Modern Chinese - Elementary level II [ LCHIN1300 ]

This course is for any learner who has taken the elementary course level I at the ILV or who has taken an equivalent course at another institution.

The course covers every day and familiar topics such as: speaking about public transport, comparing distances, two objects or two people, eating out in restaurants, travel, going to the market, colours..
Course activities cover the following:

• More challenging pronunciation with correct tone
• Construction of sentences (orally and in writing)
• Basic vocabulary exercises
• Reading texts aloud
• Reading short unseen texts
• Question/answer exercises
• Writing simple texts
• Learning a new series of classifiers
• Talking about an event in the past
• Dictation

By the end of the course, the student should have acquired:

• Rapid identification of tones, reproduction of sounds which are difficult to pronounce
• More fluent writing of ideograms
• Basic grammar structures and a more developed basic vocabulary
• Easier comprehension of messages relating to simple and familiar situations
• (+/-) 300 new ideograms
• The ability to write simple short texts
• The ability to compare and to talk about a day's events
• The ability to read simple texts using the vocabulary learnt
• The ability to use a Chinese dictionary

1. Consolidation and revision exercises.
2. General revision at the end of the year
3. Final exam : 50% oral, 50% written
   Students have to obtain 12/20 to be admitted to the intermediate course.

Audiovisual method
Each lesson comprises a mini-scenario presenting the theme of the lesson
Each lesson also develops one or more grammar points, the various grammatical objects, complex concepts of tense, classifiers, comparison etc
Each 4-hour lesson is made up as follows: 50% oral, 50% written work. In additional, there is homework.

This course aims to develop vocabulary and to increase knowledge of grammar. This will enable students to talk with some confidence about everyday activities, to read and write more easily and to make themselves understood in specific situations. The students also learn to use a Chinese dictionary.

There are 2 volumes of course notes to accompany the course: one volume of the course notes contains ideograms and one volume of course notes (as in LCHIN1100).
The elementary level II course is accompanied by 4 CDs containing all the course material.

• The teacher can be consulted during her office hours during the whole academic year.
• Non-UCL students who take the end-of-year exam will receive an ILV certificate.
• Level A1+ or A2 (-) of the 'Common European Framework of Reference for Languages'
• Possibility to do a summer language course in Beijing (80 hours of lessons), costs to be borne by the student.