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School of Social and Human Sciences
Multi Language Learning Center
MAND 101: BASIC MANDARIN I,
Term: 2014-01
Course professor: Prof. YUAN Lulu
Email: yvonneluaibi@gmail.com
Phone: (787) 257-7373 Ext. 3210
Office Hours: Mondays-Wednesdays 11:30am-13:00 pm Term: 2013.08-2013.12
Office: Multi Languages Learning Center, Office
Designed by: Prof. YUAN Lulu, Prof. Sandra Mirabal, Prof. Glenda I. Garcia
I. Course Description
Presentation, analysis and application of the grammar and fundamental elements of
Mandarin Chinese language, as used in large part of the Republic of China. It will
also present and analyze cultural aspects of the Chinese culture in general. During
and after the course, students will be able to apply their knowledge through the
recognition of the structures discussed and exercised in class and, orally and in
writing, and will be able to communicate at a basic level in everyday situations.
The course proposes the concomitant development of reading, writing, listening
and speaking skills as well as cultural attributes. Classes will be conducted by
means of an application of theoretical frameworks relevant to the teaching of
foreign languages through the communicative approach, with its focus on the
potential ability for student communication.
II. Course objectives
At the end of the seminar, students will be able to:
 Understand oral basic content texts
 Communicate orally in basic content texts
 Understand vocabulary, phrases and expressions written in pinyin
 Acquire the basic tone system of the Mandarin Chinese language
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 Determine similarities and contrasts between L1 and L2 cultural aspects
III. General requirements
● Full attendance is required;
● Assignments for this course include pre-classroom preparation, active
participation in classroom discussions, and homework in oral or written form;
● Plagiarism is forbidden in this course;
●Should there be any need to be late or absent, please contact the teacher before
head;
●Should you have any problems, please contact the teacher and find a solution
together with the teacher;
●Should there be any requirements or needs, please contact the teacher, who will
be in the office from 11:30 am to 13:00 pm on every Monday and Wednesday.
Please try to arrange a time with the instructor at first.
IV. Course schedule - Subject to change
Topic or theme
Introduction Unit:
Introduction to China
Weeks
August 21
(1.5)
Cultural content
Tour of China
Unit 1: Ni hao! (Hello!)
Thematic content
Greetings
Grammatical content
Chinese Phonetics: initials b, p, m, f,
z, c , s, d, t, n, l;
Personal pronouns
Lexical content
Words of Personal pronouns/SubjectObject
Cultural content
Chinese Greeting Etiquette
August 26
August 28
(3)
Class activity or homework
3
Topic or theme
Weeks
Unit 2: Ni jiao shenme mingzi? (What’s
your name?)
September 4
September 9
Thematic content
Asking about name
(3)
Grammatical content
Chinese Phonetics: initials zh, ch, sh,
r, j, q, x
Verb-jiao( to call, to be called)
Interrogative pronoun-shenme
Lexical content
presenting oneself
Cultural content
Modesty in Chinese culture
Unit 3: Ni shi na guo ren? (Where are September 11
you from?)
September 16
Thematic content
Stating and asking one’s nationality
Grammatical content
Chinese Phonetics: initials
finals a, o, e, i, u, ǜ
Verb –shi (to be)
Interrogative statements
Negative statements
(3)
g, k, h;
Lexical content
Names of nations
Interrogative pronoun: ma, na
Cultural content
China’ national personalities
Examination
September 16
Class activity or homework
4
Topic or theme
Weeks
Unit 4: Ni zuo shenme gongzuo? (What September 18
do you do?)
September 23
September 25
(4.5)
Thematic content
Occupations
Numbers from 1 to 20
Grammatical content
Chinese Phonetics: all the finals
Lexical content
Names of occupations
Chinese numbers
Cultural content
Predominant occupations in China
Lucky and unlucky numbers
Unit 5: Ni jia you ji kou ren? (How many September 30
family members do you have?)
October 2
October 7
Thematic content
Family members, family tree
（4.5)
Numbers:20-50
Grammatical content
Verb-you (to have)
Measure word-kou (for human)
Measure word-ge
The possessive particle-de
Lexical content
How to address family members
Cultural content
Family and Kinship in China
Class activity or homework
5
Topic or theme
Unit 6: Wo xiang yao zhege, xiexie!
(I would like to have this, thanks!)
Thematic content
Shopping and Bargaining
Chinese currency
Weeks
October 9
October 14
October 16
（4.5）
Grammatical content
Verb –mai (to buy)
Verb –yao (to need, to want)
Adjectives --gui (expensive), da (big)
Lexical content
Names of Objects
Money unit
Cultural content
Made in China - Chinese fashion
through history
Examination
October 21
Unit 7: Ni de shengri shi shenme shihou? October 21
(When is your birthday?)
October 23
October 28
Thematic content
（4.5）
Days and Months
Parts of the day and months
Age
Grammatical content
Verb-chusheng (be born in)
Verb-shu (used for Zodiac year)
Lexical content
Days and Months
Class activity or homework
6
Topic or theme
Weeks
Names of Zodiac animals and other
animals
Measure words: tou (for cow), zhi (for
dog)
Cultural content
The Happy Birthday song
12 Chinese Zodiac animals
Chinese holidays
Unit 8: Women zaoshang ba dian October 30
shangke. (We have a class at 8:00am.)
November 4
November 6
Thematic content
(4.5)
Daily life
Time
Grammatical content
Adverb-zhengzai (be doing)
Structural Particle-le (past time)
Adverb-jiu ( then)
Conjuction praise-yi bian…yi bian (do
two things at the same time)
Lexical content
Verbs used in daily activities
Expressions of time
Cultural content
Life of Chinese students
Education in China
Class activity or homework
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Topic or theme
Weeks
Unit 9: Ni de aihao shi shenme? (What is November 13
your hobby?)
November 18
November 20
Thematic content
（4.5）
Hobbies
Grammatical content
Verb-xihuan (like )
Affirmative-negative question
Lexical content
Names of Entertainment and hobbies
Cultural content
Chinese entertainment
Unit 10: Zhe ge xingqiliu ni you kong November 25
ma? (Are you available this Saturday?)
November 27
December 2
Thematic content
Making an appointment
Making a phone call
Grammatical content
Model verb-xiang ( would like to)
Verb-qu (go to)
Model verb-yao(want to)
If-sentence
Conjunction-yinwei…suoyi (because )
Lexical content
Words about weather
Expressions of days
Cultural content
Chinese phone etiquette
Class activity or homework
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Topic or theme
Weeks
Class activity or homework
Unit 11: Sui bian zuo. (Be at home.)
Thematic content
Visiting a friend
Being a host or a guest
December 4
December 9
(3)
Grammatical content
Verb- gei (to give)
Preposition-gei
Measure word-bei (a glass of), ping (a
bottle of)
Lexical content
Names of beverages and food
Adjectives: good, large, delicious,
cold; friendly, nice, hospitable.
Cultural content
Etiquette of being a guest and a host
Dining etiquette
Chinese food
Final evaluation
●
December 11
Class activity or homework is going to be updated.
V. Resources
Internet Resources
Online Resources Series are available on YouTube:




Survival Mandarin by MinnaXiao
Beginner Chinese by MinnaXiao
Learn Chinese (mandarin) with Yangyang by sloppycheng
Mandarin Impossible by David Qing
Language Learning Software at UNE:
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 Power Speak (UNE library data base)
 Hello Hello (requires registration)
 BYKI (free on line software)
Smartphone Apps
 Hello-Hello Language on the Go: Chinese Mandarin
 Chinese English Dictionary
 Chinese Flash Cards Basics (By Declan Software)
Text Recommended
Integrated Chinese. (2012). Yuehua Liu and Tao-chung Yao, Nyan-Ping Bi,
Liangyan Ge, Yaohua Shi, Cheng & Tsui Company, Inc.
Basic bibliography
Ping Hui Ho y Silvia Abollo (2007). América Latina Habla Chino. Libro 1.Edición
de las autoras. Talleres Gráficos. Buenos Aires: Argentina.
VI. Evaluation and Assessment
The Basic Mandarin course will be evaluated as follows:
Concept
The first test
The second test
Homeworks, for example: write an article
Lab and quizzes
Classroom Participation and Attendance
Final test
%
20%
20%
15%
15%
10%
20%
VII. Tips on language learning
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Repetition is something really important in learning a new type of language.
Quantity Breeds Quality. Resembling going up stairs, when a certain amount of
knowledge has been accumulated, you would step on a new stage. Don’t be
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upset when everything seems to remain unchanged. It takes time from quantity
to quality. Be patient and keep moving forward.
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Imaging to be situated in the real situation. That helps a lot.
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Should you have any difficulties, please feel free to let the teacher know, we
shall make some arrangements for you.
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Never be shy to speak aloud. Practice makes perfect. The best way to learn is to
make mistakes. Exposing faults means there would be no faults in the future.