Course Description
Course is designed for students who hope to improve their language ability in modern Chinese and cultural knowledge in contemporary China after they’ve completed Advanced Chinese II or reached an equivalent proficiency level. It is of particular interest to students whose academic, professional, or personal goals are related to contemporary China.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to submit an individual report on a selected topic which will be graded on a pass/fail basis. In addition to the report, graduate credit for the course requires that the quality of oral presentations, writing assignments, and projects will be of a higher quality than at the undergraduate level. Accordingly, presentations, writings, and projects will receive more rigorous grading than at the undergraduate level.
Athena Title
Advanced Chinese III
Undergraduate Prerequisite
Permission of department
Graduate Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students' Chinese language ability in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and their communicative skills in interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal modes when using modern Chinese, will be improved.
- By the end of this course, students will have learned vocabulary, idioms, and expressions across different language registers from literary, formal expressions, to street slangs and proverbs.
- By the end of this course, students intellectual grown will be advanced and their critical thinking skills will be sharpened.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to examine issues associated with Chinese culture, history, society, economy, business, and politics both from an intercultural perspective and with an open mind.
Topical Outline
- Week 1-2
Local cultures and customs in China:
“Fellow Townsmen”
- Week 2-3
High speed railways and their impact on Chinese economy, society, and environment:
“High Speed Railways”
- Week 3-4
Foreign influences on Chinese market and business:
“Does the Moon Really Seem Rounder Abroad”
- Week 5-6
Chinese festivals, beliefs, and customs in the changing world:
“Chinese Festivals”
- Week 7
Midterm
- Week 8-9
Internet and freedom of speech:
“Cyber-Bullying and Freedom of Speech”
- Week 10-11
China’s urbanization, maritime power, and its relation to the world:
“Shenzhen, Urbanization and the Growth of China’s Maritime Power”
- Week 12-13
Taiwan and China-U.S. relationship:
“Politics and Identity in Taiwan”
- Week 13-14
Gender equality:
“Leftover Women, Mistresses, and Boy-Toys”
- Week 15
Final
