Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Students with prior knowledge may seek exemption.

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

Students should be familiar with the very basic structures of the language and survival vocabulary (numbers, days of the week, etc.). However, they may still feel insecure and will only be able to form very simple sentences. The aims of this course are to consolidate what students already know through systematic revision and provide them with the following:

i. Basic communication skills for coping with simple, though not completely stereotypical situations in everyday life in the foreign country;
ii. More confidence than would be expected from beginners;
iii. A basic awareness of their own language learning strategies;
iv. A personal interest in the countries where the foreign language is spoken and their people;

This is the first part of a Chinese Elementary course designed with the non language specialist in mind. It is intended for false beginners (i.e. students who may have studied the language before, but not to GCSE, or who may have a GCSE in the language but haven’t studied it in several years). The module covers the four skills: writing, reading, speaking and listening. At the end of the module, students will have gained a body of vocabulary and grammatical structures sufficient to allow them to communicate orally and in writing with reasonable confidence at a basic user level. They will have also gained some knowledge of the culture of China.

Outline Of Syllabus

1.       expressing the desire to do things
2.       expressing approximate numbers
3.       expressing the most ... in a certain group
4.       asking about the degree of something
5.       asking to confirm a guess
6.       indicating each individual in a certain group
7.       expressing an exclamatory mood
8.       emphasizing the agent of an action
9.       indicating a certain time and an action/state that has been completed/achieved
10.       indicating a conclusion made on the basis of what has been mentioned previously
11.       indicating something is passable or acceptable
12.       indicating one's negative mood or complaint toward people/things.
13.       asking about the reason for something, indicating surprise or astonishment.
14.       emphasizing a specific feature shared by every member in a certain group
15.       expressing reasons and the results
16.       indicating the continuation of an action or a state
17.       emphasizing something happened early or went fast
18.       indicating the distance from a place, moment or purpose

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

All areas of grammar, vocabulary and background knowledge related to the skills listed below.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Speaking:
Talking about yourself; Asking for/giving directions; Comparing products and services; Socialising.
Listening:
Students should be able to understand native speakers in situations similar to those listed above, provided that they speak fairly slowly, addressing you directly and with a reasonable clear accent. They will also become familiar with the most common phrases in telephone conversations and be able to achieve a basic level of comprehension when listening to simple off-air material.
Writing:
Students should be able to write simple compositions based on topics and situations listed above such a short notes, and informal letters to friends, and simple formal letters asking for information.
Reading:
Students will be able to understand relevant information from short newspaper reports, brochures, letters, basic regulations, publicity materials, etc.

Cognitive/intellectual skills:

Students will learn:
- To understand the functions and structures of a foreign language at Elementary level.
- To locate and make use of materials appropriate for this level other than those provided by the teacher.
- To evaluate their own performance
- To apply a range of strategies for language learning appropriate for this level.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on communication skills. Grammar will be taught systematically to enable students to produce and manipulate the foreign language. Use of the target language will be made as much as possible to develop listening skills. All four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking are fully integrated in the language seminars and associated work and preparation, and will be tested equally.

2. Independent learning and learner autonomy are further developed through online guided tasks, pair and group work, assessment preparation and completion, and self-study at home, via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and in the Language Resource Centre. Particular initiative is expected from students, e.g. course participants will be asked to contribute their own materials to the classes and activities.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The portfolio will help students assess their progress and identify their strengths and areas for improvement. It will test student’s ability to communicate effectively, identify relevant information and produce a structured text in the target language.

General Notes

N/A