Chinese

This course introduces students to modern Chinese literature from the early 20th century to the 1980s. Readings cover a range of genres, including poetry, prose, and fiction, supplemented by selected units on comics and film. The course begins with the May Fourth era and the rise of the “New Literature” movement, concluding with the literary transformations following China’s Reform and Opening in the 1980s. Each unit integrates key literary movements and foundational theories, guiding students to explore how writers’ life experiences and creative expressions reflect the broader historical evolution of modern China.

This is an introductory course in Chinese (Mandarin) for students with no prior knowledge of the language. The course, which enables students to reach the A1.1 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for languages, introduces the tonal system and the four fundamental skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) with a focus on communication. Students also develop awareness of Chinese culture.

This course emphasizes both Taiwanese Hokkien and orthography. Through language analysis, it helps master the phonological system of Taiwanese Hokkien and its basic rules of word and sentence formation, such as the phonological system, rules of phonological changes, vocabulary characteristics, and sentence-making exercises. It also introduces and discusses regional differences in Taiwanese accents. This course incorporates everyday Taiwanese materials, including proverbs, folk songs, and dramas. It strengthens learners' native language sense and improves their basic abilities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Taiwanese while acquiring vocabulary, syntax, and conversational skills.

This course teaches beginning Chinese language. The course teaches grammar, vocabulary, and expressions through tasks focused on developing the ability to communicate in Chinese. This course enables students to develop skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing basic Chinese, while increasing their awareness of the Chinese speaking world.  By the end of the semester, students are expected to have mastered pronunciation, basic grammar and possess enough vocabulary to manage to communicate in daily life, using simple Chinese expressions. Equal emphasis is placed on the four (listening, speaking, writing and reading) skills.