Mandarin level 2

Chinese Buttress

A Post Level 1 or equivalent module in Mandarin Chinese language and culture

Module details

  • Offered to all Undergraduates
  • Monday, Tuesday or Thursday 16.00-18.00 (depending on year of study)
  • Planned delivery: On campus (South Kensington)
  • 2 term module worth 7.5 ECTS
  • Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
  • Extra Credit or Degree Credit where your department allows
Degree credit module options by departmentHow to enrol

A module for students with some prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese, including basic knowledge of Simplified Characters.

This module aims to: 

  • Develop further all the basic language skills, i.e. reading, writing, listening and speaking
  • Revise and consolidate basic grammar as required by the individual class
  • Introduce more complex grammatical structures and extend vocabulary

To be eligible for this module you need to have done one of the following: 

  • Successfully completed Mandarin level 1
  • Obtained an HSK Certificate level 1
  • Have already achieved the equivalent level by other means 

Please note this module is not suitable for Cantonese speakers. 

Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of next academic year. 

Information blocks

Yellow Mountains

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
  • express yourself in writing using Chinese script and employing an enhanced range of vocabulary and structures;
  • deploy function words expressing aspect with accuracy;
  • engage with and respond to a selection of aural material;
  • answer general questions orally on topics related to student life and daily routine;
  • complete practical tasks such as carrying out a transaction in a shop, and asking for and giving directions.
 

 

Chinese garden

In this module, you will cover the following linguistic structures:

 

  • thorough revision of all the basic structures of the language (stative verbs, sentences with shi; rules of word order, modal verbs, etc.);
  • reduplication of measure words;
  • subordinating marker “de”;
  • nominalization with “de”;
  • money;
  • measurements and quantities;
  • correlative conjunctions;
  • location;
  • ordinal numbers;
  • verbal expressions in series;
  • coverbs.

 

These linguistic structures will be applied to the following topics:

 

  • shopping;
  • health;
  • location of objects;
  • geographical location;
  • workplace;
  • family relationships;
  • hobbies;
  • geography of China;
  • work and study.

 

In line with MFL communicative and active learning methodology, in-class activities cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and include: pair work and group work; work with texts, audio and video material to develop learning and communicative skills. Homework tasks give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge and skills and to develop an awareness of how to use language learning tools independently.

Feedback on formative assessment will be given within two weeks of submission. Feedback on the first two examinations will be given within two weeks. Feedback on the final examination (listening) will only be given if time allows.

  • Examination (20%): In-class essay, minimum one hour, term 2.
    Task 1: 150-200 characters
    Task 2: 100-150 Characters
  • Examination (20%): In-class Grammar Gap-fill test 30-40 minutes, term 2.
  • Examination (20%): In-class listening test (5-7 minutes listening task - repeated once or twice as appropriate - with questions testing comprehension). Towards the end of Term 2.
  • Practical (40%): Oral (15 minutes - partially pre-prepared practical listening task followed by general conversation). End of term 2 or in the summer term.
  • 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
  • Available to take for credit towards your degree where your department allows. Also available for extra-credit.
  • You must be prepared to attend all classes and and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.

Coursebooks:
Colloquial Chinese by P.C. T’ung and D.E. Pollard, Routledge, 1982*

*Available on Leganto as an e-book

"Dr. Herd was always prepared for lessons, and the module is well structured. We learned the essential bits of Mandarin, and I think I have improved a lot due to good quality of the module."
"Really enjoyed the course, it is well structured and stimulating. Not too easy or too difficult."
"Extremely satisfied with the course so far. People around me could see a definite improvement in my Mandarin within 5 weeks of starting this course. "
"Enjoyed the interactive nature of the course. Materials available were of a very large range which is good."