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DS1390 Elementary Chinese and Chinese Studies 6.0 credits

Administer About course

Course offerings are missing for current or upcoming semesters.
Headings with content from the Course syllabus DS1390 (Autumn 2012–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

Life and institutions

Introduction to geography, economy, history, politics, religion, philosophy, art, literature, ethnic groups, food, language and dialects to understand how China and the Chinese culture have developed which creates a deeper understanding of modern China.

Language

Introduction to phonetics, pinyin, grammar and the origin and principles of the Chinese characters as well as the art of writing. Basic principles for construction and vocabulary. Practice in understanding and speaking everyday Chinese. The course comprises appr. 120 characters.

Intended learning outcomes

EU language portfolio level A1, http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/

Life and institutions

At the end of the course, the student should have acquired:

  • basic factual knowledge on a large number of events and conditions in China, past and present
  • deeper knowledge within an individually chosen area of historical or present-day China
  • skill in finding facts on relevant Chinese events and phenomena.

Language

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

  • identify tones and syllables in very slow spoken Mandarin Chinese, and also understand some simple sentences
  • identify real and lexical radicals in simplified and traditional written characters, and understand some simple texts and clause patterns
  • read aloud familiar texts in Pinyin with an acceptable pronunciation, and carry on limited simple conversations
  • translate some simple sentences from Swedish to Chinese
  • translate some simple sentences from Chinese to Swedish.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

General entrance requirements for university studies, i e completed upper secondary schooling. Applicants should have no preknowledge of Chinese. More information is available on our website.

Recommended prerequisites

See under Eligibility

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

kinesiska@kth, första boken, Björn Kjellgren, KTH

Kinakunskap, Björn Kjellgren, Lund: Studentlitteratur

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • ANN1 - Test, 1.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • HEM1 - Examination, 1.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • TENA - Examination, 1.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • TENB - Language Proficiency, 1.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Other requirements for final grade

75 % attendance. Home assignment (HEM1; 1,5 credits), mid-term tests (ANN1; 1,5 credits) final examination in two parts (TENA; 1,5 credits, TENB: 1,5 credits)

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Profile picture Björn Kjellgren

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

ECE/Language and Communication

Main field of study

Technology

Education cycle

First cycle

Add-on studies

Chinese, Advanced Beginners’ Level I

Contact

Björn Kjellgren, tel. 790 6125, bjoern@kth.se

Supplementary information

The course has limited participation. Students who are not present at course risk losing their place on the course.

The course programme may be subject to changes and courses with an insufficient number of students can be cancelled or get a reduced number of lessons.