KSCX01 Modern Chinese for non-major students I

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Chuan-Yun Huang (lecturer)
Huan Hsu (seminar tutor)
Tzu-Ai Hsu (seminar tutor)
Yu-Min Chang, MA (seminar tutor)
Bo-Ruei Su (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Yu-Min Chang, MA
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Yu-Min Chang, MA
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
!OBOR(KSC)
The course does not require any prior knowledge of Chinese.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 80 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/80, only registered: 0/80, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/80
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract
After the course, students will get close to A1.1 level (CEFR Common Reference Levels) in the Chinese language in these four abilities:
- speaking: students will be able to reproduce conversation schemes in basic conversation situations given by the textbook. At the same time, they will independently apply the conversation schemes and acquired vocabulary to other interactive conversation situations.
- reading: students will be able to read basic conversation texts given in the textbook. At the same time, they will be able to apply acquired grammar, vocabulary and the reading principles to unknown texts, and increase necessary reading comprehension.
- writing: Students will acquire basic principles of writing Chinese characters and understand their structure. Students will be able to actively reproduce any written text in the textbook. Students will be able to use acquired skills to produce their own wrtitten text.
- listening and comprehension: Students will be able to identify and comprehend conversation situations in the textbook.
Learning outcomes
After the course, students will get close to A1.1 level (CEFR Common Reference Levels) in the Chinese language in these four abilities:
- speaking: students will be able to reproduce conversation schemes in basic conversation situations given by the textbook. At the same time, they will independently apply the conversation schemes and acquired vocabulary to other interactive conversation situations.
- reading: students will be able to read basic conversation texts given in the textbook. At the same time, they will be able to apply acquired grammar, vocabulary and the reading principles to unknown texts, and increase necessary reading comprehension.
- writing: Students will acquire basic principles of writing Chinese characters and understand their structure. Students will be able to actively reproduce any written text in the textbook. Students will be able to use acquired skills to produce their own wrtitten text.
- listening and comprehension: Students will be able to identify and comprehend conversation situations in the textbook.
Key topics
  • 1. Introduction: basic information on the Chinese language, Chinese phonetics (initials, finals), new vocabulary L1
  • 2. Lesson 1: phonetic exercise, grammar: word order in a Chinese sentence, questions, adverbs.
  • 3. Lesson 1: phonetic exercise; how to write Chinese characters, conversation exercises, new vocabulary L2
  • 4. Lesson 2: phonetic exercise, grammar: questions, adjectives, measure words, grammar exercises
  • 5. Lesson 2: phonetic exercise; Chinese characters, reading, grammar exercises, new vocabulary L3
  • 6. Test, grammar and conversation exercises
  • 7. Lesson 3: phonetic exercise; grammar: adjectives, counting, deictic words, attributes
  • 8. Lesson 3: phonetic exercise; Chinese characters, reading, grammar exercises, new vocabulary L4
  • 9. Lesson 4: phonetic exercise; grammar; reading
  • 10. Lesson 4: phonetic exercise; Chinese characters; reading; grammar and conversation exercise
  • In addition to the above, there will be two review weeks.
Study resources and literature
  • Integrated Chinese : simplified characters. Edited by Yuehua Liu. 3rd ed. Boston: Cheng & Tsui Company, 2009, xxvii, 403. ISBN 9780887276712. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
The course is taught by a native speaker who combines various methods of teaching: seminars, class discussion, conversation, homework, written/oral presentations, etc.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Written final exam (computerized, with the passing grade being 70%).
Up to two absences tolerated. A student who misses 3 classes or above will not be allowed to sit the final exam.
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2026/KSCX01