Penn Global Seminar: Intermediate Chinese II

Catalog description

CHIN 0401 Intermediate Chinese II is the continuing course for students who have completed CHIN 0300 Intermediate Chinese I at Penn, as well as for those who have learned Chinese in high schools and been placed into the fourth-semester Chinese course through the Chinese placement exam. The linguistic emphasis of this course is on further building the foundation of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. At the end of this course, students should reach the Intermediate-Mid to Intermediate-High level based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. Students should have confidence talking with Chinese native speakers on both familiar and profound topics such as holidays/traditions, health and lifestyle, Chinese history, and environmental protection. This course also aims to introduce students to a changing China from the rapid urbanization and globalization to the continuous development of transportation and infrastructure as well as cutting-edge business and industrial technology. Meanwhile, China is still rich in cultural heritage and has a long history. This course enables students to have a better understanding and analysis of contemporary Chinese society through learning its language and culture. This course is designed to prepare students for participation in a Penn Global Seminar field trip to China at the end of the semester. The on-site experience serves as the culmination of students’ linguistic and cultural learning, allowing them to apply their Chinese in authentic, real-world contexts. During the program, students will engage directly with local communities, institutions, and cultural sites, gaining firsthand insight into contemporary Chinese society while deepening their appreciation for China’s long history and rich cultural heritage.