CHINESE LANGUAGE 3
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Prerequisite for taking the Chinese Language 3 course is having taken the Chinese Language 2 course or having otherwise achieved a proficiency level in Chinese language of A2.
The examination for the third year is conducted in two different ways for attending and non-attending students.
Attending students have the option of taking two partial exams, one at the end of each semester, so that the final exam during the regular exam sessions for them is only oral.
Non-attending students and students who choose not to take or fail the partials, on the other hand, take the final written and oral examination in one go at the regular examination sessions.
This examination includes, as far as the written part is concerned, a test consisting of:
- a dictation of six sentences, for which it is necessary to provide, in addition to the transcription in simplified Chinese characters and the translation into Italian, also the transcription in Latin alphabet according to the pinyin system with the correct indication of the tone, as well as the indication of the radical with which that character is catalogued in the reference simplified character dictionaries (e.g. Xiandai Hanyu cidian, 7th edition). The dictation section is worth a maximum of 8/30, but for students who indicate the original forms for all simplified characters there is an additional award of 3/30.
- a section on transcribing a cursive sentence into regular form (kaishu) (maximum 3/30).
- a section of grammar exercises worth a maximum of 5/30;
- a section on translation from Italian to Chinese worth a maximum of 6/30;
- one section of translating from Chinese to Italian a business e-mail and composing a reply e-mail in Chinese, worth a maximum of 4/30;
- a Chinese to Italian translation section worth a maximum of 4/30. The latter translation will be taken from the Chinese daily press and only for this part of the exam will the use of the Pleco digital dictionary be permitted.
The final grade will be compounded by an additional score (from 1/30 to 3/30 depending on the results obtained) for participation in extracurricular activities relevant to the study of the Chinese language and for participation in in-class dictation tests. However, this additional score will have to be defended in the oral test, which is diriment for the formulation of the final grade. The oral test may improve the grade of the written paper by a maximum of 3/30 and its passing is in any case decisive for passing the overall examination.
The course aims to provide a solid foundation for learning the spoken and written Chinese language. During the second year, the primary goal is to increase the basic vocabulary by an additional 1,200 characters (chosen from the most frequent ones from the HSK lists), and by an additional 2,000 vocabulary words, thus bringing the basic corpus to 3,000 characters and 5,000 high-frequency words. This is to make rapid progress to B1 level and prepare the ground for the transition to B1+/B2.
Participation in six-month or one-year study trips to China, taking advantage of Chinese scholarships (Confucius Scholarships, Henan Scholarships, CSC Scholarships, etc.) is strongly recommended as an ideal complement to the third-year teaching experience. Second-year students are invited to participate in the HSK V exam preparation course offered by the faculty of the Confucius Institute of the University of Milan, where they will take the exam for the relevant certification by the end of the second semester at the latest.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the Chinese Language 3 course, students will be able to:
- successfully take the internationally recognized Chinese language proficiency exam (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi - HSK) level IV or V;
- write correctly in Chinese (both in Chinese characters and using pinyin alphabetical transcription), memorizing about 3,000 of the most frequently used Chinese characters, both in the original forms (for which only passive recognition is mandatory for characters learned during the course) and in simplified forms;
- recognize, translate and use in written composition a basic stock of about 5,000 vocabulary words;
- have assimilated basic Chinese grammar rules;
- express themselves orally and in writing in a correct manner suitable for most everyday and work-related discursive contexts;
- read and understand texts designed for HSK levels IV-V;
- read complex texts independently, assisting reading with the use of the Pleco app or a paper dictionary: the expected result is a gradual reduction in the reading time required to comprehend such texts due to the expansion of basic vocabulary and familiarity with more complex grammatical structures;
- listening to and understanding conversations on common topics related to everyday life, as well as beginning to grapple with understanding news broadcasts and videos related to current topics: students will be able to practice these skills in free in-class conversations monitored by the native speaker tutor;
- actively memorize learned vocabulary through the technique of deferred repetition (Spaced Repetition System) with the help of Pleco flashcards;
- converse freely in Chinese using increasingly complex constructions through in-class exercises with the native speaker tutor, who will monitor the gradual transition from B! to B1+/B2.
The third-year program involves expanding the reference vocabulary to the first 5,000 high-frequency vocabulary words that complete the initial level of the Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards and are a prelude to achieving the second and third stages of the intermediate level (HSK V and VI).
Learning the basic grammatical rules of the Chinese language is completed.
Additional course contents are:
- learning the proficient use of Pleco software, including the systematic use of flashcards according to the method of deferred repetition (Spaced Repetition System);
- the learning of about 2,000 new vocabulary and idiomatic expressions, with examples of their use in different conversational contexts;
- the translation of intermediate-level texts from Chinese into Italian and from Italian into Chinese;
- the study of the basic grammar of the modern Chinese language, with special emphasis on the complex sentence, verb aspect and the main complements;
- the learning of the method for recognizing cursive writing;
- the initiation of the study of the vocabulary, rules and conventions peculiar to the business Chinese language.
The exercises will synchronously follow the progress of the lessons from the textbook.
Teaching is structured as an integrated course that consists of the following modules:
1. Study of the main grammatical structures of the complex sentence, from the conversational and reading units offered in the textbook (Masini et al., Communicating in Chinese, vol. II-III).
2. Guided study and experimentation of the intensive reading method, systematic review and memorization (spaced repetition) of newly learned vocabulary making use of the Pleco app.
3. Constant improvement of writing skills, including under dictation, Chinese characters, oral production and written production of simple texts congruent with the vocabulary and grammatical repertoire associated with the topics covered throughout the year.
4. Continued parallel learning of the original and simplified forms of Chinese characters. Students will gradually become accustomed to reading whole texts written in original characters.
5. Reinforcement of listening and oral production skills with the native speaker exerciser from conversational units modeled on the examples provided in the textbook. Both the teacher and the exerciser will also make use of facilitated audio-visual aids (cadenced oral production, graded vocabulary, etc.) to gradually enhance spoken language comprehension.
6. Strengthening skills in the field of Chinese to Italian translation, an exercise aimed mainly at fine comprehension and learning the peculiarities of Chinese syntax.
7. Recognition of cursive Chinese writing.
8. Study of business Chinese.
During the third year, students will practice more reading aloud and conversation in Chinese with the teacher, gradually increasing the amount and complexity of comprehensible input from written and oral sources. Active memorization of characters and reference vocabulary will be monitored with regular dictation. In-class correction of composition and translation exercises done at home will provide a better understanding of Chinese language morphosyntax and basic grammar rules. The use of audio-visual aids will reinforce listening and comprehension of the spoken language.
Reception days, places and times will be agreed upon with the students by the the teachers, who can be reached at the following e-mail addresses:
daniele.cologna@uninsubria.it; lorenzo.loiudice@uninsubria.it; chaohui.jin@uninsubria.it