Newcastle University > Undergraduate > Find a Degree > Module

• Offered for Year: 2021/22

• Module Leader(s): Miss Linlin Fang
• Other Staff: Miss Hanna Burdorf, Ms Linda Cheng, Mrs Shirley Knott

• Owning School: Modern Languages
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, this module will:

- build on language skills gained at Stages 1, 2 and 3
- provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the Chinese language and with the ability to use it with a high level of proficiency in professional, academic and social environments
- prepare students for postgraduate study in areas that make extensive and intensive use of the target language
- develop students’ written translation skills, into and from Chinese
- begin to develop students’ liaison interpreting skills, into and from Chinese

Outline Of Syllabus

This module is aimed at final year students of Chinese, who have reached a near-native command of the language, either because they took the ‘higher route’ (Level B, C, D) through their degree or because they made outstanding progress during the period of study abroad in China and were permitted to skip Level C (Level A, B, D).

The Semester 1 syllabus comprises 5 scheduled hours per week, divided as follows:

1 Speaking class (present-in-person)
1 Reading class (present-in-person)
1 Writing class (present-in-person)
2 Written Translation classes (one for each language direction; online teaching)
Students will also have 1 structured guided learning hour per week to practice listening skills.

The Semester 2 syllabus comprises 6 hours per week, divided as follows:

1 Reading class (present-in-person)
1 Writing class (present-in-person)
2 Written Translation classes (one for each language direction; online teaching)
2 Liaison Interpreting classes (one for each language direction; (present-in-person))

Advanced reading, writing and written translation skills will be based on topical themes emerging from a range of text types. Liaison interpreting skills will be based on a range of professional situations and exchanges.

Specific topics and materials used in group practice sessions will be based on current affairs, and will initially be provided by the lecturer/teacher. Subsequently, students will research and supply
materials themselves, under the close supervision of the lecturer/teacher.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Jointly Taught With

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Language classes will introduce, model and offer guidance in each of the skills that students are required to practise during the course, including advanced speaking and listening, intensive reading, summary and commentary writing, participating in critical debate, oral presentation, written translation and liaison interpreting).

This module will be delivered in a mixture of Chinese (=the norm) and English (for the purpose of complex explanations).

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- Advanced reading and writing skills are assessed by means of formal written examination in order to ensure that students’ output is produced in identical conditions and is their own work.
- For translation skills, students are allowed to make use of online dictionaries for assessment to be as close to real life as possible.
- The assessment of liaison interpreting is performed in a setting that is as close to a real-life situation as possible.

In case of Covid-19 restrictions, alternative assessments would be:
- Alternative for written exam and aural exams: a 24 hour take-home paper.
- Alternative for oral exams: online synchronous exam.
- Alternative assessment for Prof Skills 1: two 24-hr take home assignments.

Reading Lists

• CHN4061's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• CHN4061's Timetable