AP Chinese

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Course Description

Description

AP Chinese Language & Culture course is designed to provide students with various opportunities to further improve their proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to be ready for the AP Chinese exam held every May. Students enrolled in this course will also have the maximum exposure to Chinese cultural elements that are integrated in the process of learning the language. This course includes a laboratory component designed to meet College Board standards and has been reviewed and approved by the College Board.

The primary goal of this course is to enable students to master conventions of communication through the exploration of topics reflecting multiple aspects of Chinese society and culture. The general flow of a unit comprises vocabulary, sentence patterns, text analysis, application of vocabulary and patterns, supplementary reading, and finally, writing assignments and tests. Students should be able to achieve the following objectives that align with the Standards for Chinese Language Learning to promote the “five Cs” in the Chinese language classroom.

Students will:

• Develop communicative competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
• Understand the textbook lessons and supplementary materials and participate in discussions of the cultural aspects of the readings in Chinese.
• Use the knowledge gained through course materials to develop critical thinking and writing skills to compose essays in Chinese on given topics.
• Use the Chinese language to communicate effectively both in the school setting and in real-life situations.
• Use the Chinese language as they seek clarifications through the use of communication and language learning strategies that are running elements of the course.
• Carry on a conversation or a discussion with other students in class.

Online courses are held twice per month during the 30 week academic year session and more frequently during the 12 week intensive spring and summer sessions. Students interact with the instructors and other students using internet-based software. Interactive virtual online sessions are held in the evenings (both EST and PST). A school's need to hold daytime sessions for its students will be honored whenever possible.

Materials Needed

A textbook and workbook are required for this course:

• Magical Tour of China, (Vol 4 Textbook) ISBN: 9629781565
• Magical Tour of China (Vol 4 Workbook) ISBN: 9629781530

Students will also need a headset with microphone.

A Chinese-English Dictionary, while not required, may be helpful.

Detailed Course Information

Course Details

Time Required

Intensive spring and summer sessions require 7-8 hours per week for 12 weeks.

Academic year session requires 3 hours per week for 30 weeks, with breaks for holidays.

System Requirements

CTYOnline courses require a properly-maintained computer with Internet access and a recent-version web browser (such as Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer) with the Adobe Flash plugin. Students are expected to be familiar with standard computer operations (e.g. login, cut & paste, email attachments, etc).

This course makes use of online audio communication. Broadband internet access, a microphone, and headphones are required.

CTYOnline Foreign Language - Comments and Feedback from Students, Parents, and Teachers

Reviews

Quotes:

"My son thoroughly enjoys his Arabic course. In fact, it is his favorite course. The instructor has instilled a passion in him for learning not only the language, but the culture as well! He truly walks around the house speaking Arabic now. I don't understand what he is saying, but I love it!”

“I enjoy the course very much. The individual attention during class makes it a very enjoyable hour, and the friendliness and relaxed atmosphere make class something to look forward to each week. I can’t wait to continue with the next level!

"An enthusiastic teacher, engaging presentations and an overwhelming sense of ease and congeniality at class time have made my daughter's foreign language study both meaningful and memorable."
"My son's foreign language instructor has had the challenging task of forging bonds with her students without being face-to-face with them in a classroom on a daily basis, while teaching them a language quite different from their native tongue. She has inspired our son with her enthusiasm, her expertise, and her extraordinary conscientiousness, kindness, tolerance, and patience. I have rarely had the pleasure and honor of being the parent of a student with a teacher who goes so far above and beyond."
  
"I really like this course, and I love the way the teacher teaches it. Her style of teaching makes it easier and more fun to participate."

"My son is really enjoying the course. He's been trying to teach his sister, my wife, and me Chinese words and phrases. Yesterday, he was telling all of us how to have entire conversations. I'm impressed by how much he's learned over a short period of time and plan for him to continue studying Chinese through Johns Hopkins. He also likes the interaction with the instructor and the other students over the computer."

"At breakfast this morning, my daughter was using Chinese to tell me about banks and banking, this week's lesson. She got very excited at the realization that she was for the first time thinking in Chinese, not English. It was just for an instant, but nevertheless a happy development. Thank you for helping my child learn so much."

"Our family lives in rural America without much way of cultural diversions. When giving my daughter her first JHU CTY catalog, we were surprised but supportive when she picked Arabic. She is now in her 3rd semester and we see her practicing and going to class. However, we have no reference points on really how well she is doing outside of her grades. This all changed the other night.

In the next town over, there is a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant. The waiter, and presumably owner, had a Mediterranean appearance and an indistinguishable accent. When he mentioned he was from Lebanon, I told him that my daughter was learning Arabic. He began to talk with her and she answered quickly. The conversation was over in about 4 sentences but it left the waiter wide eyed. Apparently he used some non-standard conversational words and my daughter followed along and answered appropriately. When he asked me where she was learning Arabic, I told him all about JHU.

I am now talking with my daughter about helping her start an Arabic Club that would meet once month at this restaurant. She is also starting to tutor her 20 year old "cool" cousin on Arabic who has been teaching herself Arabic from a book, but did not know proper pronunciation of the alphabet or words. This too has been very motivational.

I would like to say thank you to you and all the JHU CTY staff. You are changing lives!"