Mandarin

Why should I take Mandarin at KPU?

• Dedicated and highly qualified faculty members
• Small, lively and interactive classes plus weekly 40-minute conversation practice for all lower-division courses
• A variety of contemporary teaching methodologies including a communicative approach based on real-life scenarios
• Incorporation of culturally relevant information and fun games
• Up-to-date course websites and tailor made on-line resources
• Closer to home and to the fastest-growing Chinese community in Canada
• Count as elective credits towards various degrees and diplomas, including Minor in Language and Culture offered by the Department
• All university transferable (refer to transfer guide) to UBC, SFU, UVIC and other major post-secondary institutions in BC
• Opportunities to win scholarships for studying in China or Taiwan either by merit or by participating in the annual Mandarin speech and/or singing contests for BC university students

The following textbooks or similar ones will be used:

• For Mand 1100, 1101, 2200 and 2201: Liu, Yuehua et al. Integrated Chinese (3rd ed.) Part 1 and 2 Level 1  (including Textbooks, Workbooks and Character Books) Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company, 2009
• For Mand 3310 and 3311: Bai, Jianhua et al.  Beyond the Basics (2nd  ed.)   Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company, 2009
• For Mand 4321 and 4323: Feng, Yu et al. Close the Deal: Advanced Chinese for Creative and Productive Business Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company, 2006
• For Mand 4481 and 4483: Zhu, Donglin Masterpieces in Modern Chinese Literature (1917-2010) 中国现代文学经典(1917—2010）Peking University Press; 2011

What is the course format and content?

• A variety of integrated listening, speaking, reading and writing with a native speaker
• Concise and focused descriptions and applications of grammatical structures
• Weekly conversational practice with a conversational associate in lower-division courses
• Interactive oral and written exercises, group presentations, skits and hands-on language games
• Textbook videos, films and YouTube clippings of linguistic and cultural interest
• Online course resources as well as postings by fellow students

Important Mandarin Course Registration Guidelines:

To help students register in the right course level, the Department institutes the following guidelines for Mandarin course admission based on consultations with the Chinese programs at other BC universities and colleges to which our courses are transferable. Please note that these guidelines are for general placement purposes only. If you are not sure of your language skills or if you have extenuating circumstances for special consideration, please contact the instructor of the course for assessment (see details below). Should your language level be found higher than the course level after classes start, you will be placed in a higher-level course (if space is still available) at the discretion of the instructor, or you will be dropped from the class even after the tuition refund date. It is therefore to your advantage to read and follow these guidelines CAREFULLY. You are also advised to take a look at the textbooks at the bookstore to ascertain your level for course registration.

A gentle reminder: Mandarin courses are always popular and fill up quickly. So register early to avoid disappointment.

• Prerequisite: None. This is a beginner course designed for those who have no or little background in Mandarin.
• Registration tip for the FALL semester: For non-heritage students, you are encouraged to register for the twice-a-week R10 daytime section for optimal learning enjoyment and outcomes if your course timetable permits. If not, however, you are also most welcome to register for the once-a-week R50 evening section.
• NOTE: You are overqualified for this course if you fall under ONE of the following categories below. You have, however, the right and option to take higher level Mandarin courses.

1. You already read and write about 150 Chinese vocabulary
2. You immigrated to Canada from a Chinese speaking country or region such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore after you finished Grade 1
3. You took Mand 12 regardless of where you were born and raised
4. You went to a weekend Chinese school in the last THREE years in Canada

Mand 1101 "Beginner Mandarin II":

• Prerequisites: MAND 1100 or equivalent (such as knowing about 200 vocabulary), or MAND 11, or assessment by instructor.
• NOTE: You are overqualified for this course if you immigrated to Canada from a Chinese speaking country or region such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore after you finished the First Semester of Grade 2. You are also overqualified for Mand 1101 if your Mand 12 grade is B or above even though you were born and educated in an English-speaking country. You have, however, the right and option to take higher-level Mandarin courses.

Mand 2200 "Intermediate Mandarin I":

• Prerequisites: MAND 1101 or equivalent (such as knowing about 500 vocabulary), or Mandarin 11 with B, or Mandarin 12 with C, or assessment by instructor.
• NOTE: You are overqualified for this course if you immigrated to Canada from a Chinese speaking country or region such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore after you finished the Second Semester of Grade 2. You have, however, the right and option to take higher-level Mandarin courses.

Mand 2201 "Intermediate Mandarin II":

• Prerequisites: MAND 2200 or equivalent (such as knowing about 750 vocabulary), or Mandarin 12 with a B or higher, or assessment by instructor.
• NOTE: You are NOT eligible to take this course if you immigrated to Canada from a Chinese speaking country or region such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore after you finished Grade 3. You have, however, the right and option to take higher-level Mandarin courses.

Mand 3310 "Upper Intermediate Mandarin: Reading and Writing I":

• Prerequisites: MAND 2201 or Mandarin 12 with A or equivalent (such as knowing about 1200 vocabulary), or assessment by instructor.
• NOTE: You are NOT eligible to take this course if you immigrated to Canada from a Chinese speaking country or region such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore after you finished Grade 4. You have, however, the right and option to take higher-level Mandarin courses.

Mand 3311 "Upper Intermediate Mandarin: Reading and Writing II":

• Prerequisites: MAND 3310 or equivalent (such as knowing about 1600 vocabulary), or assessment by instructor.
• NOTE: You are NOT eligible to take this course if you immigrated to Canada from a Chinese speaking country or region such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore after you finished Grade 4. You have, however, the right and option to take higher-level Mandarin courses.

Mand 4321 “Business Chinese I”:

• Prerequisites: Mand 3311 or assessment by the instructor.
• NOTE: Students are expected to read and write about 2000 Chinese characters before taking this course.

Mand 4323 “Business Chinese II”:

• Prerequisites: Mand 4321 or assessment by the instructor.

Mand 4481 "Modern Chinese Literature I":

• Prerequisites: Mand 3311 or assessment by the instructor.
• NOTE: Students are expected to read and write about 2000 Chinese characters before taking this course.

Mand 4483 "Modern Chinese Literature II":

• Prerequisites: Mand 4481 or assessment by the instructor.

(Note: For all students, placement tests may be administered and official documents may be requested for verification purposes at the discretion of the Department.)

In Case You Need to Contact the Instructor for Assessment:

For placement assessments, please email the following information to the instructor of the course (e.g. yanfeng.qu@kpu.ca OR linda.qiao@kpu.ca):

1. Your full name, student number and phone number
2. Your birthplace and languages you speak (including various Chinese dialects)
3. Your age when you immigrated to Canada (if you were born overseas)
4. Your grade(s) for high school Mandarin (e.g. Mandarin 11 and/or Mandarin 12) AND the year when you took it
5. Did you learn Chinese at weekend Chinese schools? If yes, for how many years?
6. Your extenuating circumstances that are not covered by the guidelines presented above and that deserve special consideration.

Thank you for your interest in our Mandarin courses and we are looking forward to seeing you in class!

Questions? Contact Us. 

Instructors:

Yanfeng Qu

• Email: yanfeng.qu@kpu.ca
• Tel: 604.599.2544 Voicemail: 8345
• Office: Room 2445 (Richmond Campus)

Huifang Qiao

• Email: Linda.qiao@kpu.ca
• Tel: 604.599.2592
• Office: Room 2455 (Richmond Campus) 

Conversationalist:

Heather Hongli Guo

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