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Chinese Language Courses

Chinese Language

CHINESE 111-1,2,3 – Chinese I

Overview of class 

This three-quarter sequence of beginning college level Chinese is designed for true beginners with no previous background in the language. This course is an introduction to Chinese, its basic grammar, pinyin system, vocabulary, usage, and the Chinese writing system. It also focuses on developing basic communicative skills and knowledge of the Chinese culture. There will be extensive student-oriented practice in pronunciation, conversations, listening comprehension, and sentence structures in class.  Our goal is to lay the solid ground work for your study of Chinese whether you plan to have a concentration in Chinese or to satisfy a language requirement. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students are expected to reach Novice-High level of the ACTFL proficiency guidelines. https://www.actfl.org/uploads/files/general/Resources-Publications/ACTFL_Proficiency_Guidelines_2024.pdf

Registration Requirements
Except for Chinese 111-1, students must pass the preceding course with C- or above, or must be placed into the course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Teaching Method
There will be extensive student-oriented practice in pronunciation, conversations, listening comprehension, and sentence structures in class. English will be used mainly for instruction on sentence structures and patterns. Interaction between instructor and among students will be in Chinese.

Evaluation Method
Attendance and participation 
Written assignments
Dictations
Oral quizzes
Written quizzes
Final exam

Class Materials (Required)
Fall quarter and Winter quarter
Textbook and Workbook: Modern Chinese 1A Simplified Characters (second edition)
Publisher: Better Chinese ISBN: 978-1-60603-573-3 (textbook); 978-1-60603-572-6 (workbook) 
Price: $64.99 (textbook) $ 34.99(workbook)

Spring quarter
Textbook and Workbook: Modern Chinese 1B Simplified Characters (second edition)
Publisher: Better Chinese ISBN: 978-1-60603-578-8 (textbook) 978-1-60603-579-5 (workbook)
Price: $64.99 (textbook) $ 34.99(workbook)



 


CHINESE 121-1,2,3 – Chinese II

Overview of class

This year-long course is designed for students who have completed Chinese 111 at Northwestern or the equivalent elsewhere. It aims to further develop students’ Chinese proficiency through: (1) consolidating the foundation built in students’ beginning modern Chinese courses; (2) introducing them to more complex grammatical structures, varieties of language styles, and cultural information. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students are expected to be able to handle various types of more complex daily conversational situations and short passages on familiar topics. Successful completion of CHINESE 121-3 will satisfy the WCAS foreign language requirement. In addition, they will reach Intermediate mid to Intermediate high in reading, writing, listening and speaking according to ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

Registration Requirements

Students must pass the preceding course with C- or above, or must be placed into the course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to

Teaching Method

This course is conducted mostly in Chinese. Class time mainly focuses on speaking and listening skill development. There will also be reading and writing activities and assignments. Students are expected to be fully prepared for each lesson. 

Evaluation Method

Class attendance and participation, assignments, quizzes, oral tests, presentations, midterm and final exam.

Class Materials (Required)
Fall quarter
Textbook and workbook: Modern Chinese 1B (Second Edition) Simplified Characters 
Publisher: Better Chinese 
ISBN: 978-1-60603-578-8 (textbook): 978-1-60603-579-5 (workbook) 
Price: Price: $64.99 (textbook) $ 34.99(workbook)

Winter and Spring quarters
Textbook and workbook: Modern Chinese 2A Simplified Characters 
Publisher: Better Chinese 
ISBN: 978-1-60603-487-3(textbook); 978-1-60603-488-0 (workbook)
Price: $69.95 (textbook); $34.95(workbook)





CHINESE 211-1,2,3 – Chinese III

Overview of class
CHINESE 211 is a year-long, intermediate-level course designed to further develop students’ communicative competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Modern Chinese. The course also aims to deepen students’ understanding of Chinese culture and contemporary social issues. It systematically expands students’ vocabulary and helps them produce well-structured paragraphs, with particular emphasis on precise description and comparison. Chinese is the primary language of instruction in this course. Upon satisfactory completion of the full course sequence, students are expected to reach the Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High level according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Registration Requirements
Students must pass the preceding course with C- or higher, or be placed into the course by through departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to

Teaching Method
The course adopts a bottom-up approach, progressively expanding from words to sentences and from sentences to paragraphs, using student-centered communicative and task-based activities. Classes are conducted in Chinese.

Evaluation Method
Student performance is evaluated based on class attendance and participation, homework and projects, quizzes, oral presentations, essays, and written examinations.

Class Materials (Required)
Developing Chinese Fluency (Textbook)
Author: Phyllis Zhang
Publisher: Cengage Learning
ISBN: 978-1111342227
Price: $64

CHINESE 311-1 – Chinese IV - Formal Speaking

Overview of class

Chinese 311 is a quarter-long series of Chinese courses composed by the following independent courses: Chinese 311-1: Formal Speaking, Chinese 311-2: Formal Writing, and Chinese 311-3: Formal Reading. The courses are designed to develop students’ abilities to speak and write formal Chinese respectively, as well as to read short literary works in Chinese. The content of the courses cover argumentations and articles on various topics, including Chinese culture, society and contemporary history. Student will also read authentic Chinese literary works in different written forms and language styles by various authors, with a focus on their cultural and social background. The goal of the courses is to train students to use written vocabulary and formal expressions as well as know how to arrange a structured speaking/writing with complete format and logical connections. Students will reach advanced low in reading, writing, listening and speaking based on ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

Registration Requirements

CHINESE 211-3 with grade C- or above.

Students may be placed into this course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives

Upon satisfactory completion of 311-1, students will be able to use formal expressions to deliver a structured speech with logical arguments. Upon satisfactory completion of 311-2, students will be able to write essays in a formal style in depth about complex topics. Upon satisfactory completion of 311-3, students will be able to comprehend in depth authentic literary works in Chinese language and communicate efficiently their understanding in speaking and written forms.

Teaching Method

Class meets twice per week, 80 minutes per class. The course is designed with intensive student-oriented activities through reading various class materials, including essays, media reports and authentic Chinese literature works. Students are expected to read materials ahead of class, participate in in-class discussions led by the instructor, and make formal statements, arguments, speeches and debates about social and cultural phenomena in paragraphs. With instructor’s necessary corrections and suggestions on students’ papers, they are expected to present their works as formal oral presentations. Chinese is used for instruction.

Evaluation Method
Attendance
Classroom participation
Homework
Papers
Oral Presentations 

Class Materials (Required)

Fall quarter & Winter quarter:
Textbook: Crossing Culture Boundaries (second edition)
Author: Kunshan Carolyn Lee, Hsin-hsin Liang, Liwei Jiao, Julian K Wheatley
ISBN: 978-0-415-77407-9

 Spring quarter:
Textbook: Prepared by instructor

CHINESE 311-2 – Chinese IV - Formal Writing

Overview of class

Chinese 311 is a quarter-long series of Chinese courses composed by the following independent courses: Chinese 311-1: Formal Speaking, Chinese 311-2: Formal Writing, and Chinese 311-3: Formal Reading. The courses are designed to develop students’ abilities to speak and write formal Chinese respectively, as well as to read short literary works in Chinese. The content of the courses cover argumentations and articles on various topics, including Chinese culture, society and contemporary history. Student will also read authentic Chinese literary works in different written forms and language styles by various authors, with a focus on their cultural and social background. The goal of the courses is to train students to use written vocabulary and formal expressions as well as know how to arrange a structured speaking/writing with complete format and logical connections. Students will reach advanced low in reading, writing, listening and speaking based on ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

Registration Requirements

CHINESE 211-3 with grade C- or above.

Students may be placed into this course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives

Upon satisfactory completion of 311-1, students will be able to use formal expressions to deliver a structured speech with logical arguments. Upon satisfactory completion of 311-2, students will be able to write essays in a formal style in depth about complex topics. Upon satisfactory completion of 311-3, students will be able to comprehend in depth authentic literary works in Chinese language and communicate efficiently their understanding in speaking and written forms.

Teaching Method

Class meets twice per week, 80 minutes per class. The course is designed with intensive student-oriented activities through reading various class materials, including essays, media reports and authentic Chinese literature works. Students are expected to read materials ahead of class, participate in in-class discussions led by the instructor, and make formal statements, arguments, speeches and debates about social and cultural phenomena in paragraphs. With instructor’s necessary corrections and suggestions on students’ papers, they are expected to present their works as formal oral presentations. Chinese is used for instruction.

Evaluation Method
Attendance
Classroom participation
Homework
Papers
Oral Presentations 

Class Materials (Required)

Fall quarter & Winter quarter:
Textbook: Crossing Culture Boundaries (second edition)
Author: Kunshan Carolyn Lee, Hsin-hsin Liang, Liwei Jiao, Julian K Wheatley
ISBN: 978-0-415-77407-9

 Spring quarter:
Textbook: Prepared by instructor

CHINESE 311-3 – Chinese IV - Formal Reading

Overview of class

Chinese 311 is a quarter-long series of Chinese courses composed by the following independent courses: Chinese 311-1: Formal Speaking, Chinese 311-2: Formal Writing, and Chinese 311-3: Formal Reading. The courses are designed to develop students’ abilities to speak and write formal Chinese respectively, as well as to read short literary works in Chinese. The content of the courses cover argumentations and articles on various topics, including Chinese culture, society and contemporary history. Student will also read authentic Chinese literary works in different written forms and language styles by various authors, with a focus on their cultural and social background. The goal of the courses is to train students to use written vocabulary and formal expressions as well as know how to arrange a structured speaking/writing with complete format and logical connections. Students will reach advanced low in reading, writing, listening and speaking based on ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

Registration Requirements

CHINESE 211-3 with grade C- or above.

Students may be placed into this course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives

Upon satisfactory completion of 311-1, students will be able to use formal expressions to deliver a structured speech with logical arguments. Upon satisfactory completion of 311-2, students will be able to write essays in a formal style in depth about complex topics. Upon satisfactory completion of 311-3, students will be able to comprehend in depth authentic literary works in Chinese language and communicate efficiently their understanding in speaking and written forms.

Teaching Method

Class meets twice per week, 80 minutes per class. The course is designed with intensive student-oriented activities through reading various class materials, including essays, media reports and authentic Chinese literature works. Students are expected to read materials ahead of class, participate in in-class discussions led by the instructor, and make formal statements, arguments, speeches and debates about social and cultural phenomena in paragraphs. With instructor’s necessary corrections and suggestions on students’ papers, they are expected to present their works as formal oral presentations. Chinese is used for instruction.

Evaluation Method
Attendance
Classroom participation
Homework
Papers
Oral Presentations 

Class Materials (Required)

Fall quarter & Winter quarter:
Textbook: Crossing Culture Boundaries (second edition)
Author: Kunshan Carolyn Lee, Hsin-hsin Liang, Liwei Jiao, Julian K Wheatley
ISBN: 978-0-415-77407-9

 Spring quarter:
Textbook: Prepared by instructor

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Chinese Language-Accelerated

CHINESE 115-1,2,3 – Chinese I - Accelerated

Overview of class

Accelerated Chinese 115 (115-1, 2, 3) is designed for advanced beginners who demonstrate relatively strong listening and speaking proficiency. This course builds on students’ existing oral abilities and systematically develops their reading and writing skills in Chinese. By the end of the sequence, students are expected to reach an Intermediate Mid-level of literacy proficiency.

Registration Requirements

Except for Chinese 115-1, students must pass the preceding course with C- or above, or must be placed into the course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives     

By the end of the course, students will be able to 1) engage in conversations on familiar topics such as personal background, daily life and community experiences using appropriate vocabulary, sentence structures and sociocultural norms; 2) Read and write short, theme-based texts including personal stories and simple narratives, expressing ideas related to their own experiences; 3) Use pinyin-based input systems to type in Chinese and produce written communication for various audiences and purposes; and 4) Explore and reflect on personal connections to Chinese language and culture and express reflections in spoken and written Chinese.

Teaching Method
This course meets four days a week and is conducted in Chinese. Students engage with theme-based unites through an interactive approach: they complete preview tasks before class, and class time is used for guided practice, discussion, and communicative activities.

Evaluation Method
Classroom attendance and participation, reading and writing assignments, presentations, dictations, written quizzes and one final exam

Class Materials (Required)
Fall quarter, Winter quarter & Spring quarter:

传承中文 Modern Chinese for Heritage Beginners: Stories about Us
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 9781032399775
Price: $42.95

 

CHINESE 125-1,2,3 – Chinese II - Accelerated

Overview of class

Accelerated Chinese 125 (125-1, 2, 3) is an intermediate course primarily designed for students at ACTFL intermediate-mid level of proficiency in listening and speaking, and intermediate-low in literacy skills. This course aims to help students further hone all four skills with an emphasis on reading and writing. The literacy goal is to master 1500-2000 characters and to reach an intermediate-high level of literacy proficiency.  

Registration Requirements

Students must pass the preceding course with C- or above, or must be placed into the course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives

The goals of this course are to help students: (a) achieve a basic level of reading competency; (b) express themselves clearly in written Chinese on a variety of topics using learned grammar patterns and vocabulary; (c) reinforce their speaking proficiency on a broad range of topics; (d) cultivate their intercultural competence and ability to juxtapose and communicate across different cultures.

Teaching Method

Four regular class hours are for learning of the key vocabulary, analysis of sentence structure, familiarity with Chinese culture, awareness of different registers, and discussion of topics related to the texts and supplementary readings. Students are expected to write and report on topics that have been covered in the texts and supplementary readings. 

Evaluation Method

Class performance, written assignments, oral reports, written quizzes, and a final exam.

Class Materials (Required):

Fall quarter:
Textbook and workbook : Integrated Chinese, Level 2, Part1 (3rd ed.); 
Publisher: Cheng & Tsui Company.
ISBN: 9780887276798 (textbook); 9780887276835 (workbook)
Price: $58.99(textbook); $27.99 (Workbook)

Winter quarter & Spring quarter:
Textbook and workbook : Integrated Chinese, Level 2, Part2 (3rd ed.); 
Publisher: Cheng & Tsui Company.
ISBN: 9780887276880 (textbook); 9780887276927 (workbook)
Price: $59.99(textbook); $28.99


CHINESE 215-1,2,3 – Chinese III - Accelerated

Overview of class

This is a year-long three-quarter course in advanced modern Chinese (Mandarin).  Students will transition from basic, functional communicative skills to more in-depth academic exchanges with themes about the real Chinese world. Besides rigorous training in oral proficiency, it focuses on upgrading reading and writing skills. Topics include Chinese cultural concepts, social change, economic development, and human relationships. Students will discuss the above-mentioned topics from a cross-cultural perspective. Proficiency goals (per ACTFL guidelines): Advanced-Low in oral skills and Intermediate-High to Advanced-Low in literacy skills  

Registration Requirements

Students must pass the preceding course with C- or above, or must be placed into the course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives

(1) Increase students’ awareness and knowledge of social issues in Modern China. 

(2) Expand vocabulary, improve fluency, and enhance the accuracy in output.

(3) Students will learn to, in written and spoken Chinese, organize ideas better, produce coherent paragraph-level outputs, make solid arguments, and express themselves formally. 

Teaching Method

We use Chinese to discuss our readings. Students are also expected to write short essays based on the topics discussed in class.

Evaluation Method 

Attendance and Participation, essays, oral presentations, quizzes or exams 

Class Materials (Required)

Textbook “ Reading Into a New China” by Duanduan Li & Irene Liu,
Publisher: Cheng & Tsui Company, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-88727-627-9
Price: $49.99


CHINESE 315-1 – Chinese IV: Accelerated: Formal Writing and Public Speaking

Overview of Class

Chinese 315 is a quarter-long series of advanced modern Chinese courses composed by the following independent courses: Chinese 315-1: Formal Writing and Public Speaking; Chinese 315-2: Advanced Reading and Writing, Chinese 315-3: Media and Society.

This advanced Chinese course focuses on academic writing and speaking skills by utilizing authentic materials, carefully selected from various sources and organized into diverse lesson contexts. Students will engage in diverse writing and public speaking forms, mastering grammar, vocabulary, and language conventions. By the end of the course, students will be able to craft persuasive Chinese texts and deliver engaging oral presentations.

Registration Requirements
Chinese 215-3 with grade C- or above or by placement.
Three courses of Chinese 311-1, 2, 3, 312-1, 312-2 with C- or above, or by placement test.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to

Teaching Method
Discussions on preassigned readings. Students are required to complete the preparation before class. 

Evaluation Components
Attendance, participation, assignments, quizzes, presentations, projects  

Class Materials (Required)

To be prepared by the instructor

CHINESE 315-2 – Chinese IV - Accelerated: Advanced Reading and Writing

Overview of Class

Chinese 315 is a quarter-long series of advanced modern Chinese courses composed by the following independent courses: Chinese 315-1: Formal Writing and Public Speaking; Chinese 315-2: Advanced Reading and Writing, Chinese 315-3: Media and Society.

This advanced Chinese course focuses on academic writing and speaking skills by utilizing authentic materials, carefully selected from various sources and organized into diverse lesson contexts. Students will engage in diverse writing and public speaking forms, mastering grammar, vocabulary, and language conventions. By the end of the course, students will be able to craft persuasive Chinese texts and deliver engaging oral presentations.

Registration Requirements
Chinese 215-3 with grade C- or above or by placement.
Three courses of Chinese 311-1, 2, 3, 312-1, 312-2 with C- or above, or by placement test.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to

Teaching Method
Discussions on preassigned readings. Students are required to complete the preparation before class. 

Evaluation Components
Attendance, participation, assignments, quizzes, presentations, projects  

Class Materials (Required)

To be prepared by the instructor

CHINESE 315-3 – Chinese IV - Accelerated: Media & Society

Overview of Class

Chinese 315 is a quarter-long series of advanced modern Chinese courses composed by the following independent courses: Chinese 315-1: Formal Writing and Public Speaking; Chinese 315-2: Advanced Reading and Writing, Chinese 315-3: Media and Society.

This advanced Chinese course focuses on academic writing and speaking skills by utilizing authentic materials, carefully selected from various sources and organized into diverse lesson contexts. Students will engage in diverse writing and public speaking forms, mastering grammar, vocabulary, and language conventions. By the end of the course, students will be able to craft persuasive Chinese texts and deliver engaging oral presentations.

Registration Requirements
Chinese 215-3 with grade C- or above or by placement.
Three courses of Chinese 311-1, 2, 3, 312-1, 312-2 with C- or above, or by placement test.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to

Teaching Method
Discussions on preassigned readings. Students are required to complete the preparation before class. 

Evaluation Components
Attendance, participation, assignments, quizzes, presentations, projects  

Class Materials (Required)

To be prepared by the instructor



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Chinese Language-Business

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