Chinese

Last updated: May 22, 2015 at 1:47 p.m.

Objectives

Brandeis University’s one-year Master of Arts Program in Teaching Chinese at the College Level (MTCC) prepares students to be instructors within the U.S. higher education system at a college or university, and to work for high schools to offer college-level Chinese courses (AP Chinese Language and Culture).

The MA Program in Teaching Chinese at the College Level (MTCC) provides:

  • Instruction in class design, theory, and practice for effective teaching within the U.S. education system at a college/university or at a high school which is offering or working towards college level Chinese courses (AP Chinese Language & Culture)
  • Training in pedagogy, allowing students to successfully teach Chinese language, society, and culture courses of college level and/or implement a curriculum program in Chinese language, society, and culture to better prepare students for college level Chinese courses
  • Chinese language teaching experience in undergraduate classrooms of both beginning and advanced levels under the tutelage of faculty

Information on the Undergraduate Study of Chinese

For the undergraduate study of Chinese, please see the course listing in the Courses of Instruction below.

How to Be Admitted to the Graduate Program

The MTCC Program is a specially-designed second master’s program. It is open to applicants who already have, or expect to have before matriculating at Brandeis, a master’s degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language or related field.

Ideally, applicants should have:

  • A foreign master’s degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language (while at Brandeis, students will be pursuing their second master’s degree)
  • Skills in some of the following: second language acquisition, testing, language teaching, course design and pedagogy, applied (Chinese) linguistics, and/or Chinese literature
  • Experience of teaching American students (through programs such as Harvard Beijing Academy, Princeton in Beijing program, Columbia in Beijing program, Columbia in Shanghai program, Duke in Beijing program, ACC program, CET program, or Alliance program)
  • Class teaching video
  • Competitive scores on the TOEFL or IELTS
  • Two letters of recommendation

The general requirements for admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences apply to candidates for admission to this program.

Faculty

Yu Feng, Chinese Language Program Director
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Xiwen Lu
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Jian Wei
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching Chinese

Program of Study
Required courses:

  • CHIN 140a Yin Yu Tang Documents, Decoding the Late Qing and Early Republic Writings
  • CHIN 201a Chinese Pedagogy I
  • CHIN 202b Chinese Pedagogy II
  • CHIN 211a Chinese Practicum I
  • CHIN 212b Chinese Practicum II

Students must take two of the following three courses and another course relating to Chinese history, culture, art or society taught in English such as FA 70b, FA 197a, HIST 182b, POL 148a, REL 151a.

  • CHIN 100a Introduction to Chinese Literature: Desire and Form
  • CHIN 130b China on Film: The Changes of Chinese Culture
  • HIST 80a Introduction to East Asian Civilization

Students will be assigned to teach beginning and advanced Chinese language courses in order that they are ready to teach Chinese language courses at all levels successfully.

Capstone Project
Each student must complete a Chinese course design project. Work toward this capstone project will be undertaken with the advisor.

Residence Requirement
Two semesters residency is required.

Special Note Relating to Graduate Students

For the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education with a concentration in Chinese (MAT Chinese), please see Education for more information.

Courses of Instruction

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

CHIN 10a Beginning Chinese I
Four class hours per week.
Mandarin is taught in this intensive course, intended for students with no previous knowledge of Chinese. Class meets four days per week plus one section of individual conversation. It offers training in basic Chinese grammar, speaking, aural comprehension, reading and writing. Chinese characters, and the "pinyin" phonetic system as a tool for learning Chinese. Usually offered every fall.
Mr. Feng or Ms. Wei

CHIN 20b Continuing Chinese
Prerequisite: CHIN 10a. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 10a. Usually offered every spring.
Ms. Wei

CHIN 29b Pathways for Chinese Literacy
For students who have significant bilingual background in Mandarin Chinese or a non-Mandarin dialect (e.g., Cantonese). Emphasizes reading and writing skills, but standard Mandarin pronunciation and grammatical structure are also stressed. Usually offered every spring.
Ms. Lu

CHIN 30a Intermediate Chinese
[ fl ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 20b or equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Development of skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including the writing of short essays. Usually offered every fall.
Ms. Lu

CHIN 40b Advanced Intermediate Chinese
[ fl hum ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 30a or equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 30a. Usually offered every spring.
Ms. Lu

CHIN 98a Readings in Modern Chinese
Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent.
A continuation of CHIN 40b. Includes an introduction to readings in modern Chinese literature. Usually offered every year.
Staff

CHIN 98b Readings in Modern Chinese
Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent.
A continuation of CHIN 98a. Usually offered every year.
Staff

(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students

CHIN 100a Introduction to Chinese Literature: Desire and Form
[ hum nw ]
Introduces Chinese literature, focusing primarily on Chinese "classical" literary traditions and their metamorphosis in modern times. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Wang

CHIN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum wi ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 40b or the equivalent.
Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing through listening and reading authentic or slightly modified materials, discussing and writing on various topics of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every fall.
Staff

CHIN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum wi ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 105a or the equivalent.
Designed for advanced students who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency and writing skills. Speaking skills will be developed through guided conversation, discussion of texts and films, and oral presentation. Exercises and essays will be used to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every spring.
Staff

CHIN 106b Business Chinese and Culture
[ fl hum nw wi ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent.
An advanced Chinese course where students develop their language proficiency and cultural knowledge in professional settings such as the workplace. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to sharpen their language skills and reach a higher level of proficiency in which they are able to read newspapers, magazines, or professional documents, as well as to improve their communicative ability and enhance their self-confidence in Chinese workplaces. Usually offered every second spring.
Staff

CHIN 120a Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language
[ fl hum wi ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 105a or equivalent.
For advanced students of Chinese, an introduction to contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabulary and grammar, and on providing students an opportunity to develop and polish both oral and written skills through class discussion, presentations, and writing assignments. Usually offered every fall.
Staff

CHIN 120b Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language II
[ fl hum wi ]
Prerequisite: CHIN 120a or equivalent.
Continuation of CHIN 120a. Study of contemporary Chinese short stories from the 1990s and later. These stories not only represent new literary themes and linguistic expressions, but also reflect the modernization, commercialization, and urbanization that is transforming China. The course improves students' knowledge of the language, as well as enhancing their understanding of Chinese society and culture. Usually offered every spring.
Mr. Wang

CHIN 130b China on Film: The Changes of Chinese Culture
[ hum nw ]
Taught in English. All films viewed have English subtitles.
Focuses on the enormous changes under way in Chinese society, politics, and culture. Helps students to identify and understand these fundamental transformations through a representative, exciting selection of readings and films. Usually offered every second spring.
Staff

CHIN 136b Chinese Modernism in International Context
[ hum nw ]
Taught in English.
Examines the origins, recurrences, and metamorphosis of modernistic styles and movements in twentieth-century Chinese literature, film, fine art, and intellectual discourses. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Wang

CHIN 140a Yin Yu Tang Documents, Decoding the Late Qing and Early Republic Writings (I)
[ hum nw ]
Prerequisites: CHIN 120a and 120b, or permission of the instructor.
Teaches fundamental skills to decode the late Qing and early Republic writings in print or in hand-writing by recognizing and translating the Yin Yu Tang documents. Students of this course will also gain knowledge of Chinese society and culture of this period. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Feng

(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students

CHIN 200a Practical Chinese Phonetics, Lexics, Syntax, and Pragmatics
Prerequisite: Fluency in Chinese and ability to read Chinese books and articles. Required of all students in MAT Chinese.
Focuses on the fundamental characteristics of modern Chinese language with emphasis on pronunciation and grammar structure. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Lu

CHIN 201a Chinese Pedagogy I
Required of all students in MAT Chinese and MTCC.
Equips students with the most advanced and updated skills in teaching modern Chinese with an emphasis on beginning and intermediate levels. This course covers a great range of topics to ensure efficient and successful instruction. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Feng

CHIN 202b Chinese Pedagogy II
Prerequisite: CHIN 201a. Required of MTCC students.
Continuation of CHIN 201a. Emphasizes the instruction of advanced Chinese. Two important sets of theories and practice will be introduced and discussed, the Four Subsystem Theory and Prosodic Theory. Task-based teaching on an advanced level, contents-centered textbook, and correction of advanced composition will also be discussed. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Feng

CHIN 211a Chinese Practicum I
Corequisite: CHIN 201a. Enrollment limited to MTCC students.
Students design course plans, additional reading, visual and audio materials, assignments, etc to teach the lecture and drill sessions of beginning Chinese. Class observation and student feedback are components of this class. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Feng

CHIN 212b Chinese Practicum II
Corequisite: CHIN 202b. Enrollment limited to MTCC students.
Students design course plans, additional reading, visual and audio materials, assignments, etc to teach the lecture and drill sessions of advanced Chinese. Class observation and student feedback are components of this class. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Feng