The course is for those who have completed intermediate level courses either at the College, other U.S. schools, or abroad. Considering the differences in pedagogy, syllabus and textbook that often exist in among the various campus programs and academic institutions in which Wooster students have received language training, we expect some unevenness amongst those enrolled in terms of their linguistic proficiency and ability. We’ll do our best to accommodate the needs of all hoping to continue Chinese. To ensure continuity, we adopt the second volume of the same textbook we use in Chinese 301:
Reading Into A New China: Deciphering a Changing Society;《变化中的中国》Volume II; Duanduan Li, and Irene Liu; Cheng & Tsui, 2010；ISBN: 9780887276934
You are expected to take notes in Chinese, to look up words in the dictionary, to be able to express yourself through oral communication and in writing. With very few exceptions, English is not allowed in this class. We would conduct this class very differently from how we teach Beginning and Intermediate courses in that we expect certain amount of material to be self-taught. In we expect that the basic language training you have received should enable you to teach yourself about new vocabulary and grammar; it is your responsibility to make sure that you understand what transpires in class and raise questions if you do not. Know that the textbook is not the only material for which you are responsible; when appropriate, outside and original materials such as films are introduced to complement the textbook. In a way, you need to initiate an approach to the textbook that makes sense to you. We’ll conduct dictations, assign homework, proctor tests as usual to ensure that true learning takes place. So think of this class as a tutorial with more than one person in it, but participate as if you are the only one there so the instruction has to make sense to you. The more you take into your own hand, the higher your chance of doing well in this class.