Chinese Language and Culture Course Syllabus Level Two Course Overview The Chinese Language and Culture (Level two) course’s goal is to enable students to master conventions of communication through the exploration of topics reflecting multiple aspects of Chinese society and culture, the use of various authentic multimedia and literary materials in different linguistic registers, intermediate-level Chinese language structures, and expressive styles. Students further develop their proficiencies across the three communicative modes and the five C areas(Communication, Culture, Connection, Comparison, Community) . Developing appreciation and awareness of the Chinese cultures is an integral theme throughout the course. The course engages students in an exploration of various aspects of Chinese cultures. Course content is organized around the 8 themes, reflecting intellectual interests shared by the students and the teacher. Instructional materials relating to the themes include signs, advertisements, posters, fliers, sound and video clips, films, news broadcasts, announcements, and written texts excerpted or adapted from newspapers, magazines, contemporary literature, letters, and reports. Each unit includes vocabulary acquisition, grammar learning, theme discussion (speaking and listening), reading comprehension, writing practice and cultural research. The course is taught exclusively in Chinese. Students are expected to speak Chinese as much as possible. Assessments are frequent, varied, and explicitly linked to the content and skills that comprise the learning goals of each unit of study. The course provides students with maximum exposure to authentic culture and language. Student apply their growing cultural knowledge to communicative tasks in real-life contexts and develop ability to write and speak in a variety of discourse styles, using both keyboarding and handwriting skills. Students also gain knowledge of the Chinese language including vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and grammatical structures. Course Planner Students will have a 2 hours class every day. The topics of study listed below are taught consistently throughout the school year. They are interwoven into the fabric of the course. The First Semester Week Topic / Theme The Second Semester Week School life 1-4 学校生活 Chinese Traditional Festivals 18-21 Food and Health 5-8 饮食与健康 复习与考试 购物与消费 旅行与环境 复习与考试 动物与人类 Sports 31-35 Review and Test 17 复习与考试 Animal and Humanity 27-30 Travel and Environment 13-16 教育与传媒 Review and Test 26 Shopping and Consuming 10-12 中国传统节庆 Education and Media 22-25 Review and Test 9 Topic / Theme 运动与竞技 Review and Final Test 36 复习与考试 Week 1-4: School life 学校生活 Connection, Theme / Content Assessments Cultural Link Comparison and Communities Make friends with a new Quiz. classmate and introduce News report. introduce one’s him / her to the class. Make sentences with new words and name in a 朋友”. Chinese way. Know the teacher. phrases. Be familiar with course Ask and answer questions with correct requirements and sentence patterns. classroom expectations. Tour around school campus Make Chinese signs for each classroom and office Discuss about school services. Interview two students in Story time: listen to stories and answer questions accordingly. Write Chinese signs for classrooms and offices Write journals Interpersonal: Find out information about a new classmate. Ask and Connection: Use a brush Music: Chinese song “ Technology: send and receive emails and on line and ink to write research. Chinese names. Learn about History: history of Chinese names and after school Chinese calligraphy. activities in the school. systems in the States and Education: school in China. Comparison: Compare the Chinese Chinese Village about their Discuss about school services. way with Western way in school life Do a survey about satisfaction on introducing names. school services. “朋友”. Presentational: life in China with that in Supplementary material: Learn a Chinese song Make a speech introducing a new Map of the school. classmate. School calendar. Student handbook week of school and ask about his / hers. Chinese song “friend” lyrics. Write an email to a friend about the first Write a proposal to the school admin about improving school services. Role play: one old student and one new student. The old student gives advice to the new student about how to adjust oneself to a new environment. Interview report: interview two students about their school life Interpretive: Understand classroom instructions. Understand maps and signs in school Identify details and summarize main ideas of the reading material. Compare the students' the Western countries. Communities: Interview local Chinese students from internet. Week 5-8: Food and Health 饮食与健康 Theme / Content Taste Chinese food from different cuisines. Learn Chinese cooking methods and make a dish. Be familiar with Chinese seasoning. Assessments Quiz. News report. cuisines: 京菜 / 川菜 / Make sentences with new words and 粤菜 / 沪菜 汤圆”. phrases. Ask and answer questions with correct sentence patterns. Use Chinese utensils. Read Chinese menus. questions accordingly. Read Chinese recipes. Order food in Chinese four pictures given with a beginning, Write a Complain Listen to the record and answer Picture story: write a story based on the middle and ending. Interpersonal: Letter to a restaurant owner. with Western cooking. Buy food from a Chinese supermarket. Compare Chinese fresh Discuss and compare Chinese cooking Discuss and compare Chinese way with Western way in healthy. Discuss the main points from the food market with Western selective reading articles. supermarket. Learn the nutrition elements. Learn Chinese songs Group discussion on cooking project. Presentational: PowerPoint presentation: Health food. Research report: on one of the four about food. major cuisines in China (history, region, Supplementary Material: characteristics and famous dishes, etc.) Chinese cookbooks. Chinese menus from Chinese dish with recipe. restaurants. Presentation: cooking process for a Four major Chinese and Communities language. Connection, Comparison Cultural Link Connection: Make Chinese dishes. Eat at a Chinese People and Herbal Medicine. restaurant. Practice the Chinese way to entertain guests. Comprehend the meaning of “口福”. Comprehend Chinese Online information. and the suggestions you have for the restaurant owner to improve their operation. Role play: Create and act out a skit in a restaurant setting. (waiter / waitress, manager, and customers.) Interpretive: Understand Chinese menu. Understand Chinese recipes. Understand promotion posters in the market. Technology: On line Geography: four major Chinese Cuisines and their geographical areas. History: The Wisdom: “病从口入, 祸 development of Chinese 从口出”. cooking. Home Economics: cooking methods. Comparison: Compare Chinese cooking and Western cooking in healthy Compare Chinese ways to entertain guests with that in the western world. Compare Chinese fresh food market with Western supermarket. Communities: Write a complain letter about the service, food taste, sanitary, and price, etc. Sociology: Chinese research and slide show. Music: Chinese song “卖 Eat in a Chinese restaurant and order food in Chinese language. Week 10-12: Shopping and Consuming 购物与消费 Theme / Content Assessments Cultural Link and Communities Connection: Comprehend the message Quiz. from street commercial signs and News report. grocery market, advertisements from brochures, Make sentences with new mega supermarket or Read newspapers, watch newspapers, magazines, TV and words and phrases. department stores. TV commercials & Listen to Radio. Use measure words for the Ask and answer questions with correct sentence patterns. items of foods, clothes, shoes, housekeeping items, consumer answer questions accordingly. items, sport items etc. Create a dialogue for shopping& bargaining action. Survey: interview at least 5 Listen to the record and Picture story: write a story Talk about the art of “bargain” The art of giving items. and purchase at least 3 items. and Western Flea Market. currency: RMB. and ending. new consuming ideas Talk about Asian Night Market Use Chinese given with a beginning, middle consuming and write a report on gifts and what to give as gifts. street venders. gifts in China. Interpersonal: Discuss about the way of giving Bargain with based on the four pictures people about their opinions on Shop at traditional Connection, Comparison Shop in Chinese stores Interview Chinese people Simple Fengshui Mass Communication: radio commercials. Economics: Chinese currency. Maths: Counting. Sociology: The tradition & cultural meaning of giving different gifts in Chinese society. Performing Arts: Role play. Technology: Video project on consuming ideas and record Comparison: the conversation. Presentational: bargain in different Role play: shop (bargain) Compare ways to cultures. in China. at a Night Market. (customers Supplementary Material: and salesman / saleswoman) Night Market with Western Department Store Brochure TV commercials( KFC, Pizza shopping experience with 500 characters or more. bargain culture vs. Western Hut in China). Writing: An unforgettable Compare Chinese Interview report: consuming ideas nowadays. Interpretive: Read, copy / take pictures of / collect & explain 5 commercial advertisements from the newspapers or street commercial signs. Listen to radio commercials and answer relative questions. Flea Market. Compare Chinese non-bargain culture. Week 13-16: Travel and Environment 旅行与环境 Theme / Content Assessments Connection, Comparison and Cultural Link Communities Quiz. Read map of China. Connection: News report. Organize a local trip. landscape and Make sentences with new Read Chinese Chinese, introduce geographical nationalities. words and phrases. Introduce China's geographi cal Newspaper about Travel ladscape of China and Agencies Advertisement comprehend the major cities & attractions in China. Global Read China Map. Introduce relative with correct sentence for Tours in China. Chinese history and patterns. information for major Ask and answer questions Listen to the record and cities-Beijing, Shangai, answer questions accordingly. Xian, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. based on the four pictures Plan a tour itinerary Picture story: write a story given with a beginning, middle Watch a Chinese warming. movie: Forbidden City Comprehend Chinese Idiom 读万卷书 famous sites-Great Walls, , 行万里路. Forbidden City, Terra Cotta Soldiers, etc. Comprehend the and ending. impact about the journey days with well-planned Interpersonal: of Marco Polo to China. details. Make a checklist for before a trip. the preparations of a Discuss and plan an trip. itinerary for a trip to China Make reservations for flights and hotels. Discuss economic which includes the length of the tour, flight schedule, attractions, hotels and price. development vs. environmental problems in Shenzhen. protections. Discuss the issues of for the travel agent environmental issues. 者乐山, 智者乐水. 物合一” Arts & Design: esign a brochure as a travel agent. Comprehend Chinese philosophy: Journalism: Read Newspaper 万 Technology: On line search for booking flights and reserving hotels. Maths: Make reasonable budget. Economy: The economy in environmental protections and developing countries. the high school students pollution situation in China. can do to help protecting Presentational: philosophy about the earth. our living environment. Share ideas on what Discuss the pollution advertisements and news about Comprehend Chinese philosophy: 仁 History: Comprehend dynasties in Chinese History and for certain amount of Discuss the preparations Geography :Read maps in Comparison: Write a letter to the school reports from newspaper principal, and give between China and the United articles regarding global suggestions about what the States. warming issues school can do for environmental protections environmental protection in besides recycling the paper. various regions, countries, etc. Summarize the Composition: Philosophy: Chinese Draft out a Recycling project for the school. Make posters in Group Project: Compare landscapes Compare different cases of Communities: Chinese & English to Online research about the Make posters in Chinese & promote the awareness pollution caused by the English to promote the of environmental economical development in awareness of environmental protections and the different countries and what protections and the issues of issues of global warming. their governments are doing global warming. Put the posters Supplementary or can do to prevent further around the school. Material: damage of the living Map of China environment and the earth. Poster Making: Make posters in both Chinese & English to promote the awareness of the environmental protections for air, water & waste pollutions. Role Play: A skit for a family who plans to visit China with the necessary preparations before the trip starts. Group Project: Make a Commercial Advertisement and a traveling brochure for a tour as a travel agent. Interpretive: Read the Map of China, identify major rivers, mountains, cities, etc. Read an authentic brochures about traveling in China. Comprehend the brief history of Chinese Dynasties, the history of famous relics Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terra Cotta soldiers and the map locations of major cities in China-Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Guangzhou, etc. Week 18-21 Chinese Traditional Festivals 中国传统节庆 Theme / Content Cultural Link and Communities Connection: Quiz. customs, seasons, traditional News report. about the origins of food and activities of four Make sentences with new Chinese festivals. Online research about the Chinese traditional words and phrases. festivals-Chinese New Year, Mid Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat with correct sentence patterns. Festival and Qing Ming Festival. Discuss the customs of Ask and answer questions Online research Connection, Comparison List and compare the origins, Assessments Sing songs: 新年好, 恭喜发财 Celebrate Chinese Technology: Chinese festivals. PowerPoint Presentation Listen to the record and New Years & bring answer questions accordingly. festival food to the Role play: the skit. class to share. giving presents in Chinese society. based on the four pictures given with a beginning, middle and classroom for Chinese traditional holidays. ending. New Year. Comparison: Interpersonal: Create and write picture stories about Chinese festivals. Celebrate Chinese New Year’s with traditional food and scroll writings with traditional red paper and brush pen. Sing Songs that related to Picture story: write a story Performing arts: Write scrolls with The history of Chinese Compare one's brush pens on own festivals in his / her the power point project and traditional red paper. home country with Chinese drama performance preparation. Words for Scrolls: festivals in traditional food, 恭喜发财,万事如意, ways of celebration, 新春快乐, 岁岁平安, customs and any particular Discuss in mini groups for Decorate the History: Discuss Chinese customs the festivals. for giving presents. Supplementary Material: Presentational: TV programs DVD documentary Presentation: Oral Report & Power Point Each group chooses one of 吉祥如意,恭贺新禧 taboos. Communities: Participate in local community's celebrating the major festivals-Chinese New activities Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Qing New Year and Dragon Boat Ming Memorial Day and Dragon Festivals. Boat Festival. Do research online and make a power-point presentation About its related history, legendary stories, cultural items & food and how Chinese people celebrate it. Explain their symbols and bring real festival food to the class for sharing after the presentation. Role Play: Students select one of the Chinese traditional for Chinese festivals as their main theme and then create a skit. The assessment criteria are based on the language, preparation, content and collaboration. Interpretive: Understand the stories about origin of the traditional festivals. Understand and appreciate the customs of celebrating the festivals. Understand the songs about the festivals. Understand the red couplets and greetings people say on certain festivals. Week 22-26: Education and Media 教育与传媒 Connection, Theme / Content Assessments Cultural Link Comparison and Communities Compare the modern Chinese education system with the Western education system in various fields, such as curriculum, assessment methods, Quiz. News report. Chinese education Make sentences with new system and Western educational system in education system. China & in the States. words and phrases. the types of homework, textbook-oriented or student-oriented way of learning, etc. Compare parents' expectations Ask and answer questions with correct sentence patterns. Listen to the record and Compare Connection: Compare the Education: Sociology: school life in China Chinese society & the with the school life in traditional value Western world. about education. towards the learning outcomes answer questions accordingly. between Asian students and Western students. based on the four pictures given parents' expectations history of Chinese with a beginning, middle and with Western parents education. ending. towards their children's Interpersonal: learnings. Online search. Edit Categorize the different movies types by common standards: Actions, Romance, Cartoon, Comedy, Science Fiction, Documentary, Tragedy, Musical, etc. Discuss the positive and negative influences of TV shows and movies Briefly introduce about a favorite movie or a TV show. Search a program List of a TV Channel. Introduce “007” Movie Series and “Titanic” in the movie history. List some popular teenagers’ TV series and movies and discuss the reasons. Research the popular types of Picture story: write a story Discuss and compare Chinese Compare Asian Comprehend the History: The Technology: and produce a Video education system with the philosophy of project. Western Education system. Confucius in education: “有教无类” Perform for a skit. Discuss the influence of TV Shows and movies. Presentational: Video Project: 4 students per 品,唯有读书高” movie or a TV show. Watch Chinese CCTV, SZTV channels and their programs. she studies in China, role play the story and video tape the acting Literature: Briefly introduce a foreign students meet when he / meaning of “万般皆下 group to present a movie project. Write a skit about problems a Comprehend the Performing Arts: Learn Chinese Proverb: Comparison: Compare the different education systems between Chinese schools and movies and TV shows for Chinese with background music and every adults and teenagers. necessary technical skills for making a video project. parents' expectations Interpretive with Western parents Research the numbers of TV stations, TV sets and movie theaters in China. Supplementary Materials DVD Movies Chinese Magazines. TV programs. Listen to the recording and answer the question accordingly. Summarize a clip of a movie “寓教于乐” Western schools Compare Asian towards their children's learning. Compare the or a TV show that shows in the Program list of CCTV class. Channels and Western channels Week 27-30: Animal and Humanity 动物与人类 Connection, Theme / Content Assessments Cultural Link Comparison and Communities Quiz. contributions of animals in News report. Chinese human beings lives from the Make sentences with new words and idioms that Discuss the roles and ancient time to the present time. by the teacher regarding animals' rights and ecology protections issue. phrases. Discuss the questions given Online search for the related information about Ask and answer questions with correct sentence patterns. Listen to the record and answer questions accordingly. Picture story: write a story based on the Technology: On line search. have animal Biology: animals characters in Geography: Tibetan sentences. Compreh end the roles of Antelopes and their living environment. Literature: Chinese idioms. animals in middle and ending. Chinese beings' rights vs. language Animals' rights. Interpersonal: protect Pandas or other Interview other students in school about endangered animals in China their opinions and in the world. scientific and medical experiments. Apply Chinese idioms which Connection: four pictures given with a beginning, animal protection work to Apply on using animals for Discuss the relationship between and culture. Compreh Sociology: Human Comparison: Compare the roles of end the animals in Chinese crisis of the culture and in one's own culture. have animal characters animals and human beings in the movie of ecological involved in sentences. ”可可西里”. imbalance in Communities: China. Use measure words for animals fishes: 一头牛,一只狗, 一匹马,一群羊, 一条鱼, etc. Watch a Chinese movie: “可 可西里” Supplementary Material: DVD movies Internet sites www.baidu.com www.sina.com.cn www.google.cn www.163.com Presentational: Presentation: Write a report based on Participate the activities of “Roots and the online search information about the Shoots” to promote the work that Chinese government has done awareness of protecting for protecting Pandas and other animals. endangered animals. Creative writing with idioms: Create a short story and use with at least 20 idioms that have animal characters in sentences. The composition should have at least 500 words. Oral Report: Online search and report on some cases of animals abuse around the world now Interpretive: Listen to the recording regarding this unit and answer the questions accordingly. Comprehend the story of the movie “可 可西里“ Week 31-35: Sports 运动与竞技 Connection, Theme / Content Assessments Cultural Link Comparison and Communities Compare popular sports in China and in the States. Use sporty terms for reporting Quiz. News report. sports in China. Make sentences with new a basket ball game and a soccer words and phrases. game. Interpret and report a session Ask and answer questions with correct sentence patterns. of a soccer game in Chinese Listen to the record and which was taped from a TV sports answer questions accordingly. channel. State popular Identify the 35 Connection: Physical Education: Technical terms for event symbols of basketball games and Beijing Olympic soccer games. Games. Identify and Journalism: Sport News on TV. explain the meanings Picture story: write a story of Five Dolls of Beijing Olympic based on the four pictures given Beijing Olympic Games. Symbols for 2008 Beijing Olympic with a beginning, middle and Games. Comparison: Games which are written and ending. designed from the ancient Interpersonal: Quan & Shao Lin popular sports in China Chinese calligraphy. Kong Fu. and in the United Identify Thirty-five Event Explain One's favorite sport and why. Identify Five-Doll-Symbols of Brainstorm, list and discuss about popular sport events in China and in the States. Discuss one’s favorite sports Beijing Olympic Games and and explain why. comprehend the meanings that Presentational: they represent. Watch a Chinese language On Site Report: Watch a soccer game from TV movie” Initial D”about sports and sports channel and live report the family relationship. ongoing game in Chinese for 10 Introduce Tai Ji Quan & Shao minutes and record it with Audacity Lin Kong Fu. Program for grading. Supplementary Material: Presentation: Read two sport China TV Sports Channel. news from websites and Websites about Beijing summarize them in writing and Olympic Games, 2008. then report to the class as a Chinese Movie “Initial D” current sport news. Internet sites Writing: Online search the www.baidu.com information for the symbols of www.sina.com.cn Beijing Olympic Games-five dolls www.google.cn and the meanings that they represent. Interpretive: Listen to the recording of the Introduce Tai Ji News about 2008 Compare the most States. text and answer the questions accordingly. Identify Thirty-five Event Symbols for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games which are written and designed from the ancient Chinese calligraphy. Teaching Strategies The course focuses a lot on developing oral fluency, formal writing skills, and critical thinking. Many student activities are used besides teacher lecturing. Pair work, group discussion, peer share, web searches, cultural projects, skits, debates, speeches and writing composition are employed during teaching. There are several steps in each of the units: vocabulary and grammar learning, reading comprehension, discussion, exercises, writing practice. Student Evaluation Final grades are based on the following: class participation & effort 20% Students are expected to come to class prepared. Active involvement in class discussion and activities is essential. homework assignments 20% Homework is assigned after every class. It usually includes listening / speaking exercises, vocabulary-building practice, grammar exercises and reading / writing exercises. quizzes 20% Vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension quizzes usually include dictation of words, fill-in blanks, multiple-choice questions, sentence-completions and short readings. unit tests 20% Unit tests are designed to assess students’ overall mastery of the unit and include sections on vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension and writing. unit projects 20% Unit projects provide opportunities for students to work independently and / or cooperatively to write and speak Chinese in different formats. Teacher & Student Resources Books, Magazines and Newspapers Zheng Guoxiong, New Concept Chinese (Chinese for Europeans & Americans) 《新概念汉语》中级课本, Beijing Language and Culture University Press 2002 Bai Chongqian, Zhu Jianzhong, Chinese Course – Newspaper Language《报刊语言教程》, Beijing Language and Culture University Press, 2004 Zhao Jianhua, Zhu Bingyao, Chinese Course – Writing《汉语写作教程》, Beijing Language and Culture University Press, 2004 Han Jiantang, China’s Cultural Heritage《中国文化》, Beijing Language and Culture University Press, 2004 Li Fu, Chinese Human Geography《中国人文地理》, Beijing Language and Culture University Press, 2004 Nie Xin, Walk into Chinese Festivals《走进中国节日》, Hu’nan Art Press, 2005 Learning Chinese (A bi-monthly magazine)《学汉语》, Beijing Language and Culture University Press Websites Chinese-English / English-Chinese dictionary: http://dict.cn/ Chinese dictionary and about Chinese people, language, and customs: http://www.zdic.net/ Chinese traditions and calendar: http://www.nongli.com/ Chinese history and traditional culture: http://www.chinage.net/ Collection of Poetry: http://www.poets.cn/ Chinese traditional culture and arts: http://www.artx.cn/ Chinese history and culture: http://www.greatchinese.net/ Chinese literature and read aloud: http://www.langsong.cn/index.htm China studies: http://chinaknowledge.org/ Chinese learning: http://www.stpinyin.com/ Chinese learning: http://www.publicchinese.com/ Searching engine: http://www.baidu.com/ Chinese news: http://www.chinanews.com.cn/ All about China: http://www.china.com.cn/ Others… Films / DVDs / CDs Eat Drink Man woman 《饮食男女》, 1994, Taiwan, An Lee, Director, DVD. Raise the Red Lantern《大红灯笼高高挂》, 1991, China, Yimou Zhang, Director, DVD. No One Less《一个都不能少》, 1999, China, Yimou Zhang, Director, DVD. The Guasha Treatment《刮痧》, 2001, China, Xiaolong Zheng, Director, DVD. Discovering the Yangtze River《再说长江》, 2006, China, CCTV, DVD. Chinese Famous Cities《中国名城风采写真》, 2002, Guizhou Oriental Audiovisual Press, VCD.