Chinese Courses

CHIN 101 , CHIN 102, CHIN 103 Elementary Chinese

Development of Mandarin language skills: listening, comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Essentials of grammar complemented by readings in literature and culture, with extensive practice in speaking.

CHIN 201 , CHIN 202, CHIN 203 Intermediate Chinese

Intermediate study of Mandarin Chinese. Reinforcement of grammatical understanding of the language while developing conversational fluency. Attention to oral and listening skills is combined with increasing emphasis on study of the Chinese writing system.

CHIN 211 , CHIN 212, CHIN 213 Chinese Language and Culture in Film

An intermediate level of Mandarin Chinese language study, delivered through a close examination of language used in Chinese TV and film. Students will use authentic media to expand vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, and common expressions, as well as improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Most lessons will contain a cultural element to accompany the language skills being developed.

CHIN 220 Orientalism, Occidentalism, and Chinese Culture

A theoretical survey of historical and contemporary relations between the Western world and the East, specifically China. Interdisciplinary in approach, this class investigates cultural interactions and classic Asian Studies theory through comparative analysis of diverse media, including: short stories, film, non-fiction, pop culture, and art forms. Topics such as colonialism, diaspora, appropriation of the Other, and trans-nationalism are also part of our focus.

CHIN 221 Women and Modern Chinese Literature

(In English translation) This course explores the crucial role that women played in shaping modern Chinese literature. We will make close readings of short stories, autobiographies, novel excerpts, and complete novelettes of mostly female writers, exploring the ideas, themes, and theories that they were exploring while breaking new ground. We will also be dissecting these readings through our own contemporary literary lenses as a means of expanding the students' skills of literary interpretation and criticism that will be a concomitant benefit to the expansion of the students' knowledge of China and both its literary and historical past.

CHIN 225 Introduction to Chinese Film

This course is an introduction to Chinese cinema in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, with emphasis on the ways film represents China, Chinese identity, cultural heritage, and Chinese modernity. The course will include weekly film viewings and in-class discussion.

CHIN 230 /231 Immersive Taiwan: Culture, History and Identity I and II

See description of ASIA 230/231.

CHIN 237 Arts, Culture, and Landscapes of Southern China I 1/2

This course is a 1/2-credit fall term preparatory class for an immersion experience in southern China during winter break. Its approach is interdisciplinary, exposing students to local cultures through a variety of visual, performing, and literary arts inspired by this region, including painting, dance, theater, and other forms of expression such as poetry, folk tales, and historical narrative. Witnessing various urban, rural, natural, and cultural landscapes in Guilin/Yangshuo (in the southeast region) and Kunming/Dali (in the southwest region) offers diverse perspectives on China with special attention paid to minority culture. Students of all majors are strongly encouraged to enroll. Students enrolling in ASIA/CHIN 237 are required to also enroll in ASIA/CHIN 238 and participate in the December trip to China.

CHIN 238 South China Trip Project 1/2

This course is only open to students who completed the December group travel to China after completing the fall term course "Art/Culture/Landscape of South China." Enrollment in this course will allow those students to complete and present their individual final projects based on experiences in China, and thus also receive credit for the travel component.

CHIN 311 , CHIN 312, CHIN 313 Chinese Language and Culture in Film I

An advanced level of Mandarin Chinese language study, delivered through a close examination of language used in Chinese TV and film. Students will use authentic media to expand vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, and common expressions, as well as improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Most lessons will contain a cultural element to accompany the language skills being developed.

CHIN 320 Orientalism, Occidentalism, and Chinese Culture