Course Descriptions

LANGUAGE COURSES

CHINESE 120: Elementary Chinese I
An introductory course in standard Chinese (Mandarin) designed for students with no previous knowledge of the language. The course introduces fundamental of Chinese, including pronunciation, grammar, and Chinese characters, emphasizing the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. By the end of the 120/121 sequence, students will have acquired knowledge of basic grammar rules, the ability to converse, read and write on simple topics of student’s daily life, and command over 500 Chinese compounds and over 300 characters. 4 hours of classroom instruction and one hour of lab per week. One semester, 4 credits.

CHINESE 121: Elementary Chinese II
A continuation of Chinese 120 with accelerated introduction of expressions, grammar, and sentence patterns designed to facilitate speaking, reading, and writing. 4 hours of classroom instruction and one hour of lab per week. One
semester, 4 credits.

CHINESE 220: Intermediate Chinese I
A course designed to fulfill the personal interests and future professional goals of students who have had one year of elementary modern Chinese. Students will learn new vocabulary, sentence patterns, idiomatic expressions, proverbs, as well as insights into Chinese society, culture and customs in this course. Three hours of class, one hour of lab. One semester, 3 credits.

CHINESE 221: Intermediate Chinese II
A continuation of Chinese 220. By the end of this sequence, students are expected to be able to engage in general conversation with native speakers and to read and write essays in Chinese characters. Three hours of class, one hour of lab. One semester, 3 credits.

CHINESE 320:* Advanced Chinese
This course aims at further development of overall language proficiency through extensive reading of selected texts representing a wide variety of styles and genres, including materials from newspapers, magazines, and other documents. Classes are conducted primarily in Chinese. Prerequisite: 221, or equivalent. One semester, 3 credits.

*CHINESE 325:* Culture and Civilization
A survey of Chinese cultural history from the earliest times to the eve of the modern era. The development of the arts, literature, and cultural trends are among the main topics presented through reading assignments, videos, and films. Classes are conducted primarily in Chinese. Prerequisite: 221, or equivalent. One semester, 3 credits.

*CHINESE 450:* Topics in Literature
A capstone literature course for students who have attained a high level of Chinese language proficiency. Students read a wide selection of representative works of major modern writers of China, Taiwan, and other Chinese communities. Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: 320, or equivalent. One semester, 3 credits.

*CHINESE 490:* Current Topics
This course includes essays introducing the social and cultural conditions of China, Taiwan, and other Chinese-speaking communities; live news broadcasts on current issues; and selected business Chinese expressions. This course bridges the gap between purely academic learning and the real world of native speakers. Emphasis is on reading, speaking, listening and writing in Chinese. Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: 320, or equivalent. One semester, 3 credits.

*CHINESE 295/495: Directed Studies
Credit and time arranged. Permission. May be repeated for credit.

COURSES IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

CHINESE 100: A Taste of China
This course is designed for students to get a taste of Chinese calligraphy, cooking, movie, theater, martial arts, meditation, and other folk arts. Artists, chefs, martial art and meditation masters from the Los Angeles area are invited to join student activities. Students will exhibit their calligraphy, or other related works at the end of the semester. One semester, 1-2 credits.

CHINESE 110/310:* Masterpieces from China
Representative readings in translation of twentieth-century Chinese literature from the late-Qing dynasty to the People’s Republic of China, and contemporary Taiwan. This course will offer a window in twentieth-century China and an introduction to the study of literature, and ask: Why do we read literature, and about different literary approaches and movements? Students are expected to examine the socio-political context and questions of political
engagement, social justice, class, gender, race, and human rights. All readings are in English translation and no background in China or Chinese is required. One semester, 3 credits.

CHINESE 130/330:* Chinese Theater
Introduction to the practice, concepts, history, and dramatic literature from China. The course will focus on the development of the Chinese theater as it received influences from other ethnic theaters, including the Japanese, French,
Spanish, and American. Hands-on experiences with the Chinese theater and interaction with theater artists in the Los Angeles area will be emphasized. One semester, 3 credits.

CHINESE 150/350:* Chinese Cinema
An introductory course to the culture, aesthetics, and socio-political background of Chinese film produced in the period from the 1930’s till the present. Students will look at the cultural antecedents which influenced the
Chinese filmmakers, how they manipulated the artistic forms as a means of self and the function of films both within the art form and by extension within Chinese culture-expression, in general. A more general goal of the course is to develop and refine an ability to think about and understand culture. Films to be viewed include: To Live, Ju Dou, Changing Face, Fallen Angels, Shanghai Noon, and more. One semester, 3 credits.
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*not offered every year


The department offers several paired courses in the College's Liberal Education Program. When paired, these courses are taught in English and are numbered at the 100 level.