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Courses of Instruction in Chinese

Grand Valley State University offers a full curriculum of Chinese, including three years of language courses: CHI 101, CHI 102, CHI 201, CHI 202, CHI 301, and CHI 302.

CHI 201 satisfies the B.A. degree cognate, and CHI 202 satisfies the General Education World Perspectives requirement.

We also offer two specialized language courses: CHI 341 Classical Chinese and CHI 351 Practical Chinese, and two culture courses: CHI 321 Ancient Chinese Culture and CHI 322 Classical Chinese Culture. Other courses are occasionally offered, and we are planning to broaden our curriculum offerings. Students may declare a minor in Chinese language, and courses in Chinese language and culture are part of the Chinese Studies major curriculum and the East Asian Studies minor curriculum.

We also offer two language and culture faculty-led summer study abroad programs, one in Taiwan and one in Nanjing.

CHI 101 Elementary Chinese I
An introduction to the language with emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Four credits. Offered fall semester.

CHI 102 Elementary Chinese II
Continuation of 101. Prerequisite: C (not C-) or better in 101. Four credits. Offered winter semester.

CHI 185 Supplemental Elementary Chinese
Supplemental Chinese language courses are offered on faculty led summer study abroad programs in China and Taiwan. They are supplemental, and do not replace language course in the regular curriculum sequence.

CHI 201 Intermediate Chinese I
Continued study of grammar and vocabulary aimed at the mastery of more difficult reading and conversation. Prerequisite: C (not C-) or better in 102. Four credits. Offered fall semester.

CHI 202 Intermediate Chinese II
Course content varies. Expectations of students approximate those in other 200-level courses. May be repeated for credit when content differs. No more than four credits can be applied to the minor or major. Variable credit. Offered on sufficient demand. Continuation of 201. Prerequisite: C (not C-) or better in 201. Four credits. Offered winter semester. Fulfills World Perspectives requirement.

CHI 285 Supplemental Intermediate Chinese
Supplemental Chinese language courses are offered on faculty led summer study abroad programs in China and Taiwan. They are supplemental, and do not replace language courses in the regular curriculum sequence.

CHI 301 Advanced Intermediate Chinese I
This is a continuation of Intermediate Chinese II CHI 202. In this class, students continue to build vocabulary and sentence structures of Mandarin Chinese. More importantly, students shall become more proficient in the language, both written and spoken. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: CHI 202. Credits: 3.

CHI 302 Advanced Intermediate Chinese II
This is a continuation of Advanced Intermediate Chinese I CHI 301. In this class, students continue to build vocabulary and sentence structures of Mandarin Chinese. More importantly, students shall become more proficient in the language, both written and spoken. Offered winter semester. Prerequisite: CHI 301 Credits: 3.

CHI 321 Ancient Chinese Culture
Explores the beautiful and rich lifestyle of ancient China through arts, music, and literature in translation. Covers archaic times (twelfth century B.C. through post-Han dynasty (fifth century A.D.). Three credits. Offered fall semester on demand.

CHI 322 Classical Chinese Culture
Explores the beautiful and rich lifestyle of classical China through art, music, and literature in translation. Covers the Sui-T'ang (sixth century A.D.) through the Ch'ing dynasty (nineteenth century). Three credits. Offered winter semester on demand.

CHI 341 Introduction to Classical Chinese
The classical Chinese language, also known as literary Chinese, is the doorway into the fascinating world of Chinese culture. It had been the primary form of communication for at least three thousand years. In this course, we will study the language through readings in early philosophical, historical, and poetic texts. Offered winter semester. Prerequisite: CHI 201. Credits: 3.

CHI 351 Practical Chinese
Learning a language from a textbook is only the beginning of the journey to becoming proficient in that language. This course will explore the practical uses of Mandarin Chinese in such areas as different forms of mass media, advertising, non-fiction reference materials, packaging, entertainment, music and the Internet. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: CHI 202. Credits: 3.

CHI 380 Special Topics in Chinese
Offered on sufficient demand.  Credits: 3.

CHI 385 Supplemental Advanced Intermediate Chinese
Supplemental Chinese language courses are offered on faculty led summer study abroad programs in China and Taiwan. They are supplemental, and do not replace language courses in the regular curriculum sequence.

CHI 386  Chinese Culture and Society in Taiwan
This course will expose the students to the Chinese culture and society as expressed in Taiwan, and more specifically, Taipei City. Taipei has been the capital city of the Republic of China since 1949, and as such, was the center of traditional Chinese culture, including Buddhist and Taoist religion and Cunfucian beliefs, throughout the latter half of the 20th century.  The environment in Taipei City is urban yet not overwhelming, and Standard Mandarin chinese is the main language of communication, thus enabling students to comfortably explore the city and interact with the people of Taipei and understand the society firsthand. Hands-on cultural classes on such topics as Chinese calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, Chinese cooking, and traditional folk crafts will be arranged in cooperation with the National Taiwan Normal University's Mandarin Training Center.  Field trips and excursions will be arranged to explore significant cultural and historical sites around northern Taiwan. An extended tour of Southern Taiwan will also expose students to rural. agricultural, and aboriginal cultures.

CHI 387 Chinese Culture and Society in Nanjing, China
This course will expose the students to the Chinese culture. Nanjing is an ideal location, as it is on the border between the cultural and linguistic North and South of China. Although the local dialect is Northern Chinese, most people speak Standard Mandarin Chinese, allowing the students to encounter and overhear Chinese on the street and in their everyday activities. The environment in Nanjing City is both urban, yet not overwhelming. The students will be able ti comfortably explore the city and interact with the people of Nanjing, but also understand the society firsthand. Nanjing is a historically important city, as it has been the capital of ten dynasties throughout Chinese history. The city has many sites that will be used as foundations for lectures and discussions on Chinese culture and history. It is also near many other culturally important cities in the south, allowing convenient access to field trip destinations.

CHI 399 Independent Reading
One to four credits. Offered fall and winter semesters.

CHI 480 Special Topics in Chinese
Course content varies. Expectations of students approximate those in other 400-level courses. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Variable credit. Offered on sufficient demand.