BA English Language and Chinese / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Languages-Based Project 1

Course unit fact file
Unit code CHIN51071
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This is an advanced Chinese language course for students who have already completed CHIN51060 Chinese Language 6. It is designed to allow students with near-native proficiency in Mandarin Chinese to put their language skills to work through the completion of two independent projects: a 10- minute Chinese-language oral presentation and a Chinese-language extended essay. Students enrolled in the course will decide the topics of both these assessed elements on the basis of their academic and vocational interests and in consultation with their tutor. Students will report and gain feedback on their progress in weekly hour-long tutorials before submitting the essay in week 12. Tutorials may also be used to practice informal and formal topics of advanced conversational Chinese, with feedback provided.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Chinese Language 6 CHIN51060 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

This course aims to: 

  • Guide students to learn independently 
  • Help students to set their own learning targets 
  • Train students to analyze and critique their own work  

By the end of this course students will be able to: 

  • Confidently display their proficiency in the target language using both written and oral skills 
  • Equip themselves with the strategies to maintain and extend their skills in the target language in the future
  • Become more self-aware and self-critical in the field of language learning and language development 
  • Discover ways in which they can increase and extend their level of motivation in the field of foreign language learning 

Syllabus

The content of the oral presentation and extended Chinese essay will be dictated by individual students’ academic and vocational interests and materials will be consulted as relevant to the chosen topics. 

Teaching and learning methods

One 1-hour tutorial per week.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Confidently display their proficiency in the target language, using both written and oral skills
  • Equip themselves with the strategies to maintain and extend their skills in the target language in the future
  • Become more self-aware and self-critical in the field of language learning and language development
  • Discover ways in which they can increase and extend their level of motivation in the field of foreign language learning

Intellectual skills

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Explore issues and subject matter of interest to the student with a high level of linguistic and intellectual sophistication
  • Conduct independent research using Chinese-language primary and secondary materials
  • Construct a lengthy piece of Chinese-language written work that is clearly structured, well supported using primary and secondary materials and which demonstrates excellent understanding of the subject matter concerned

Practical skills

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Identify and make use of Chinese-language materials that suit their level of language ability, interests and needs
  • Manage their own pace of learning
  • Learn independently

 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Identify and make use of Chinese-language materials that suit their level of language ability, interests and needs
  • Manage their own pace of learning
  • Learn independently

Employability skills

Other
Verbal communication skills: be able to express ideas clearly and confidently in presentation and speech Written communication skills: be able to express oneself clearly in writing Motivation: be able to act on initiative, identify opportunities Drive: determination to get things done, make things happen and look for better ways to do things

Accreditation

Available to students on BA Chinese Studies and programme combinations involving Chinese with other languages and area studies degrees and BA Modern Language with Business and Management etc.

Assessment methods

Assessment task  

Formative or Summative 

Weighting within unit (if summative) 

An extended written essay in Chinese on a topic of the student’s own choice 

Summative 

50% 

 

Oral presentation on a topic of the student’s own choice, making appropriate use of audio-visual materials   

Summative 

30% 

 

 

Coursework 

Summative 

20% 

 

Resit Assessment: Video and essay

 

Feedback methods

  • Oral feedback an individual basis when discussing progress
  • Written feedback on the extended essay
  • Additional one-to-one feedback (during consultation hour or by making an appointment)

Recommended reading

N/A; students are encouraged to consult as many Chinese-language sources as required for their independent learning. The instructor will make suggestions regarding relevant materials as necessary.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Tutorials 11
Independent study hours
Independent study 89

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Hongjun Ma Unit coordinator

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