Courses
General Course Information
The program offers a full range of modern Chinese (Mandarin) courses from beginning (CHIN 10A) to high-advanced (CHIN 120B) levels. We also offer a special course for students who speak fluent Chinese but do not read or write Chinese (CHIN 29B); an advanced business Chinese course that will prepare students for doing business in and/or with China (CHIN 106B); an introductory course of Chinese literature taught in English (CHIN 100a); and a course taught in English to help students understand Chinese history and culture through film (CHIN 130B).
Courses are taught by experienced instructors who follow the highest standards of Chinese teaching in the United States and employ proven pedagogy and new technology to make courses highly efficient.
Placement
Unless you have never studied or been exposed to the Chinese language, you will need to take a placement test to determine the level at which you should begin your foreign language course work.
COURSES IN ENGLISH
None available
COURSES IN CHINESE
CHIN 20B: Continuing Chinese
Spring 2024 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Jian Wei
Prerequisite: CHIN 10a
Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 10a.
CHIN 40B: Advanced Intermediate Chinese
Spring 2024 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Xiwen Lu
Prerequisite: CHIN 30a or equivalent.
Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 30a.
CHIN 105B: Advanced Conversation and Composition
Spring 2024 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Baoqing Qian
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 105a or the equivalent.
Four class hours per week.
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.
CHIN 106B: Business Chinese and Culture
Spring 2024 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
Four class hours per week.
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.
CHIN 120B: Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language II
Spring 2024 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Pu Wang
Prerequisite: CHIN 120a or equivalent.
Four class hours per week.
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.
CHIN 126A: Advanced Conversational Chinese
Spring 2024 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Baoqing Qian
Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent.
Four class hours per week.
For advanced students of Chinese, this course further develops their Chinese speaking proficiency in both information and formal styles. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to improve their communicative ability in Chinese. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabularies, grammars, and genuine expressions used by Chinese in their daily life, as well as enhancing students' understanding of Chinese society and culture.
CHIN 140A: Yin Yu Tang Documents, Decoding the Late Qing and Early Republic Writings I
Spring 2024 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
Prerequisite: CHIN 120a and 120b, or proficiency of a native Chinese speaker with advanced reading and writing skills.
Four class hours per week.
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.
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COURSES IN ENGLISH
CHIN 100A: Introduction to Chinese Literature: Desire and Form
Fall 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Pu Wang
Introduces Chinese literature, focusing primarily on Chinese "classical" literary traditions and their metamorphosis in modern times.
COURSES IN CHINESE
CHIN 10A: Beginning Chinese I
Fall 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Xiwen Lu
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.
CHIN 29B: Pathways for Chinese Literacy
Fall 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Xiwen Lu
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.
CHIN 30A: Intermediate Chinese
Fall 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Baoqing Qian
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.
CHIN 105A: Advanced Conversation and Composition I
Fall 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
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.
CHIN 120A: Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language I
Fall 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
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.
COURSES IN ENGLISH
CHIN 136B: Chinese Modernism in International Context
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Pu Wang
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.
COURSES IN CHINESE
CHIN 20B: Continuing Chinese
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Jian Wei
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 10a. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 10a.
CHIN 40B: Advanced Intermediate Chinese
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Xiwen Lu
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 30a. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 30a.
CHIN 105B: Advanced Conversation and Composition II
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
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.
CHIN 106B: Business Chinese and Culture
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 40b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
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.
CHIN 120B: Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language II
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Pu Wang
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in 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.
CHIN 126B: Advanced Conversational Chinese
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Jian Wei
Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent.
For advanced students of Chinese, this course further develops their Chinese speaking proficiency in both information and formal styles. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to improve their communicative ability in Chinese. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabularies, grammars, and genuine expressions used by Chinese in their daily life, as well as enhancing students' understanding of Chinese society and culture.
CHIN 140A: Yin Yu Tang Documents, Decoding the Late Qing and Early Republic Writings (I)
Spring 2023 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
Prerequisite(s): A grade of C- or higher in 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.
COURSES IN CHINESE
CHIN 10A: Beginning Chinese
Fall 2022 mode: Instruction will be in-person.
Professor Jian Wei
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.
CHIN 29B: Pathways for Chinese Literacy
Fall 2022 mode: Instruction will be in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
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..
CHIN 30A: Intermediate Chinese
Fall 2022 mode: Instruction will be in-person.
Professor Xiwen Lu
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.
CHIN 105A: Advanced Conversation and Composition I
Fall 2022 mode: Instruction will be in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
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.
CHIN 120A: Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language
Fall 2022 mode: Instruction will be in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
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.
CHIN 165A: Chinese for Life Science: Study of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs with Contemporary Science
Fall 2022 mode: Instruction will be in-person.
Professor Jian Wei
Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
Helps students increase Chinese proficiency in the fields of life science such biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and medicine, especially the skills of reading life science papers in Chinese; and widens and deepens students' knowledge of life science by learning the most important discoveries of Chinese scientists in applying contemporary western science to the studies of traditional medicinal herbs. Although this course is not just limited to biology, neuroscience, or chemistry majors, good knowledge of life science will be essential to success.
COURSES IN ENGLISH
CHIN 136B: Chinese Modernism in International Context
Spring 2022 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Pu Wang
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.
COURSES IN CHINESE
CHIN 20B: Continuing Chinese
Spring 2022 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Jian Wei
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 10a. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 10a.
CHIN 40B: Advanced Intermediate Chinese
Spring 2022 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Xiwen Lu
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 30a. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of CHIN 30a.
CHIN 105B: Advanced Conversation and Composition II
Spring 2022 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Xiwen Lu
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.
CHIN 106B: Business Chinese and Culture
Spring 2022 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Chunzi Chai
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in CHIN 40b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
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.
CHIN 120B: Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language II
Spring 2022 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Pu Wang
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in 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.
CHIN 140A: Yin Yu Tang Documents, Decoding the Late Qing and Early Republic Writings (I)
Spring 2022 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Yu Feng
Prerequisite(s): A grade of C- or higher in 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.
Fall 2021 Courses
VIEW COURSE SCHEDULE
COURSES IN ENGLISH
CHIN 130B: China on Film: The Changes of Chinese Culture
Fall 2021 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Pu Wang
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.
COURSES IN CHINESE
CHIN 10A: Beginning Chinese
Fall 2021 mode: Instruction for sections 1 and 2 of this course will be offered in-person. Instruction for section 3 will be offered remotely.
Professor Jian Wei
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.
CHIN 30A: Intermediate Chinese
Fall 2021 mode: Instruction for sections 1 and 2 of this course will be offered in-person. Instruction for section 3 of this course will be offered in a hybrid format as follows:
Monday/Wednesday: in-person
Tuesday/Thursday: remote
Professor Xiwen Lu
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.
CHIN 105A: Advanced Conversation and Composition I
Fall 2021 mode: Instruction for both sections of this course will be offered in-person.
Professor Yu Feng
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.
CHIN 120A: Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language
Fall 2021 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in a hybrid format.
Staff
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.
CHIN 165A: Chinese for Life Science: Study of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs with Contemporary Science
Fall 2021 mode: Instruction for this course will be offered in a hybrid format.
Professor Jian Wei
Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
Helps students increase Chinese proficiency in the fields of life science such biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and medicine, especially the skills of reading life science papers in Chinese; and widens and deepens students' knowledge of life science by learning the most important discoveries of Chinese scientists in applying contemporary western science to the studies of traditional medicinal herbs. Although this course is not just limited to biology, neuroscience, or chemistry majors, good knowledge of life science will be essential to success.
Courses Taught in Chinese
CHIN 10A: Beginning Chinese I (all sections)
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course will consist of two in-person lectures per week (with option for remote students to participate via Zoom) and two online-only small group practice sessions.
Professor Jian Wei
Four course 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.
CHIN 29B: Pathways for Chinese Literacy
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course to be offered in hybrid format.
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.
CHIN 30A: Intermediate Chinese (all sections)
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course will consist of two in-person lectures per week (with option for remote students to participate via Zoom) and two online-only small group practice sessions.
Professor Xiwen Lu
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.
CHIN 105A: Advanced Conversation and Composition I (all sections)
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course will consist of two eighty- minute sessions per week: one in-person lecture (with option for remote students to participate via Zoom) and one online-only small group practice session.
Professor Yu Feng
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.
CHIN 120A: Readings in Contemporary Chinese Literature: Advanced Chinese Language
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course will be taught in-person with option for off campus students to participate via Zoom.
Professor Xiwen Lu
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.
CHIN 165A: Chinese for Life Science: Study of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs with Contemporary Science
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course will consist of two eighty-minute sessions per week: one in-person lecture (with option for remote students to participate via Zoom) and one online-only session.
Professor Jian Wei
Prerequisite: CHIN 105b or equivalent. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
Helps students increase Chinese proficiency in the fields of life science such biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and medicine, especially the skills of reading life science papers in Chinese; and widens and deepens students' knowledge of life science by learning the most important discoveries of Chinese scientists in applying contemporary western science to the studies of traditional medicinal herbs. Although this course is not just limited to biology, neuroscience, or chemistry majors, good knowledge of life science will be essential to success.
Courses Taught in English
CHIN 100A: Introduction to Chinese Literature: Desire and Form
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course will be offered in a hybrid format with option for off campus students to participate via Zoom.
Professor Pu Wang
Taught in English. No Chinese language capabilities required.
Introduces Chinese literature, focusing primarily on Chinese "classical" literary traditions and their metamorphosis in modern times. Usually offered every second year.
CHIN 130B: China on Film: The Changes of Chinese Culture
Fall 2020 Information: On and off campus students welcome to enroll. Course will be taught online only.
Professor Pu Wang
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.