- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Miss Melissa Fang
- Lecturer: Dr Fang Su
- Other Staff: Ms Linda Cheng, Miss Hanna Burdorf, Mrs Shirley Knott
- Owning School: Modern Languages
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
|
Semester 1 Credit Value:
|
20
|
|
Semester 2 Credit Value:
|
20
|
|
ECTS Credits:
|
20.0
|
Aims
(1) To provide students with sufficient language competence to cope with the linguistic demands of real life in general, personal, social and business contexts.
(2) To develop an appropriate level of inter-cultural sensitivity in students, enabling successful interpersonal communication in a range of different situations.
(3) To continue to provide students with the necessary skills to become better language learners.
You will build upon the achievements made during your year abroad, increasing your knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical structures at intermediate and post-intermediate levels. By the end, you will be conversing confidently and naturally, orally and in writing, in language appropriate to a range of situations.
We use a task-based, communicative approach, and encourage peer learning through pair and group work. Assessment is by two continuous assessment tests (reading; grammar), portfolio of written assignments, oral, aural and written exam.
Outline Of Syllabus
Roughly equal emphasis will be placed on reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. Grammar will be taught throughout in order to improve all four skills, using an integrated task-based approach.
Topics will include a wide range of social, cultural and political trends and issues relevant to contemporary China. The syllabus and course content may be negotiated as necessary to reflect students’ needs.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category |
Activity |
Number |
Length |
Student Hours |
Comment |
|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 88 | 1:00 | 88:00 | Language labs |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 312:00 | 312:00 | N/A |
| Total | | | | 400:00 | |
Jointly Taught With
| Code |
Title |
|---|
| CHN4110 | Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese - Exchange Semester 1 |
| CHN4210 | Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese - Exchange Semester 2 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Intermediate and post-intermediate grammatical structures and vocabulary are introduced and consolidated, using a task-based, communicative approach. Reading skills (skimming for gist; scanning for detail) are introduced and practised via classroom tasks involving pair and group work. Writing skills are introduced in class and practised outside the classroom in creative assignments set by the lecturer.
In order to ensure that 312 hours of independent guided study takes place, each contact hour is followed by homework assignments relating to what has just been introduced/practised. There is a minimum homework submission requirement of 70%, with this percentage being calculated every 6 weeks. Where appropriate, individualised formative feedback is provided (e.g. for writing assignments involving a creative element).
Oral and aural skills (i.e. speaking and listening) are practised throughout the course in task-based activities and via oral presentations. Students are required to spend at least one hour per week in the Language Resource Centre, working on listening work prescribed by the teacher.
THIS MODULE IS TAUGHT AND ASSESSED IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE (SIMPLIFIED CHARACTERS).
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description |
Length |
Semester |
When Set |
Percentage |
Comment |
|---|
| Written Examination | 180 | 2 | A | 25 | Reading, grammar and C-E translation |
| Oral Examination | 20 | 2 | M | 15 | 40% class presentation and 60% final exam |
| Aural Examination | 50 | 2 | M | 15 | In week 11 |
| Written Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 20 | Reading, grammar and C-E translation |
Exam Pairings
| Module Code |
Module Title |
Semester |
Comment |
|---|
| CHN4210 | Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese - Exchange Semester 2 | 2 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description |
Semester |
When Set |
Percentage |
Comment |
|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 10 | Regular vocabulary and grammar tests over both semesters |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | 15 | A Portfolio of 2 writing assignments, each requiring an 800-1000 character essay |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Continuous Assessment tests give students and staff the opportunity to monitor and review initial progress during Semester 1, while the portfolio of written coursework provides motivation for independent learning and allows students to assess further progress in Semester 2. The formal written examination, oral and aural examinations provide a summary assessment.
Knowledge of intermediate and post-intermediate grammatical structures and vocabulary are assessed in all assessed work. Knowledge of the orthographic system is assessed by portfolio of written coursework and formal written examination, while that of the phonological system is assessed by aural and oral examination.
Listening skills are assessed by aural and oral examination, while speaking skills are assessed in the latter only. Reading skills are assessed by continuous assessment and formal written examination, while writing skills are assessed by portfolio of written coursework and formal written examination.
Regular vocabulary and grammar tests are necessary in order to allow students to acquire competence steadily. It also provides students with the opportunity to have constant feedback on their performance.
Reading Lists
Timetable
