Advanced Chinese

 Course Objective      Course Description          Weekly Routine        Grading Policy

Instructor: Dr. Jianhua Bai, bai@kenyon.edu; Ms. Lijuan Guo, guol@kenyon.edu

Office: Bai: 112 Ascension Hall, Phone: 427-5530; Guo: 12 Ascension Hall, Phone: 427-5877

Office Hours: Bai: M.W. 11:00--12:00, 1:00--2:00; Guo: MWF 11:00-12:00; Tuesday 1:30-2:30

Schedule: 2:10-3:00, MWF, Asc 25 (for Kenyon), Library/LRC 115 (for Denison)

Texts
1. Bai, J. J. Sung and H. Zhang. 1998. Across the Straits (ATS). Boston: Cheng and Tsui.
2. Bai, J. J. Sung and Z. Xing. 1996. Beyond the Basics (BB). Boston: Cheng and Tsui.
3. Supplementary Materials (SM). Reading Selections on the Web.
4. Video materials.


Course Objectives
This course integrates the use of the teleconferencing facility, the multimedia CD and web-based technology and is available for both Kenyon and Denison students. The course is an upper-level course for students who wish to develop and refine their ability to understand, speak, read, and write Modern Standard Chinese. Reading materials include writings on aspects of Chinese culture and which will serve as points of departure for discussion and composition. Video materials will also be used for this purpose. Reading and writing assignments will emphasize use of both simplified and traditional or "complex" forms of Chinese characters. This course is recommended for students wishing to specialize in any field related to China. Prerequisite: Intermediate Chinese or equivalent or permission of instructor.
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Course Description
Each class consists of three integral components: 1) the pre-class reading assignments (paper and web-based materials). 2) The during-class TV conferencing lecture and activities enable students to practice listening and speaking skills and increase their knowledge about aspects of Chinese culture and society. 3) The post-class tasks will be assigned to reinforce and assess learning outcome through the conventional paper-pencil exercises and the use of on-line discussions, reports and collaborated group projects.
In addition to the regular class meetings and the pre and post class activities students from both campuses will also meet a couple of times during the semester so that they can know each other better through face-to-face interaction. There will also be weekly practice sessions with a teacher on an individual basis.
A foreign language is acquired only as a consequence of using that language. The purpose of the assignments and practice sessions is to build each week's new material into an increasingly versatile proficiency. Practice is the most important activity in this course. Every minute is valuable to you. Every class meeting contributes, cumulatively, to the attainment of your personal objective. This class is going to be conducted entirely in Chinese.

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Weekly Routine
1. Weekly assignments. There will be extensive reading, listening and other assignments. Get together with a classmate and study the assigned readings. Since our class consists of people of different levels, it would be best if you study with someone of different levels of proficiency so that those who have studied more can help those who have studied fewer years.
2. Classes will be held in the teleconferencing rooms. The lectures and class activities will enable you to practice listening and speaking skills and increase your knowledge about aspects of Chinese culture and society.
3. Web-surfing and weekly writing reports. You need to keep updated with the current events by reading or listening to the news (see recommended "useful links") daily. Each week, you need to write one-paragraph summary of what you heard/read about. Bring it to Friday's class to share.
4. There will be individual conferences during which you will 1) discuss the assigned materials, 2) Q&A about the assignments, and 3) some task-based activities to help you reinforce the class content.
5. Additional reading materials available upon request.

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Evaluation and Course Grade
Evaluation provides each student multiple opportunities to demonstrate incremental skill development over discrete segments of material. It provides feedback for both teaching and learning. The examinations will be cumulative, including all previous material plus the most recent week's new material.
The final letter grade represents the judgment of the following:1. Class participation, 40% (individual sessions and class meetings). 2.Daily assignments, 30%. 3). Mid-term and final examinations 30%. Each examination will consists listening, speaking, reading and writing. 5) Attending Chinese Tables for extra credits. Students and teachers of Chinese have dinner together every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 at Upper Dempsey. Students from Denison can contact Professor Lian for their Chinese Table schedules.

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