Teaching code

4S003701

Credits

9

Coordinator

Anna Morbiato

Language

Chinese

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-OR/21 - CHINESE AND SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

Moodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing students with the basic elements of phonetics, writing and basic sentence structure. Introduction to written and spoken Chinese and acquisition of the language skills in Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese). By the end of the course students are able to interact in simple conversations about daily topics, to read and comprehend simple texts. Besides, students have acquired the basic structures of the simple sentence and the characters’ formative principles, their structure and classification.
Attendance is mandatory.

Program

Introduction to phonetics, Chinese writing system and syntax. Different clause types, modal particles, advers, nouns and noun phrases, verbs and verbal adjuncts, aspect (chapters 1 to 5 textbook by Abbiati). In-class exercises on grammar points and oral interactions, aimed at developing communication skills and widening students' lexicon. Reading, writing, speaking and listening exercises (lessons 1 to 16 colloqial Chinese workbook by Abbiati and Zhang).
Lectures involve the active participation of students through exercises and linguistic analysis of texts. Applied language activities on writing, reading, listening and the development of oral proficiency are provided by mother-tongue teachers.

Course texts:

-Abbiati, Magda (2011) “Grammatica di cinese moderno”. Venezia: Cafoscarina.
-Ross, Claudia and Ma Jing-heng Sheng. 2014. Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar, Second Edition. London and New York: Routledge.
-Abbiati, Magda; Zheng Ruifang (2011). “Dialogare in cinese. Corso di lingua colloquiale, vol. I”. Venezia: Cafoscarina, lezioni 12-24.
-Abbiati, Magda; Zheng Ruifang (2011). “Dialogare in cinese. Corso di lingua colloquiale, vol. II”. Venezia: Cafoscarina, lezione 25.

Additional teaching material will be used and provided by the teacher during the lessons and uploaded on the e-learning page of the course.

Recommended texts:

-Romagnoli, Chiara (2012). “Grammatica cinese”. Milano: Hoepli.
-Cui Songren (2004). “Business Chinese. An Advanced Reader”. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

Recommended Chinese-Italian/Italian-Chinese dictionaries:

-Casacchia, Giorgio; Bai Yukun (2013). Dizionario Cinese-Italiano. Venezia: Cafoscarina. [only Chinese-Italian]
-Zhao Xiuying (a cura di) (2013). Il dizionario di cinese. Bologna: Zanichelli.
-Zhang Shihua (a cura di) (2007). Dizionario di cinese. Milano: Hoepli.

Recommended Chinese-English dictionaries:

-Lin Yuan (ed.) (2002). The Contemporary Chinese Dictionary. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
-Hui Yu (ed.) (2004). A New Century Chinese-English Dictionary. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

The final exam consists of a written test on grammar and writing, a listening test and a conversation in Chinese.
Each part of the test has a ten-points worth. Students must obtain at least 6/10 points in each part of the test in order to pass the exam. All the parts of the exam must be passed in the same date: whoever wants or needs to repeat the exam must repeat all of its parts (written test, listening and conversation).
The details about the test will be published on the e-learning page.
HSK certificates will not be accepted as substitute for the exam, nor any of its part. Since attendance is mandatory, students who don't reach 60% of the attendance will not be admitted to the exam. Between 60% and 75% of the attendace students must prepare an additional material for the exam (see syllabus in the previous page). To justify non-attendance certificates proving a real and well-graounded reason (health, study or HSK certificates from level 2 to level 6) will be considered. These certificates should be submitted to the teacher before the exam.