LANG 2012 Chinese 204

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102027

Coordinator Linda Gu Opens in new window

Description This is an intermediate level unit of modern Chinese (Mandarin) language and its culture suitable for students who undertake it as part of the Chinese major or sub-major or as an elective subject. It provides an extension of reading comprehension and writing skills over a range of written registers. The content is selected from contemporary materials (e.g. songs and rhymes, fables and idioms, magazines, short stories and websites). This unit also fosters cultural and social understanding by presenting aspects of contemporary cultures and societies through language use and research work. Differentiated learning and assessment tasks and multimedia activities are utilised to cater to non-background and quasi-background learners. The unit is not suitable for background speakers (i.e., who have completed formal secondary education where Mandarin Chinese is used as an official language and also the language of instruction at the School). Note: Students enrolling in this unit as part of a major or sub major in Chinese are encouraged enrol in Chinese 203 at the same time.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Eastern Asian Languages

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 2 subject

Equivalent Subjects LANG 2030 - Language and Communication Skills 2B Chinese

Restrictions Successful completion of 20 credit points of Chinese Language at Level 1 or equivalent.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  1. demonstrate grammatical and lexical knowledge at an intermediate level;
  2. demonstrate reading and comprehension skills, including by reading aloud;
  3. identify and use the conventions of a range of text-types;
  4. write different texts, including practical and expressive text genres;
  5. demonstrate understanding of the popular culture and of the society in which the language is spoken.

Subject Content

Overview of text-types to be studied in the subject and their lexical and grammatical characteristics;
reading and comprehension exercises on each of the different text-types;
basic analysis of specific text types with reference to lexical and structural characteristics;
contemporary writing in popular culture including magazines, short stories and cartoon stories;
writing messages, personal profiles, descriptions and recount paying attention to the writing conventions of specific genres;
researching issues in culture and society through current journals; magazines and language-specific websites;
creative writing: writing your own short story or mini-drama.

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this subject that you must meet in order to successfully complete this subject. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for your subject online.

Inherent Requirements

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Item Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Portfolio N/A 30 N Individual
Research Project and Presentation 800 to 1200 words (research project; 20%) and 5-8 minutes (presentation; 20%) 40 N Individual
Final in-class test 2 hours 30 N Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Qi, Ruying. (2009). Chinese 204: Reading and Writing. UWS: The UWS Printing Shop.
  • Ma, Yamin & Li, Xinying. (2004) Chinese Made Easy, Textbook and Exercise book 3 (2CDs). Hong Kong: Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd.
  • Ma, Yamin & Li, Xinying. (2004) Chinese Made Easy, Textbook and Exercise book 4 (2CDs). Hong Kong: Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd.
  • A collection of language and culture-specific reading materials, notes and exercises will be developed and made available including online materials. This section will be updated regularly.

Teaching Periods

Spring

Parramatta - Victoria Rd

Day

Subject Contact Linda Gu Opens in new window

View timetable Opens in new window