This course provides a deeper understanding of Chinese lexicon and of some grammatical features of modern Chinese, that are presented in situational contexts and with a natural approach which allow students to acquire the capability of communicate and get involved in gradually more articulate backgrounds.
Masini, F. et al., Il cinese per gli italiani, vol. 2, Hoepli, Milano, 2010.
Additional material provided in class or published on MOODLE.
Students are invited to take a small dictionary. Recommended dictionaries: Zhao, X., Gatti, F, Dizionario compatto cinese italiano, italiano cinese e conversazioni, Zanichelli, 2017. Dizionario cinese (Piccoli), Garzanti, 2012.
Learning Objectives
- Knowledge and understanding: the course aims to provide a deeper understanding of syntactic structures - simple and complex - and increase students’ lexicon of modern Chinese. By the end of the course, students should be able to comprehend and use of complex sentences which allow them to communicate in various contexts. The expected language level is level B1/B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), corresponding to levels HSK 3 and HSK4.
- Making judgements: By the end of the course, students should be able to draw information on Chinese lexicon, phonology and on syntax from electronic and traditional dictionaries; reference texts and specialized application programs.
- Communication skills: by the end of the 130 hours’ course, students should be able to read and comprehend intermediate level texts, translate sentences from and in Chinese, sustain a conversation on daily life topics.
- Learning skills: by the end of the course, students are able to consult bilingual dictionaries and to make use of specialized applications or online resources both to practice autonomously the Chinese language and to enrich ones’ cultural horizons by getting directly in touch with the Chinese reality.
Prerequisites
This course is designed for year-2 students who have complete the course of year-1 Chinese language. A basic knowledge of the Italian language and of its main formal characteristics is a prerequisite for this course.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, exercises in class, independent study.
Further information
This course consists in two complementary and interrelated modules:
- Analysis of simple and complex syntactic structures; contrastive analysis of lexicon and development of students' ability in communicating in oral and written Chinese through exercises in class or at home (Castorina, 30 hours).
- Study of both oral and written forms of modern Chinese; study of lexicon; listening and oral skills practice (Guo, 80 hours).
Type of Assessment
Written and oral test. The written test consists in a dictation exercise, grammar quizzes, close and open questions, pattern drills, translation
from Chinese to Italian and vice versa.
The final exam consists of a written test, that, if passed, allows the student to have access to the oral test. Students who pass the written test must take the oral test in the same session, as written and oral tests are two parts of the same exam.
The oral test consists in reading, translating and commenting one of the texts featured in the manual used during the course.
Course program
- Complements (of degree, quantity or duration, of direction, potential complement);
- Existential Sentences;
- Modal and aspectual particles;
- verbal classifiers;
- sentences with particle ba;
- ways to express future actions;
- sentences with bei;
- comparative sentences;
- figurative use of compound directional complements;
- figurative use of interrogative pronouns.