LA1PC1: IWLP Chinese 1

Module code: LA1PC1

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mrs Cong Xia Li, email: Congxia.Li@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE LA1PC2 OR TAKE LA1PC3 (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is intended for students of any year of study with little or no knowledge of Mandarin Chinese. It aims to introduce students to the language and enable them to achieve a CEFR A1/A1+ level, a level of proficiency comparable to HSK 1/ 2 (HanYu ShuiPing KaoShi), which entails using basic, concrete language to communicate in familiar everyday situations and exchange personal information.

The module aims at providing students with:

• the ability to communicate in Chinese at survival level in typical situations met when visiting Chinese-speaking countries
• the competence in basic Chinese grammar and vocabulary required to communicate and understand at survival level
• an insight into aspects of everyday life in China.
• an understanding of the nature of language and language learning.

Our small, interactive classes are designed to equip students with communicative language skills in an engaging way.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand the official phonetic system of Mandarin pronunciations
2. Express themselves in Mandarin Chinese in speaking and writing at a simple survival level about a selection of defined everyday topics and within a defined range of written genres
3. Recognise a range of basic Mandarin Chinese vocabulary and grammatical structures, and apply these in both speaking and writing.
4. Evaluate and reflect on their own language learning.

Module content

The module will introduce the language and develop the communicative skills required to exchange basic personal information and participate in selected areas of everyday life relevant to visiting China. Topics include introducing oneself, family, hobbies, food and drinks, study and university life; expressing and understanding simple opinions, making arrangements, and transactions (e.g. shopping). Grammar and vocabulary will be explored in context in an accessible and engaging way, ensuring a solid linguistic foundation.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Our small, interactive classes are designed to equip students with communicative language skills in an engaging way.

The module provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential vocabulary and grammar structures in a communicative context, and is taught as far as possible in the target language. Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as group and pair work, and include the study of short texts, oral development work and listening comprehension exercises. Learning activities are supported by a variety of digital and printed media, and guided independent learning activities also play an important part.

Support is given and adjustments are made for students with disabilities. However, please note that IWLP language modules are communicative in nature and students are required to work in small groups. In addition, students should be aware that spelling, grammar and sentence structure are assessed. In this respect the IWLP assessment is exempt from the University’s requirement to take specific learning difficulties into account when marking in almost all cases.

Study hours

At least 60 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In order to consolidate and develop their language learning, students are encouraged to complete regular tasks – in class and outside – on which ongoing feedback is provided.

Reassessment

Additional costs