Chinese 3

Course Description

In this course, students will engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, and exchange opinions on various topics, including current events. Students will understand and interpret written and spoken Chinese on a variety of topics, including current and historical events. They will demonstrate an understanding of the Chinese culture and express themselves in written and spoken Chinese using complex sentence structures and increasing vocabulary appropriate to the third year. Students will work towards oral fluency through conversation, discussion, and oral presentations.

Course Objectives

Chinese 3 builds upon effective strategies for Chinese language learning by facilitating the use of the language and cultural understanding for self-directed purposes. This course encourages interpersonal communication through speaking and writing, providing opportunities to initiate, sustain, and close conversations; exchange detailed information in oral and written form; and write simple paragraphs using characters. This course also emphasizes the continued development of reading and listening comprehension skills, such as using radicals, stroke order, and stroke count to predict the meaning of words. Students will practice their speaking skills by giving presentations on a variety of topics as well as reading aloud to practice pronunciation. Additionally, students will continue to develop an understanding of Chinese speaking culture through recognition of the interrelations among the practices, products and perspectives of the target culture, discussion of significant events in the target culture, and investigation of elements that shape cultural identity in the target culture. This course further emphasizes making connections across content areas as well as the application of understanding Chinese language and culture outside the classroom.

Student Can Do Statements

• Students can describe current events and talk about their opinions on issues that are challenging to the youth like social media.

• Students can present gifts and be courteous guests, receive guests and express hospitality, eat with manners and courtesy, and express similarity and comparison for culture variations.

• Students can make reports and share about their past experiences, including travel itinerary and cultural experience.

• Students can ask and give detailed directions, take a cab, pay money and give changes, and book plane tickets.

• Students can open a bank account and talk about interest and exchange rates.

• Students can make fitness plans and reflect on their diets and habits to stay healthy.

• Students can discuss and compare cultural values between Chinese and Western classical novels.