California State University, Long Beach

Chinese 451/551: Chinese Culture and Tradition

Thursdays 5:00-7: 45 p.m.

LA2-204

Dr. Tim Xie

Office hour: TuTh 1:30-4:30 or by appointment. (562) 985-5278.

Email: txie@csulb.edu

Course description:

CHIN 451/551 is an advanced Chinese language class. This course focuses on Chinese culture studied in its geographical, historical, philosophical, linguistic, literary, artistic, and scientific contexts. The class will be taught in Mandarin and enhanced by the Internet-based resources.

The major topics covered in this course are: 1) Daily life of Chinese people; 2) Chinese history; 3) Chinese geography; 4) Festivals and marriage; 5) Language and script; 6) Chinese literature; and 7) Sciences.

Goals:

Successful completion of the course will enable students to read and discuss texts related to China and Chinese culture in the Chinese language and develop an even deepening understanding of various aspects of Chinese culture.

Class procedures:

The instructor will give lectures on each topic. The lectures will be conducted in Chinese followed by students’ discussion. The video tapes and films related to Chinese culture and tradition will be shown in class to help students to understand the learned topics. The students are required to read the assigned readings before each class and prepare for active participation in class discussion.

The students are also required to do Internet research on some selected topics as homework. They can select two topics and write their Internet research reports on each topic. By the end of the semester, each student is also required to make a presentation in Chinese on a selected topic.

The midterm and final exams will evaluate students’ linguistic ability including reading comprehension, vocabulary and idiomatic usage of the language and essay writing ability.

Required texts:

CHIN 451/551 Study Packet: Chinese Culture and Literature (Available in the university bookstore)

Reference books:

De Barry, William, et al., eds. Sources in Chinese Tradition, vol. 1 New York:

Columbia University Press, 1999.

Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook. 2nd ed. New York: Free Press, 1993

Ropp, Paul S. ed. Heritage of China: Contemporary Perspectives on Chinese Civilization. Berkeley & Los Angeles: U of California P, 1990.

北京語言學院.《中國文明淺說》，北京語言學院出版社，1981年。

國立台灣師範大學國語中心.《中國文化二十講》， 1986年。

Web resources will be provided separately.

Performance evaluation and course grade:

The course grade will be based on the student's performance in the following categories of activities:

Internet exploration reports (2)	20%
Midterm examination	25%
Final presentation in Chinese	20%
Final examination	25%
Class attendance and participation	10%

Tentative schedule (subject to change)

Date	Content	Assignment
1/26	Introduction, Unit 1 Daily life
2/2	Unit 1 Daily life
2/9	Unit 2 History
2/16	Unit 2 History
2/23	Unit 3 Mountains and cities
3/2	Unit 3 Mountains and cities	First report due
3/9	Unit 4 Festivals and marriage
3/16	Unit 4 Festivals and marriage	Presentation topic due
3/23	Midterm Unit 5 Language and script
3/30	Unit 5 Language and script
4/6	Unit 6 Literature
4/13	Spring Recess
4/20	Unit 6 Literature	Second report due
4/27	Unit 7 Sciences
5/4	Unit 7 Sciences
5/11	Presentation in Chinese
5/18	Final examination week

Use of technology:

All course materials are available online. Students are required to use Beach Board to access the learning materials. The students are responsible for checking the class web sited in the Beachboard or email for any possible announcements.

University’s withdrawal policy:

It is the students' responsibility to withdraw from classes. Instructors have no obligation to withdraw students who do not attend courses, and may choose not to do so. Withdrawal from a course after the first two weeks of instruction requires the signatures of the instructor and department chair, and is permissible only for serious and compelling reasons, such as documented illness and a change in work hours/schedule. Students should be aware that the definition of "serious and compelling reasons" as applied by faculty and administrators may become narrower as the semester progresses. During the final three weeks of instruction, withdrawals are not permitted except in cases such as accident or serious illness where the circumstances causing the withdrawal are clearly beyond the student's control and the assignment of an incomplete is not practical. Ordinarily, withdrawals in this category involve total withdrawal from the university. The College of Liberal Arts adheres to this policy strictly, and does not sign withdrawal forms in the final three weeks of class for other reasons.