Mandarin Level 4

On successful completion of this module, you will be better prepared to:

• express yourself in writing, using sophisticated and descriptive vocabulary and structures, including a limited number of four-character phrases;
• deploy a wide range of grammatical function words related to the manner in which actions are carried out and/or completed, identifying the appropriate structure to apply when talking about past events;
• engage with and respond to a selection of aural material;
• answer general questions orally;
• complete an unseen practical task describing past events using spoken Mandarin.

In this module, your work may cover the following linguistic structures:

• Revision and expansion of sentence particle and verb suffix "le";
• Experiential guo;
• The shi…de… construction;
• The directional complement;
• Comparative forms;
• The predicative complement;
• The complement of degree;
• The resultative complement;

These linguistic structures will be applied to the following topics:

• Travel
• Language learning
• Calligraphy and art
• Family and social relationships
• Study and work
• Chinese cuisine

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; individual tasks; discovery and formulation of rules; work with texts, audio, and video material, to develop learning and communicative skills. Preparation tasks and formative assessment tasks will give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge and skills, and to develop an awareness of how to use language-learning tools independently. Tasks and independent study and support materials are set every week on the VLE, to reinforce topics covered at your own pace.

Feedback will be given for tasks submitted, to ensure you are supported to complete your work and are aware of assessment expectations. Feedback on formative assessments is given within two weeks of all students having submitted their work.

• Coursework (15%): Mid-autumn term, task-based portfolio, to be completed on the VLE by the beginning of spring term. This pack contains seven tasks in total, including: listening; grammar & lexicon quiz; script practice; speaking; and reading.
• Coursework (20%): Mid-spring term, task-based portfolio, to be completed on the VLE by the end of term. This pack contains five tasks in total, including: listening; grammar & lexicon quiz; script practice; speaking; and reading.  
• Examination (20%): In-class listening comprehension test at the end of spring term.
• Examination (25%): 90-minute in-class test: writing (approx. 300 characters). 
• Practical (20%): Oral exam in the summer term (20 minutes), consisting of an unseen practical language task, followed by general conversation.

Summative assessment consists of two portfolios comprising a total of 12 coursework tasks, an in-class listening test and a written test at the end of spring term, and one practical i.e., oral, examination (in the summer term).  Coursework and written/ oral examinations all contribute to the final grade.

• 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 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; and its accompanying Character Text for Colloquial Chinese (Simplified Character Version), prepared by P.C. T’ung.  ISBN 0-415-01860-9
AND
Can I Dance with You? (2nd edition) by Yuehua Liu, Chengzhi Chu, Shaoling Zhao. Chinese Breeze Graded Reader Series, Peking University Press, 2018.

*Available on Leganto as an eBook