Chinese Course Descriptions:

373.111-112  Accelerated Beginning Chinese
For students who have a significant, previously acquired ability to understand and speak Modern Standard Chinese.  The course focuses on reading and writing.  The teaching materials are, for the most part, simplified versions of the materials used in 375.115-116 Beginning Chinese.  Lab required.  May not be taken S/U.  3.5 credits

373.115-116  Beginning Chinese
This course is designed primarily for students who have no prior exposure to Chinese.  The objective of the course is to help students build a solid foundation of the four basic skills---listening, speaking, reading, and writing in an interactive and communicative learning environment.  The emphasis is on correct pronunciation, accurate tones and mastery of basic grammatical structures. Students cannot begin their study in the spring. Note: Students with existing demonstrable skills in spoken Chinese should take 373.111-112. May not be taken S/U.  4.5 credits

375.211-212  Accelerated Intermediate Chinese  (H)
For students who possess native-like abilities in comprehension and speaking.  The course focuses on reading and writing.  The teaching materials are, for the most part, closely related to those used in 373.215-216 Intermediate Chinese.  Lab required.  3.5 credits

373.215-216  Intermediate Chinese (H)
Consolidation of the foundation that students have laid in their first year of study and continued drill and practice in the spoken language, with continued expansion of reading and writing vocabulary and sentence patterns.  Students will work with both simplified and traditional characters.  Note:  Student who have native -like abilities in comprehension and speaking should take 373.211-212 Accelerated Intermediate Chinese.  4.5 credits

373.312    Modern Chinese Literature in Translation (H)
An historical and analytical look at the literature of 20th century China, with focus upon the ramifications of historical, political and social evolution upon form and content. 3 credits

373.303 Chinese Calligraphy (H)
This is an introductory course on Chinese brush writing. The course is conducted in English and is for all those who are interested in learning how to use the brush to write Chinese characters. Knowledge of the Chinese language is useful but not essential. The class meets once a week for two and a half hours. The first hour will be lectures on the history, theory and techniques of the brush writing plus aspects of Chinese culture associated with the characters used. The remaining time will be used for hands-on practice. 3 credits.

373.313-314  Upper Intermediate Accelerated Chinese  (H)
This course is for those who have already taken 373.212 or equivalent.  Students need to have native-level fluency in speaking and understanding Chinese.  The course focuses on reading and writing.  In addition to the textbooks, downloaded articles on current affairs may also be included on a regular basis.  Lab required.  3.5 credits

373.315-316  Upper Intermediate Chinese  (H)
This two-semester course consolidates and further expands students' knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and further develops reading ability through work with textbook material and selected modern Chinese insofar as feasible, and written assignments will be given.  3.5 credits

373.415-416  Advanced Chinese  (H)
Readings in modern Chinese prose, including outstanding examples of literature, newspaper articles, etc.  Students are supposed to be able to understand most of the readings with the aid of a dictionary, so that class discussion is not focused on detailed explanations of grammar.  Discussion, to be conducted in Chinese, will concentrate on the cultural significance of the readings' content.   3 credits

373.421 Classical Chinese (H)
Introducing students to the basic grammar and the most frequently used vocabulary in classical Chinese through selections from ancient Chinese texts.  Students will learn to read classical Chinese text as well as explore traditional Chinese cultural values, philosophies and history behind these texts. The knowledge of classical Chinese will further help students in reading more sophisticated modern Chinese texts. Prereq: 373-316 or equiv. 3 credits

373.451-452 Selected Readings in Modern Chinese (H)
This is an advanced reading course devoted primarily to reading
literature and fiction in Chinese by some of the most insightful writers of modern China. The main purposes of this course are to enlarge students' vocabulary, to improve students' reading comprehension, to maintain students' conversation skills though class discussion, to increase students' understanding of culture and the society of China, and to enhance students' writing ability through composition assignment and writing the project. Students registering for this course must have finished four years of Chinese language or its equivalent. Prereq: 373-416 or equiv. 3 credits