CHIN 0100 Beginning Chinese I (formerly CHIN 011)

Prerequisites

Little or no prior exposure to Chinese

 

Textbook

Speak and Act: Beginning Chinese I, M Dietrich et al, Beijing Language University Press, 2021

 

Coordinator

Dr. Maiheng Dietrich (maiheng@sas.upenn.edu)

 

Course Description

This course is designed for those who have little or no prior exposure to Chinese. The course aims to help you build a solid foundation of the FOUR language skills in Chinese—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Critical components of such a function include mastery of basic grammatical structures, correct pronunciation and tones, sufficient vocabulary as well as relevant knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture. By the end of the semester, you will be able to handle a number of situations that have immediate concern to you, including requesting and providing simple personal and family information and information about time and location of events; making and accepting invitation in a culturally appropriate manner; expressing preferences and simple opinions; relating simple information about your own daily routine, academic studies and career choices; acting appropriately in social functions.

 

Sample Text (Entry): 

白:您好。您是中国人吗?

张:是。你是哪儿人?

白:我是美国人。请问您贵姓?

张:我姓张,叫张明中。你叫什么名字?

白:我叫白爱文。您是老师吗?

张:不是,不是,我是研究生。

(From Lesson 2 《你好》)

 

Sample Text (Exit):

高:我不怕写报告,可是我不喜欢做数学。

王:为什么?我觉得数学很有意思呀。

高:那是因为你的数学好,所以你觉得数学有意思。我的数学不好。上个星期的数学课我没听懂,功课都做错了,考试也考得不好。

(From Lesson 9 《选课》)