CHIN100 

Introductory Mandarin Chinese I

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Learning another language is a long and winding path requiring self-discipline, regular practice, intensive exposure, and an open inquiring mind. Nothing is more exciting than merging comfortably into a new language-cultural milieu. The purpose of this course is to facilitate students to acquire a basic level of communicative abilities in Chinese, as well as fundamental skills in reading and writing simplified Chinese characters. This will help students lay a solid foundation for further study of Mandarin Chinese.

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Timetable and Classroom   

Lecture

Day	Time	Room
Tuesday	12:30-13:30	KINGST 304
Thursday	11:30-12:30	KINGST 304
Friday	13:30-14:30	KINGST 304

Tutorials

Day	Time	Room
Tuesday	17:30-18:30	KINGST Lab A or room 313
Wednesday	18:30-19:30	KINGST Lab A or room 313

Professor and TA

Bai, Xuelin (Professor)
Office: Room 400, Kingston Hall
Phone: 533-6000 ext. 75711 or 533-2072  
Office Hours: Tue. 13:30-15:30, Thu. 12:30-14:30

Chen, Siqi (TA for tutorial session)
Office: Room 400A, Kingston Hall
Phone: 533-2074

Textbook & Supplementary Materials

CONTEMPORARY CHINESE (text book 1 & 2) (Published by Sinolingua)

 

Photocopied exercise sheets will be handed out in class.

Other supplementary materials are required as necessary . ( Photocopy charge : $ 20 .00)

 

 

Course Description

This course is designed for those who, having very little or no knowledge of Chinese, are interested in learning Mandarin and Chinese culture. The emphasis is placed on developing conversational skills for everyday use, as well as enhancing cultural awareness. While focusing on aural comprehension and oral expression, the course also helps students acquire a basic knowledge of reading and writing simplified Chinese characters. Chinese phonetics (Pinyin) will be introduced in the early weeks and drilled throughout the course. Students will also learn the way Chinese characters are formed, and to familiarize themselves with the strokes and structures of the characters. Some of the most useful words and idiomatic expressions will be learned in both Pinyin and Characters and will be practiced intensively. Since basic sentence patterns and common dialogues based on everyday life situations are very important for general communication skills, in-class activities will include repetitions, substitutions, situational dialogues, group conversations, role playing and so on.

Evaluation

The course evaluation of language acquisition is on a percentage basis. Each element outlined below is based on points. The accumulated total of points will determine your final grade.

Item	Details	Weight
Participation	Attendance with good preparation Active classroom participation	10%
Assignments	Homework Class exercises Lab assignments	20%
Mini-Quizzes Fall and Winter	Quiz#1: 2nd week Quiz#2: 4th week Quiz#3: 8th week Quiz#4: 10th week Quiz#5: 15th week Quiz#6: 17th week Quiz#7: 21st week Quiz#8: 23rd week	20%
Oral expression and aural comprehension	Oral presentations: Fall term: individual, winter term: group Listening tests: 1 in fall and 1 in winter term	20%
Mid-year exam	12th week ( aural/written)	10%
Final exam	Exam week ( oral/written)	20%

 

Conduct of the Class

The classroom situation will be designed to facilitate greater use of the language and to create an environment reflecting the culture. Thus, the class instructions will be conducted more and more in Mandarin. A communicative approach will be used, with a focus on interactive learning along with the utilization of audio-visual teaching aids and some other sources to increase language interaction. Lab tutorials are designed to assist in the understanding of study points, to strengthen important language and culture elements, and to give students more opportunities to practice and utilize what they have learned from the class.

Course Requirements

•  Students are required to attend all the classes on time, and to participate in all class activities and Lab tutorials.
• Students are expected to preview and review each chapter as instructed in order to achieve the best results during the class hour.
• Students should complete all assignments and hand them in without delay. All quizzes, tests, and examinations must be taken as scheduled unless you have a legitimate excuse.

Other Remarks

Assignments handed in late or making up quizzes, tests, and examinations will result in reducing marks.  If a student misses more than one third of the classes for one semester without a proper written explanation, she/he will not be allowed to take the final exam.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is constituted by the five core fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility (see www.academicintegrity.org). These values are central to the building, nurturing and sustaining of an academic community in which all members of the community will thrive. Adherence to the values expressed through academic integrity forms a foundation for the "freedom of inquiry and exchange of ideas" essential to the intellectual life of the University (see the Senate Report on Principles and Priorities)Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the regulations concerning academic integrity and for ensuring that their assignments conform to the principles of academic integrity. Information on academic integrity is available in the Arts and Science Calendar (see Academic Regulation 1), on the Arts and Science website(see http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/sites/default/files/Academic%20Regulations.pdf), and from the instructor of this course.Departures from academic integrity include plagiarism, use of unauthorized materials, facilitation, forgery and falsification, and are antithetical to the development of an academic community at Queen's. Given the seriousness of these matters, actions which contravene the regulation on academic integrity carry sanctions that can range from a warning or the loss of grades on an assignment to the failure of a course to a requirement to withdraw from the university.