Chinese Language (Beginners' Level)
A one month total immersion residential course in Shanghai
We all know that the French language is best learned on location, in France and so it is with learning Chinese in China: You learn a language best while in China. You will learn from experienced Professors and lecturers who have been with Jiao Tong University for a long time.
On the free days, you can practice your newly aquired Chinese language everywhere: On the side walk, in the street, In the bar, and in your recidence. What a fun way to master the Chinese language fast!
And you will be making friends from all over the world fast.
Enrollnow and be prepared for culture or business IN and WITH China
Course Outline
The history of written Chinese is a fascinating subject in itself, however, the lecturer will lift a small part of the veil and take the students on a historic tour and describe the evolution of some Chinese characters, from simple pictograph to ideograph and several developmental phases in between. Amazingly, the Chinese writing style has had an uninterrupted and strong Raison d'être for more than 5,000 years. Yet, despite being steeped in history, Chinese writing has perpetually evolved and been adapted and continues to be used effectively in all branches of science, technology, business and every conceivable aspect of society.
Beside the utilitarian aspect of conveying thoughts and ideas, Chinese calligraphy can also be an art that unlocks the beauty of the written ideograph and many a splendidly executed single word or idiomatic saying graces the walls of Chinese living rooms, public buildings and schools, not unlike a Western living room that may be enhanced with an oil or water painting.
The Elementary Chinese course starts from the most basic elements of Chinese – the four tones, initials and finals in “Han Yu Pin Yin” (a-b-c) which constitute its phonetic system. Students then learn the basic writing strokes of Chinese characters and build up a simple awareness of how its phonetic system is incorporated in the written character.
While gaining strength in their language foundation, students will learn to use Chinese from the very beginning, e.g. greetings and partings, asking for directions, eating out in restaurants, bargaining, inviting and declining, etc. Upon finishing the course, learners may grasp some 500 basic words and a considerable number of sentence patterns so that they will effectively communicate with Chinese people in day-to-day situations. With cultural elements embedded, the course will enable students to build their communicative skill not only upon learning authentic Chinese, but also, to a certain extent, understanding Chinese society and culture.
Course syllabus
Unit 1 (Period 1-4)
Learn typical greetings (1)
Phonetics: Initials b p m n l h ; finals a o e i u ü
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Basic strokes of Chinese characters: 6 of them
Cultural Notes: “Have you eaten?” VS. “Hi! / Hello!” in Passing Greetings Unit 2 (Period 5-8)
Learn typical greetings (2)
Phonetics: the four tones;
Initials: l h Finals: ao en ie in ing uo
Oral and Listening Practice
Grammar: word order in Chinese sentences
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Hanyu and Putonghua
Unit 3 (Period 9-12)
Learn the basic way to ask what someone wants Phonetics: Initials: d t g k f;
Finals: ei ou an ang eng iao iou(-iu)
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Grammar: Adjective Predicate & “Yes-no” questions
Sing a Chinese Folk Song: The Jasmine Flowers
Unit 4 (Period 14-16)
A Summary made in the form of oral and Listening practices.
Unit 5 (Period 17-20)
Learn how to ask about sb’s nationality and how to identify people
Phonetics: Neutral tone; Initials: zh ch sh r
Finals: -i ai uai ong
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Safe Questions to ask in Chinese vs English
Unit 6 (Period 21-24)
Learn how to introduce your friends to each other
phonetics: Half third tone: combination of tones
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Stories behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Unit 7 (Period 25-28)
Learn asking for permission and asking for sb’s name
Phonetics: Initials: j q x
Finals: ia ian iang uei(-ui) uen(-un) üe üan
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Quotations from Confucius (1)
Unit 8 (Period 29-32)
Learn the basic way to tell the time
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice - Time
Grammar: Sentences with “是”
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Sto Cultural Notes:ries behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Unit 9 (Period 33-36)
Learn asking for directions and looking for someone
Phonetics: Initials: z c s
Finals: -i er iong ua uan uang ün
Final “er” and retroflex ending
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Quotations from Confucius (2)
Unit 10 (Period 37-40)
Learn making an apology and asking about sb’s occupation
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Asking the way
Grammar: Questions with an interrogative pronoun
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Stories behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Sing a Chinese Folk Song:
Unit 11(Period 41-44)
Phonetics: Pronunciation Review
Grammar: Review Sentences with a verbal predicate
Characters: Combination of strokes
Cultural Notes: Read and learn a Chinese classical poem
Unit 12 (Period 45-48)
Learn making suggestions, comments and asking sb to repeat something
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Eating out in a restaurant
Summary: third tone change; tone change of “不” and“一”
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Beijing Opera, Shanghai Opera and Yue Opera
Unit 13 (Period 49-52)
Learn how to describe the symptoms of illnesses and buy
medicines in the pharmacy
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Seeing doctors
Grammar: “ 一下”
Pattern drills & Making sentences by pictures
Cultural Notes: Quotations from Confucius (3)
Unit 14 (Period 53-56)
Learn how to leave addresses; Learn talking about one’s major
Reading and Paraphrasing
Grammar: Attributives expressing possession
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Stories behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Unit 15 (Period 57-60)
Learn how to talk about one’s major, occupation
Grammar: V/A – not – V/A questions; abbreviated questions with “呢” ;
The position of adverbs “也” and “都”
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Learn a line from Analects of Confucius
Unit 16 (Period 61-64)
Learn how to talk about one’s family members
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Chinese families
Grammar: “还”，”太”, “二” or “两”
Cultural Notes: Personal Names
Unit 17 (Period 65-78)
Learn how to talk about hobbies
Numbers from 11 to 100 and solving math problems verbally
Grammar: Numeral-measure words as attributives: “几 ” or “多少”;
The position of question words in Chinese
Learn a Chinese folk song
Unit 18 (Period 69-72)
Learn how to extend one’s good wishes
Listening and speaking practice
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Address Terms in Chinese and English
Unit 19 (Period 73-76)
Learn how to celebrate sb’s birthday; asking about sb’s age and birthplace
Reading and Paraphrasing
Grammar: Sentence with a nominal predicate; “好吗?” in a question
Cultural Notes: customs in designating each year to one of the 12 animals;
“Longevity noodles” ; birth of place, etc
Unit 20 (Period 77-80)
How to make an appointment
Learn how to say the days of the week
Grammar: Words expressing time as adverbials
Structure of Chinese Characters (2)
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: The Layout of the Chinese dialects
Unit 21 (Period 81-84)
Shopping expressions: Learn how to talk about money & ask the price
and bargain;
the unit measurements of daily commodities
Grammar: Prepositional phrase “在” “跟”
Sentences with double objects (1) 给 送
The adverb “很”
Cultural Notes; Currency RMB
Unit 22 (Period 85-88)
Learn expressing permission or prohibition;
expressing ty
Learn reading and writing note “便条”
Grammar: Sentences with “会” “能” “可以” “应该”
Cultural Notes: Loanwords in Chinese
Unit 21 (Period 81-84)
Shopping expressions: Learn how to talk about money & ask the price
and bargain;
the unit measurements of daily commodities
Grammar: Prepositional phrase “在” “跟”
Sentences with double objects (1) 给 送
The adverb “很”
Cultural Notes; Currency RMB
Unit 22 (Period 85-88)
Learn expressing permission or prohibition;
expressing ty
Learn reading and writing note “便条”
Grammar: Sentences with “会” “能” “可以” “应该”
Cultural Notes: Loanwords in Chinese
Unit 23 (Period 89-92)
Learn how to talk about one’s health, desire and express need or necessity
Grammar: subject-predicate structure as predicate,
alternative questions, modal verbs 要，想，愿
意 Learn Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Learn a line from Analects of Confucius
Unit 24 (Period 93-96)
Talking about sth that has happened, renting a flat, asking for suggestions,
making a phone call and invitations
Grammar: “多” and “少” as attributives, “Pr/N+ 这儿/那儿“ to indicate location
, verb phrases as attributives; Particle “了”；Modal verbs: 可能，
会 Cultural Notes: telephone etiquette and accepting or refusing invitations
Unit 25 (Period 97-100)
Review, Summary and suggestions for further learning
Pinyin, Grammar, Oral and Listening practice
A one month total immersion residential course in Shanghai
We all know that the French language is best learned on location, in France and so it is with learning Chinese in China: You learn a language best while in China. You will learn from experienced Professors and lecturers who have been with Jiao Tong University for a long time.
On the free days, you can practice your newly aquired Chinese language everywhere: On the side walk, in the street, In the bar, and in your recidence. What a fun way to master the Chinese language fast!
And you will be making friends from all over the world fast.
Enrollnow and be prepared for culture or business IN and WITH China
Course Outline
The history of written Chinese is a fascinating subject in itself, however, the lecturer will lift a small part of the veil and take the students on a historic tour and describe the evolution of some Chinese characters, from simple pictograph to ideograph and several developmental phases in between. Amazingly, the Chinese writing style has had an uninterrupted and strong Raison d'être for more than 5,000 years. Yet, despite being steeped in history, Chinese writing has perpetually evolved and been adapted and continues to be used effectively in all branches of science, technology, business and every conceivable aspect of society.
Beside the utilitarian aspect of conveying thoughts and ideas, Chinese calligraphy can also be an art that unlocks the beauty of the written ideograph and many a splendidly executed single word or idiomatic saying graces the walls of Chinese living rooms, public buildings and schools, not unlike a Western living room that may be enhanced with an oil or water painting.
The Elementary Chinese course starts from the most basic elements of Chinese – the four tones, initials and finals in “Han Yu Pin Yin” (a-b-c) which constitute its phonetic system. Students then learn the basic writing strokes of Chinese characters and build up a simple awareness of how its phonetic system is incorporated in the written character.
While gaining strength in their language foundation, students will learn to use Chinese from the very beginning, e.g. greetings and partings, asking for directions, eating out in restaurants, bargaining, inviting and declining, etc. Upon finishing the course, learners may grasp some 500 basic words and a considerable number of sentence patterns so that they will effectively communicate with Chinese people in day-to-day situations. With cultural elements embedded, the course will enable students to build their communicative skill not only upon learning authentic Chinese, but also, to a certain extent, understanding Chinese society and culture.
Course syllabus
Unit 1 (Period 1-4)Learn typical greetings (1)
Phonetics: Initials b p m n l h ; finals a o e i u ü
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Basic strokes of Chinese characters: 6 of them
Cultural Notes: “Have you eaten?” VS. “Hi! / Hello!” in Passing Greetings
Unit 2 (Period 5-8)
Learn typical greetings (2)Phonetics: the four tones;
Initials: l h Finals: ao en ie in ing uo
Oral and Listening Practice
Grammar: word order in Chinese sentences
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Hanyu and Putonghua
Unit 3 (Period 9-12) Learn the basic way to ask what someone wants Phonetics: Initials: d t g k f;
Finals: ei ou an ang eng iao iou(-iu)
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Grammar: Adjective Predicate & “Yes-no” questions
Sing a Chinese Folk Song: The Jasmine Flowers
Unit 4 (Period 14-16)A Summary made in the form of oral and Listening practices.
Unit 5 (Period 17-20)Learn how to ask about sb’s nationality and how to identify people
Phonetics: Neutral tone; Initials: zh ch sh r
Finals: -i ai uai ong
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Safe Questions to ask in Chinese vs English
Unit 6 (Period 21-24)Learn how to introduce your friends to each other
phonetics: Half third tone: combination of tones
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Stories behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Unit 7 (Period 25-28)Learn asking for permission and asking for sb’s name
Phonetics: Initials: j q x
Finals: ia ian iang uei(-ui) uen(-un) üe üan
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Quotations from Confucius (1)
Unit 8 (Period 29-32)Learn the basic way to tell the time
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice - Time
Grammar: Sentences with “是”
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Sto Cultural Notes:ries behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Unit 9 (Period 33-36)Learn asking for directions and looking for someone
Phonetics: Initials: z c s
Finals: -i er iong ua uan uang ün
Final “er” and retroflex ending
Oral Practice: Pronunciation drills & Conversations
Listening Practice: from supplementary materials
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Quotations from Confucius (2)
Unit 10 (Period 37-40)Learn making an apology and asking about sb’s occupation
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Asking the way
Grammar: Questions with an interrogative pronoun
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Stories behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Sing a Chinese Folk Song:
Unit 11(Period 41-44)Phonetics: Pronunciation Review
Grammar: Review Sentences with a verbal predicate
Characters: Combination of strokes
Cultural Notes: Read and learn a Chinese classical poem
Unit 12 (Period 45-48)Learn making suggestions, comments and asking sb to repeat something
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Eating out in a restaurant
Summary: third tone change; tone change of “不” and“一”
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Beijing Opera, Shanghai Opera and Yue Opera
Unit 13 (Period 49-52)Learn how to describe the symptoms of illnesses and buy
medicines in the pharmacy
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Seeing doctors
Grammar: “ 一下”
Pattern drills & Making sentences by pictures
Cultural Notes: Quotations from Confucius (3)
Unit 14 (Period 53-56)Learn how to leave addresses; Learn talking about one’s major
Reading and Paraphrasing
Grammar: Attributives expressing possession
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Stories behind the pictographic Chinese characters.
Unit 15 (Period 57-60)Learn how to talk about one’s major, occupation
Grammar: V/A – not – V/A questions; abbreviated questions with “呢” ;
The position of adverbs “也” and “都”
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Learn a line from Analects of Confucius
Unit 16 (Period 61-64)Learn how to talk about one’s family members
Subsidiary Listening and Speaking practice – Chinese families
Grammar: “还”，”太”, “二” or “两”
Cultural Notes: Personal Names
Unit 17 (Period 65-78)Learn how to talk about hobbies
Numbers from 11 to 100 and solving math problems verbally
Grammar: Numeral-measure words as attributives: “几 ” or “多少”;
The position of question words in Chinese
Learn a Chinese folk song
Unit 18 (Period 69-72)Learn how to extend one’s good wishes
Listening and speaking practice
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Address Terms in Chinese and English
Unit 19 (Period 73-76)Learn how to celebrate sb’s birthday; asking about sb’s age and birthplace
Reading and Paraphrasing
Grammar: Sentence with a nominal predicate; “好吗?” in a question
Cultural Notes: customs in designating each year to one of the 12 animals;
“Longevity noodles” ; birth of place, etc
Unit 20 (Period 77-80)How to make an appointment
Learn how to say the days of the week
Grammar: Words expressing time as adverbials
Structure of Chinese Characters (2)
Learn and write basic Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: The Layout of the Chinese dialects
Unit 21 (Period 81-84)Shopping expressions: Learn how to talk about money & ask the price
and bargain;
the unit measurements of daily commodities
Grammar: Prepositional phrase “在” “跟”
Sentences with double objects (1) 给 送
The adverb “很”
Cultural Notes; Currency RMB
Unit 22 (Period 85-88)Learn expressing permission or prohibition;
expressing ty
Learn reading and writing note “便条”
Grammar: Sentences with “会” “能” “可以” “应该”
Cultural Notes: Loanwords in Chinese
Unit 21 (Period 81-84)Shopping expressions: Learn how to talk about money & ask the price
and bargain;
the unit measurements of daily commodities
Grammar: Prepositional phrase “在” “跟”
Sentences with double objects (1) 给 送
The adverb “很”
Cultural Notes; Currency RMB
Unit 22 (Period 85-88)Learn expressing permission or prohibition;
expressing ty
Learn reading and writing note “便条”
Grammar: Sentences with “会” “能” “可以” “应该”
Cultural Notes: Loanwords in Chinese
Unit 23 (Period 89-92)Learn how to talk about one’s health, desire and express need or necessity
Grammar: subject-predicate structure as predicate,
alternative questions, modal verbs 要，想，愿
意 Learn Chinese characters
Cultural Notes: Learn a line from Analects of Confucius
Unit 24 (Period 93-96)Talking about sth that has happened, renting a flat, asking for suggestions,
making a phone call and invitations
Grammar: “多” and “少” as attributives, “Pr/N+ 这儿/那儿“ to indicate location
, verb phrases as attributives; Particle “了”；Modal verbs: 可能，
会 Cultural Notes: telephone etiquette and accepting or refusing invitations
Unit 25 (Period 97-100)Review, Summary and suggestions for further learning
Pinyin, Grammar, Oral and Listening practice
Note: Individual lecturers may amend the course syllabus based on the student-mix or as the lecturer sees fit.
WINTER 1 2012 BEGINNERS CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSE
STARTS ON 13 FEBRUARY 2012, FINISHES ON 9 MARCH 2012
Lectures on Monday to Friday 9.00am-12 noon
Saturdays: Home-Study. Sightseeing, Dining, Entertainment
Sundays: Worshipping, Home study, Sightseeing,
WINTER 2 2012 BEGINNERS CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSE
STARTS ON 12 MARCH 2012, FINISHES ON 6 APRIL 2012
Lectures on Monday to Friday 9.00am-12 noon
Saturdays: Home-Study. Sightseeing, Dining, Entertainment
Sundays: Worshipping, Home study, Sightseeing,
Sightseeing package optional
ENROLLMENT, COURSE FEES ETC
Sightseeing package optional-
Please enroll on-line
- The course fee is only
- US$ 4,888
- (The number eight is the Supreme lucky number in China, so this MBA-C course may augur well for future successes in your career or business.)
- Book and course materials etc fee:
- US$ 8,288
- The (non-refundable) enrolment fee is:
- US$ 8,888
- Total:
- US$ 5,264
- (Excluding Airfares, Transportation & Local Accommodation)
- Remittances can be made from any bank near you or paid in person cash or credit card
- All fees should be settled 2 weeks before course commencement. insurance.
You are strongly advised to take out a travel/cum hospitalization, surgery and public liability insurance.
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For inquiry, please contact us at (86 21) 50813383 or 6448 1768, or send email tochina-studies@hotmail.com