Chinese - Beginning II

Course Overview

This is one of two entry-level courses for the study of Chinese at One Schoolhouse. Please review course selection guidance before registering. Chinese – Beginning II is designed for students with little or no experience in learning Chinese but who are prepared for a high school level online language course. Students develop basic language skills in a cultural context by understanding and responding to structured social conversations. Starting with the introduction of the Chinese language system including Pinyin, tones, radicals, and characters, this course focuses on students' production of simple sentences and brief paragraphs related to the topics of greeting, sharing personal information and preferences, introducing others, making plans, and discussing school life. The corresponding cultural knowledge is introduced at appropriate intervals to enrich students' understanding of Chinese culture. Care is taken to create an authentic learning experience in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the online environment. Students improve their overall language proficiency through weekly interactions with their teacher and classmates, in addition to using a variety of internet resources and audio and video materials. Engaging activities include playing games, performing songs and tongue twisters, writing stories, collaborating on projects, taking virtual field trips, and acting out roles in movies. This course aligns with Cheng and Tsui’s Integrated Chinese Level I, lessons zero through six. By the end of Chinese - Beginning II, students will be able to handle the basic functions with structured grammatical patterns in daily communication and gain a solid foundation for future learning.