Advanced Chinese Language Skills
| Module title | Advanced Chinese Language Skills |
|---|---|
| Module code | MLM3111 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Yanling Yang (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
Module description
This module aims to further improve your knowledge of, and your communicative competence in, Chinese through a wide range of essential activities (conversations and presentations, translation from and into the target language, writing practice, and grammar reviews). A variety of materials (e.g. news, government documents, business letters, fiction and proses) will be used in class to expose you to an authentic China from different perspectives and enhance your understanding of the structure and function of Chinese language in different settings. In order to take this module you should have successfully completed your 'Year Abroad' in China or equivalent.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to:
- Help you further improve your knowledge of Chinese language and related cultural knowledge
- Consolidate your listening, speaking, writing and reading skills
- Develop your translation and other practical skills that are relevant to workplaces by engaging with texts in a wide range of styles and topics
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Discuss complex topical and abstract issues in an appropriate register of oral Chinese, using a broad range of vocabulary and idiom
- 2. Translate specialised texts in and/or out of Chinese
- 3. Write various types of original documents in Chinese
- 4. Give a structured oral presentation on selected topics
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Understand linguistic terminology as applied to a variety of Chinese texts
- 6. Engage critically with the Chinese-language media, printed and electronic
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. With guidance from lecturers, take increasing responsibility for the development of your own language learning
- 8. Improve your oral skills by presenting coherent arguments, and by expressing and defending opinions on a range of topical and abstract issues
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that in both terms, students will focus on improving their knowledge of Chinese language used in various genres (e.g. newspaper, literature, government documents and TV). They will develop their written Chinese by translating selected texts into Chinese, creative writing and writing commentaries. Throughout the year they will also improve their spoken Chinese by engaging with a series of texts on contemporary life in class debates led by native speakers.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | 168 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 44 | Guidance in analysing complex texts on specialised topics. Advanced grammar revision. Extra vocabulary development. Advanced reflections on language learning and intercultural differences |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 44 | Exploration of different genres and styles of writing through individual, pair and group work. Discussion of the difficulties that can emerge from translating into the target language |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 44 | Specific tasks and topics for discussion based on stimuli from printed and audio-visual media |
| Guided independent study | 168 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 practice assignments in translation, writing and oral work | Variable | 1-8 | Written and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 75 | 25 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written examination one | 25 | Exam | 2 | Written feedback |
| Written examination two | 50 | Exam | 2, 3, 5, 6 | Written feedback |
| Oral examination | 25 | 15 minutes | 1, 4, 7 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written examination one | Written examination | 2 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written examination two | Written examination | 2, 3, 5, 6 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral examination | Oral examination | 1,4,7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Hornby, Albert Sydney and Lee Peita (1998) The Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Ross, Claudia and Jen-heng Sheng Ma. (2014) Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide. London and New York: Routledge.
- Ross, Claudia and Jen-heng Sheng Ma. (2014) Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: Workbook. London and New York: Routledge.
- Shei, Chris (2014) Understanding the Chinese Language: A Comprehensive Linguistic Introduction. London and New York: Routledge
- Lee, Kunshan et al. (2014) The Routledge Advanced Chinese Multimedia Course Crossing Cultural Boundaries 2nd edition. London and New York: Routledge
- Li, Xiaoqi, (2013) Boya Chinese: Advanced 1. Beijing: Beijing University Press.
- JIn, Shunian. (2016) Boya Chinese: Advanced 2. Beijing: Beijing University Press.
- Zhou, Ziping et al (2011) All things considered (revised edition), Princeton University Press
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | MLM2051 and Year Abroad for Chinese or equivalent |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 02/11/2015 |
| Last revision date | 06/05/2021 |
