Language Sequences

CHIN 1: First-Year Courses in Chinese

An introduction to spoken and written Modern Standard Chinese. Conversational drill and comprehension exercises in the classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Intensive reading is conducted for textbook lessons. Grammar is explained, and written exercises given. Traditional characters are learned in Chinese 1, 2, and 3; simplified characters are introduced in Chinese 3. Classes are conducted mostly in Chinese. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet Monday to Thursday for fifty minutes each day for all beginning Chinese language classes. Satisfactory completion of Chinese 3 fulfills the language requirement. 

• Yan (2 sections)

CHIN 2: First-Year Courses in Chinese

An introduction to spoken and written Modern Standard Chinese. Conversational drill and comprehension exercises in the classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Intensive reading is conducted for textbook lessons. Grammar is explained, and written exercises given. Traditional characters are learned in Chinese 1, 2, and 3; simplified characters are introduced in Chinese 3. Classes are conducted mostly in Chinese. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet Monday to Thursday for fifty minutes each day for all beginning Chinese language classes. Satisfactory completion of Chinese 3 fulfills the language requirement.

• A. Li, Yan

CHIN 3 First-Year Courses in Chinese

An introduction to spoken and written Modern Standard Chinese. Conversational drill and comprehension exercises in the classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Intensive reading is conducted for textbook lessons. Grammar is explained, and written exercises given. Traditional characters are learned in Chinese 1, 2, and 3; simplified characters are introduced in Chinese 3. Classes are conducted mostlyin Chinese. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet Monday to Thursday for fifty minutes each day for all beginning Chinese language classes. Satisfactory completion of Chinese 3 fulfills the language requirement.

• A. Li (2 sections)

CHIN 4 Advanced First-Year Chinese

This course is designed for students with varying, minimal levels of competence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Weekly class hours include four sixty-five minute sessions with the master teacher and two fifty-minute drill and/or conversation sessions. There are weekly exams, a midterm, and a final, as well as writing assignments, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed. This course seeks to achieve two goals: 1) to help students equalize their levels of the required speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills; 2) to allow them to raise these levels and thereby significantly increase their understanding of Modern Standard Chinese. Chinese 4 is an accelerated first-year course. Satisfactory completion in Chinese 4 satisfies the Foreign Language Requirement and places the student in the 20-level series. Students who plan to use this course to fulfill the language requirement may not take it under the Non-Recording Option. Classes are conducted mostly in Chinese.

• A. Li, S. Zhang

CHIN 22 Intermediate Modern Chinese (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

CHIN 22 and CHIN 23 cover a full second-year level course, using the textbook Snapshots of China (co-authored by Hua-yuan Li Mowry and Yuhui Lyu; unpublished). The course is designed for students who have completed CHIN 4 or the equivalent. Students who have completed CHIN 3 are also eligible for this course. Class hours include five fifty-five-minute sessions with the master teacher and conversation sessions. There are bi-weekly exams, as well as writing assignments, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed. This series is intended to raise the student's levels in speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and, thereby, significantly increase their understanding of Modern Standard Chinese. Classes are conducted mostly in Chinese.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• S. Zhang; Yan & S. Zhang

CHIN 23 Intermediate Modern Chinese (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

Chinese 23 is a continuation of Chinese 22, equivalent to the second half of the second-year level of Chinese instruction at Dartmouth. Using the textbook Snapshots of China (co-authored by Hua-yuan Li Mowry and Yuhui Lyu; unpublished). Class hours include five fifty-five-minute sessions with the master teacher and conversation sessions. There are bi-weekly exams, as well as writing assignments, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed. This series is intended to raise the student's levels in speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and, thereby, significantly increase their understanding of Modern Standard Chinese. Classes are conducted mostly in Chinese.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Lyu

CHIN 31 Advanced Modern Chinese (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

This course is not repeatable. Under some circumstances and with the permission of the instructor, this series (31, 32 and 33) may be taken non-sequentially. Readings will be selected from literary, political, and historical publications. There will be regular exams, writing exercises, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed. Classes are conducted entirely in Chinese.

• Prerequisite: Chinese 23 or permission of the instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Lyu (2 sections)

CHIN 32 Advanced Modern Chinese (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

This course is not repeatable. Under some circumstances and with the permission of the instructor, this series (31, 32 and 33) may be taken non-sequentially. Readings will be selected from literary, political, and historical publications. There will be regular exams, writing exercises, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed. Classes are conducted entirely in Chinese.

• Prerequisite: Chinese 23 or permission of the instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Lyu

CHIN 33 Advanced Modern Chinese (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

This course is not repeatable. Under some circumstances and with the permission of the instructor, this series (31, 32 and 33) may be taken non-sequentially. Readings will be selected from literary, political, and historical publications. There will be regular exams, writing exercises, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed. Classes are conducted entirely in Chinese.

• Prerequisite: Chinese 23 or permission of the instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Lyu

CHIN 40-level Courses in Advanced Chinese

40-level courses are "topics courses" designed to develop mastery of the spoken and written language. Students who have completed at least two 30-level courses are encouraged to continue their language study through 40-level courses. Depending on the topic, readings are drawn from literary, cultural, political, business, and historical publications. Assigned work includes written and oral presentations.
Prerequisites: Two third-year level Chinese courses or permission of the instructor.

CHIN 40.03 Advanced Reading in Modern Chinese Short Stories (Fourth-year level) (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

This course aims to help students develop an ability to use Chinese at an advanced level – critical reading of original literary works, writing and speaking to express a broad range of topics, as well as literature appreciation, through reading selected modern Chinese short stories by well-known Chinese writers. Not open to students who have received credit for CHIN 043. Two third-year level Chinese courses or permission of the instructor.  Classes are conducted entirely in Chinese.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• S. Zhang

CHIN 40.04 Advanced Chinese for Commerce and Economics

This course will improve students' four communication skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), with a particular emphasis on speaking and writing, while also introducing students to an array of authentic and relevant economy-related topics and materials in Chinese. Course materials will include essays, dialogues, business cases and newspaper articles, as well as supplementary audio-visual materials. Students will learn about the general economic and business environment in China and will use the case study method to gain insights into the business models of specific, influential Chinese companies and international firms that have successfully entered the Chinese market. The course will further develop students' Chinese proficiency at an advanced level. The combination of textbook and supplementary readings, and topic-based knowledge beyond "pure language" will achieve the goal of enhancing both students' language ability and their understanding of the world of Chinese business. Classes are conducted entirely in Chinese.

• Yan

CHIN 41 Advanced Chinese (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

Advanced readings from literary, political, and historical publications. Classes are conducted entirely in Chinese.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Lyu

CHIN 42 Advanced Chinese (Beijing LSA+; also offered on campus)

Advanced readings from literary, political, and historical publications. Classes are conducted entirely in Chinese.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Lyu

CHIN 45.01 Introduction to Classical Chinese

An introduction to the basic grammar and vocabulary of the Classical Chinese language, using examples from a selection of texts from the Warring States Period (5th to 3rd century B.C.E.).

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• ASCL Faculty

CHIN 49 Independent Advanced Study in Chinese Language and Literature

Available to students who wish to do advanced or independent study in Chinese. Chinese 49 may be considered a non-language course with approval of the advisor. The student must first submit a proposal to the Major/Minor advisor, and the section faculty, before obtaining permission from the faculty member with whom he or she wishes to work.

• Instructor: ASCL Faculty

CHIN 50.01 Advanced Chinese - Dream of the Red Chamber (5th-year level)

In this Chinese language course, through selected readings of chapters from Dream of the Red Chamber and discussions on related topics, students will become familiar with the language of classical Chinese novels and enhance their ability to read Chinese classical literary works. Specifically, students will gain insights into the characteristics and common techniques of character depiction in Chinese novels, as well as learn the understanding and application of idioms and formal language. They will also analyze the differences between written and spoken language, further improving their Chinese writing skills and abilities in structured expression.

Dream of the Red Chamber was written in the 18th century and has long been celebrated as one of the great works of classical Chinese literature. The story revolves around the tragic love and marriage of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and Xue Baochai, as well as the rise and fall of four prominent families: the Jia, Shi, Xue, and Wang. It features a multitude of vividly depicted characters. The language of the novel is mature, elegant, and vivid. There are numerous adaptations of Dream of the Red Chamber in the forms of poetry, opera, fiction, film, TV, painting, and more, translated into over 20 languages.

Prerequisites: completion of at least one fourth-year level Chinese language course (numbered in 40s) or instructor permission.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• ASCL Faculty

JAPN 1 First-Year Courses in Japanese

An introduction to modern Japanese. The main focus of the first-year courses is spoken Japanese, with a secondary focus on written Japanese. In addition to mastering the basics of grammar, emphasis is placed on active functional communication in the language, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension, with listening comprehension being primary. Conversational drill and comprehensive exercises in classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Classes are conducted in Japanese. Reading in simple materials is extensive. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet three times a week for fifty minutes for all beginning Japanese language classes.

• Ishida (2 sections)

JAPN 2 First-Year Courses in Japanese

An introduction to modern Japanese. The main focus of the first-year courses is spoken Japanese, with a secondary focus on written Japanese. In addition to mastering the basics of grammar, emphasis is placed on active functional communication in the language, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension, with listening comprehension being primary. Conversational drill and comprehensive exercises in classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Classes are conducted in Japanese. Reading in simple materials is extensive. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet three times a week for fifty minutes for all beginning Japanese language classes.

• Ishida, Watanabe

JAPN 3 First-Year Courses in Japanese

An introduction to modern Japanese. The main focus of the first-year courses is spoken Japanese, with a secondary focus on written Japanese. In addition to mastering the basics of grammar, emphasis is placed on active functional communication in the language, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension, with listening comprehension being primary. Conversational drill and comprehensive exercises in classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Classes are conducted in Japanese. Reading in simple materials is extensive. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet three times a week for fifty minutes for all beginning Japanese language classes. Students who plan to use this course to fulfill the language requirement may not take it under the Non-Recording Option. Satisfactory completion of Japanese 3 fulfills the language requirement. First-year courses in Japanese never serve in partial satisfaction of Distributive or World Culture requirements.

• Ishida, Watanabe

JAPN 22 Intermediate Modern Japanese (Osaka LSA+; also offered on campus)

A continuation of the fundamentals of grammar and further acquisition of spoken communication skills, aural comprehension, and proficiency in reading and writing.

In Japanese 22, students will continue learning beginning level grammatical patterns, vocabulary, and Kanji through close reading of authentic materials. The first-year courses focused mainly on oral and aural skills of the target language, however, in this course students will be trained to advance these skills while acquiring reading proficiency as well as cultural knowledge and competence. Students will be expected to master a wide range of reading and video materials.

• WCult: NW
• Ishida, Watanabe

JAPN 23 Intermediate Modern Japanese (Osaka LSA+; also offered on campus)

In Japanese 23, students will continue learning beginning level grammatical patterns, vocabulary, and Kanji through close reading of authentic materials. The first-year courses focused mainly on oral and aural skills of the target language, however, in this course students will be trained to advance these skills while acquiring reading proficiency as well as cultural knowledge and competence. Students will be expected to master a wide range of reading and video materials.

• WCult: NW
• Watanabe

JAPN 31 Advanced Modern Japanese

A progression of materials from JAPN 23. Intensive review and continued study of modern Japanese at the advanced level. Conversation skills will continue to be an important aspect of this course, but more emphasis will be placed on reading and writing skills. Reading materials will be drawn from current newspapers, contemporary fictions, essays from journals, and excerpts from poetry. Short audiovisual selections will be used as well. Assigned work includes written compositions and oral presentations.

• Prerequisite: JAPN 23 or permission of instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• TBD; Watanabe

JAPN 32 Advanced Modern Japanese

A progression of materials from JAPN 31. A variation of materials used in JAPN 31. Note: Although the materials used in this course differ from the materials used in JAPN 31, the general level of proficiency required to enroll in either JAPN 31 or JAPN 32 is roughly equivalent. Students may take JAPN 32 even if they have been unable to enroll in JAPN 31.

• Prerequisite: JAPN 31 or permission of instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• TBD, Ishida

JAPN 33 Advanced Modern Japanese

A continuation and progression of materials in JAPN 31 and JAPN 32. Note: The level of proficiency required to enroll in JAPN 33 is higher than the proficiency required for either JAPN 31 or JAPN 32.

• Prerequisite: JAPN 31 and/or JAPN 32 or permission of instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Ishida

JAPN 40-level Courses in Advanced Japanese

40-level courses are "topics courses" designed to develop mastery of the spoken and written language. Students who have completed at least two 30-level courses are encouraged to continue their language study through 40-level courses. Depending on the topic, readings are drawn from literary, cultural, political, business, and historical publications. Assigned work includes written and oral presentations.
Prerequisites: Two, 30-level courses

JAPN 41 Advanced Japanese

JPN 41 is the first of the three advanced level courses (JPN 41, 42, and 43) offered by ASCL. It is designed for students who completed at least two 30 level courses (31 or 32, and 33). The topic of this course can vary year-to-year, for example one option focuses on Japanese humor. Students are introduced to various materials such as Kyogen and Rakugo, traditional performing arts, short stories, etc. In this course, students will advance their language proficiency in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), and cultural competency through exposure to and discussion of the course materials.

• Prerequisite: Two third-year level courses, or permission of the instructor.
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Ishida

JAPN 42 Advanced Japanese

A progression of materials from JAPN 41. Designed to develop mastery of the spoken and written language. Assigned work includes written and oral presentations.

• Prerequisite: JAPN 41 or permission of instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Watanabe

JAPN 43 Advanced Japanese

A progression of materials from JAPN 41 and JAPN 42. Designed to develop mastery of the spoken and written language. Assigned work includes written and oral presentations.

• Prerequisite: JAPN 41 or JAPN 42, or permission of instructor
• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Watanabe

JAPN 45.01 Classical Japanese Grammar and Translation Workshop

The students will first learn the basic grammar and vocabulary of classical Japanese through the textbook and workbook, rather than lectures given by the instructor. Class time is spent on comparing the students' answers to clarify specific difficulties and doing new exercises as a group. Once the basics are introduced and learned, the students will translate excerpts of classical literature, such as the Tale of Genji and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, as homework and compare their works in class.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• Schmidt-Hori

JAPN 49 Independent Advanced Study in Japanese Language and Literature

JAPN 49 is for students who wish to pursue language study under the supervision of an ASCL affiliated faculty member. JAPN 49 is intended for advanced language learners whose abilities lie beyond upper-level courses offered by ASCL. JAPN 49 cannot be used as a substitute for regularly taught language courses. Students must work with a faculty supervisor to develop a proposed plan of study. The proposal must be submitted to the ASCL Steering Committee for review during the fifth week of term prior to that in which the advanced study is undertaken.

• Dist: LIT; WCult: NW
• ASCL Faculty