Chinese at William & Mary

Major in Chinese Language and Culture

This newly created interdisciplinary major emphasizes strong language training and seeks to instill in students a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge about Chinese Culture and Literature.

For a major in Chinese Language and Culture, a minimum of 30 semester credits must be distributed in the following manner

1. Four Chinese language courses above the 200 level to be selected with approval of an adviser.
2. Four Chinese Literature/culture courses to be selected with approval of an adviser.
3. Chinese 428: Advanced Seminar in Chinese Language, Culture or Literature (This course will satisfy the concentration writing requirement and the concentration computing requirement.)
4. One course outside the Department of Modern Languages and Literature to be selected with approval of an adviser.

Minor in Chinese Language and Literature

A minor in Chinese Language and Literature requires 20 hours beyond 202, no more than 6 of which may be taken in courses taught in English. No course for the minor may be taken pass/fail.

Major in East Asian Studies

The East Asian Studies Program provides students the opportunity to explore China, Japan and Korea through an interdisciplinary frame work. For details, contact the Chinese section coordinator.

Chinese Courses

101. Elementary Chinese I (Mandarin).
Fall (4) Yang. Corequisite: CHI 101D
Training in grammar, pronunciation, aural-oral skills, reading and writing. The work includes intensive practice in speaking and understanding. Three hours in the Master Class, two hours in the drill class and two sessions in the language laboratory.

102. Elementary Chinese II (Mandarin).
Spring (4) Yang. Prerequisite: CHI 101 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: CHI 102D
Training in grammar, pronunciation, aural-oral skills, reading and writing. The work includes intensive practice in speaking and understanding. Three hours in the Master Class, two hours in the drill class and two sessions in the language laboratory.

111. Chinese for Heritage Speakers.
Fall (3) Yang.
For students with basic oral-aural skills. While focusing on reading and writing, it continues to provide training in listening and speaking.

150W. Freshman Seminar Topics in English.
(GER 4B) Fall or Spring (4) Yang.
An exploration of a specific topic in literary or cultural studies. Readings, class discussions and writing assignments are in English. Normally open only to first year students.

180. Chinese Calligraphy: Aesthetics and Practice.
Spring (1) Staff. Prerequisite: None. Corequisite: None.
Introduces the art and practice of Chinese calligraphy. Consists of introduction on the history, principle and aesthetic values of Chinese characters and calligraphy and hand-on experience on brush writing. No knowledge of Chinese or calligraphy is required.

200. Chinese Studies in Beijing.
Prerequisites: CHI 102 and acceptance by Selection Committee.
This number is intended for courses completed in China. Intensive language training at the intermediate level. This course may be repeated for credit.

201. Intermediate Chinese I (Mandarin).
Fall (4) Zhu. Prerequisite: CHI 102 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: CHI 201D.
Training in conversation, grammar, reading and elementary composition. Three hours in the Master Class, two hours in the drill class and two sessions in the language laboratory.

202. Intermediate Chinese II (Mandarin).
Spring (4) Zhu. Prerequisite: CHI 201or permission of instructor. Corequisite: CHI 202D.
Training in conversation, grammar, reading and elementary composition. Three hours in the Master Class, two hours in the drill class and two sessions in the language laboratory.

211. Chinese for Heritage Speakers.
Spring (3) Yang. Prerequisite: CHI 111
For students with basic oral-aural skills. Wile focusing on reading and writing, it continues to provide training in listening and speaking.

280. Asian Cultures Through Film.
(GER 4B) Spring (3) Tang.
This is an introduction to Asian cultures and societies through the modern and contemporary film of China, Taiwan and Japan. The class takes a cross-cultural approach by looking at various social, political and cultural themes as they vary across time and across Asian countries. (Cross listed with JAPN 280).

300. Chinese Studies in Beijing II.
Summer and Fall (3,3) Staff. Prerequisites: CHI 202 and acceptance by Selection Committee.
This number is intended for courses completed in China. Intensive oral-aural training at the upper-intermediate level. This course may be repeated for credit.

301. Upper-Intermediate Chinese 1.
Fall (3) Zhu. Prerequisite: CHI 202 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: CHI 301D.
Continued training in conversation, grammar and composition with special emphasis on reading. Three hours in the master class, two hours in the drill class, two sessions in the language laboratory.

302. Upper-Intermediate Chinese II.
Spring (3) Zhu. Prerequisite: CHI 301 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: CHI 302D.
Continued training in conversation, grammar and composition with special emphasis on reading. Three hours in the Master Class, two hours in the drill class, two sessions in the language laboratory.

303. Topics in Chinese Language, Civilization or Literature.
Fall and Spring (3,3) Jian and Tang.
This course is offered every fall in Beijing and/or every spring at the College. Topics include current newspaper readings, radio broadcast comprehension and radio video plays. Course may be repeated for credit if the topic varies.

306. Advanced Converstation.Fall or Spring (3), Yang. Prerequisit: CHI 200 or 202. Intensive oral-aural training with emphasis on conducting effective communication in spoken Chinese.

308. Directed Readings in Chinese.
Fall or Spring (3) Staff. Prerequisite: CHI 300 or CHI 301. Corequisite: None.
This course is designed to train students' ability to interpret written Chinese through in-depth readings in Chinese literature and other types of cultural expression.

309. Survey of Chinese Literature in English.
(GER 4B,5) Fall (3) Tang and Jian.
An introduction to major works of Chinese literature, including the Confucian classics, poetry, drama, short stories and the novels, with emphasis on its cultural and historical context.

312. Spring Issues in Chinese Poetic Tradition (In Translation)
Fall or Spring (3) Tang
An examination of selected issues in Chinese poetic tradition through extensive reading of classical Chinese poetry and comparison between traditional Chinese poetics and contemporary Western liteary theories.

316. Women in Chinese Literature in English.
(GER 4B, 5) Sping (3) Tang
This course examines the presence and the presentation of women in Chinese literature. Readings include poetry, novel and drama, drawing heavily on historical and philosophical texts such as the Book of Changes and the Book of Rites. Taught in English. Cross listed with WMST 314 01.

322. 20th Century Chinese Literature in Translation. (GER 4B, 5) Fall or Spring (3) Jian. A study of major 20th-century works, trends and movements. Pays special attention to the period from the end of the Cultural Revolution (1976) to present. Taught in English.

400. Chinese Studies in Beijing Program.
Summer and Fall (3,3) Staff. Prerequisites: CHI 300 or 302 and acceptance by Selection Committee.
This number is intended for courses completed in China. Intensive oral-aural training at advanced level. This course may be repeated for credit.

401. Advanced Chinese 1.
Fall (3) Guo. Prerequisite: CHI 302 or permission of instructor.
Continued training in conversation, grammar and composition, with special emphasis given to reading and writing in a variety of situations and materials.

402. Advanced Chinese 111.
Spring (3) Guo. Prerequisite: CHI 401 or permission of instructor.
Continued training in conversation, grammar and composition, with special emphasis given to reading and writing in a variety of situations and materials.

410. Advanced Topics in Chinese Language, Civilization or Literature.
Fall and Spring (3, 3) Jian and Tang. Prerequisite: CHI 300 or CHI 302 or permission of instructor.
An in-depth study of a limited topic in Chinese language, civilization or literature. Topics include classical Chinese language and Chinese cinema. This course may be offered locally at the College or abroad in the Chinese Studies in Beijing program. Course may be repeated for credit when topics differ.

411. Independent Study.
Fall and Spring (3, 3) Jian, Tang. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
This course is designed to permit an in-depth study of the Chinese language or literature not available in current course offerings. Course may be repeated for credit if topic varies.

428. Advanced Seminar in Chinese Language, Culture or Literature.
Spring (3) Staff. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.
This capstone course guides students in conducting in-depth studies on issues in Chinese language, culture or literature and it requires students to complete an independent research project. Satisfies concentration computing requirement and concentration writing requirement.