Note: The Department Waitlist policy for all courses is 2 - Go to the department office to get on a waitlist, and then attend the first class meeting. Policies and procedures for handling the waitlist will be explained there.
Students wanting to begin language study, at a level other than first year, must take a placement exam to be held on September 2.
Take me to the Fall Time Schedule
Culture Courses/Literature Courses
250. Undergraduate Seminar
in Chinese Culture. No knowledge of Chinese language
is required. (3). (HU). May be repeated with department permission.
See Asian Studies 250. (Feuerwerker)
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Times, Location, and Availability
451. Literary Chinese.
Chinese 202 or 362. (4). (Excl).
Literary Chinese is the gateway to the vast treasures of Chinese
literature, history, and culture. One cannot really come to know
traditional China, or even modern China, without the ability to
read literary Chinese. It is the language for the overwhelming
majority of whatever was written in Chinese from the very beginnings
to this century. Although there are some similarities and continuities
between literary and modern Chinese, a class of this type is really
necessary to help you open up the riches that lie waiting there.
The class is designed to serve the needs of both undergraduate
and graduate students, of both specialists (and would-be specialists)
and those who are just curious about the Chinese literary heritage.
Reading materials include a textbook, A First Course in Literary
Chinese, and handouts especially picked to reinforce the
material in the textbook. Even in just this first half of a two-term
sequence, the student will be introduced to many famous works
of Chinese literature, the kind of pieces that have been memorized
and chanted by Chinese down through the ages. There are brief
weekly exercises, as well as a midterm and final. WL:2
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Times, Location, and Availability
468/Phil. 468. Classical
Chinese Thought (To A.D. 220). Upperclass standing;
no knowledge of Chinese required. (3). (HU).
This course focuses on the major philosophical schools of the
Zhou-Han period; this period was roughly equivalent in time and intellectual fertility to the classical ages of Greece and Rome.
Among these schools, special consideration is given to the Confucian
and Daoist schools, since the doctrines associated with these
were the sources of two major philosophical traditions in China
for the next 2000 years and affected very significant cultural
developments in the arts, religion, science, and politics. The
course concentrates on Chinese ethics and political philosophies
(with notable exceptions in the case of certain Daoist thinkers)
and on the theories of human nature that were associated with them. Chinese philosophers have been somewhat unusual in occupying
or at least aspiring to occupy political office and this has affected the form and practice of their political theorizing. There is
some background consideration of the social and living conditions
of the periods in which the various philosophies emerged. No knowledge
of Chinese is required. Readings are in translation. All students
are required to write three papers, 12-15 double-spaced typed
pages in length, on selected topics from the assigned readings.
WL:2 (Ivanhoe)
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Times, Location, and Availability
471. Classical Chinese
Literature in Translation. No knowledge of Chinese
required. (3). (HU).
This course looks at the foundational period of traditional Chinese
literature, from the very beginnings to the 13th century. A large
variety of different types of writing are introduced, from philosophical
works to poetry to short fiction. An ample anthology, Stephen
Owen's Anthology of Chinese Literature, contains the
bulk of the readings, as well as witty commentary by the editor.
This anthology will be supplemented with course pack material
in areas that are not very well represented (e.g., Buddhist
writings and fiction). Background on Chinese society and interactions
between literature, culture, and history will be conveyed through
short lectures and through a secondary text, A Guide to Chinese
Literature. Even though some lecturing will, regrettably, have to take place, the emphasis will be on students reaction
to and understanding of the texts read and discussion will be
welcomed and promoted. Students will take a midterm and a final, write three short papers, and participate in class. The writing
of good papers will be emphasized. WL:2
(Rolston)
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Times, Location, and Availability
476/Asian Studies 476/RC
Hums. 476. Writer and Society in Modern China. No
knowledge of Chinese is required. (4). (HU).
This is an invitation to study examples of twentieth-century Chinese
literature, a literature produced during a period of historical
upheaval and itself a battleground for political, cultural, and aesthetic issues. But we also want to understand and appreciate the artistry and diversity of these literary works. We will examine:
external "reality" as projected by our texts; ideological
pressures of a shifting political context; the influx of Western
influences and the breakdown of tradition; changing views of gender
and sexuality; the role and self-conception of the writer – as
avant-garde rebel, historical witness, social critic, or political
martyr – particularly in confronting the oppressed "other"
as woman or peasant. What is the purpose or meaning of writing?
Given the often fatal risks involved, why write? Readings will
include stories by Lu Xun, Family (Ba Jin), Rickshaw
(Lao She), "Miss Sophie's Diary" (Ding Ling), etc., examples of Communist "revolutionary literature", some stories from Taiwan. The second half of the term will deal
with post-Mao works, as writers "rethink" themselves
and the Communist revolution, search for cultural roots, explore
issues of sexuality and subjectivity, experiment with new techniques.
We will look at parallel developments in the visual arts and in the "new cinema" through such films as Yellow Earth, Red Sorghum, etc. Class format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: three short papers, a final exam. No knowledge of Chinese required.
WL:2 (Feuerwerker)
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Times, Location, and Availability
Language Courses
101. Beginning Chinese.
(5). (LR).
Chinese 101 is an introductory course for students who do not
understand or speak any Chinese. (If you speak Chinese at home, this is not the right course for you. Take the placement exam
in the fall for Chinese 301/302.) In this course, students are
expected to achieve control of the sound system (especially the
four tones), basic sentence patterns, aural comprehension, and daily conversations. Starting with the fourth week, students will
learn to read and write the "traditional" Chinese characters (Fan-ti zi). Students will learn 100 characters in Chinese
101. Almost every week, students will be required to do their
homework at the computer sites and will be required to perform
skits in front of the class. A written quiz or test will be given
every Thursday. Class is held one hour per day: Tuesdays and Thursdays
are lectures; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are recitations.
Students are required to register for both a lecture section and a recitation section. Attendance will be taken everyday. Textbooks:
(a) John DeFrancis, Beginning Chinese (Yale Univ. Press);
(b) John DeFrancis, Beginning Chinese Reader, Part I and II
(Yale Univ. Press). Materials covered: Beginning Chinese,
Lessons 1-13. Beginning Chinese Reader, Lessons 1-12.
No visitors are allowed. WL:2
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Times, Location, and Availability
201. Second-Year Chinese.
Chinese 102. (5). (LR).
Students electing Chinese 201 should have mastered the spoken
language material presented in DeFrancis' Beginning Chinese
or a similar introductory text and should be able to recognize
and write about 400 characters and 1200 combinations. The goals
of Chinese 201 are (a) to dramatically improve spoken and aural
competence and (b) to achieve a solid level of reading with a
vocabulary of at least 900 characters and accompanying combinations.
These goals are approached through relentless classroom drills, in-class and out-of-class exercises, and regular use of language
tapes. Students are graded on the basis of rigorous written tests
and quizzes, regular oral presentations, and daily attendance.
The text is Intermediate Reader of Modern Chinese (Princeton
University Press, 1992), Lessons 1-11. No visitors are allowed.
WL:2
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Times, Location, and Availability
225. Calligraphy. Chinese
101. (1). (Excl). May be repeated for a total of three credits.
To explore the richness of Chinese calligraphy, this class is
designed to include a series of fundamental introductions to the
history of Chinese calligraphy and a brief theoretical framework
for evaluation and appreciation; in addition, a practice session
will be held in each class to facilitate a hands-on learning process.
WL:2
Check
Times, Location, and Availability
301. Reading and Writing
Chinese. Permission of instructor. No credit granted
to those who have completed or are enrolled in Chinese 101, 102, or 361. (4). (LR).
This course is designed for students with native or near-native
speaking ability in Chinese, but little or no reading and writing
ability. Chinese 301 focuses on reading and writing Chinese and will cover the regular 101-102 reading materials. Students will
be graded on the basis of daily classroom performance, daily quizzes, periodic tests, and homework assignments. The basic text is Beginning
Chinese Reader by John DeFrancis. WL:2
Check
Times, Location, and Availability
378. Advanced Spoken
Chinese. Chinese 202 or 362. (2). (Excl). May be
repeated for a total of four credits.
This course is designed as a spoken language supplement to the
post-second year Chinese reading courses. The purpose of Chinese
378 is to continue building on the foundation of spoken competence
laid down in first- and second-year Chinese by providing two hours
a week for students to talk, talk, and talk. This is accomplished through presentation of brief speeches and discussions on topics
selected by the class. The role of the instructor, who serves
as a coordinator for the class, is not to teach students how to
speak Chinese, but to encourage and coach them in speaking Chinese.
Vocabulary lists will be provided before and after each discussion
session. The grade will be determined by students' attendance, participation in discussion, oral presentations, and vocabulary
quizzes. This course is not for native speakers, auditors, or
sit-ins. WL:2
Check
Times, Location, and Availability
405. Third-Year Chinese.
Chinese 202 or 362. (5). (Excl).
Chinese 405 and 406 comprise a two-term sequence that makes up the third year of study in the Chinese program. All four basic
skills – reading, writing, listening, and speaking – are stressed.
In Chinese 405, along with structured grammatical patterns, students
primarily learn the strategies and skills required for reading
Chinese newspapers. The textbook in Chinese 405 is A Chinese
Text for a Changing China. In Chinese 406, students learn
to read various styles and genres of modern Chinese, including
fiction, essays, and occasionally poetry. Course readings are
selected from a large variety of genuine Chinese materials; there
is no textbook. On completing third-year Chinese, students should
(with the aid of a dictionary) be able to read and discuss most
non-technical subjects in modern Chinese. Both 405 and 406 meet
five hours per week. Of these, three hours are devoted to understanding
and discussing the reading material. The fourth hour is reserved
for oral presentations, discussions, and skits. The fifth hour
is used for taking quizzes or tests. Student work is evaluated
on the basis of daily attendance, exercises, one dictation every
second day, and one quiz or test per week. The class is conducted
mainly in Chinese. WL:2
(Liang)
Check
Times, Location, and Availability
416. Chinese for the
Professions. Chinese 406. (3). (Excl).
Chinese for the Professions (Business Chinese) focuses on practical
language skills that are most helpful in actual business interactions
with Chinese-speaking communities. Classroom activities, largely
in the form of real world simulation, will be based on authentic
documents and correspondence as well as a textbook. Some highlights
are: business negotiation in international trade, business letter
writing, business documents comprehension/translation, business
oral presentation, commercial language, and word processing. Through
intensive practice in the listening, speaking, reading, and writing
of the Chinese language for business purposes, students will enhance their cultural awareness and acquire vocabulary, phrases, and sentence patterns commonly used in typical Chinese business contexts.
Quizzes, dialogue performances, homework assignments, oral presentations, and exams are required. Classes are conducted in Chinese. WL:2 (Chen)
Check
Times, Location, and Availability
418. Oral Mandarin for
Cantonese Speakers. Chinese 406. (2). (Excl). May
be repeated for a total of four credits.
The course is specifically designed to help Cantonese-speaking
students who have advanced Chinese reading and writing skills
but lack oral Mandarin (Putonghua) competence. Classroom activities, based on intensive pinyin drills, are exclusively guided
oral practice and corrections. Cantonese native speakers without
an advanced level in reading and writing are encouraged to attend
Chinese core courses or, if qualified, Chinese 378. WL:2
(Chen)
Check
Times, Location, and Availability
461. Readings in Modern
Chinese. Chinese 406. (5). (Excl).
Chinese 461-462 is a two-term Chinese language course sequence
with graded readings at an advanced level. Texts chosen from a
variety of sources in both Mainland China and Taiwan include 20th-century
fiction and essays on various topics. While students are helped
to further improve command of structure and vocabulary in a range
of language styles, the primary emphasis of the sequence is on
reading comprehension with the aim of enabling students to read
original materials with less reliance on a dictionary. Development
of speaking and writing skills will also be stressed through discussions
on the readings. In the second term, longer texts will be used, and efforts will be made to improve reading skills and speed.
At times when Chinese 431-432 (Contemporary Social Science Texts)
is not offered simultaneously, a social science component may
be arranged to accommodate to the wider interest and demand of
students. Daily attendance, weekly assignments and quizzes as
well as unit tests are required. There is no final exam. Classes
are conducted largely in Chinese. WL:2
(Chen)
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Times, Location, and Availability
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