LN719     
Mandarin: Level 5 (Standard)

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Requisites

Assumed prior knowledge:

Language skills and knowledge of Mandarin at B2 level of the Common European Reference Framework for Languages are required.

Additional requisites:

Students should have successfully completed LSE Level 4 course or have learned equivalent content, see the description of "Communicative content" and "Structural Content" of Level 4 course (LN717 or LN718). Students are expected to demonstrate a high level of commitment to the course : Regular attendance, Completion of homework, and all pieces of continuous assessment. Dedicate at least two hours per week to coursework in addition to classes. Admission into the course after completion of the online test and upon tutor’s approval during the Needs Analysis Interview. A very high level of fluency and the ability to do independent research into a chosen topic is expected, i.e. several years of intensive study of Mandarin at higher level, and also a keen interest in current issues.

Course Aim:

• To attain competence in a broad range of complex and non-routine tasks across a wide variety of contexts.
• To practise the ability to use Chinese effectively for purposes of practical communication and reading comprehension dealing with linguistically challenging tasks.
• To establish the skills, language and attitudes required to promote and facilitate further study of Chinese.
• To practise the ability to use Chinese effectively for purposes of oral and written communication.
• To establish specific linguistic skills and strategies required to communicate effectively.
• To understand/analyse fairly complex texts about current issues and Chinese culture.
• To involve students in planning the course contents according to their specific needs and interests.
• To bring students to the equivalent of level C1/C2 CEFR.

Learners will have opportunities to practise:

• Communication in the workplace, at university and in everyday situations.
• Participation in problem solving discussions.
• Exchanging specific information.
• Writing short essays.
• Participating in discussions: expressing an opinion, agreement, disagreement.
• Logical argumentation.
• Reading and summarising texts from various sources.
• Using language strategies selected from an extensive repertoire in order to meet changing requirements.
• Using language strategies to cope with specialised topics: i.e. business, law, culture, politics, management, current issues.
• Advanced language tasks with reference to Chinese society, contemporary issues, international relations, history and culture.
• Regular (group/individual) oral presentations.
• Group work discussion.
• Reading and summarising complex texts.
• Specific grammatical aspects of topical texts.
• Relevant grammatical issues for advanced and specialised communication.
• Students are to undertake independent research in their particular area of interest.
• Project work.
• Reading comprehension.
• Oral presentation.

This course will include revision of major grammatical points and key grammatical issues. The course will also introduce 580 words and 212 Chinese characters.

22 hours of classes in the Winter Term.
16 hours of classes in the Autumn Term.

Please refer to the LSE timetable for course teaching arrangements.

16 hours of classes in the AT. 22 hours of classes in the WT. 2 hours of group tutorial time, as arranged by the teacher during the AT, WT, ST.

Key textbook:

New practical Chinese Reader, textbook, vol. 4, by Liu Xun, Beijing Language and Culture University Press, 2007 (the textbook comes with DVD or audio materials)

Oral examination (30%)

Continuous assessment (70%)