All of our language courses from the first through the third levels meet five days a week with one or two hours of additional drill or lab practice, for five credits. Advanced courses meet three days a week with an additional hour drill or lab practice, for three credit credits. Most of our language courses are two-semester sequences which begin in the fall semester; normally students are not allowed to begin language study in the spring semester. We offer two tracks of elementary courses. Chinese 101-102 are designed for true beginners who have minimal or no background in the language: Chinese 106-107 are designed for so-called "advanced beginners" who have substantial aural-oral proficiency but little or no ability in reading and writing Chinese characters. Such students are encouraged to enroll in Chinese 106-107. Please note that continuing your study from one semester or year to the next requires a minimum grade of B-.
A number of introductory courses on Chinese literature and culture are offered on a regular basis (either every year or on alternate years) through the Chinese program of ANELL or related departments such as East Asian Studies. There are also a wide range of more advanced topic-based courses (reading seminars, etc.) designed for upper-level undergraduate majors and graduate students which are offered every several years.
For information (times, locations, instructors, etc.) on courses now being offered, check the current Course Listingsor go to https://acadinfo.wustl.edu/
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If you have any previous background in Chinese at all, whether in an academic setting, because of your family background or because of having lived and studied abroad, you are required to take a placement examination before enrolling for the first time in any of our Chinese language courses. In addition, students returning from study abroad must also take the placement test, even if they were enrolled in Chinese classes at Wash U before going abroad. Because it is very important for both students and teachers that students are in the classes they are best suited for and which will help them the most to learn Chinese, there will be no exceptions to this requirement.
The placement test is comprised of five parts: listening comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, reading comprehension and oral interview. For reading, students have the option of simplified or traditional character version of text. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete. You do not need to prepare for this test, since it is designed solely as a means to determine your language proficiency. The placement test is regularly administered each fall, on the Friday before classes start. For more information, call the departmental office at 935-5156
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Students with previous academic background in Chinese may petition for advanced placement credit. However, AP credit is awarded only after satisfactory completion (grade of B- or better) of at least one semester of language coursework and is limited to 3 credits for testing into second level and 6 credits for testing into third or fourth level. Please note that any training without proof of academic credit earned will not be considered for advanced placement credit; those with native or near-native language proficiency are not eligible for advanced credit.
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Chinese 101, 102. First-level
Modern Chinese I, II Course
Website
An introduction to the modem spoken and
written national language of China. Emphasis is placed on developing
basic
oral and communicative skills; students will also learn to recognize
both
simplified and traditional forms of the written language. 5
credits.
Chinese 106, 107. Beginning
Chinese
for Heritage Speakers I, II
This course is designed for students who
have basic speaking and listening skills but no background in writing
or
reading. Three hours plus one additional drill hour are required.
Prerequisite
(for 106): placement test.; (for 107): grade B- or better in Chinese
106,
or placement by examination. 3 credits.
Chinese 110. Basic Principles
and Practice of Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy
Introduction to brush-and-ink writing
of traditional Chinese/Japanese characters. Prerequisite:
Chinese
101-102 or 106-107; Japan 103-104; concurrent registration; or
permission
of instructor. Two hours per week. 1 credit.
Chinese 211, 212. Second-Level
Modern Chinese I, II
This is the standard second-year level
of instruction in modem Chinese with emphasis on all skills. Both
simplified
and traditional forms of character are used. Prerequisite:
Grade
of B- or better in Chinese 102 or placement test. 5 credits.
Chinese 211S, 212S
Intensive
Second-Level Modern Chinese in China (withDuke
Study in China)
Credit variable, maximum 5 credits per
semester.
Chinese 360-361; 420, 421 (for
graduate
students) Third-Level Modern Chinese I, II
This course is designed with an emphasis
on further improving speaking, listening, reading, and writing
skills.
Texts include edited Chinese newspapers and modern literary texts. Prerequisites
(for 306): Grade of B- or better in Chinese 207 or Chinese 212, or
placement
test; (for 361): grade B- or better in Chinese 360, or placement by
examination.
3 credits.
Chinese 360S, 361S. Intensive
Third-Level Modern Chinese I, II in China (with Duke
Study in China)
Credit variable, maximum 5 credits per
semester.
Chinese 410, 411. Introduction
to Traditional Literary Chinese I, II
Selected readings in Classical Chinese
texts. At least one semester required of all majors in Chinese
and
students in fields of specialization where knowledge of literary
Chinese
is normally expected. Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in
Chinese
212 or permission of instructor. 3 credits.
Chinese 412. Advanced Conversation
in
Mandarin
A course particularly designed to improve
pronunciation in Mandarin and conversational skills. Limited to
students
who have substantial proficiency in Chinese character reading and
composition.
Prerequisite:
placement tes or permissionof instructor. 3 credits.
Chinese 413. Advanced Composition in
Chinese
This course is designed for students
wishing
to improve their ability to write letters, essays, reports, and other
types
of compositio in Chinese.There will be assigned readings both on the
art
of writing Chinese and of writing models, as well as regular take-home
writing assignments. Prerequisite: grade B- or better in Chinese
428
or permission of instructor.
Chinese 427, 428. Fourth-Level
Modern Chinese I, II
Course Website
Readings in advanced texts covering a
wide variety of fields in the social sciences and the humanities.
Required of all students desiring subsequent tutorial assistance from
the
department. Prerequisite: grade B- or better in Chinese 361 or
placement
by examination. 3 credits.
Chinese 427S, 428S. Intensive
Fourth-Level Modern Chinese I, II in China (with Duke
Study in China)
Credit variable, maximum 5 credits
per semester.
Chinese 460, 461. Fifth Level Modern
Chinese
I, II
This course is designed for advanced
students wishing to improve their skills in conversation, reading and
writing of letters, essays, reports, and other types of compositions in
Chinese. The learning materials will be comprised of a variety of
authentic texts, including newspapers, short stories, essays and
movies. This
course is conducted entirely in Chinese. Prerequisite: Grade
of B- or better in Chinese
428 or 411, by result of the placement exam, or by instructor's
permission. 3 credits.
Chinese 463. Legal and Business
Chinese
An intensive exposure to legal and
business
texts in Chinese, with the aim of developing reading and speaking
fluency
in these areas and mastering the requisite specialized
vocabulary.
Of particular interest to students in the joint J.D./M.A. and dual
M.B.A./M.A.
programs, but open to all students with advanced proficiency in written
and spoken Chinese. Prerequisite: grade of B- or better in
Chinese
428, or permission of instructor. 3 credits.
Chinese 498. Guided Readings
in
Chinese
Prerequisites: senior standing and
permission
of the department. Course normally taken after successful
completion
of Chinese 428. May be repeated once for credit. Credit
variable, maximum 3 credits.
Chinese 341CQ: Literature of
Early
and Imperial China.
An introduction to the major genres and
themes of Chinese literature of the early and imperial period through
the
study of major writers. Brief lectures on the writers' personal,
social, intellectual, and historical contexts; most class time is
devoted
to student discussions of their masterworks as an avenue for
understanding
Chinese culture during selected historical periods. No
prerequisites,
all texts in English translation. Required of all Chinese
majors.
3 credits.
Chinese 342CQ Literature of
Modern
and Contemporary China
An introduction to major writers and their
works from the 1920s to contemporary times. Short stories,
poetry,
essays, drama, and film. All texts in English translation.
The literature is viewed against its historical and social background,
particularly regarding the problem of cultural identity in 20th-century
China. Readings include background readings, literature, and
occasional
films. No prerequisites, all texts in English
translation.Required
of all Chinese majors, who are recommended to take 341 first. 3 credits.
Chinese 467. The Chinese
Theater
Survey of the performance and literary
traditions of the Chinese theater from their pre-Tang origins to the
present
day. The course focuses on three forms: 14th century zaju plays,
16th- and 17th-century chuanqi plays, and recent films from China,
Taiwan,
and Hong Kong. Background in either China studies or theater in
other
cultures recommended. 3 Credits.
Chinese 476. Reading Seminar
in
Chinese Traditional Fiction
3 credits.
Chinese 477. Reading Seminar
in
Chinese Traditional Poetry
3 credits.
Chinese 478. Reading Seminar
in
Chinese Traditional Theater and Drama
3 credits.
Chinese 479. Reading Seminar
in
Modern Chinese Literature: the May Fourth Era
A broad but intensive exploration of
modern
Chinese writters and writing of the May Fourth Era (1919-1949), a
period
considered to be the beginning of modern Chinese literature. Primary
materials
addressed will include writings in portry and prose as well as dramatic
literature and cinema, and will be discussed both in their
cultural
context and in conjunction with related trends in critical scholarship.
Topics will inlcude major schools and movements, negotiations between
traditional
and foreign ideologies, and questions of nation, class and personal
identity.
3 credits.
Chinese 480. Reading Seminar
in
Popular Literature and Culture
3 credits.
Chinese 481. Reading Seminar
in
Religion and Chinese Literature
3 credits.
Chinese 482. Reading Seminar
in
Gender and Chinese Literature
3 credits.
Chinese 486. Independent Work
for Senior Honors
Prerequisites: senior standing and
acceptance into the Honors program.
3 credits.
Chinese 490 Topics in Chinese
Literature
and History
Prerequisites: permission
of
the department. Credit variable, maximum 3 credits
Chinese 4922 Reading Semenar:
History
of Women on China,1000 to 1911
Prerequisites: permission of
instructor. Credit variable.
Chinese 498 Guided Readings in
Chinese
Course normally taken after successful
completion of Chinese 428. Prerequisites: senior standing and
permission
of the department. May be repeated once for credit.Credit variable.
Mximum
3 credits.
Chinese 500. Independent Study
Prerequisites: senior standing and
permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Credit
variable, maximum 3 credits.
Art-Arch 111EQ. Introduction to Asian Art
East Asia 224CQ. East Asian Philosophies
East Asia 227CQ. Chinese Civilization
East Asia 234FQ. Introduction to Asian Religions
Art-Arch 241Q. The Arts of China
Religious Studies 245. Introduction to Buddhism
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