DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS

UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

Chinese 101: First year first semester Chinese

Fall 2017

Instructor: Classroom:

E-mail: Class time:

Office and Tutorial

office hours: Time: TBA

I. COURSE OBJECTIVES

In this course, you will embark on a journey of learning Mandarin Chinese. This is the first
half of the first-year Chinese at UB. The course is designed to teach basic language skills in
speaking, reading and writing of modern Chinese. You are recommended to take both CHI101 and
CHI102 to take full advantage of training in elementary Chinese.

After completing the entire series of First year Chinese (CHI 101 and CH 102), you are
expected to learn:
- Chinese phonemes through pinyin the romanized Chinese phonetic system;
- a working vocabulary of over 800 words and active use of about 500 characters;
- both traditional and simplified Chinese characters;
- basic Chinese grammar and sentence structures;
- daily conversations and survival Chinese, in both formal and informal contexts;
- various aspects of Chinese culture, lifestyles and social-cultural conventions;
- basic knowledge of Chinese computing

II. TEXT (a set of three books of ICIntegrated Chinese is a must, no copies or e-books)

* Yao, T-C., Liu, Y-H, et al., Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 1 (Books 1. Textbook, 2. Workbook,
and 3. Character Book). Boston: Cheng and Tsui Company. 2nd Edition (Simplified Character
Edition) (to be purchased at the University Bookstore).

* Supplementary Materials to Integrated Chinese: Study Kits (to be purchased at the University
Bookstore)

III. REQUIREMENTS

Make sure that you are in the right class. This course is designed to help students develop
BASIC language skills for both everyday life and travel environments. NO prior knowledge of
the Chinese language required. If you are found to be overqualified, we reserve the right to ask
you to drop the class. If you have any previous experience with Chinese, you MUST inform the
instructor, who may then ask you take CHI 104 instead.
Auditing a class: You need to officially enroll in a class even if you plan to just audit it. For
Graduate Student, you should inform your instructor and register Chi539 for 4 credits.

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 - Class attendance and participation
- Homework assignments in listening, speaking, reading and writing
- Quizzes and Tests (see the colored Class Schedule)
- Midterm exam (to be given in Week 8; tentative)
- Final exam (to be given during the Universitys final exam week)

IV. GRADING
Students receive a letter grade in this course. A course grade of A or above is not impossible;
however, it requires not only a students constant excellent performances on most homework
assignments, quizzes and exams, but also his/her excellent record of attendance and class
participation. Generally, no make-up quizzes and exams will be given unless students can show
written proof of illness or unexpected family emergency. Quizzes will be either announced or
unannounced. If a student misses a quiz without an accepted excuse, the best way to make it up is to
do well on the following quizzes. The student is also responsible for making up the homework
assigned and/or collected during his/her absence. Being absent is not an excuse for handing in
homework late. There will be definitely NO earlier final exams.

An Incomplete grade is not considered unless the student can show written proof of illness
or unexpected family emergency. In the meantime, the student should remain a fair academic
standing (i.e., a grade C or better) at the time of requesting an Incomplete grade for the course.
A. Grade distribution and Procedure
- Attendance and Class Participation 20% (Teamwork/Group Presentations)
- Homework Assignments/Presentation 20% (Daily Character; Workbook)
- Quizzes 20% (Quizzes: 10%, Tests: 10%)
- Midterm Exam 10%
- Final Exam 30% NO earlier final exams
- Extra Points (See E. on next page)
Total 100%

93-100% = A 80-82% = B- 60-64% = D+

90-92% = A- 75-79% = C+ 55-59% = D
87-89% = B+ 70-74% = C 54% and below = F
83-86% = B 65-69% = C-
B. Attendance
A Chinese language class is relatively small compared to other courses at UB. We have the
advantage of making our learning more efficient, effective and enjoyable. Nevertheless, we could
not be able to make that happen without each and every students regular attendance and active
participation in class on a daily basis. For that reason, students are advised to pay attention to the
following guidelines:
Students can have two unquestioned absences throughout the semester. Beyond these two
absences, each additional absence subtracts 5% from the attendance grade which accounts for 20
points in the final course grade (see the details below). Note that with more than 15 absences
(including two unquestioned absences), the student will receive a zero on the attendance and
participation grade. In addition, students who arrive to class more than 15 minutes late

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(according to the instructors watch) will be counted absent for that day. Students are expected not
only to be present in class, but also to be ready to participate in class. Therefore, students should do
the required assignments so that they are familiar enough with the topics covered in class to join in
the discussions and answer questions.

2 absences = 100% 3 absences = 95% 4 absences = 90%

5 absences = 85% 6 absences = 80% 7 absences = 75%
8 absences = 70% 9 absences = 65% 10 absences = 60%
11 absences = 55% 12 absences = 50% 13 absences = 45%
14 absences = 40% 15 absences = 0%

C. Homework assignments (See Class Schedule for Fall 2017)

Generally homework will be assigned every class for the next class meeting to reinforce the
contents covered in class. Homework includes exercises of four skills, and group presentation
work, will be checked, collected, and graded with number grades. Any missed or sometimes late
home work will receive either a zero grade or a reduced grade and WILL be counted during the
averaging process later. Homework assignments handed in after the due date will be graded
according to the Late Homework Policy

One day after the due date: 50% deducted from the actual grading
Two days after the due date: Homework will be corrected with no grade

D. Tests and quizzes:

There are going to be: 1) pinyin and vocabulary quizzes, 2) tests of pronunciation and lessons,
3) a midterm exam (oral and written), and 4) a final examination (oral and written). The tests and
exams will include romanization, listening, vocabulary, translation, speaking, and dictation.
Generally, no make-up quizzes and exams will be given unless students can show written proof of
illness or unexpected family emergency. Quizzes will be either announced or unannounced, and will
be given relatively once a week by the instructor. If a student misses a quiz without an accepted
excuse, the best way to make it up is to do well on the following quizzes. There will be definitely
NO earlier final exams.

E. Extra Credits:
Students will earn extra credits by participating tutorial sessions. A Participation Sheet will be
distributed separately, please bring it with you each time for a signature. NOTE: the sheet needs to
be turned in for your grade at the end of the semester.

V. Web resources
Pronunciation Exercises for UB Chi101 Sound files for Textbook and Workbook:
IC Textbook sound files [SF]: CD1, CD2, & CD3 (Learn and Practice)
http://libweb1.lib.buffalo.edu/languages/index.asp?Text1=CHI%20101&filename=CD1
http://libweb1.lib.buffalo.edu/languages/index.asp?Text1=CHI%20101&filename=CD2
http://libweb1.lib.buffalo.edu/languages/index.asp?Text1=CHI%20101&filename=CD3
IC Workbook Sound file [SF]: CD4 (For listening homework assigned in the schedule)
http://libweb1.lib.buffalo.edu/languages/index.asp?Text1=CHI%20101&filename=CD4

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Integrated Chinese Multimedia Exercises:
http://www.language.berkeley.edu/ic/gb/ (EXCELLENT for Listening Comprehension)
Integrated Chinese Homepage: http://eall.hawaii.edu/yao/icusers/
Chinese Learning: http://www.language.berkeley.edu/ic/gb
Pronunciation: http://www.hello-han.com/ch-education/hanyurumen/en/index.htm

VI. A MESSAGE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CHINA

Enrollment in the Chinese language, literature and culture courses offered in the Chinese Program at
the University at Buffalo have been growing in recent years, and we expect that the enrollment will
continue to grow. To assist you to know more about the Chinese Program and to ease your decision-
making process, we have set up a Web page (http://wings.buffalo.edu/linguistics/chinese/) where
you can browse detailed information about courses being offered now and in the future in the
Chinese Program. You can also find answers to questions regarding the courses you are thinking of
taking and other matters you wish to know. Comments and suggestions on improving the website
are greatly appreciated.

VII. CHINESE MINOR AND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

Chinese Minor: Study Abroad:

Dr. Xuehong L Ms. Mary Odrzywoski
Director of Chinese Program Director of Study Abroad Programs
University at Buffalo (SUNY) University at Buffalo (SUNY)
641 Baldy Hall 210 Talbert Hall
Buffalo, New York 14260 Buffalo, New York 14260-1604
Tel: 645-0132 Tel: 716-645-3912 Fax: 716-645-6197
xuehongl@buffalo.edu studyabroad@buffalo.edu
http://linguistics.buffalo.edu/programs/language/chinese/chinese-minor/
www.buffalo.edu/studyabroad

VIII. Academic Integrity

A zero-tolerance policy on cheating will be adopted in this course, following the UB academic
integrity policy http://academicintegrity.buffalo.edu/policies/index.php. All academic work must be
your own. Plagiarism, defined as copying or receiving materials from a source or sources and
submitting this material as ones own without acknowledging the particular debts to the source
(quotations, paraphrases, basic ideas), or otherwise representing the work of another as ones own,
is never allowed. Collaboration, usually evidenced by unjustifiable similarity, is never permitted in
individual assignments.

Any student accused of a violation of academic integrity will be notified by the course director. An
informal review will be conducted, including a meeting between these parties. After this review and
upon determination that a violation has occurred, the following sanctions will be imposed. It is the
policy of our program that, in general, any violation of academic integrity will result in an F for
the course.

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IX. Accessibility Resources:
For classroom and testing accommodations due to a disability, please contact Accessibility
Resources: http://www.buffalo.edu/accessibility/ (25 Capen Hall; phone: 645-2608; email: stu-
accessibility@buffalo.edu). Please also inform your instructor so that they can better assist you.

WHATS NEXT?
Hopefully, the following Chinese saying will get you up and running:
Qian li zhi xing, shi yu zu xia

(A thousand-mile journey starts by taking the first step.)

Ready? Let the journey begin!

CHI 101: Weekly Schedule

What follows is an overview of the material to be covered this semester. This schedule is subject to
change and is intended to give you an idea of the scope of the course. For homework and class
activities, please refer to the detailed weekly homework schedule.

Week Agenda
1 Foundation work: Pinyin and knowledge of Chinese characters
2 Labor Day, Test of foundation work and Lesson 1
3 Lesson 1 (continued) and Lesson 2
4 Lesson 2 (continued)
5 Lesson 2 (continued) and Lesson 3
6 Lesson 3 (continued)
7 Lesson 4
8 Lesson 4 (continued), Mid-term Exam and Lesson 5
9 Lesson 5 (continued)
10 Lesson 5 (continued) and Lesson 6
11 Lesson 6 (continued) and Lesson 7
12 Lesson 7
13 Lesson 7 (continued) and Lesson 8
14 Lesson 8 and Fall Break
15 Lesson 8 (continued), Oral Exam, Review for Final Exam
December 8 Last day of class

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Tools for CHI 101

Learning Outcomes: Function Learning Outcomes: Grammar Assessment Tools

Lesson 1
Exchanging greetings Verbs , , Quiz 1-1, 1-2
Asking ones status Questions ending with , Workbook L1
Negative adverb Test L1
Adverb
Lesson 2

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 Kinship terms Measure words (1) Quiz 2-1, 2-2
Asking about family Interrogative pronouns Workbook L2
Verb Test L2
vs.
Adverb
Lesson 3
Time expressions Numbers Quiz 3-1, 3-2
Inviting someone to dinner Adverb Workbook L3
Alternative questions: Test L3
Pivotal sentences
Usage of
A-not-A questions (1)
Lesson 4
Hobbies Word order in Chinese Quiz 4-1, 4-2
Inviting someone to a ball game Workbook L4
verb Test L4
Auxiliary verb
Tag questions with
A-not-A questions (2)
Lesson 5
Visiting friends and Quiz 5-1, 5-2
Describing a visit Adjectival predicates Workbook L5
Preposition Test L5
Particles
Adverb
Lesson 6
Making appointments Preposition Quiz 6-1, 6-2
Auxiliary verb Workbook L6
Directional complements Test L6

Lesson 7
Classroom language Descriptive complements Quiz 7-1, 7-2
Adverbs Workbook L7
Test L7
Ordinal numbers
Lesson 8
A typical school day Time Quiz 8-1, 8-2
Talking about studying Chinese Workbook L8
Serial verbs Test L8
,

Class Class Title Exam Date Exam Time Exam Room

1st Yr-1st Sem Chinese
CHI 101LEC
(Lecture)
12/13/2017, Wed. 7:15 - 10:15PM Nsc 220

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