Course teached as: B005604 - LINGUA E LETTERATURA CINESE Second Cycle Degree in LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ANCIENT AND MODERN EAST
Teaching Language
English, Chinese and Italian
Course Content
The course is divided in two components, the linguistic one and the theoretical and critical one. For the linguistic part, the course is aimed at taking the students to the HSK4 level of standard Chinese (CEFR B2), while for the theoretical and critical, the course will first analyze some concepts related to Chinese culture that have been lively debated in recent years and then the it will focus on some aspects related to cultural contact between China and Italy.
For the linguistic part:
materials for the preparation of the HSK4 level exam provided by the native speaking instructor
For the theoretical and critical parts:
excerpts from the following works (some of the materials will also be available in Chinese translation):
Bowman Paul (ed) , 2010, The Rey Chow reader, Columbia University Press.
Pedone Valentina, 2013, A Journey to the West: Observations on the Chinese Migration to Italy, FUP.
Shih Shu-Mei, Tsai Chien-hsin, Bernards Brian (eds), 2013, Sinophone Studies: A Critical Reader, Columbia University Press.
Zhang Gaoheng, 2019, Migration and the Media: Debating Chinese Migration to Italy, 1992-2012, University of Toronto Press.
Readings from:
AAVV, 2019, Cinarriamo: Racconti sino-italiani, Orientalia editrice.
衡之, 2018, 非常滅, 博克思出版社
Hirst Bamboo, 2005, Blu Cina, Piemme
胡兰波, 2015, 说走就走!从北京到罗马 一场延续30年的旅行, 中国华侨出版社
龙三条, 2009, 罗马天空下, 陕西师范大学出版社
李叔蔓,2002, 缤纷罗马,国际文化出版公司
Rocchi Ciaj, Demonte Matteo, Primavere e autunni, Becco Giallo (disponibile anche in cinese).
Shi Yang Shi, 2017, Cuore di seta: La mia storia italiana made in China, Mondadori.
Wong Marco, 2010, Nettare rosso, Compagnia delle lettere.
More materials will be available on moodle.
Learning Objectives
The 60 hour course of prof. Pedone will focus on the analysis of the concepts of Chinese language and culture and to the study of intercultural exchange between China and Italy.
Aims of the course:
a. to introduce students to different positions in the debate around Chinese culture;
b. to familiarize students with the critical instruments required for the analysis of cultural productions of people of Chinese heritage outside continental China;
c. to enable students to develop a critical consciousness and an awareness of critical theory and culture theory through detailed analyses of representative texts and materials produced within the historical framework of the exchanges between China and Italy.
1. Knowledge and understanding: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding in historical and cultural contexts of the people of Chinese origin living outside continental China and will acquire the critical tools to cope with the formal and substantive components of the texts and materials analyzed during the lessons.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will learn how to apply processes, models, questions, and theories that result in enhanced clarity in the comprehension of texts and materials included in the program, which will be appreciated in both their formal and their contextual features.
3. Making judgements: Students will develop the ability to discuss the cultural questions considered during the course, proposing critical perspectives and well-grounded judgements on the texts and materials included in the program.
4. Communication skills: Students will develop the ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, with particular reference to themes and questions considered during the lessons.
5. Learning skills: Students will acquire the methodological tools needed to read, analyze and understand cultures within their historical, social and political context.
The 40 hour course of the native speaking instructor will allow the students to comprehend complex texts that are both abstract or concrete, as well as technical discussions in their field of specialization. The students will be able to interact with a certain fluency and spontaneity that will make it possible to have a natural interaction with native speakers without an effort on behalf of the interlocutor. The exit level in Chinese is equivalent to an HSK 4 (B2- in the CEFR)
Prerequisites
A competence equal or above HSK3 level in standard Chinese is required. A competence equal to B2 (CEFR) in Italian and in English is also required.
Teaching Methods
Attending prof. Pedone’s classes is mandatory for all students. Such classes are held in either English or Italian according to the needs of he class. Frontal lectures by prof. Pedone will be alternated with seminars and lectures by guest lecturers, as well as group activities that require the active participation of the students.
The drill sessions held by the Chinese native speaking instructor provided by the Confucius Institute at the University of Florence are mandatory only for those students who are not Chinese native speakers. During the drill sessions the students will dp practical exercises of reading, writing, speaking and listening in Chinese. The drill sessions with the native speaking instructor take place the entire academic year, while the classes of prof. Pedone will take place only in the second semester.
Further information
The linguistic component of the course takes place both semesters, while the theoretical and critical part of the course will take place only in the second semester.
Type of Assessment
As far as the linguistic component of the course is concerned, the final exam consists of a written test of Chinese language at the end of the course. The test is based on grammar, translation, reading and writing exercises for the NON Chinese native speaking students and on translation exercises between Chinese and Italian for the Chinese native speakers.
As far as the theoretical and critical part is concerned, the students are required to hand a total of five assignments throughout the course of the semester. Such assignments consist in group or individual presentations on topics discussed in class. At the end of the course the students will also have to hand in a paper of about 8 pages on a topic decided along with the professor that has been covered during the course.
To pass the final exam it is necessary to prove a sufficient level of preparation in all the three parts (written test of Chinese language, assignments, final paper). The final assessment is constituted by the average grade of the three parts of the final exam, that can be furtherly improved if the student participated actively to the classes with their individual contribution.
Grades are given on the basis of 30 points. Points are awarded if students are able to
1) describe form and contents of the materials studied,
2) understand, summarize and propose critical readings of those materials,
3) elaborate personal judgements that are solidly grounded on the materials and/or secondary literature,
4) use appropriate terms.
Nos. 1 and 4 are essential in order to obtain the minimum passing grade (18/30); higher evaluations depend on to what extent’ students have developed their skills in all four points listed above.
Course program
The concepts of Chineseness and Cultural China: different positions
Sinophone studies: theory and case studies
Intercultural relations between China and Italy: Italians in China and Chinese in Italy, characteristics and expressions of Sino-Italian culture.