ABC Unified School District
Gahr High School
Course Syllabus for （中文大學先修課程）Mandarin AP
2013-2014
Instructor: Shiang Yun Wu (吳老師)
Email: Susan.wu@abcusd.us
Phone: 562-926-5566 X 21067
General Course Description:
The AP Chinese Language and Culture course and exam are an important step in a commitment by
the College Board to further multiculturalism and multilingualism in high school education. This
course is focused on language proficiency while interweaving level and age-appropriate cultural
content throughout the course and providing for frequent formative assessment of students’
developing proficiencies within the context of their learning. Instructional materials and activities
are carefully and strategically adapted from authentic sources to support the linguistic and cultural
goals of the course. This course engages students in an exploration of both contemporary and
historical Chinese culture; including geography and population, ethnic and regional diversity, travel
and transportation, climate and weather, holidays and food, sports and games, and current affairs.
Course Objectives:
This AP Chinese course is designed to give students the experiences needed to be successful on the
College Board AP Chinese exam. The course’s goals are to develop the students’ abilities to
demonstrate students’ level of Chinese proficiency across the three communicative modes
(Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational) and the five goal areas (Communication, Cultures,
Connections Comparisons, and Communities). Its aim is to provide students with ongoing and varied
opportunities to further develop their proficiencies across the full range of language skills within a
cultural frame of reference reflective of the richness of Chinese language and culture.
Media:
Chinese input software programs are accessible online and are free to download. Students will
prepare presentations and role-play in class, and are encouraged to use high technology. There are
many supplemental materials to help students learn, and homework assignments are available
through my Wikispaces web site, http://wulaoshi.weebly.com/, or the Eline as well.
Prerequisites
Students are required to complete Chinese IV and / or recommendation of teacher.
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Assessment:
Throughout the AP Chinese Language and Culture course, assessments are frequent, varied, and
explicitly linked to the content and skills that comprise the learning goals of each unit of study. The
formative and summative assessment tasks enable students to achieve success on each assessment.
Within each unit of study, all three modes are assessed within the context of integrated performance
tasks.
Class participation:
Students who are unprepared, arrive late, leave early, reluctant to participate, or behave disruptively
will receive a lower grade. School policies concerning behavior and tardiness will be enforced.
Course Schedule:
Mrs. Wu has tailored the curricula and instructional strategies into the College Board AP Chinese 6
themes and 36 sub themes. Every 3-4 weeks the class will be focusing on one particular AP Chinese
exam required theme. The following are the details of the six themes and 36 sub themes:
Theme I: Personal and Public Identities
1) Alienation and Assimilation
2) Ethnicity
3) Gender Issues
4) Multiculturalism
5) Nationalism
6) Tolerance
Theme II: Families and Communities
1) Citizenship
2) Customs and Values
3) Family Structure
4) Relationships
5) Urban and Rural Development
6) Volunteerism
Theme III: Contemporary Life
1) Education and Career
2) Holidays and Celebrations
3) Pop Culture
4) School Life
5) Travel and Tourism
6) Work and Leisure
Theme IV: Global Challenges
1) Economic Growth
2) Environmental Issues
3) Geography
4) Politics
5) Population
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6) Thought and Religion
Theme V: Science and Technology
1) Health and Medicine
2) Impact on Tradition
3) Inventions
4) Media and Mass Communication
5) Nature
6) Science and Ethics
Theme VI: Beauty and Aesthetics
1) Architecture
2) Fashion and Design
3) Film and Television
4) Language and Literature
5) Tradition and World Heritage
Classroom Rules:
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We observe all school rules.
Always show respect for everyone in the class. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
Raise hands to be recognized before speaking.
Do your best to speak Mandarin at all times.
Cell phones, iPods, PSPs, etc – The School Board of ABC USD’s policy is that personal
electronic devices are to remain turned off and out sight during class. If I see or hear one of
these devices, it will be confiscated.
Homework:
There will be oral or written homework. No late homework will be accepted. The only exception is
after an excused absence.
Projects:
You will have special group or individual project assignment each quarter. The project may be a
unit-theme related or cultural related. You will receive rubric for each project.
Absences:
When you have been absent, it is YOUR responsibility to find out and make up what you missed,
including homework, class work, quizzes, and tests. Absences will impede your progress. Many
classroom activities that require your active participation cannot be made up. Make-up work will
NOT be given when your absence is UNEXCUSED. Please check with your trusted classmates or
login the Edline for missing assignments.
Academic Honesty:
Academic dishonesty is defined as knowingly giving or receiving information or assistance on any
graded work which is understood to be an example of individual effort. During the test, please cover
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up your answers. Any student who knowingly violates the academic dishonesty policy will receive a
grade of zero for the graded work involved. The incident will be documented and kept on file in the
office. Parents will be notified. Appropriate conduct checks will be issued.
AP Chinese Class Procedures
Entering the class Enter the classroom courteously, showing respect to your classmates and the
classroom environment – that means no loud talking or yelling. Upon entering, you should sit at your
assigned seat and begin working on the daily opening activity. If you are late, please quietly sign the
tardy log by the door. Please keep in mind that every tardy will lower your participation grade.
Keeping a class journal You are expected to keep a class journal for all the work we do in class. It
includes the daily agenda, open activity, class notes, etc. You need to copy down the daily agenda
from the board on your class journal and begin to work on your open activity.
Leaving your seat Leave your seat only when given permission by me. Sharpening pencils and
throwing away trash should be done prior to class start.
Permission to use the bathroom Three bathroom passes are given each semester. Every additional
bathroom request will lower your participation grade.
Leaving the class You are to remain in your seat until I dismiss the class.
Textbook and Materials:
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Chaoyue Advancing in Chinese (超越) Textbook (Traditional and simplified)
Workbook for Chaoyue Advancing in Chinese (Traditional or simplified)
Grading Evaluation:
80% = quizzes, tests, homework and/or essays, and/or group projects
20% = final examinations
Grading scale:
100% - 90% - A
89% - 80% - B
79% - 70% - C
69% - 60% - D
Windows XP Download Chinese Font Software:
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Google Pinyin: Chinese PinYin Input Method Download
Office XP Tool: Global IME: Traditional/Simplified fonts
Pinyin Basics: with sound files
Chinese Phonetics: Tables with sound files
ZpChinese: Pinyin pronunciation, vowels/consonants with sound files
Writing characters:
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http://www.inputking.com/ - A free character input method
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59% and below - F
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Animated Chinese Characters - Stroke orders
eStrokes - Animated Chinese Characters
Nicku Dictionary – Dictionary with stroke orders
Chinese-Tools.com - Chinese input method editor
Zhongwen.com - On-line Chinese Etymological
On-line Lin Yutang Dictionary
Chinese News articles (both in audio and video format)
Chinese to English Dictionary - electronic dictionary, part of the EDICT project.
Online Dictionaries:
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Chinese-English Dictionary, English-Chinese Dictionary from Mandarintools.com
Chinese English Dictionary Search -- Ting 搜索汉英词典
YellowBridge Chinese-English Dictionary
Lexiconer English-Chinese Dictionary, Chinese-English Dictionary
Chineselanguage.org
A Chinese Radical Dictionary
Nicku
Maps:
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Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities
Important cities
Individual provinces and cities
River in China
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SYLLABUS AGREEMENT
Please complete, sign, and return this form to your instructor
Student name ___________________________________________
Home phone (____)___________________
E-mail address _________________________________________
Cell phone (____)___________________
Have you ever studied Mandarin before? Yes / No
If yes, for how long? _____________
Have you studied other foreign language(s)? Yes / No
If yes, for how long? _____________
Which language(s)? _____________________________________________________
Date(s) of last instruction: ________________________________________________
Is Chinese spoken in your home? Yes / No
By whom? __________________________
How frequently? _____________________________________________________________________
Is there anything about yourself that you want me to know?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Mrs. Wu may take photographs of the students in the Mandarin classroom and make photo stories for
educational use. Mrs. Wu needs your permission prior to the making or using pictures or voice
recording(s) of your child. Please circle your answer: Yes / No
I have read the syllabus for Mandarin AP at Gahr High School, and I agree to abide by the guidelines set
forth.
Furthermore, I understand that grades and credit are conferred only upon meeting the standards set
forth in this course syllabus. I understand that grades cannot be changed after they have been assigned and
that an Incomplete is given only under emergency situations, not for routine failure to complete the
requirements of the course.
Student Signature: __________________________________
_____________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date: _________________
___________________________
Relationship
______________
Date
Parent/Guardian Cell Phone #: _______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Email Address: ________________________________________________
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