KSCB133 Chinese with Sitcom

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: k (colloquium). Other types of completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Ondřej Vicher, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Ondřej Vicher, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ondřej Vicher, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 16:00–17:40 B2.42, except Mon 20. 4. to Fri 24. 4.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
KSCA009 Chinese IV
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract

The course is intended for advanced students of Chinese (minimum HSK4) and aims to systematically deepen their existing language skills in an entertaining way using audiovisual material in the form of episodes from the Chinese sitcom Jia you er-nü (家有儿女). Through the analysis of relevant passages from individual episodes, participants will gain a realistic overview of the practical use of grammar and vocabulary in everyday situations. The teacher will also draw students' attention to the numerous cultural and historical references that appear in the series. In addition to translating individual sentences while watching the episode in the first half of the lesson, time will also be set aside for further active language practice through group exercises and subsequent imitation of selected scenes from individual episodes. Thanks to this method, course participants will not only practice their spoken language skills, but also learn the correct prosody of Chinese speech, typical Chinese gestures, and a range of other communication skills. 

Learning outcomes
Course participants will improve their listening skills and gain a better understanding of the grammar and vocabulary of contemporary spoken Chinese. Thanks to the diversity of topics offered by the study material, participants will also expand their passive and active vocabulary, deepen their knowledge of Chinese culture, and become aware of a number of cultural and historical contexts. They will also gain a better ability to navigate unfamiliar texts. Through ongoing exercises in class and, above all, through the completion of a final project (translation of an episode), they will master a range of translation and interpreting methods, procedures, and skills.
Key topics

1) Audiovisual part: watching an episode and then translating individual sentences.

2) Discussion part: analyzing selected grammatical phenomena and vocabulary, introducing cultural and historical contexts.

3) Practice part: practicing short scenes in groups and then staging them.

Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

working with authentic audiovisual material (selected episodes of a Chinese TV series)

guided listening and viewing with language analysis and translation of selected passages

explanation of grammatical, lexical, and cultural phenomena

active language exercises, group dialogue practice, and scene imitation

development of speaking, comprehension, pronunciation, prosody, and communication skills

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

·       Home preparation

·       Activity during lessons (translation of episodes, active participation in subsequent discussions, active participation in the staging of selected scenes)

· Attendance max. 2 (unexcused) absences

· for credit, a translation of a selected episode of the series

Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught once in two years.
Teacher's information

1)      Vicher, Ondřej. 2020. Specifics of Humor Based on Historical and Cultural References from Chinese Situation Comedy 家有兒女 Jia you er-nü. (unpublished paper) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23375.30887

2)      Kuang, C. H., and Zhao, X. 2017. Grice’s maxims in humour: The case of “Home with kids”. In: English Review: Journal of English Education, Vol. 6, No. 1, 49–58.

3)      Kozák, Michael. 2020. Analýza historických referencí v čínské situační komedii JIA YOU ER-NÜ. Bakalářská práce. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci.

4)      Novotná, Jana. 2021. Analýza chyb v překladu vybraných dílů čínského komediálního seriálu Jia you er-nü. Bakalářská práce. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci.

5)      Stejskalová, Eva. 2021. Analýza lexikálních výpůjček vybraných epizod čínského sitkomu (Jia you er-nü). Bakalářská práce. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci.

6)      Štefka, Michal. 2020. Frekvence čínských idiomů v sitcomu "Jia you ernü". Bakalářská práce. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci.

7)      Valchářová, Nela. 2020. Překlad a analýza vybraných problematických pasáží čínského sitkomu (Jia you er-nü). Bakalářská práce. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci.

The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023.
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