CHINESE 1401
Elementary Chinese I
Fall 2018 Syllabus
INSTRUCTORS
Name:   Ginger Wu
Phone:   999-8091
E-mail:    gwu@trinity.edu
Office:   Northrup Hall 280
Office hours:   M 11:30AM-3:00PM, TR 12:30-3:00PM
Program web site:   http://faculty.trinity.edu/sfield/Zhongwenxi.html
 
CLASS TIMES AND LOCATIONS
  Section 1 Section 2  
  MW 8:30-9:20
MW 9:30-10:20
NH 251
  TR  8:55-9:45 TR  9:55-10:45 NH 251
TEXTBOOKS 1.  Xue Zhongwen: Chinese 1401 Supplemental Class Materials (required)
  2. Communicating in Chinese, Student's Book 1, Speaking and Listening (recommended)
 

REQUIREMENTS
Attendance is mandatory. However, you are allowed three (excused or unexcused) absences. The 4th and each successive absence will count against your final grade (for example: if you make a final grade of B+ but have 4 absences, your grade will be changed to a B; or with 5 absences, a B-).
 
Class Participation
10%
This is the so-called "impression" grade. If you pay attention, speak up in class, conduct your role-playing exercises with enthusiasm, and put out extra effort in class and on your homework that will impress me and you will get the full 10 points. On the other hand, if you come late to class, text-message on your cell phone, read your e-mail on your laptop computer, chat with classmates in English, etc., you will get a zero.
 
Homework
20%
Three types are required, all located in Xue Zhongwen--(1) listening exercises that you answer based on online recordings (see syllabus below), (2) grids on which you practice Chinese calligraphy, and (3) translation exercises that you will complete before class and put on the board. The only homework that is graded is the listening exercises, so don’t fail to turn them in! Late homework is not accepted! However, I allow students to drop one homework grade.
 
Quizzes
40%
Quizzes will be given on the first day of each new lesson. Don't miss class on these days or you will receive a zero. There will be no make-up quizzes! However, I allow students to drop their lowest quiz grade.
 
Tests 1, 2, 3, and 4
30%
Tests 1-3 are tentatively scheduled for Sept. 10, Oct. 8, and Nov. 5. Make-up tests will be given only if you have an excused absence from a doctor, coach, or professor. Test 4 is scheduled for Dec 7 at 12 noon, or Dec 10 at 8:30am.
 

 

 

 

 
Honor Code
All students are covered by a policy that prohibits dishonesty in academic work.  Under the Honor Code, a faculty member will (or a student may) report an alleged violation to the Academic Honor Council.  It is the task of the Council to investigate, adjudicate, and assign a punishment within certain guidelines if a violation has been verified.  Students who are under the Honor Code are required to pledge all written work that is submitted for a grade:  “On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this work” and their signature.  The pledge may be abbreviated 'pledged' with a signature.
 

 

PREVIEW WEEK
Day
Subject
 Text
Online Resources 
Aug 22 Chinese Writing I The Evolution of Chinese Writing Seals, Bronzes, Scripts
Aug 23 Chinese Writing II 
  1. The Four Compositional Techniques
  2. Stroke Formation
  3. Stroke Order Rules
 
Aug 27 Mandarin Pronunciation I
  1. Mandarin Tones
  2. Tone Change Rules (*) [handout]
Tone Practice
Aug 28 Mandarin Pronunciation II Pronunciation and Pinyin Spelling Pinyin Syllables, list
Aug 29 Mandarin Pronunciation III
  1. Compound Finals and Nasals
  2. Practice

Pinyin Practice, Chinese Phonetic Alphabet  
Aug 30 The Numbers The numbers 1-100 Numbers Practice, Cursive
 

DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1. Vocabulary and Grammar The class will begin with a 5-minute quiz over the previous lesson. The new lesson will then be introduced with a discussion of new vocabulary and grammar. Students will hand in their character grids by 5:00 pm.
Day 2. Role-playing The class will conduct role-playing interviews to utilize speaking and listening skills. Students will hand in listening exercises by 5:00 pm.
Day 3. Translation Exercises In class, students will write selected translations on the board. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week
Unit
Content
Textbook
Listening Exercises
Sept 4,5,6
1
Courtesy Expressions
pp. 17-20
Monday, Sept 10
Test 1
Sept 11,12,13
2a
pp. 21-24
Sept 17,18,19
2b
Social Titles
pp. 25-30
Sept 20,24,25
2c
Personal Descriptions
pp. 31-36
Sept 26, 27, Oct 1
2d
Age, grade, address, phone number
pp. 37-42
Oct 2,3,4
2e
Height, weight, birthday
pp. 43-48
Monday, Oct 8
2a-e
Test 2
    
Oct 9,10,11
2f
Professions
pp. 49-52
Oct 15,16,17
2g
Nationality & foreign language
pp. 53-56
Oct 18,22,23
2h
pp. 57-60
Oct 24,25,29
3a
pp. 61-66
Oct 30, 31, Nov 1
3b
Personal needs and wants
pp. 67-70
Monday, Nov 5
2f-3b
Test 3
    
Nov 6,7,8
4a
Clock Time
pp. 71-74
Nov 12,13,14
4b
pp. 75-80
Nov 15,19,20
pp. 81-88
Nov 26,27,28
4d
Relative Time (Day/Week)
pp. 89-94
Nov. 29, Dec 3,4
4e
Relative Time (Month/Year)
pp. 95-98
Dec 4  
Course Evaluation
    

Fri, Dec 7, 12 noon, orMon, Dec 10, 8:30am
Test 4

CHINESE CORNER