Chinese language and culture 3600-19-SIW3-JiKC6

Studying with the HSK Standard Course 4 textbook
In the winter semester, units 1 of the HSK 4 textbook are taught, and in the summer semester, units 2.

After completing the academic year, students should reach levels B1-B2.

Course characteristics
The HSK 4 textbook is a thematic comprehensive course that focuses on developing listening, speaking, and understanding Chinese. Teachers supplement the material with additional reading and writing elements to ensure comprehensive development of language skills.
• Scope of the material:
After completing the full year of study, students will master over 12,00 words.
• Additional materials:
The course includes an exercise book that focuses on improving listening comprehension skills.

Students also complete additional tasks involving sentence formation, which allows for practical application of knowledge.
• Cultural aspects:
The course also includes an introduction to Chinese culture and social studies.

Teaching methods
• Form of classes: Lessons are held in the classroom.
• Learning stages:
o Before classes: Students should familiarize themselves with the introductory material.
o During classes: The teacher explains difficulties, leads exercises and activities.
o After classes: Students review the material and do homework.
• Interactive teaching methods:
o Group discussions.
o Role-playing and situational simulations.
o Use of multimedia tools such as PPT presentations, videos and audio recordings.
Student assessment
The final assessment is based on several criteria:
1. Attendance.
2. Activity in classes.
3. Quality and timeliness of homework.
4. Test and exam results.
Thanks to this assessment system, students are motivated to study regularly, participate actively in classes and use the acquired skills in practice.
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The third year introduces beginning-level written language and discourse, in addition to extended dialogues. The course gradually transitions from everyday communicative activities to topic-based discussions, with careful attention to teaching within specific cultural contexts. Through dialogues and short texts, students are guided from sentence-level production toward coherent discourse-level expression.
Volume Three contains 12 lessons covering the following topics:
How to talk about school life, discuss school-related services and procedures
How to talk about shopping, understand simple regulations and contracts, and learn to refute arguments
How to describe changes in climate and weather; learning to talk about the Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival customs
How to discuss the leisure activity and give traveling information; learning to emphasize, give examples and provide further information
How to talk about pop culture and describe a live concert; learning to express in detail the merits of your hobbies and activities; learning to provide various reasons refuting the views of others
How to discuss the cultivation of agricultural crops; talk about changes in society, including values and lifestyle; how to express one’s opinions of food safety
How to talk about the merits and shortcomings of different family makeups; learning to talk about the relationship between people and pets in modern society; learning to state reasons and arguments methodically and sum up your thoughts
How to talk about study and work experience; learning to explain in detail classes that you are currently and future plans; learning to discuss differences in traditional and modern ideas and values
How to talk about online shopping methods and processes; learning to explain the pros and cons of different shopping methods; learning to talk about traditional food that best represent local cultures; learning to discuss product manufacturing, market share and market ranking
How to describe what happened in an automobile accident; learning to explain injuries and discuss treatment with doctors; learning to discuss issues related to cosmetic surgery; how to provide data and real-life examples supporting your views
How to give a rough introduction of your own country’s history; understand stories on the history of Taiwan; learning to discuss the relationship between food and culture; learning to explain the origins and narrate the details of an event
How to discuss issues related to elections for elected representatives; learning to analyze logic and offer various possibilities; learning to express your views and reasons for opposing something

This course adopts a communicative approach combined with task-based learning to enhance learners’ competence in using Mandarin Chinese. The instructional content is closely aligned with authentic, everyday situations, enabling students to acquire the language within meaningful and context-rich environments. Classroom activities and tasks are predominantly oral in nature, designed to consolidate language acquisition through engaging and purposeful practice. Furthermore, relevant aspects of Taiwanese culture are incorporated through multimodal materials, including images, texts, and audiovisual resources, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of the local sociocultural context.

Schedule:
Winter semester: Lessons 1–7
Summer semester: Lessons 8–12