Chinese (CHIN)

An exploration of significant questions and integrative concepts in Chinese Studies, their grounding in the process of scientific discovery and application, and their broader relevance to society. Designed for first-year students. Although topics vary, the courses also seek to improve students’ communication skills beyond the written word.

Training in grammar, pronunciation, aural-oral skills, reading and writing. The work includes intensive practice in speaking and understanding. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required. CHIN101 is for students who have no Mandarin learning background. Heritage students or students who studied Chinese before should take placement test or seek permission from instructor before enrollment. The department reserves the right to place any student in the course most appropriate for his or her skill level.

Training in grammar, pronunciation, aural-oral skills, reading and writing. The work includes intensive practice in speaking and understanding. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required.

For beginning Chinese heritage learners students with basic oralaural skills, but cannot read or write. While focusing on reading and writing, it continues to provide training in listening and speaking. Interested students who are unsure about their language level are encouraged to consult with instructor before enrollment. The department reserves the right to place any student in the course most appropriate to his or her skill level.

An exploration of a specific topic in Chinese Studies. A grade of C- or better fulfills the COLL 150 requirement. Although topics vary, the courses emphasize academic writing skills, reading and analysis of texts, and discussion.

Introduces the art and practice of Chinese calligraphy. Consists of introduction on the history, principle and aesthetic values of Chinese characters and calligraphy and hand-on experience on brush writing. No knowledge of Chinese or calligraphy is required.

This number is intended for language courses completed in China. Intensive language training at the intermediate level.

Training in conversation, grammar, reading and elementary composition. The work includes intensive practice in speaking and understanding. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required.

Training in conversation, grammar, reading and elementary composition. The work includes intensive practice in speaking and understanding. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required.

A bridge course between 200 and 300 levels. It focuses on the development of integrated language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. It targets, but is not limited to, students who have completed 4 years of Chinese in high school but find 300-level courses at college too challenging. It is also ideal for students who studied CHIN 200 in the summer through the China study-abroad program and would like to consolidate their skills at this level before moving on to CHIN 301. This course can count toward the Chinese major.

A bridge course between 200 and 300 levels. It continues the focus in CHIN 207 on the development of integrated language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Ideal for students who have completed CHIN 200, CHIN 202 or the equivalent (in high school and at college) and would like to consolidate their skills at this level before moving on to CHIN 301. This course can count toward the Chinese major.

For students with basic oral-aural skills. While focusing on reading and writing, it continues to provide training in listening and speaking. Completion of this course satisfies language requirement.

This course provides students with an in-depth exploration and study of the range of cultural forms that constitute Chinese popular culture spanning from the late-Imperial to contemporary periods.

An introduction to methods, analysis, and sources in Chinese cultural studies, spanning a range of time periods and variety of aesthetic genres. Each course will focus on a central theme determined by instructor.

An introduction to East Asian cultures through the modern and contemporary film of China, Taiwan and Japan. The class takes a cross-cultural approach by looking at various social, political and cultural themes as they vary across time and across East Asian countries.

This number is intended for courses completed in China. Intensive language training at the upper-immediate level.

Continued training in conversation, grammar and composition with special emphasis on reading and writing. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required.

Continued training in conversation, grammar and composition with special emphasis on reading and writing. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required.

Topics in Chinese Language, Culture or Literature. Offered on campus or abroad either in English or Chinese. A systematic study of a major topic or theme in Chinese language, culture or literature that is not covered by regularly offered courses.

This course is designed to train students’ ability to interpret written Chinese through in-depth readings in Chinese literature and other types of cultural expression.

This course is an introduction to the major works of pre-20th century Chinese literature in English Translation. This includes early philosophy (including the Confucian Classics and early Daoist texts), poetry, drama, short stories and novels, with emphasis on the cultural and historical context in which these works were written. This class is arranged chronologically, but within each period our discussions will be thematic.

Open to students who have taken two years of college-level Chinese. Course teaches special language skills for the business environment. Introduces students to the social and cultural values and customs of the contemporary Chinese business world.

This course examines the practice of love and gender relationships in pre-modern China with an emphasis on the presentation of women in literary texts. Readings vary in genres and are analyzed within their own cultural, historical, and philosophical context.

A study of major 20th-century works, trends and movements. Pays special attention to the period from the end of the Cultural Revolution (1976) to present. Taught in English. Students with advanced language skills, with the consent of instructor, may take a 4th credit for reading and discussions (one additional hour per week) in the original language.

This course introduces students to the basic syntax, grammar and vocabulary of Classical Chinese. Students will study abbreviated historical and philosophical narratives, set phrases (chengyu), poems, and short stories from the classical and medieval periods.

An introduction to Chinese cinema from its beginnings to the present day. Emphasis will be placed on Chinese cinemas relationship to popular culture, modernity and nationalism.

This course is an introduction to leveraging the processing power of modern computers to study Chinese culture. This course will introduce you to a variety of newly developed digital tools, algorithms, and datasets that allow us to pursue new insights into traditional Chinese literature and culture. You will engage with new scholarship being published in the rapidly expanding field of the digital humanities and learn how to create digital research projects from scratch. You will be introduced to the basics of text mining, network analysis, mapping, and digital exhibition creation, among other things. We will draw examples from the imperial Chinese tradition and cover the challenges and rewards of working with Chinese language materials using computer systems originally designed for western languages (the lessons we learn will be applicable to people working in other non-Latinate languages like Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, and Sanskrit). While some of the materials we will learn to analyze are in Chinese, we will also work with English language datasets and literature in translation. As such, the class will be open and accessible to students who do not know any Chinese. No technical skills or programming experience required.

This course examines the meaning and expression of traditional Chinese poetry and their historical context. Poems are read in their original language (with English annotations) and discussion is conducted in English. Proper for students who have completed two years of Chinese language study or with instructor permission.

This number is intended for courses completed in China. Intensive language training at the advanced level.

Intensive oral-aural training with emphasis on conducting effective communication in advanced spoken Chinese. Priority given to Chinese and East Asian Studies majors.

Continued Intensive oral-aural training with emphasis on conducting effective communication in advanced spoken Chinese. Priority given to Chinese and East Asian Studies majors.

Continued intensive training in grammar and word usage with special emphasis given to formal journalistic, expository and literary discourse. Priority given to Chinese and East Asian Studies majors.

CHIN405 is a rigorous advanced-level language course aiming to develop students’ language proficiency by discussing and analyzing authentic journalistic articles, chosen from multiple news sources with different readership, on various aspects of modern societies such as government, business, crime, education, environment, and entertainment. Prerequisite: CHIN 300 or CHIN302 or CHIN303 or CHIN400, or consent of instructor.

CHIN 406 continues to develop students’ language proficiency at the advanced level by discussing and analyzing authentic journalistic articles, chosen from multiple news sources with different readership, on various aspects of modern societies such as government, business, crime, education, environment, and entertainment. CHIN405 is not a necessary pre-requisite; while CHIN 405 and CHIN 406 follow similar structures, the materials covered in both will differ every semester, and they will focus on current issues and developments. Prerequisite: CHIN 300 or CHIN 302 or CHIN 303 or CHIN 400 or CHIN 405, or consent of instructor.

An advanced study of a focused topic in Chinese language, civilization or literature. This course may be offered locally at the College or abroad in the Chinese Studies in Beijing Program.

This course is designed to permit an in-depth study of the Chinese language or literature not available in current course offerings. A written petition to the instructor and approval of the department chair is required before registration.

A mentored teaching internship experience for students to work closely with a faculty member in teaching either a language or content course.

This capstone course guides students in conducting in-depth studies on issues in Chinese language, culture or literature and it requires students to complete an independent research project. Satisfies concentration computing requirement and concentration writing requirement.