Beginning Chinese 1 for Independent Learners

Course outline with learning objectives

Unit 1: Foundations

Module 1: Pinyin Intro 

• Differentiate the four tones in Pinyin

Module 2: Palatal, Dental, and Retroflex Initials 

• Recognize the difference in pronunciation for pinyin initials 

Module 3: Compound Finals

• Distinguish the compound finals in Pinyin

Module 4: Nasal Finals

• Distinguish the nasal finals in Pinyin

Module 5: Special Pinyin Rules

• Describe the special pinyin rules for finals, initials, and tone changes 

Module 6: Pinyin Review Exercises

• Distinguish the 6 vowels and 21 initials in Pinyin
• Determine the correct tone and syllable for a pronounced pinyin or phrase
• Articulate tongue twisters in Chinese with the provided Chinese characters and/or Pinyin

Module 7: Basic Chinese Expressions

• Use basic Chinese phrases for numbers and greetings 

Module 8: Unit Test 

Unit 2 Greetings

Module 9: Main Content

• Greet someone with the proper vocabulary and Chinese greeting customs

Module 10: Listening

• Identify the main topics discussed in a conversation 
• Construct a logical conversation based on given sentences 

Module 11: Grammar

• Explain one’s occupation and those of others 

Module 12: Reading Exercises

• Identify the main topics discussed in a text

Module 13: Consolidation Exercises

• Provide the correct pinyin after listening to an audio excerpt 

Module 14: Culture Link

• Make comparisons between Chinese-speaking cultures and one’s own culture 

Module 15: Unit Test

Unit 3: Names

Module 16: Main Content

• Greet someone with the proper vocabulary and politeness of Chinese greeting customs 

Module 17: Listening

• Construct a complete sentence based on an audio excerpt 
• Translate the content of audio excerpts 

Module 18: Grammar

• Formulate a conversation in Chinese about name, characteristics, and occupation
• Practice the proper usage of the particle 的
• Determine the correct plural pronoun to used based on the given point of view 

Module 19: Reading Exercises

• Make an inference about someone based on the given text
• Intepret the meaning of a word based on a given text 

Module 20: Consolidation Exercises

• Construct a logical conversation based on given sentences 

Module 21: Culture Link

• Make comparisons between Chinese culture and one’s own culture of naming children 

Module 22: Unit Test

Unit 4: Nationalities

Module 23: Main Content

• Employ the patterns of country name, nationality, and world languages in Chinese 

Module 24: Listening

• Describe the main action in the given scenario 
• Identify the relationship between different characters in a scene

Module 25: Grammar

• Determine the correct demonstrative pronoun based on context 

Module 26: Reading Exercises

• Ask and answer questions in Chinese about a character or location 

Module 27: Consolidation Exercises

• Paraphrase an audio segment without modifying its meaning 

Module 28: Culture Link

• Make comparisons between Chinese and one’s own culture of native/ethnic attachments 

Module 29: Unit Test

Unit 5: Studies

Module 30: Main Content

• Employ common phrases to discuss one’s study 

Module 31: Listening

• Identify what subject areas characters enjoy studying 

Module 32: Grammar

• Distinguish the subject and predicate in a sentence 
• Determine the most appropriate measure word for a given subject, item, or event

Module 33: Reading Exercises

• Identify the main topics discussed in a text

Module 34: Consolidation Exercises

• Associate an adjective with the corresponding subject matter

Module 35: Culture Link

• Make cultural comparisons about name writing customs 

Module 36: Unit Test 

Unit 6: Self and Family

Module 37: Main Content

• Recognize occupational vocabulary for jobs 

Module 38: Listening

• Identify the main topics discussed in a conversation 

Module 39: Grammar

• Determine measure words for a given subject, item, or event
• Construct sentences with commonly used sentence structure/pattern (i.e. 是…的…)

Module 40: Reading Exercises

• Distinguish the characteristics of different people in a family 

Module 41: Consolidation Exercises

• Count numbers in Chinese 

Module 42: Culture Link

• Make cultural comparisons about family reunions

Module 43: Unit Test

Unit 7: Phone Calls

Module 44: Main Content

• Use vocabulary for phone call etiquette

Module 45: Listening

• Identify the ongoing action in a sentence 

Module 46: Grammar

• Determine the proper usage of question words (i.e. 哪)
• Employ the use of  common sentence pattern (A 不 A pattern)
• Construct sentences with proper tag questions 

Module 47: Reading Exercises

• Identify the setting in a given image 

Module 48: Consolidation Exercises

• Construct a logical conversation based on given sentences
• Ask questions in Chinese about a character or location with proper tag questions

Module 49: Culture Link

• Make cultural comparisons about phone call customs 

Module 50: Unit Test 

Unit 8: Daily Schedule

Module 51: Main Content

• Tell time in Chinese 

Module 52: Listening

• Make inferences about one’s daily schedule 
• Determine the time frame mentioned in a dialogue or text

Module 53: Grammar

• Construct phrases and sentences with particles 
• Employ the use of common sentence pattern (从…到…  pattern)

Module 54: Reading Exercises

• Determine the time frame mentioned in a dialogue or text

Module 55: Consolidation Exercises

• Construct a logical conversation based on given sentences 

Module 56: Culture Link

• Make cultural comparisons about fortune telling and gift giving 

Module 57: Unit Test