AP Chinese

AP® Chinese Language and Culture Syllabus

Course Overview

AP® Chinese language and culture is a full-year course which implements the equivalent content text of a college sophomore year. The AP® Chinese Language and Culture course emphasizes on aligning students’ development of language proficiencies in listening, speaking, reading and writing with the five goals: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities through the three communicative modes: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational.

China has a history of five thousand years. China’s historical and cultural backgrounds have close connections with its language. Implementing contents related to China’s history, culture, and contemporary development will enhance students’ learning effectiveness in language. This course integrates cultural elements throughout the academic year via the designed 12 units as listed under course planner to develop students’ perspectives on China’s national and international issues, Chinese people’s daily lives, Chinese families, and China’s education etc.

The teacher uses various authentic instructional materials in this class for students to connect their language learning with real life. The materials include signs, advertisements, posters, books, magazines, e-mails, video clips, films and announcements made in Chinese speaking communities. The materials also include the excerpted written texts from newspapers, magazines and contemporary literature. The teacher uses Chinese to deliver the classes throughout the academic year to engage the students in the language environment for effective learning. The students are required to type and handwrite Chinese characters in the class. The teacher encourages the students to use as much Chinese as they are able to throughout the duration of the class for language immersion purposes.

Unit Overview

Unit 1: Greetings

Unit 2: Celebration of Traditional Festivals

Unit 3: Multi-ethnic groups

Unit 4: Social Issues and Current Events

Unit 5: Interests and Careers

Unit 6: Chinese Family

Unit 7: Teenagers

Unit 8: Beliefs and Attitudes

Unit 9: Prominent Figures in Chinese Culture

Unit 10: Geography and Climate

Unit 11: Traveling in China

Unit 12: Chinese Culture: Martial Arts