This course is created for learners who have completed CHIN2060 at UVa or the equivalent. Following the World-Readiness Standards advocated by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), this course prepares students to develop competence in Chinese language and culture across three communicative modes (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) through a standards-based (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities) curriculum. According to ACTFL’s Proficiency Guidelines, learners are expected to attain proficiency at the Advanced-low level in four language skills or above upon the completion of the course. To attain the expected proficiency level, learners will build increasing confidence through constant practice of formulaic and idiomatic expressions and key structures in a variety of meaningful, communicative, and authentic contexts. Being well-equipped with appropriate use of language and communication strategies, learners will be able to develop communicative competence in “shumianyu” (written language) in addition to “kouyu” (oral language) through constant immersion experiences. Learners will make efforts to exclusively speak Chinese in the total immersion setting. Upon the completion of the course, learners will be able to accomplish learning goals in the following four domains.

1. Cultural Understanding and Appreciation: Understand and critique cultural differences and values in the Chinese and American communities and appreciate heritage and legacy that are unique in Chinese cultures and sub-cultures.
2. Communicative Functions: Develop communicative competence to describe, narrate, express, explain, persuade, compare, and contrast on a variety of topics centering on family and campus life, social issues, and most current events at the paragraph and discourse levels.
3. Spontaneous and Impromptu Language Performance: Demonstrate ability to perform and participate in rehearsed and unrehearsed discussions with balanced use of informal and formal language in different genres, i.e., narrative, descriptive, expository, and argumentative.
4. Critical and Analytical Thinking: Present ideas and thoughts analytically, elaborately, and intellectually with a high level of critical thinking skills and organizational devices based on well-integrated factual information and supporting evidence.

Each lesson is taught in the way that consistently features the instructor’s scaffolding integrated with student-centered cooperative learning activities that encourage learners to fully engage in the process of negotiation of meaning. A wide array of multi-media resources and authentic materials will be adopted to supplement and enrich scripted materials. Learners can choose to write simplified or traditional characters but may be required to be able to read both for certain assigned tasks. While the majority of written assignments are to be completed by handwriting, learners should also acquire word process skills to accomplish assigned written tasks. Note that the department reserves the right to place any student in the course most appropriate to his or her proficiency level.