Course Description --- Adult Conversation (CV0, CVI, CVII and CVIII)  

CV0 is a two-semester foundation-building course focuses on Chinese pronunciation (Pinyin) training, understanding of basic Chinese language structures, and application of these elements into day-to-day conversation.  

Instructor Jenwei Kuo creates a proven effective technique 'the JWK Method' (see textbook below) that helps students use English to learn Chinese in a fun and unique learning environment.
 
Course Objective

At the end of the instruction year the students would be able to achieve the following:
1)  Proficient in Chinese pronunciation system (Pinyin)
2)  Proficient in basic Chinese language structures
3)  Proficient in simple Chinese conversations

An end-of-class Skit Presentation will be performed by all students to demonstrate their level of fluency.  Learning of Chinese characters will not be included in this course.

Material
 
Class will use textbook 'Using English To Learn Mandarin Chinese'.  Students can order it at www.lulu.com, search book title.
 
Testimonials

Heather Wilson, Ph.D., Research Associate/Duke University, Durham, NC
This was a tremendous first course in Mandarin Chinese.  It boosted my confidence and gave me the necessary tools to begin learning a difficult language.  The system Mr. Kuo has created was specifically developed for students who think and speak in English.  He has used his thorough understanding of both languages to develop materials that can help a native English speaker quickly learn to speak Chinese.  As I continue my studies, the lessons learned from this book have formed a firm foundation on which to build my understanding of Mandarin.  I am so glad I began my Chinese studies with this method!

Dan Bantukul, Director of Product Marketing, Tekelec Inc., RTP, NC
Since our company has been doing business in China, I have been trying to learn Chinese conversation in order to communicate with my Chinese counterparts.  However, I found that the conventional methods that are based on memorization do not work well since it does not provide systematic insight into the sentence structures and language fundamentals.  I tend to quickly forget what I have learned.  Through comparison to English sentence structure, the JWK method provides a quick and practical way to apply knowledge of English language in formulating Chinese sentences.  The JWK teaches you “how to fish” rather than “fish it for you”.  I found that after one year of JWK method, I can use the knowledge to construct a new Chinese sentence without having to memorize the sentence before hand.  I highly recommend the JWK method to anyone who wants to quickly learn Chinese conversation but also wants to retain what they have learned.

Expectation

As class time is only two hours per week, students should practice regularly after class in order to make sufficient progress toward acquiring true competence in Mandarin conversation.

            CV1 is a two-semester course introducing Chinese characters. Students will learn how to recognize, analyze, and write commonly used characters. They will also learn how to determine word divisions in Chinese writing. Continued practice of Mandarin conversation will be included as part of the course. Both traditional and simplified characters will be studied.

Course Objective

            Upon completion, students should be able to:

• Recognize and write commonly used characters
• Understand the usage of Chinese dictionaries
•  Read dialogues and short prose passages

            Knowledge of pinyin and basic Chinese language structures

            Textbook and other materials will be introduced on the first day of class.

Expectations

            Students should establish a regular routine for practicing character recognition and writing. Practicing a little every day will be more beneficial than spending a long time just once a week.

Objective:

• To meet the needs of those interested in Chinese Language at the beginner-intermediate level
• To increase the awareness of Chinese culture and language

Description:

An intermediate course in Mandarin Chinese for age 13 and up who have a solid understanding of the sounding mechanism, either Hanyu Pinyin or Zhuyin, and feel comfortable to move into a series of conversation on various topics surrounding daily lives.  

Prerequisite:

CV1 or equivalent is required.

Course Objective:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Recognize about 250 phrases
• Construct sentences using learned phrases
• Converse in common daily events such as greeting and shopping.

Course Structure:

1. Focus on the application of the tonal expression of the spoken Mandarin.
2. Connect relevant sentences into a meaningful conversation.
3. Introduce new vocabulary and origin of idioms.
4. Learn and have fun in a relaxed, supportive and encouraging atmosphere
5. Group review of homework assignment
6. The Traditional Chinese characters are taught in this class

Material:

1. Practical Audio-Visual Chinese Volume 1
2. Practical Audio-Visual Chinese Student’s Workbook Volume 1
3. Supplementary: Speak Chinese in 500 Words
4. Supplementary: Subject-specific handouts based on the student’s interests

Expectation:

1. Regular verbal practice at home is strongly recommended. 
2. Written homework will be assigned at the end of each text lesson.
3. All students are expected to participate in classroom exercises every week.
4. Participate in the academic contests arranged by the Dean of Academic Affairs.
5. Participate in the cultural seminars offered throughout the school year.

Objective: 

• To meet the needs of those interested in Chinese Language at an intermediate to advanced level
• To increase the awareness of Chinese culture and language  

To consolidate the foundation which students have built in their former Chinese courses and to introduce them to more complex grammatical structures and background cultural information.  Introduce students to more knowledge about Chinese culture, history and social values.  It primarily enhances the abilities in listening, speaking, and reading comprehension. The writing skills training is an option available on individual need basis. 

CV2 or equivalent is required; mastery in Hanyu Pinyin or Zhuyin is required.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• recognize 350+ phrases 
• read dialogues, expository texts and extended narratives 
• gather the general ideas within a written paragraph, as well as to narrate, describe by paraphrasing, or to translate. 
• initiate a dialogue and converse appropriately on personal topics in a variety of uncomplicated, basic and communicative tasks and social situations. 
• gain and expand analytical skills to understand the structure of Chinese language. 
•  formulate and understand syntactically more complicated sentences (questions, answers, and statements) 
• understand or grasp general ideas of longer and more complicated oral materials that are closer to normal-speed 
• understand and appreciate the Chinese socioculture as it is embedded in language.
• compare, contrast and connect the language and culture aspects with the English language and culture. 

Structure:

1. Continue to emphasize on the tonal expression of the spoken Mandarin.
2. Discuss and address the linguistic distinction and challenges in spoken Mandarin.
3. Connect relevant sentences into a meaningful conversation with the teacher and peers through patterned drills.
4. Introduce new vocabulary, origin of idioms, and etymology of characters and phrases.
5. Learn and have fun in a relaxed, supportive and encouraging atmosphere from nursery rhymes, poetry, tongue twisters to modern hip hops.
6. Group review of homework assignment.
7. The Traditional Chinese characters are taught in this class.

1. Practical Audio-Visual Chinese Volume 1, Lesson 10 and above
2. Practical Audio-Visual Chinese Student’s Workbook Volume 1, Lesson 10 and above
3. Supplementary: Integrated Chinese Level 1, Parts 1 and 2
4. Supplementary: Topic-specific handouts based on the student’s interests

Expectation:

1. Regular verbal practice at home is strongly recommended. 
2. Written homework will be assigned at the end of each text lesson.
3. All students are expected to participate in classroom exercises every week.
4. Participate in the academic contests arranged by the Dean of Academic Affairs.
5. Participate in the cultural seminars offered throughout the school year.