ML9231: Mandarin Chinese Intermediate A2 Part 1

School Languages for All
Department Code MLANG
Module Code ML9231
External Subject Code 101165
Number of Credits 10
Level L4
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader null Yu Tian
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2019/0

Outline Description of Module

This is a module designed for students who completed Mandarin Chinese Beginners A1 Part 3 or who have studied Mandarin Chinese up to GCSE (and who achieved a grade C) or equivalent. This module aims to provide you with a broader but still limited range of oral, aural and written skills, sufficient for coping with everyday situations with predictable content and simple survival needs.

This course is the first part of the preparation for the HSK (Level 2) examination.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  • Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
  • Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
  • Describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need

How the module will be delivered

All courses on the Languages for All programme are delivered on a hybrid mode, mixing face-to-face and virtual teaching. You will be expected to actively participate in role-plays, interactive activities and group discussions. Course material is accessible on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, Learning Central, and should be cross-platform compatible.

27 contact hours – 3 hours per week of interactive language workshops.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Intellectual Skills:

  • Enhanced cognitive skills leading to innovation, creativity and problem solving.
  • Critical analysis applied to discourse, texts, images and events.
  • Advanced listening and reading skills: the ability to scan complex texts (including audio) for gist, to synthesise information and focus on salient points.

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

  • Understand spoken phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance; catch the main point in spoken short, clear, simple messages.
  • Read very short, simple texts; find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material.
  • Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities.
  • Write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate needs.

Transferable Skills:

  • Ability to learn additional languages for personal/employment reasons.
  • Awareness of and sensitivity to diversity based on culture.
  • Ability to navigate and mediate between more than one culture to interpret meaning and intent beyond the purely linguistic.
  • Heightened literacy, textual analysis and oracy in mother tongue.
  • Presentation skills.
  • Ability to work cooperatively, as a member of a team or with a partner.
  • Problem solving and the ability to look at things from multiple perspectives.

How the module will be assessed

Written class test (30%) and course work (30%).  

Oral and aural continuous assessment (40%).  

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 15 Coursework 1 N/A
Written Assessment 15 Coursework 2 N/A
Oral/Aural Assessment 20 Speaking Assessment N/A
Oral/Aural Assessment 20 Listening Assessment N/A
Class Test 30 Class Test N/A

Syllabus content

Lessons 1 to 5

Essential Reading and Resource List

HSK 2 Standard Course, Beijing Language and Culture University Press, ISBN 978-7-5619-3726-6


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