LN104     
Mandarin Language and Society Level 1 (Beginner)

This information is for the 2022/23 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Hua Xiang PEL.6.01b

Availability

Available as an outside option to all undergraduate and General Course students. Students can take this course in any year of their studies following approval from the teacher responsible and subject to their own programme regulations.

Pre-requisites

No previous knowledge of Mandarin is required; students with limited prior knowledge may be considered for the course subject to an interview with the course co-ordinator.

Course content

Beginners to intermediate study of the Mandarin language within the framework of social sciences and culture. In a dynamic and communicative way the course develops all four language skills (i.e. speaking, listening, reading and writing) through individual and group work, topical discussions, authentic and multi-media materials. The focus is on accuracy as well as communication that advance students’ language competence, transferable skills and cultural awareness. In this level, the students are required to read and write up to 750 Chinese characters.

Teaching

60 hours of classes in the MT. 60 hours of classes in the LT. 6 hours of classes in the ST.

Six hours per week, which will feature: (a) interactive topical work; (b) oral practise; (c) grammar and vocabulary work; (d) tutorials; and (e) guided study using IT and web-based materials.

This course has reading weeks in Week 6 of Michaelmas and Lent terms.

Formative coursework

The students will be required to complete weekly exercises. This includes grammar activities, writing Chinese characters and online communicative materials.

Indicative reading

CH Xiang, 2010, Mastering Chinese, London. Palgrave Macmillan.

X Liu (ed.), 2006, New Practical Chinese Reader, Vol. 1, text book and workbook,  Beijing. Beijing Language and Cultural University Press.

Y Po-Ching & D Rimmington, 2002, Beginners Chinese – A Grammar and Workbook, Routledge.

Oxford Chinese Dictionary, 2010, Oxford Dictionaries.

Assessment

Exam (30%, duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes) in the summer exam period.
Oral examination (30%) in the ST.
Continuous assessment (40%) in the MT and LT.

Language courses map to the Common European Framework for Language Learning.  This framework defines linguistic proficiency in the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) at different levels.  To pass this course, students are therefore required to achieve a pass mark in each element of the assessment (continuous assessment, oral and written exams), as these test all four skills.

Student performance results

(2019/20 - 2021/22 combined)

Classification % of students
First 50
2:1 43.8
2:2 6.2
Third 0
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Language Centre

Total students 2021/22: 22

Average class size 2021/22: 12

Capped 2021/22: Yes (24)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication