Chinese Program
We offer three levels of Chinese courses, a Conversational Chinese course, and a Chinese Calligraphy course during our Weekend Program. The courses are open to anyone with an interest in Chinese language and culture.
Fei Tian is an ideal setting for learning Chinese because it is a full-time, bilingual academic institution that promotes cultural awareness and appreciation of both Western and Asian traditional arts. Almost all of the students, faculty, and staff speak some Chinese. It is truly an immersion experience. Fei Tian is proud to be able to offer such a unique and rigorous Chinese language and cultural program in the United States.
The Chinese Language and Culture program at Fei Tian is offered on multiple levels, ranging from the most basic speaking skills to reading ancient primary texts and poetry. Students are placed at an appropriate level according to their prior exposure and proficiency in the Chinese language.
Prospective students should be aware that not all levels may be available at all times, and that availability of new sections is subject to demand.
Basic Chinese
Reviews and reinforces basic literacy skills across the four modailities: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This course gives a basic overview of different tones and pronunciation, vocabulary, and skills in reading and writing. Students practice their Chinese through teacher-led listening and speaking activities. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to recognize about 500 Chinese words and be able to write at least a few hundred words.
Intermediate Chinese
Further develops students’ speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The goal is to have students reach an intermediate level of proficiency in the language. The language experience is enriched by supplementary materials including videos, newspapers and magazines, and songs as well as ancient stories and poems. Upon completion of this course, students should have mastered a vocabulary of about 800 words.
Advanced Chinese
Will continue to build the students’ speaking, reading, and writing skills and take them to a higher level of sophistication in the language. The course at this level is conducted almost entirely in Chinese. Upon completion of this course, students should have mastered a vocabulary of about 1,500 words and can be considered fluent in the language. Students learn to apply the Chinese language in a modern context—they send emails, read news and nonfiction texts about modern-day China, and develop the literacy and cultural skills to communicate with others fluent in the language.
Conversational Chinese
Mainly focuses on practicing conversations. This course is intended to develop the participants’ oral skills for self-expression at the elementary level of Chinese. Guided practice in conversation is led by the course instructor to enhance practical communicative competence. Small group discussions on daily life topics are conducted. This course will also develop participants’ cultural awareness by introducing general topics on Chinese culture, history and economy. The topics for the conversation class will be created to suit the level of the students that attend the class. The aim is to increase the students’ knowledge on these topics as well as their conversation and listening skills.
Chinese Calligraphy
Uses the Chinese brush, a magical tool with choreographic movements, to provide participants with the basic skills to create graceful and balanced writing. While learning how to make black ink by grinding an ink stick with water on an ink stone, to fit one’s aesthetic taste, the participants will practice the regular style of calligraphy from the glorious Tang Dynasty. Basic strokes, structures, proper sizes, and ink effects will be stressed when students advance to composition arrangements of short words on blank paper. Participants will be expected to complete a calligraphy project with selected themes and art forms. Course materials will be provided. |
