This course is designed to help students gain an appreciation for the richness of the spoken national language of China. After a brief survey of the historical development of Mandarin, emphasis is placed upon acquiring a basic facility in the dialect.
Emphasis is on the spoken form.
In addition to the formal program, language acquisition and practice in using what is learned occurs throughout the entire time in China as students interact with people they meet during the semester. This covers the history of China from the earliest dynasties up until 1949. Topics include classical Chinese philosophy, history, geography, and cultural traditions. Students will be required to attend field trips to various historical sites, such as the terra-cotta soldiers, Famen Temple, the Museum of Stone Tablets, the Tang dynasty Huaqing Hot Springs, and the Qianling Tomb. There will also be a trip to Beijing, with visits to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs, and the Great Wall.