Chinese Courses Spring 2021

Spring 2021 - Remote Instruction


Undergraduate Courses

CHN 001 - Section 1 -3 - Elementary Chinese

Lecturer Jiao Li & Lecturer Haiqing Yin

Developing elementary level skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Chinese in everyday communication settings. Introduction of fundamentals of pronunciation, grammar, and Chinese characters will be introduced. 

Lecture/Discussion—5 hour(s)

Prerequisite(s): No background in Chinese or placement exam or consent of instructor. 

GE credit: AH, OL, WC.

CHN 002 Section 1 & 2 - Elementary Chinese

Lecturer I-Chia Lee 

Continuation of elementary level skill development in listening, speaking, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese in everyday communication settings. Continued introduction of basic vocabulary and characters as well as core grammar, and further train pronunciation. 

Lecture/Discussion—5 hour(s)

Prerequisite(s): CHN 001; Or placement exam or consent of instructor.

GE credit: AH, OL, WC. 

CHN 003 Section 1 - 3 - Elementary Chinese

Lecturer Ling-Yu Lu 

Continuation of elementary level skill development in listening, speaking, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese in everyday communication settings. Continued introduction of basic vocabulary and characters as well as core grammar, and further train pronunciation. 

Lecture/Discussion—5 hour(s)

Prerequisite(s): CHN 002; Or placement exam or consent of instructor. 

GE credit: AH, OL, WC. 

CHN 003BL - Accelerated Written Chinese III

Lecturer Haiqing Yin

CHN 006 - Intermediate Chinese

Lecturer Yutian Tan

CHN 006 is the third quarter of the second year Chinese course, designed for students who have successfully complete CHN 005 or who have training equivalent to CHN 005 based on the result of a required placement test. This course employs a holistic and communicative approach in teaching the four skills in language, with a strong emphasis of the practical usage of the acquired knowledge in daily life. As an inseparable element of language learning, Chinese culture will be introduced, associated with the topics in each lesson. The goal is that after the completion of this course, students will be able to use Chinese in an accurate and appropriate way to engage daily life conversations and communicate in various real-life situations such as Chinese festivals, changes in China, traveling, life and health, travelling in China, gender-equality, environmental protection and energy.  

CHN 009 - Chinese Language & Culture

Lecturer Yutian Tan

This course uses the lens of language to provide a general survey of various aspects of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. By focusing on the development and uses of both the spoken and written language, students explore Chinese political and cultural history from foundational influences such as mythology, religion, art, music and opera, to more modern manifestations in film, television and globally distributed foodways. The course will also discuss local dialects, diverse forms of Chinese language (e.g., Cantonese), as well as the cultural and political meanings of language use among different ethnic groups. Attention will also be paid to the role of language--and how it connects to culture--among members of the Chinese diaspora, particularly in the United States. While reading specific case studies and primary texts (including films), students will also consider broader theoretical questions about the relation of language to culture, language hegemonies and the politics of language.
No background in linguistics or language is required, but students will be introduced to the fundamental characteristics of the Chinese language, including the tonal system and the development of characters for writing. This course serves as a gateway class, providing a foundation for students who have no background with Chinese culture or language but are interested in pursuing further study. All readings are in English.

CHN 103 - Modern Chinese Drama in Translation

Prof. Xiaomei Chen

Have you heard of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House?  Do you know that this single play from the West has in fact created modern Chinese spoken drama?  This class tells an amazing story of how Ibsen inspired the creation of modern Chinese feminists in theater and in real life. You do not need any background in Chinese culture, history, and language to do well in this class because we will read and talk about modern Chinese theater in English language. Special attention is paid to the issues of class, gender, race, nation, state, Chinese national characteristics, and their relationship to imported ideas from the West.  Among key questions to be asked are: What is modern Chinese drama?  What does it tell us about the cultural, social, and historical changes in modern China? What was the impact of Western thought and how did it affect Chinese identities, and family and gender relationships?  This class will help you gain a better understanding of the Chinese people and their perceptions to peoples from the rest of the world. 

 Chinese 103 fulfills the General Education Requirements for three areas: (Old): ArtHum, Diversity, Writing; (New): AH, VL, WC. 

CHN 106: Chinese Poetry

Instructor: Qian Jia

CHN 109H: Popular Literature

Instructor: Xuesong Shao

CHN 113 sec 1 &2 - Modern Chinese Reading & Discussion

Lecturer Binbin Yang

This course is the third part of a year-long third-year Chinese course.  The primary goal of this course is to further prepare you to function effectively and accurately in Chinese-speaking environments. The course focuses on all four communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and intends to improve your Chinese to the Intermediate-High or Advanced-Low level formulated by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

CHN 114 - Introduction Classical Chinese

Associate Prof. Yuming He

CHN 116 - Introduction Classical Chinese III

Associate Prof. Chengzhi Chu

Lecture/Discussion—4 hour(s). 

Continuation of enhancing classical Chinese reading skills with selected classical Chinese texts written by well-known figures, composing in a variety of genres. 

Prerequisite(s): CHN 115; or Consent of Instructor. 

GE credit: AH, WC.

Clarification of Prerequisites for CHN 116
关于中文116的注册要求

A student asked: I was placed into CHN 150, can I still take CHN 116 (Introduction to Classical Chinese III) this Spring?

Answer: Yes, students who were placed into CHN 120 and 150 (or have finished CHN 115) can all take CHN 116. CHN 116 is a continuation of CHN 114 and 115 of the Introduction to Classical Chinese course series. CHN 120 and 150 are "Modern Chinese" courses, which are not in the same sequence of CHN 116. For further questions, contact Prof. Chu (czchu@ucdavid.edu) , the instructor of 116 in the Spring.

有同学问:我的中文分班考试分到了 CHN 150,  是不是就不可以上 CHN 116  (Introduction Classical Chinese III)了?

回答:不是。分班考试分到CHN 120和150(或者学了CHN115)的同学都可以上 CHN 116。 CHN 116 是一门 “古代汉语导论”课程(前面两学季是CHN 114 和 115),学习基础阶段的文言文。CHN 120 和 150是“现代汉语”课程,与 CHN 116不是同一个系列,因此学习了120和150,还可以注册116。 如有问题,可与CHN 116课程老师联系。2021年春季的任课老师是储老师 (czchu@ucdavis.edu)。

CHN 120 sec 1 & 2 - Advanced Chinese

Lecturer Yu Li

Course Description:

This course is offered to students who have successfully completed the third-year Mandarin Chinese series (CHN 111–113) or have equivalent competence as suggested by the Placement Evaluation result. The primary goal of this course is to help prepare you to satisfy the linguistic requirements of a broad variety of school, work, and social-cultural situations in a Chinese-speaking environment. Specifically, the course has TWO FOCUSES: 1) develop diverse language strategies to report facts, support opinions, explain in detail, and hypothesize in areas of special interest with well-organized discourse; and 2) increase awareness of the aesthetic properties of written Chinese, especially its literary writings. By the end of the course, you are expected to reach a Chinese proficiency rating of Advanced-Low to Advanced-Mid level on a scale formulated by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

CHN 150 - Fifth year Chinese

Associate Prof. Yuming He

Examination of literary works and scholarly essays on selected topics of Chinese culture and society. Development of a deep understanding of Chinese culture and society through sophisticated Chinese speaking and writing exercises. May be repeated up to 3 time(s) when topic differs. 

Lecture/Discussion—4 hour(s)

Prerequisite(s): CHN 120; Or placement exam or consent of instructor. 

GE credit: AH, OL, WC, WE.