Mandarin I
This introductory-level course is intended for students who are looking to expand cultural and linguistic competence through the study of a non-European language. Mandarin Chinese I engages students in activities that promote fundamental communication skills through a thematic approach that incorporates typical informal settings and aspects of daily life. Emphasis is placed on developing interpretive listening and interpersonal speaking skills. Students in this course gain an important cultural perspective as they compare and contrast aspects of the Chinese culture with those of their own culture.
Mandarin II
Mandarin II continues to build upon and further develop the four basic language acquisition skills for communication in Mandarin Chinese at a low novice level. This course is recommended for most students who have successfully completed Mandarin Chinese I and are interested in developing an ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese at a most basic level with a native speaker on topics previously studied.
Mandarin III
Mandarin III builds upon and further develops the four basic language acquisition skills for communication in Mandarin Chinese at the high novice level. Mandarin Chinese III is the third course in the sequence of Chinese courses directed to the continued development of the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students continue to grow in their knowledge of the Chinese language and culture by describing daily routines and interacting with Chinese speakers. Students are able to participate in conversation about daily life of teenagers inside and outside of the school day. In addition, students are able to discuss issues related to health and the environment. Furthermore, the students are introduced to a focused transition from using Pinyin to understanding and reading characters. The understanding and appreciation of the Chinese people and their culture form an integral part of the learning experience thereby fostering the world language standards of communication, culture, connections, comparisons and communities.
Mandarin IV
Mandarin Chinese IV is the fourth course in the sequence of Chinese courses directed to the continued development of the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students continue to build in their knowledge of the Chinese language and culture by describing daily routines and interacting with other target language speakers. Students are able to participate in more advanced conversations regarding modern technology, culture, the environment, and life as a high school student. By this level, students are comfortable with reading and writing Chinese simplified characters. While Pinyin is used as a pronunciation guide for new vocabulary, students gain a strong proficiency in recognizing common characters.