Chinese III
Description
In Chinese III, students continue to expand their abilities in various aspects of Chinese Mandarin. Students continue to build their knowledge of vocabulary, sentence patterns, and grammar points in communicative contexts. They also enhance their Chinese Mandarin listening and speaking skills, such as pronunciation and intonation. Students learn more in-depth Chinese reading and writing strategies and skills. The Chinese III course greatly improves students’ reading abilities, and students are able to write in Chinese in various formats such as journal, letter, invitation, and essay. The course also enriches and fortifies the students’ knowledge and skills in writing simplified Chinese characters. In this course, students learn more essential knowledge of Chinese culture, including the origins, histories, anecdotes, and etiquettes for various cultural settings, events, and occasions. Students also learn to compare and contrast the Chinese culture with their own cultures in many different aspects. Students who complete Chinese III earn Honors credit.
Major Topics and Concepts
Semester 1:
· Typical Chinese Family Structure and Kinship
· Chinese Surnames and Given Names
· First Dates and Dating Rituals in China
· The Story of <Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai> (《梁山伯与祝英台》)
· Different Ways of Expressing Love in Chinese
· Inflection in Chinese Pronunciation (音变)
· Five Types of Chinese Folk Dancing (傣,维,汉,彝,蒙) and Their Attires
· Chinese Herbal Treatments and Homeopathic Remedies
· Common Expressions for Ailments and Symptoms
· Acupuncture Treatment and Acupuncture Points
· The Influence of “Yin” and “Yang” on Chinese Medicine
· Chinese Diet Treatment and The Usage of Ginger in Chinese Diet
· Body Parts and Expression of Pain or Injuries
· Li Bai Poetry: <Thought on the Quiet Night> (《静夜思》)
· Tang Shi Song Ci (唐诗宋词)
· The Famous Poets: Li Bai (李白), Du Fu (杜甫), and Li Qingzhao (李清照/词)
· Literal/Everyday Expressions of Different Emotions
· The Writing of Dayou Poems (打油诗)
· Chinese Folk Songs (《敖包相会》, 《康定情歌》…)
· Introduction of《诗经》and 《乐府诗集》
· Duizhang (对仗) and Dui’ou (对偶)
· Writing Couplets (对联)
· College Application Process in China
· Introduction of the More Prestigious Universities in China
· Alternatives to Higher Education in China
· College Students’ Life in China and College Art Festival (大学生艺术节)
· The Chinese Idioms (“毛遂自荐”, “望子成龙”, “面面俱到”, …)
· The School Discipline and Subject Settings in China
· 20 Chinese Radicals and 100 Characters
Semester 2
· Pollutions in China
· Ways of Reducing Pollution in China
· China Current Affairs on Pollution and Recycling
· Ways of Saving Energy – The 3Rs (Reduce减量, Reuse再利用, and Recycle回收)
· How to Recycle Plastics
· Reforestation in China and The “Tree Planting Day” (植树节)
· Learn to Write a Journal in Chinese
· Stories and Anecdotes about Reforestation in China
· Protecting the Pandas
· Basic Knowledge about the Pandas
· Introduction of Panda Natural Reserves
· Well-Known Environmental Clubs in China
· Reading Strategy -- Ways to Learn New Words
· Environmental Arts: Learn to Make a Piggy Bank using a Coke Can
· Recreational Activities in China for Different Age Groups
· Comparing Chinese and Western Recreational Activities
· Karaoke in China
· Chinese Musical Instruments
· Western Influence on Chinese Economy and Employment
· Learn to Use Chinese Idioms (成语)
· Chinese Slangs, Dialects, and Internet New Words
· Saying Large Numbers in Chinese (“千”, “万”, “百万”, “亿”)
· Do’s and Don’ts during A Job Interview in China
· Techniques in Finding Employment in China
· How to Write a Personal Resume (个人简历)
· Volunteerism in China and Chinese Volunteer Organizations
· Chinese Language Learning and Job Opportunities
· 15 Chinese Radicals and 75 Characters