Chinese 2 (Mandarin)

Chinese 2 Syllabus

Welcome back to Chinese 2! This course is designed for students who have completed Chinese 1. It builds upon previous knowledge and continues focusing on essential language skills such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Through interactive lessons and engaging activities, students will learn more advanced vocabulary and grammar, working towards greater language proficiency.

Throughout the course, students will use the Pinyin system, the Romanization of Chinese sounds, to help them accurately pronounce Mandarin words. Emphasis will be placed on speaking and using language in context. Additionally, students will focus on writing Chinese characters, enabling them to form longer sentences and engage in more detailed conversations.

Cultural insights will also be an integral part of the course, providing students with a deeper understanding of Chinese customs, traditions, and social norms. By the end of the course, students will have developed an intermediate skill set in Mandarin Chinese, allowing them to perform common interactions. This second level course aims to solidify prior learning and continue to build confidence and enthusiasm for further exploration of the Chinese language and culture.

Course Structure

The course will include one live lesson per week with the rest of the week aimed at independent practice. The class operates mainly as a flipped classroom with students watching instructional video lessons and completing exercises during the week in preparation for practice in class.

Who should enroll?

This class is designed for high school students (9th -12th grade) who are interested in Chinese language and culture. Students must have completed Chinese 1 prior to this course.

Prerequisite

Students must complete Chinese 1 prior to enrolling in this class. Students who believe they have the background knowledge or have taken Chinese elsewhere may be considered. Please get in touch with the teacher at pbuchter[at]aimacademy.online.

Technology Requirements

• High speed, broadband Internet
• Web cam, sound card, and microphone (for live sessions)
• Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures and other class materials

Evaluation and Feedback

Live lessons will be once a week, but I am available to students to answer questions or schedule office hours as needed (with the exception of weekends). I hope students will find me approachable and take the initiative to reach out whenever they need or want a bit of support or have questions; I’m always happy to provide students with the support they need to succeed. No questions are too big or too small, but I prefer students take the first steps to contact me for help unless I notice that they are struggling to keep up with the workload.

Communication

As I do not live in the US at the moment, there may be time zone discrepancies, so the best way to reach me is via email (pbuchter@aimacademy.online). I will respond to emails within 48 hours outside of the weekend (usually sooner). However, for any students or parents desiring a face-to-face conversation, I am happy to schedule a time to meet to discuss students’ progress.