Advanced Chinese 1A and 1B is an advanced immersion language and culture course for students who have graduated from advanced middle school immersion programs and moved on to high school. The year-long sequence was developed in collaboration with Yinghua Academy Chinese Immersion School in Minneapolis. The course employs selected stories from a set of leveled authentic texts and tasks that are aligned to ACTFL’s national language standards. The course also includes Performance-Based Tasks to enhance practical usage of the language. The performance-based tasks measure students’ language proficiency through the three modes of communication—interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal). It provides rigor based on academic skill sets for students at the secondary and college level. This course aims to (1) maintain advanced immersion students’ Chinese language and expand their vocabulary; (2) teach students a vocabulary of around 800 words with emphasis on stock phrases and word collocations; (3) solidify, expand, and refine fundamental knowledge of Chinese grammar; (4) develop students’ reading strategies for the comprehension of sophisticated materials dealing with dynamic social and cultural phenomena; (4) improve students’ speaking and writing skills when communicating about social, cultural and economic issues; and (5) increase students’ capacity to connect their learning to a real world experience.
A variety of learning activities will be utilized in order to develop the four language skills. These include, but are not limited to, the use of Chinese video clips, listening activities from Chinese radio stations, level-appropriate readings, and oral presentations in Chinese. The use of a variety of technology tools is expected. Homework assignments as well as active participation in Chinese synchronous class meetings (1-2 times per week) are required for this course.
This course will continue to fine-tune students’ skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing while exploring Chinese culture. Students will be assessed using a variety of methods including: oral/aural assignments, presentations, dialogues, short compositions, and other displays. Students are expected to participate using the target language at all times.
Course materials: Available week-by-week within the course. Modern Reader Volume 2, a print text, will be mailed to students.
Standards met: These courses are aligned to ACTFL’s national language standards.
Credit: 1.0 (Semester A = 0.5 credit, Semester B = 0.5 credit.)
Honors Opportunity: No
Prerequisites: Graduate of Yinghua Academy, or another 8th grade Chinese immersion program, or equivalent Chinese language skills (ACTFL proficiency level Intermediate-Mid or higher) for the A course. Completion of the A course for the B course.
