CHIN200: Chinese Language: Oral Skills (CEFR: B2)

• Terms Taught:
  • Full Year only
  • Michaelmas Term only
  NOTE: If you are studying with us for a Full Academic Year and you select a module that has full year and part year variants, you will not be allowed to take only part of the module.
• US Credits:
  • Full Year module - 4 US semester credits
  • Michaelmas Term only - 2 US semester credits
• ECTS Credits:
  • Full Year module - 7.5 ECTS credits
  • Michaelmas Term only - 3.75 ECTS credits 
• Pre-requisites:
  • This module must be taken in conjunction with CHIN201
  • Good Chinese language; entry is at high A2/B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
   

Course Description

CHIN200 progresses from CHIN100 and introduces more complex Chinese grammar and key sentence patterns that both characterise written registers of Mandarin and more fluent spoken interaction. Additionally, more advanced and extensive vocabulary items are introduced to enhance the students' competence in communicating in Chinese in a range of interactive situations. Students taking this module are expected to reach a standard beyond A Level. The weekly teaching consists of four contact hours, including a one-hour lecture teaching grammar and language functions, a two-hour seminar for listening and speaking practice, and a one-hour seminar for reading practice, grammar exercises and character learning.

Educational Aims

The module aims to enable students to master Chinese-language oral and aural skills at B2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and HSK level 4, so that they have an advanced command of Chinese as it is used both in relatively formal speech and in everyday "real-life" situations of the kind encountered when in Chinese-language environments.

It seeks to strengthen students’ ability to articulate complex arguments about certain key aspects of contemporary society and culture in countries where Chinese is spoken, at the broad institutional level (e.g. political structures, citizenship rights, etc.) and in terms of the culture of day-to-day encounters and exchanges (with friends, neighbours, passers-by, officialdom, and also in the business context). It also seeks to develop students' intercultural knowledge and abilities.

It aims to develop further students’ competence in computing in Chinese, with special regard to oral and aural skills, and to strengthen students’ awareness of how their Chinese oral and aural skills set relates to employability.

Outline Syllabus

The CHIN200 element comprises of oral and aural skills and is taken with the CHIN201 element, the writing and reading skills. The units cannot be taken separately. Due to the time needed to study the Chinese script and tones, CHIN200/201 consists of 4 hours/week covering oral and listening skills as well as grammar, translation and writing skills. The weekly teaching includes a one-hour lecture teaching grammar and language functions, a two-hour tutorial for listening and oral practice, and a one-hour tutorial for translation and writing skills.

The general aim of CHIN200 is to consolidate and build on the linguistic skills already acquired and to equip students with the level of competence and confidence they will require in order to familiarize themselves with the culture and the society of countries where Chinese is spoken.The course aims to enhance students' linguistic proficiency, with particular emphasis on speaking and listening (prepared and spontaneous) in a range of formal and semi-formal settings. A systematic study of the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of Chinese forms a specific component of the course. Contemporary written and audio-visual materials in Chinese are used throughout the course.

The course also aims to broaden and deepen students' knowledge and understanding of different aspects of modern society, politics and culture and contemporary issues, as well as prepare them for residence abroad.

It is expected that students studying on the CHIN200/201 courses wishing to attain a good (2.1/first) level will have elements of B2 (Independent User/Vantage) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This equates to HSK 4 and HSKK Intermediate.

Assessment Proportions

• Coursework: 40%
• Exam: 60%

CHIN201: Chinese Language: Written Skills (CEFR: B2)

• Terms Taught:
  • Full Year only
  • Michaelmas Term only
  NOTE: If you are studying with us for a Full Academic Year and you select a module that has full year and part year variants, you will not be allowed to take only part of the module.
• US Credits:
  • Full Year module - 4 US semester credits
  • Michaelmas Term only - 2 US semester credits
• ECTS Credits:
  • Full Year module - 7.5 ECTS credits
  • Michaelmas Term only - 3.75 ECTS credits 
• Pre-requisites:
  • This module must be taken in conjunction with CHIN200
  • Good Chinese language; entry is at high A2/B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Course Description

Modules 200 (oral and aural skills) and 201 (written and reading skills) are two integrated components of the module that cannot be taken independently. The general aim of the 200/201 module, comprising four hours per week,is to consolidate and build on the linguistic skills already acquired. The module aims to enhance your linguistic proficiency, with particular emphasis on speaking and listening (prepared and spontaneous) in a range of formal and semi-formal settings. A systematic study of the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of the language forms a specific component of the module. Contemporary written and audio-visual materials in the target language are used throughout the module. The module also aims to broaden and deepen your knowledge and understanding of different aspects of modern society, politics and culture, and contemporary issues and institutions

Assessment is by coursework, regular assessments in class and an end of year written and oral examination.

Educational Aims

The module aims to enable students to master Chinese-language oral and aural skills at B2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and HSK level 4, so that they have an advanced command of Chinese as it is used both in relatively formal speech and in everyday "real-life" situations of the kind encountered when in Chinese-language environments.

It seeks to strengthen students’ ability to articulate complex arguments about certain key aspects of contemporary society and culture in countries where Chinese is spoken, at the broad institutional level (e.g. political structures, citizenship rights, etc.) and in terms of the culture of day-to-day encounters and exchanges (with friends, neighbours, passers-by, officialdom, and also in the business context). It also seeks to develop students' intercultural knowledge and abilities.

It aims to develop further students’ competence in computing in Chinese, with special regard to oral and aural skills, and to strengthen students’ awareness of how their Chinese oral and aural skills set relates to employability.

Outline Syllabus

The CHIN201 element comprises of writing and reading skills and is taken with the CHIN200 element, oral and aural skills. The units cannot be taken separately. CHIN200/201 consists of 4 hours/week covering oral and listening skills as well as grammar, translation and writing skills. The weekly teaching includes a one-hour lecture teaching grammar and language functions, a two-hour tutorial for listening and oral practice, and a one-hour tutorial for translation and writing skills.

The general aim of CHIN201 is to consolidate and build on the linguistic skills previously acquired and to equip students with the level of competence and confidence they will require in order to familiarize themselves with the culture and the society of countries where their studied language is spoken.

The course aims to enhance students' linguistic proficiency, with particular emphasis on reading a variety of sources and on writing fluently and accurately in the language, in a variety of registers.

A systematic study of the vocabulary, grammar and syntax of Chinese forms a specific component of the course. Contemporary written and audio-visual materials in Chinese are used throughout the course.

The course will introduce specialised corpus methods and IT tools to build students’ proficiency in professional translation techniques.

The course also aims to broaden and deepen students' knowledge and understanding of different aspects of modern society, politics and culture, and contemporary issues and institutions and to prepare them for international placement.

It is expected that students studying on the CHIN200/201 courses wishing to attain a good (2.1/first) level will have elements of B2 (Independent User/Vantage) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This equates to HSK 4 and HSKK Intermediate.

Assessment Proportions

• Coursework: 40%
• Exam: 60%

DELC339: Introduction to Translation as a Cultural Practice

• Terms Taught: Michaelmas Term only
• US Credits: 4 Semester Credits
• ECTS Credits: 7.5 ECTS credits
• Pre-requisites: None

Course Description

What makes a good translation and how do translations do good? This module helps you understand the practice of translation as it has evolved historically from the 18th century to the present across European and American societies. The materials we study include historical textual sources (philosophical essays on the craft of translation from French, German and Hispanic authors of the 19th and 20th centuries), representative fictional texts reflecting on translation processes, and contemporary documents from the EU directorate on translation, PEN and the Translators' Association. We will also make considerable use of contemporary online resources as exemplified by Anglophone advocates of intercultural exchange such as Words Without Borders. Our aim is to look at translation as both a functional process for getting text in one language accurately into another and a culturally-inflected process that varies in its status and purpose from one context to another. We will pay particular attention to the practical role that literary translators play within the contemporary global publishing industry and consider the practicalities of following a career in literary translation in the Anglophone world.

Educational Aims

the course aims to

• Make students aware of the diversity of ways of thinking about translation in different historical and cultural contexts
• Communicate an understanding of the contemporary Anglophone publishing industry and the role translation plays within it
• Support practical language-learning (actual translation carried out by all students on FREN/GERM/SPAN301) with an analytical discussion of this process.
• Encourage students to reflect critically on official and unofficial language policies and different forms of language activism in the EU and consider how these determine intercultural relations
• Encourage students to reflect critically on metaphorical uses of translation in a variety of literary and non-literary contexts and consider how these intersect with wider ideas of cultural exchange, ambassadorship, political activism.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Account for different conceptions of 'good' translation that have emerged in different cultural contexts and historical periods.
• Explain the practical circumstances of translation as a process within the contemporary Anglophone publishing industry and the role it plays in supporting intercultural exchange.
• Understand the practical and metaphorical uses to which translation is put in EU cultural policy documents.
• Formulate opinions on the use of translation as a metaphor for other processes of cultural mediation (adaptation, mediation, ambassadorship).

Outline Syllabus

Outline topics for the module include [a selection of 3-4 topics will be offered in any one year]: translation: the history of a term; EU translation policies; translation inequalities and the hegemony of English; contemporary metaphors of translation as adaptation and communication; literary translators as political activists; careers in translation.

Assessment Proportions

• Coursework: 40%

• Presentation (Assessed): 15%

• Exam: 45%

Presentations: the students present on questions that interest them within each topic in such a way as to sustain group discussion in the class. This will ensure that the classes correspond to their interests, and that there is a formative element to this assessment exercise: in undertaking the assessment, they will get immediate feedback and be able to integrate the results in their further learning on the module.

This mode of assessment can also be used flexibly to include other ways for students to engage with external sources / events they may find which are relevant to the course and their interests.

The coursework essay (c. 2500 words) will be submitted when teaching is complete on the module. This will give students time to digest their thoughts and put them into structured arguments that draw on the full extent of the course.

In the written examination students will pick one question out of several options proposed and write an essay responding to the question. The questions will address the concepts and material discussed in the lectures and seminars.

DELC344: Contemporary Cities in Literature and Film

• Terms Taught: Lent / Summer Term only
• US Credits: 4 Semester Credits
• ECTS Credits: 7.5 ECTS credits
• Pre-requisites: None

Course Description

This course draws on film and literature to introduce students to major themes that shape the experience of contemporary city dwellers: gender, social inequality, and practices of citizenship. These - interlinking - themes will be introduced through novels, poetry and films on the following European, North American and Latin American cities: New York, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, Barcelona, Berlin, and Los Angeles. In the case of the North American cities, emphasis will be placed on immigrant communities within them.

Educational Aims

By comparing the representations of cities from various cultural and national contexts, the course aims to

• Explore aspects of everyday life and the conditions that shape it, such as gender and sexuality, youth and neighbourhood culture, social inequality, practices of citizenship, and the response of city dwellers to their environments.
• Familiarise student through seminars and lectures with the methodology useful for an analysis of urban culture and its representations.
• Conduct independent research around cities by exploiting library and internet resources

Outline Syllabus

This module draws on film and literature to introduce students to major themes that shape the experience of contemporary city dwellers: gender, spatial justice (or lack thereof), and practices of citizenship. These - interlinking - themes will be introduced through novels, poetry and films on European, North American and Latin American cities, among them typically New York, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, Barcelona, Berlin, and Los Angeles. In the case of the North American cities, emphasis will be placed on immigrant communities within them.

Each theme will be explored in three weeks. In the first week, the theme will be introduced through a lecture and a core text, which will be studied by all students. In the second week, students choose one of the optional texts. The tutor will work with students in a workshop-format. In the third week, students will share their findings among each other, with an emphasis on identifying links between the thematic areas studied on the course, and with the aim to encourage discussion within the group.

The format of the course encourages cross-referencing between the themes of the module (for example, gender and sexuality are relevant to an analysis of spatial justice, and vice versa).

Texts studied may vary, but will typically include as core texts excerpts from Paco Ignacio Taibo II/Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos, The Uncomfortable Dead, excerpts from Esmeralda Santiago's autobiography Almost a Woman and selected performed poems by Willie Perdomo, Mathieu Kassovitz' La Haine, and one out of the following three novels: either José Saramago's Blindness or Seeing, or Ray Loriga's Surrender.

Assessment Proportions

• 30% Coursework (2000 words Learning Journal) due in week 20 - This type of assessment asks students to critically reflect on the material they have studied, addressing the main themes of the course and going into more details on one city per theme.

  30% Essay (2000 word researched essay) due in week 21

  40% Exam In the written examination students will pick one question out of several options proposed and write an essay responding to the question. The questions will address the concepts and material discussed in the lectures and seminars.