Teaching Chinese Language Through Children's Storybooks

Catalog description

This is the second part of a two-semester, 4-credit Dean's Service Scholar course that runs for 14 weeks. The course integrates Chinese language learning and teaching with community exploration and service, to introduce students to Chinese language pedagogy and its application in a children’s setting, as well as the differences in approach for a university setting. This course will be conducted in an immersive target language environment. The students will have the opportunity to work closely with a local public kindergarten on a curriculum development project on Reading to Children. Students will observe classes, analyze sample teaching videos, prepare teaching plans, conduct mock teaching, conduct field teaching and reflect on their first-hand service learning experiences in Chinese language. As a final project, students will combine the teaching skills they have learned with relevant research in order to create either 1) a teaching manual for incorporation of children’s literature into listening comprehension exercises or 2) an original children’s book that incorporates targeted pedagogical techniques for Chinese language learning. In the course of pursuing teaching perfection, students will improve their interpersonal skills and communication skills in the target language as well. Prerequisite: Advanced II or equivalent and CHIN-SHU 460A . Fulfillment: Core Curriculum Language. Can count toward the Chinese Language Minor.