentation
12/5 Fri
Review
12/10 Wed
Final Exam
9:30AM-12:15PM in our classroom