Welcome to the Chinese class (Room 313)!

Please check out the Back To School Night slides for Chinese course information!

Here is an overview of what we are learning at each level!

Chinese 1 Course Overview

Chinese 1 is an introductory course for beginning students of Chinese. It introduces the Chinese language (writing and pinyin systems) & culture and aims to teach communication in both spoken and written Chinese. The objectives are to enable students to use Chinese in various settings.
At the end of this course, students will be able to carry on a conversation on personal details such as name, age/birthday, grade level, zodiac sign, nationality, family, pets, friends, favorite sports, and favorite foods. They will also be able to write & type a letter to Chinese pen-pals.

Chinese 2 Course Overview

Chinese 2 is an elementary level. It aims to teach students skills in the use of more advanced Chinese in a wider range of situations. It also reinforces the language and cultural elements introduced in Chinese 1. At the end of this course, students will be able to talk about birthdays, daily routines, house plans, clothing, and weather, and hold conversations when going shopping, visiting Chinese families, making phone calls, and going to restaurants. They can also express an opinion, arrange an outing, and write a message, a note, or a diary entry.

Chinese 3 Course Overview

Chinese 3 is the intermediate level. Its language structure is an expansion from Chinese 1 and Chinese 2. By the end of the course, you should be able to use more extended language to talk about the following:

  • more details about school life,
  • modes of transportation,
  • leisure-time activities,
  • birthday celebrations,
  • illness, and traveling.

You should be able to express your opinions, comments, and concerns in Mandarin Chinese.

Honors Chinese 4 & AP Chinese Language & Culture Course Overview

The main goals of the Honors Chinese 4 and AP Chinese Language and Culture combo course are to deepen students’ immersion into the Chinese language and culture and to help students master the ability to use the language linguistically, culturally, and socially appropriate ways. This course prepares students to demonstrate their level of Chinese proficiency across the three communicative modes: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. It also helps students broaden their worldview by comparing Chinese cultural products, practices, and perspectives with those of their own society. This course is organized around six thematic units (School & Family, Food & Sports, Festival & Customs, Travel & Society, Famous People & History, and Literature & Arts). We also cover some of the following themes listed in the College Board AP Chinese and Culture course descriptions:
Unit 1: Families in Different Societies
Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity
Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art
Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives
Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life
Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges