Performing Chinese Drama for Improved Oral Proficiency

Catalog description

This course is designed for students who have completed the Intermediate Chinese II and who want to improve their oral proficiency and ease of expression in Chinese. Through the study and performance of Chinese dramas, students will improve their pronunciation (including word and sentence tones, accent, and cadence) and expression in the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. The course introduces three texts as the focus for study: Cao Yu’s Thunderstorm, written in the 20th century, will introduce students to a classic example of modern Chinese drama and will allow them to explore the socio-cultural issues of that time and invite them to compare to their own. The second drama, Luo Jing’s Day-Rent Apartment, written in the 21st century, will provide a contemporary example to help broaden students’ contemporary spoken vocabulary. The final one, Hear Her, a scripted TV series in 2020, explores contemporary issues and concerns of women in china. The class structure will move back and forth between these texts as a form of interleaving and to focus on targeted linguistic and cultural topics. The class will involve frequent oral participation, short and extended performances, and a variety of activities to strengthen proficiency of all skills. Relevant lectures and assessment on the content and language will be included as well. Prerequisite: Intermediate Chinese II ( CHIN-SHU 202 ) or above. Fulfillment: General Elective.