2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
Kingston Campus | Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
Instructor:
Qingyu Yang (杨清钰)
Office Location:
Swan Hall 138
Office Telephone:
+1-401-874-9863
Email:
[email protected]
Office Hours:
T Th 9:00-10:30 & by appointment
Class Days/Time:
M W F 10:00AM-10:50AM
Classroom:
Quinn Hall 219
General Education Category: Humanities- Foreign language
Write effectively, speak effectively, Examine Human Differences,
Integrated Skills:
Use of Qualitative Data, Use of Information Literacy, Engage in
Artistic Activity
大家好！欢迎（huānyíng, welcome）你们来 CHN205 学习中文！这个学期，我希望你们快
乐地学习，不断（búduàn，continuously ）地进步（jìnbù, to progress）!
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
This is an intermediate to advance course to help students to further develop their competence in
reading and writing Chinese, as well as to achieve greater fluency in oral Chinese. It also aims to
help students learn about Chinese culture and society. The topics are related to school life, such
as meeting new friends on the first day in college, living on and off campus, dining out, choosing
major, etc. In addition, students will have wonderful opportunities to attend events to be exposed
to Chinese culture and tradition in the semester.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
The primary goal of this course is to provide integrated training in speaking, listening, reading
and writing to prepare students with Novice-High to acquire Intermediate-Low or above level of
proficiency based on the guidelines of ACTFL. Through task-based instruction in describing,
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
comparing, narrating, giving directions, and role-play, you will gain more knowledge as well as
confidence in expressing yourself in most common aspects of school life.
TEACHING STRATEGY: The course will be blended with lectures, drills, pronunciation
clinics, tutoring sessions, and in-class and group task-based activities.
GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES:
Students will achieve the following upon successful completion of the course:
Humanities Knowledge Area:
- Identify: Students will be able to use new vocabulary, terms, definitions and concepts
related to Chinese and Chinese culture at an appropriate linguistic level.
- Recognize: Students will have a metalinguistic understanding of the linguistic categories
specific to Chinese (such as aspects, tone, phonological categories, syntax, etc. that are
relevant to the task of processing linguistic input).
- Ask: Students will be able to use the basic question types and develop hypotheses about
the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary or linguistic elements.
- Collect: Students will be able to use appropriate resources including Internet to locate
needed vocabulary, to confirm the meaning of newly found vocabulary and structures in
receptive and productive language tasks.
- Analyze: Students will be able to apply their metalinguistic understanding of Chinese to
produce accurate language in appropriate modes of communication.
- Innovate: Students will demonstrate creative thinking by expressing their own ideas in
Chinese without resorting to direct translation or their native language.
Global Responsibilities Area:
- Global Identity: Global Self-Awareness, Students will develop a sense of global identity,
become aware of the modern Chinese culture by reading and observing the cultural
phenomena revealed in the course materials and reading, and compare and differentiate
the Chinese culture and one’s own.
- Global Identity: Global Curiosity & Autonomy, Students will be able to use the basic
question types and develop hypotheses about the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary or
linguistic elements.
- Global Communication: Global Language, Students will develop global communication
skills through proficiency oriented teaching in Chinese. Students will be able to create,
process and negotiate meaning in a language other than English.
- Global Communication: Globally-Aware Interaction, Students communicate in Chinese
and adopt the perspectives of Chinese speakers to express their point of view. Students
will be able to demonstrate knowledge of cultural differences and use this knowledge to
communicate appropriately with people from Chinese speaking cultures.
- Global Impact: Perspective Taking, Students will be able to explain issues in Chinese by
adopting the perspectives and circumstances of others.
Language learning outcomes:
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
听力 tīnglì
Listening
Students will achieve the following upon successful completion of the
course: Students will understand sentence-length utterances and recombination of learned utterances where context is clear to express
personal needs and preferences in school life, such as meeting new
friends, comparing living on campus and living off campus, dining
out, shopping and talking about majors.
口语 kǒuyŭ
Students will be able to handle successfully a limited number of
Speaking
uncomplicated communicative tasks by creating with the target
language in straightforward social situations. These tasks relate to
basic personal information, for example, self and family, some daily
activities and personal preferences, and some immediate needs, such
as ordering food and making simple purchases.
阅读 yuèdú
Reading
Students will learn approximately 160 new words to facilitate
understanding of the language used in everyday dialogues in the
Chinese society. Students will be able to read standardized passages
with specific characters and combinations are used.
写作 xiězuò
Writing
Students will write short organized essays using conjunctions such as
虽然···可是，···再说. The topics include real-life situations in the
major time frames of past, present, and future. It is your preference of
using the simplified characters or traditional.
文化 wénhuà
Culture
Students are welcomed to attend a variety of cultural activities
conducted over the whole semester. These activities will introduce
students to China’s society, culture, and history. Student who take
part in these activities and volunteered will receive extra APP credit at
the end the semester.
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
汉语水平
Hànyŭ shuǐpíng
Level
Students are expected to reach the proficiency level at IntermediateLow or above based on the ACTFL’s standard when this semester’s
course is completed.
COURSE ASSESSMENT: (This is a for-proficiency and for-credit course)
1. Attendance, Punctuality, Performance (APP)
15%
2. Homework (20%)&Vocab Quizzes (10%)
30%
3. Lesson tests and Oral Presentations
20%
4. Tutoring
5%
5. Oral Project
10%
6. Final Test
20%
Total
100%
Grade Distribution
93-100%=A
90-92%=A-
87-89%=B+ 83-86%=B 80-82%=B77-79%=C+ 73-76%=C 70-72%=C67-69%=D+ 63-66%=D 60-62%=DGrading Notes:=100%
59% and below=F
Note: An incomplete grade will not be considered without official written proof of illness or
unexpected emergency.
1. Attendance Punctuality, Performance (APP) (15%)
Active participation and regular attendance is crucial to the learning of a language. The quizzes,
in-class activity sheets, handed-in homework will be used as a means to track attendance.
Arriving to class 20 minutes late or leaving 20 minutes early without the instructor's permission
will be considered as an absence. To be exempt from unexpected absences, you need to present
official proof. Email notification for personal reasons is required at least one day prior to class
and for illness or emergency on the same day prior to class. Each absence will result in 0.5-point
deduction. Also, the class conduct policy is:
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
2 tardiness equal to 1 absence.
8 unexcused absences will result in a course grade of F.
Students who miss class are responsible for collecting information, such as the course content,
handouts, and assignments, for the class of that day. If you are going to miss class on a day an
assignment is due, you must send a hardcopy of an assignment with a friend or leave it in Qingyu
Yang’s mail box (Swan 112) or office (Swan 138) before class time to receive credit.
2. Homework & Vocab Quizzes (30%)
Homework includes character workbook exercises, workbook exercises. For the character
workbook, you will be assigned with several words every class (around 10), and required to
write each character at least 5 times. And choose 5 words to make a sentence separately. On the
next class, you will have a dictation on the words in your homework.
The hardcopy homework should be handed in in class before on the due date. The softcopy
homework should be uploaded on Sakai. Homework assignments shall be handed in on time
unless official written proof of illness or unexpected emergency is provided. Homework
submitted after the deadline will be deducted 5 points, 1 day, 10 points, 2 days, 15 points, and so
on until no points remain. Missing homework will also receive a zero.
You are expected to prepare for vocabulary, grammar patterns, and text (see the Schedule below)
prior to every class if you have character book homework. Vocab Quizzes will take place to
motivate you to prepare for the new text.
I encourage you to revise your quizzes and lesson tests so that you can regain the points you lost
on the wrong answers. Also, every student have one chance to retake quizzes or lesson tests, and
the final grade for the quiz or test you take for twice will be half of the sum of these two grades.
Homework and Vocab Dictation are designed to help you prepare for the new class and review
what we have covered, that’s why I give a great weight to homework and Vocab Dictation.
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
3. Lesson Tests and Oral Presentation (20%)
To examine your understanding of the learned lessons, lesson tests will take place after each
lesson. It will consist of listening, grammar and reading. There are 4 Lesson Tests this semester.
At the end of every two lessons, there will be an oral presentation. Each student need to do 2
presentations on different topics. You can choose your topic at the first day of the semester, and
you have one chance to change the topic.
4. Tutoring (5%)
At the beginning of the 3rd week, every student needs to go and meet the tutors five times a
semester. You will be assigned with some tasks to finish, and you can also ask you tutor for help
if you are preparing your oral presentation. And the end of each tutoring, you need to ask your
tutor sign the tutoring log for you, and give the log to the teacher on the last day of the class.
Full attendance for tutoring will result in 2 extra credit at the end of this semester.
5. Oral projects (10%)
At the end of this semester, you are asked to do an oral project, which requires you to write a
script and take a video. You are encouraged to do a group task, and try to use as much vocab and
patterns as you can.
At the last day of the semester, we will watch your video together the whole class.
Oral task is a good ways to show students’ language proficiency and help the instructor to
discover deficiency and difficulties in learning and teaching.
6. Final Test (20%)
The final exam covers contents of the whole session. The Final Test is composed of listening,
grammar, and reading.
The exam will not be difficult for those who have actively participated the class, studied the
textbooks, and done the assignments but practically impossible for those who have not.
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
Makeup will be given only when official written proof of illness or unexpected emergency is
provided.
7. Extracurricular Activities
The Chinese program will give a series of cultural lessons and activities related to China’s
society, geography, culture and history (see the Schedule below). Students are encouraged to
participate these extracurricular lessons and activities to earn extra credits and immerse
themselves as deeply as possible in the abundant Chinese cultures. By attending one cultural
lesson or activity you will earn 1 extra point, and that will be added to APP at the end of the
semester.
LEARNING STRATEGY
Easy Steps: Prepare, Practice, Make mistakes, Review, and Learn!
1. To ensure every student is learning in the richest and most effective language-learning
environment ON EARTH, students must know vocabulary, grammar, and text well prior to every
class (see the Schedule below for preparation).
2. The best thing you can do for yourself, and the easiest way to earn a good grade, is to make
sure you attend every single class. We try to save your time by packing all the explanations and
practice into our class time, so you will not have to spend hours on end trying to “get” what’s in
the textbook, or try to guess what is going to be on the test.
3. When in class, participate actively. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. Making mistakes is
part of the learning process; you cannot expect to learn any language well without making years
of mistakes first. We will speak mainly in Chinese. Do not panic if you feel lost. Feel free to ask
questions and just keep trying.
4. Study at least 30 minutes every day. Study effectively. Do not spend all your time copying
characters or pinyin. Organize your notes, e.g. list all the detachable compounds, list all the
“weird” grammar, etc. Exchange mnemonic tricks with others. Use and think Chinese. Listen
and speak whenever you can. Take advantage of little pockets of time.
5. Always keep CPR in mind: Complete daily assignments; Prepare new materials, and Review
old materials (Enjoy CPR!)
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
6. Review any errors you have made on the homework, quizzes, and tests. Make sure you
understand why you missed them and how to correct them before the next lesson.
7. Visit at the office hours of any of our Chinese instructors.
8. Visit the course management website on Sakai to learn the latest announcements and postings
from your instructors.
COURSE POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS
1. Inappropriate use of technology is forbidden for it will interfere with the class.
2. Do not do or chat anything else unrelated in the classroom.
3. Come to class prepared to use the material you studied (with your textbook and any homework
that is due).
REQUIRED MATERIALS：
Integrated Chinese Level 2 Part 1, Textbook, and Workbook
COURSE WEBSITES & OTHERS:

Textbook & Workbook audio files & movies:
http://media.uri.edu/vll/chinese/chinese.html
Username: integrated; password: tao-chung. All lowercase

Make you own flashcards:
https://quizlet.com/
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the University Student Handbook: “"It is a URI CORNERSTONE that "we pursue
knowledge with honesty, integrity, and courage." Therefore, students are expected to be honest
in all their interactions and academic work. … … Students are expected to be honest in all
academic work. A student's name on any written work including assignments, lab reports,
internship reports, papers, or examinations, shall be regarded as assurance that the work is the
result of the student's own thought and study. Work should be stated in the student's own words
and produced without assistance or properly attributed to its source. When students are
authorized to work jointly, group effort must be indicated on the work submitted…” Academic
dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and Internet plagiarism, obtaining unfair advantages,
falsification of records and official documents, misconduct in internships. Academic dishonesty
will not be tolerated and students will suffer the penalty of a course grade of F.
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
Schedule
Wk1
W
F
学习目标（mùbiāo）和能力(nénglì)
功课
Learning objectives and functions
(Due: 下节课)
复习 Review
CB:新生，开学，离家，一辆车，研究生，
自我介绍 Self-introduction
出生，校外，天气，叫车，宿舍
L1
WB: I （A）;III(C,D)
生词 Vocab
语法 Grammar
复习“了”；“是……的”；“除了……以外”;
Practice with the vocab and grammar
wk2
M
W
Study the text
生词 Vocab
CB: 安全，比较，省钱，自由，不见得，好
处，适应，生活，搬家，帮忙
WB: IV(C,D, E ); I (B，C -2)
语法 Grammar
“再说”； “connecting sentences”；“觉
得“；“方便”;；“安全”
F
Practice with the vocab and grammar
Study the text
wk3
M
生词 Vocab
Review all the vocabulary, and prepare for
the dictation.
WB: IV(A,B)
WB: IV(F,G,H,I, J-1,-2,-4)
语法 Grammar
“省钱”；“自由”；“不见得”；
“对……有好处”；“适应”
W
F
Practice with the vocab and grammar
WB: IV (K)
Study the text
复习
第一课考试
L1 written test
Take pictures of your bedroom, upload to
Sakai-Assignment
CB: 同屋，已经，摆着，被子，毯子，
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
衣柜，柜子，前边，挂着，门
wk4
9.26 Mid-autumn Festival Performance 5:00pm @ Edwards Hall (volunteer needed)
L2
WB: I(A,C-2),
M 生词 Vocab
III (A,D)
语法 Grammar
“Existential sentences”; “真“；“比较”；
“恐怕”
W
F
Practice with the vocab and grammar
CB: 空，空调，栋，旧，恐怕，日用品，文
Study the text
具，洗，层，一台洗衣机
生词 Vocab
WB: IV(A, B-1-2,C-2-3, D-1-2, F-2-3-4-5)
语法 Grammar
“差不多”； “adj 得很”；“吵-安静”
wk5
M
W
10.1-10.15 China through my eyes——Photo Contest
Practice with the vocab and grammar
CB: 烘干机，马路，一般，真的，着急，餐
Study the text
馆儿，地道，过几天
WB: IV (G,H)
生词 Vocab
WB: III(C); IV(E)
语法 Grammar
F
wk6
M
W
F
“一般”；“不怎么样”；“地道”；“那么”
Practice with the vocab and grammar
WB: IV(K, J)
Study the text
Review and Oral presentation
topic1: Which one is better? Living on
campus or off campus
topic2: My room
Prepare for the oral presentation
第二课考试
L2 written test
CB:周末，正好，门口，钟头，介绍，留学
L3
生词 Vocab
WB: I (A, C-3)
复习
生，菜单，鸡，清蒸
III(A ,D,H )
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
语法 Grammar
“topic-comment sentence structure”；
“一+V”；“正好”；“特别是”
Practice with the vocab and grammar
wk7
M
W
Study the text
生词 Vocab
CB: 味道，芥蓝，嫩，香，菠菜，叫菜，新
鲜，清淡，咸，油，不如
WB: IV(A, B-2-3, E,G)
语法 Grammar
“又……又……”；“点/来一盘/份”；“
麻烦”；“是”；
F
wk8
M
Practice with the vocab and grammar
CB: 餐巾，各，口味，比如，辣，流口水，
Study the text
考虑，主意，广东，四川
生词 Vocab
WB: I (B,C-2)
III ( E, F)
IV(C,D,H,I)
语法 Grammar
“不如”； “这就要看”；“比如说”；“特别
W
F
wk9
M
是”
Practice with the vocab and grammar
WB: III(B)
Study the text
复习
第三课考试
L3 written test
CB: 像，T 恤衫，毛衣，牛仔裤，无论，需
L4
生词 Vocab
要，卫生纸，牙膏，毛巾，洗衣粉，于是
WB: WB: I (A,C-3)
III(A, E)
IV(B,C)
语法 Grammar
“什么的”；“无论……，都……”；
“于是”；“大小，长短”
W
F
Practice with the vocab and grammar
CB: 购物，牌子，价钱，纯棉，名牌，时
Study the text
髦，质量，只好，道理，不必，非……不可
WB: I (B, C-2)
生词 Vocab
语法 Grammar
III(B,C)
IV(A,D,G)
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
“打折”；“要不然”；“A 是 A，可是”；
“非……不可”
wk10
M
W
Practice with the vocab and grammar
CB: 标准，物美价廉，在乎，同意，难道，
Study the text
好看，贫，咱们，一会儿，现金，加税
Veteran’s Day
老兵节，不上课
F
生词 Vocab
WB: WB: I (C-1)
IV(E,F)
语法 Grammar
“难道”；“标准”；“在乎”；learn how to
present your argument or
disagreement tactfully.
Practice with the vocab and grammar
wk11
M
W
Study the text
Speech Competition
Review and Oral presentation
Topic1: My favorite Chinese food
Topic2: My standards on buying
clothes
WB: IV(I,K)
Prepare for the oral presentation
复习
Speech: How Do Americans View the
Rising China by Prof. Dr. Jie Lu from
American University
F
第四课考试
L4 written test
1. Chinese Movie Night Series
2. International Table Tennis (Ping
Pong) Tournament
L5
wk12
M
生词 Vocab
语法 Grammar
CB: 选，世界，历史，其他，经常，文章，
受不了，轻松，指导，教授，讨论，碰见，
肯定
WB: I (A,C-3)
III(A,C)
IV(E-1,F-2,J,M-1,N-2)
“对 sb 来说……”；“只是”；“受不了”；
“resultative complement”；
W
看电影——watch a movie
Finish movie Q&A-Upload to Sakai
Assignment
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2015 fall --- CHN 205 Composition and Conversation
F
wk13
M
Thanks Giving
感恩节，不上课
Oral project script-1st edition
Upload to Sakai Assignment
due 4th December
Practice with the vocab and grammar
CB:至于，专业，学位，化学，经济，系，
Study the text
学分，决定，解决，工/管理学院，谈，文
学，文/理科
W
生词 Vocab
WB: I (C-2)
IV(D,M-2,N-3)
语法 Grammar
F
wk14
M
“肯定”；“至于”；“另外”；“再，又，还”
Practice with the vocab and grammar
CB: 将来，赚钱，金融，整天，数字，打交
Study the text
道，其实，哲学，申请，省下来，经验，建
生词 Vocab
议，意见
Oral project script-2nd edition
Handwriting Due 11th December
语法 Grammar
“要么……，要么……”；“跟……打
交道”；“这样”；“不过”
W
Practice with the vocab and grammar
Study the text
F
Review & Oral Project—show time
Final Exam: Sat. Dec 19 8:00-11:00 @219 Quinn Hall
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