Fundamentals of grammar, pronunciation, composition, and
conversation. Not open to native speakers.
Athena Title
Elementary Chinese I
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to compare basic cultural practices (e.g., greetings, festivals) between the US and Chinese-speaking regions.
Students will be able to identify similarities and differences in social norms through simple scenarios.
Students will be able to recognize patterns in Chinese characters (e.g., radicals, strokes) and sentence structures.
Students will be able to categorize vocabulary by themes (e.g., food, family) to build foundational language systems.
Students will be able to engage in brief exchanges about personal information (e.g., hobbies, daily routines) using memorized phrases.
Students will be able to write short sentences or lists using pinyin and basic characters.
Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of cultural etiquette (e.g., politeness, gift-giving) in role-playing activities.
Students will be able to discuss the importance of linguistic diversity in a globalized world.
Students will be able to create simple poems, posters, or digital stories using learned vocabulary.
Students will be able to participate in paired or small-group tasks (e.g., dialogues, skits) to practice language skills and share cultural perspectives respectfully during group discussions.
Topical Outline
Week 1: Introduction to Chinese Pronunciation and the Chinese Writing
System
Classroom Expressions and Other Simple Useful Expressions
Week 2: Meeting People
simple verbs for being and naming
Week 3: Greetings and Introductions
simple negatives and simple questions
