University Wide Language Programme

Mandarin Chinese

Stage 1

i. Module Content

Aims

The aims of the module are to:

• develop your listening, speaking and reading skills in the language

• develop your ability to use the language for practical everyday needs

• introduce basic writing skills

• introduce you to the culture of the countries where the language is spoken

Intended Learning Outcomes

When you successfully complete the module, you will:

• be able to communicate at a basic level in various everyday situations

• be able to understand and write simple messages

• have some understanding of the way of life in the countries where the language is spoken

Transferable/Key On completion of this module students will have had the opportunity to develop:

• Communication skills –receiving and giving information in oral and written form

• Identifying and locating key resources and using basic search skills to retrieve relevant information

• Application of numbers – recognising and using numbers in the target language

• Managing own learning – recognising own strengths and weaknesses and checking own progress

• Working with others – through pair work and group work and IT skills – word processing and using the Internet and VLE for a variety of learning activities

Learning and teaching methods

Learning will be through class work, incorporating pair work and group work, and through directed self-study. Assessment will include the requirement to demonstrate some understanding of the culture of countries where the language is spoken. Use will be made of textbooks and in-house written materials, and of audio, video and computer-assisted learning materials. Teaching and learning is supported by the School’s Language Resource Centre. Your progress will be monitored on the basis of assessment, marking and feedback.

Syllabus outline

The module will cover various survival and social communication skills and, to a limited extent, the work situation. The following areas will be covered:

• understanding the spoken language

• speaking the language, principally to obtain information, goods or services, to introduce oneself, to find out about other people

• reading the language: notices, signs, advertisements, simple messages

• writing the language: filling in forms, writing simple messages

Everyday situations will be covered, such as:

• introducing and presenting oneself and others, including in the work situation; shopping; travel; hotels; plus alphabet, numbers, days, dates, telling the time

ii. Assessment

Assessment: Reading / Writing examination (Final Component of Assessment)

Summative for SSA and Erasmus Semester 1 only Module

Oral test (both at the end of Semester 2)

(Directed self study is not assessed as a separate element but work set (topics or particular exercises) is to be included in the content of the Reading / Writing examination and the Oral test)

Skills weighting: Reading / Writing 70%; Oral 30%

Reading / Writing examination (70%) Duration: 1 ½ hours

• Reading (40%) – 45 minutes; 2 or 3 texts; total 300 – 400 words; questions and answers in English and in the target language. Question types selected from: true/false/not given, multiple choice, cloze test with choices given, picture identification with options given, ordering of text, matching of heading from given list, word substitution with options given, paraphrasing using cloze test with options given

• Writing (60%) – 45 minutes; rubric in English; number of words: 200 in total (+/- 10%); the focus is on quality rather than quantity. To consist of either one piece of free writing on specified topics or of one piece of free writing on specified topics plus one or two pieces of guided writing (narrative based on pictures; grammar exercise; providing specific information, e.g. giving directions)

The Reading / Writing examination will take place during the examination period at the end of Semester 2

Oral test (30%) Duration: 10 minutes

• Oral – individual or in pairs; 10 minutes. To consist of 2 role plays (rubric in English) and some general questions; role plays distributed in advance

The Oral test will take place in the last two weeks of teaching in Semester 2

iii. Reading List

Updated reading lists will be published early September.

Stage 2

iv. Module Content

Aims

The aims of the module are to:

• develop your listening, speaking and reading skills in Mandarin Chinese

• develop your ability to use the spelling system “pinyin”

• continue to train you in the habit of thinking of tones as indispensable elements of pronunciation, significantly affecting meaning

• continue to develop your ability to use Mandarin Chinese for practical everyday needs

• give you some confidence in using Mandarin Chinese

• extend basic writing skills

• continue to explore the culture of China

Intended Learning Outcomes

When you successfully complete the module, you will:

• be able to communicate at a basic level in a variety of situations in China and when dealing with Chinese visitors to the UK

• be able to understand and write simple messages and business communications

• have a wider understanding of the way of life in China

Transferable/Key Skills

On completion of this module students will have had the opportunity to develop:

1. Communication skills –receiving and giving information in oral and written form producing clear and logically organised written material and oral presentations

2. Consolidating and demonstrating independence in accessing and searching information resources

3. Application of number – reading and commenting on graphs and statistics

4. Managing own learning – recognising own strengths and weaknesses and checking own progress

Working with others – through pair work and group work and IT skills – word processing and using the Internet and VLE for a variety of learning activities

Learning and teaching methods

Learning will be through class work, incorporating pair work and group work, and through directed self-study. Assessment will include the requirement to demonstrate some understanding of the culture of mainland China. Use will be made of textbooks and in-house written materials, and of audio, video and computer-assisted learning materials. Teaching and learning is supported by the School’s Language Resource Centre. Your progress will be monitored on the basis of coursework assessment, marking and feedback.

Syllabus outline

The module will cover various survival and social communication skills and, to a certain extent, the work situation. Practice will be given in:

• understanding the spoken language

• speaking the language in every day situations and to find out about other people

• reading the language: simple texts on topics of familiar or personal interest

• writing the language: simple letters and texts on topics of familiar or personal interest, including opinions and reasons.

Everyday situations will be covered, such as: tourism; travel; weather; work; education;

describing people and places

v. Assessment

Assessment: Reading / Writing examination (Final Component of Assessment)

Summative for SSA and Erasmus Semester 1 only Module

Oral test (both at the end of Semester 2)

(Directed self study is not assessed as a separate element but work set (topics or particular exercises) is to be included in the content of the Reading / Writing examination and the Oral test)

Skills weighting: Reading / Writing 70%; Oral 30%

Reading / Writing examination (70%) Duration: 1 ½ hours

• Reading (40%) – 45 minutes; 2 or 3 texts; total 500 – 600 words; questions and answers in English and in the target language. Question types selected from: true/false/not given, multiple choice, cloze test with choices given, ordering of text, matching section headings, identifying odd-one-out, paraphrasing using cloze test with options given, word substitution with options given

• Writing (60%) – 45 minutes; rubric in target language; number of words: 250 in total (+/- 10%); the focus is on quality rather than quantity. To consist of either one piece of free writing on specified topics or of one piece of free writing on specified topics plus one or two pieces of guided writing (narrative based on pictures; grammar exercise; providing specific information, eg giving directions)

The Reading / Writing examination will take place during the examination period at the end of Semester 2

Oral test (30%) Duration: 10 minutes

• Oral – individual; 10 minutes; general and topic-based conversation

The Oral test will take place in the last two weeks of teaching in Semester 2

All instructions in the target language

vi. Reading List

Updated reading lists will be published early September.

Stage 3

vii. Module Content

The Content for this Module is currently under review and will be published as soon as possible before the commencement of the course.

viii. Assessment

UWLP Stage 3 Foreign Language Skills for Practical Purposes – comparable to B1

Summative for SSA and Erasmus Semester 1 only Module

Assessment: Reading / Writing examination (Final Component of Assessment)

Oral test (both at the end of Semester 2)

(Directed self study is not assessed as a separate element but work set (topics or particular exercises) is to be included in the content of the Reading / Writing examination and the Oral test)

Skills weighting: Reading / Writing 70%; Oral 30%

Reading / Writing examination (70%) Duration: 1 ½ hours

· Reading (40%) – 45 minutes; 3 texts; total 600 – 700 words**; questions and answers in L2*. Question types selected from: true/false/not given, multiple choice, cloze test with choices given, ordering of text, matching section headings, identifying odd-one-out, paraphrasing using cloze test with options given, word substitution with options given

· Writing (60%) – 45 minutes; rubric in target language; number of characters: 250 – 300** (+/- 10%); the focus is on quality rather than quantity. To consist of one piece of free writing from a selection of specified topics

The Reading / Writing examination will take place during the examination period at the end of Semester 2

Oral test (30%) Duration: 10 minutes

· Oral - individual; 10 minutes; general and topic-based conversation. A list of potential topics will be distributed in advance in Week 24

The Oral test will take place in the last two weeks of teaching in Semester 2

*L2 = The language being learned during this course, e.g. Chinese or Japanese

**(or equivalent number in characters as advised by language tutor)

All instructions in the L2ix. Reading List

Updated reading lists will be published early September.

Stage 4

x. Module Content

The Content for this Module is currently under review and will be published as soon as possible before the commencement of the course.

viii. Assessment

UWLP Stage 4 Further Foreign Language Skills for Practical Purposes – comparable to B1+

Summative for SSA and Erasmus Semester 1 only Module

Assessment: Reading / Writing examination (Final Component of Assessment)

Oral test (both at the end of Semester 2)

(Directed self study is not assessed as a separate element but work set (topics or particular exercises) is to be included in the content of the Reading / Writing examination and the Oral test)

Skills weighting: Reading / Writing 70%; Oral 30%

Reading / Writing examination (70%) Duration: 1 ½ hours

· Writing (60%) – 45 minutes; instructions in L2; number of words: 250 – 300** (+/- 10%); the focus is on quality rather than quantity. To consist of one piece of free writing from a selection of specified topics

The Reading / Writing examination will take place during the examination period at the end of Semester 2

Oral test (30%) Duration: 10 minutes

· Oral - individual; 10 minutes; general and topic-based conversation / presentation. A list of potential topics will be distributed in advance in Week 24.

The Oral test will take place in the last two weeks of teaching in Semester 2

*L2 = The language being learned during this course, e.g. Chinese or Japanese

**(or equivalent number in characters as advised by language tutor)

All instructions in L2.

xii. Reading list

Updated reading lists will be published early September.