70380 - Basics of Chinese

Course contents

At the end of the course, the students will be qualified to test for Level 1 of the Chinese Language Skill Certificate (HSK = hanyu shuiping kaoshi).

Reading:
- They will be able to read short and simple texts, to find specific data in everyday reading material - f.i. restaurant menus & timetables - and to understand short personal correspondence.

They will be familiar with:
- pinyin transcription principles;
- 200 simplified characters.

Writing:
They will be able to write short personal messages, to fill forms with personal data (f.i. to enroll in language courses in China). They will be able to write short letters (greetings, thank-you notes).

Speaking:
They will know how to recognize and produce Chinese syllables in four tones, and how to pronounce them in sentence combination; they will be able to pronounce Chinese sentences with the correct intonation, and to repeat short clusters.
They will be able to formulate questions and answers on personal matters, for everyday purposes.
They will know how to use a series of sentences to describe themselves, their family, and others, their studies, their daily life, and immediate plans for the future.

The course also includes the study of outlines of the history of writing in China and of its human geography.

Readings/Bibliography

When classes start, study materials will be made available at "Carta Carbone" Photocopy Centre, via Oberdan 5.

Indications on the reference manual will be given in class.

Chinese language:
- M. Abbiati, La lingua cinese, Ed Cafoscarina, 1992. See teacher's website for indications on what parts to study.


Chinese culture:
One of the following:
- Capozzi, Galli: Appunti di Cina, Ed. Serendipità, 2008
- Jenny Su, Discendenti del drago, Ed. Grande Muraglia, 2010.

Teaching methods

Classroom work, with indications of websites for self-learning.
In order to encourage writing skills, students will be asked to hand in written exercises at least once a month.

Assessment methods

Written test:
Vocabulary, grammar, written comprehension, translation (active and passive); language theory. Use of dictionaries is not allowed.
To familiarize students with the written test, the last two classes will be dedicated to a simulation of the written examination, which will be corrected collectively in class.

Oral examination:
Language:
Conversation in Chinese; reading and translation; explanation of grammar topics.
Culture:
One week before the examination, students are required to hand in a short paper on a topic chosen among the ones dealt with in one of their two reference books.
Paper must include:
- Key words in Chinese characters and pinyin; glossary (at least 10 terms).
- Bibliography and sitography

Paper topic will be briefly discussed during the oral examination.

Teaching tools

Multimedia teaching materials will be used to reinforce vocabulary, grammar, and communicative functions learned in class.

Students are encouraged to use both hardcover (searching by radicals) and online dictionaries (www.mdbg.org; www.infocina.net/dizionario; www.ramou.net; www.chino-china.com/diccionario; www.chinesisch-lernen.org; www.kitaist.info).
Indications will be given for individual study through various online Chinese language and culture websites.

- Language manual and exercise book, with included Audio CD for listening skills.
- Chinese language self-learning websites.
- Teaching materials and distribution list are hosted on AMS Campus (access throgh course programme page, link on upper right).
- Chinese IME for mainstream WP and online methods.

Office hours

See the website of Sabrina Ardizzoni