Overview
The Chinese language program at the University of Illinois offers four years of Chinese language instruction. The first year of courses is the beginning or elementary level for students with no background in Chinese when the course sequence starts. The second year of courses is at the immediate level for students who have successfully completed the beginning level or equivalent. The third year of courses is at the advanced level for students who have successfully completed the intermediate level or equivalent. The fourth year of courses is at the post-advanced level for students who have successfully completed the advanced level or equivalent.
The Course Sequence
| Year | Term | Standard Track | Special Track | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First year | Fall | Chinese 201 | Chinese 221 Spoken Mandarin Track | Chinese 241 Reading-Writing Track |
| Spring | Chinese 202 | Chinese 222 Spoken Mandarin Track | ||
| Second Year | Fall | Chinese 203 | ||
| Spring | Chinese 204 | Chinese 242 Reading-Writing Track | ||
| Third Year | Fall | Chinese 305X | Chinese 305WKP Business Chinese | |
| Spring | Chinese 306X | Chinese 306WKP Business Chinese | ||
| Fourth Year | Fall | Chinese 440 | ||
| Spring | Chinese 441 |
Tracks
There are several tracks of courses: At the elementary-intermediate level, there are (a) a regular four-skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) track (Chinese 201-204); (b) a spoken elementary track (Chinese 221-222), and (c) an intensive elementary-intermediate reading and writing track for students with a spoken language background (Chinese 241-242). At the advanced level, there are a regular four-skills track (Chinese 305-306 Section X) and a business Chinese track (Chinese 305-306 Section WKP) which emphasizes on business vocabulary and practices. The spoken elementary track feeds the intensive elementary-intermediate reading and writing track, and both the regular elementary-intermediate and the intensive elementary-intermediate reading and writing tracks feed the advanced level (Chinese 305-306). The advanced level feeds into the post-advanced level Chin 440-441). The spoken elementary track (Chinese 221-222) performs the additional function of accommodating students with a strong dialectal (e.g., Cantonese) spoken language background who wish to concentrate on acquiring Mandarin spoken competence alongside their native dialectal competence. This articulated tracking system allows us to satisfy individual student needs while maintaining overall program effectiveness and cohesion.
Language requirements
For students who have a three-semester LOTE (Language Other Than English) foreign language requirement, that requirement is fulfilled by successful completion of Chinese 203. For students who have a four-semester language requirement, that requirement is fulfilled by successful completion of Chinese 204 or Chinese 242. Completion of Chinese 222 does not satisfy the foreign language requirement.
Orthography
Chinese 201-202 and Chinese 241 teach traditional Chinese characters, and Chinese 203-204 and Chinese 242 teach simplified Chinese characters. Chinese 221-222 teach Mandarin Chinese using pinyin alphabetic orthography, and teach no Chinese characters. In advanced courses Chinese 305-306 and Chinese 440-441, both simplified and traditional characters are used and students can choose the preferred character set for homework and exams.