Mandarin level 5

Revised November 2024

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Mandarin syllabus level 4+ at UCL Centre for Languages & International Education, or B1 CEFR or equivalent.

Term duration

10 x 2-hour classes.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students with a solid knowledge of Mandarin to become as fluent as possible. Students will be able to follow discussions and express their opinions in any given situation using linguistically complex and accurate structures. Cultural awareness will be further developed.

Functions

• Discussing a film
• Using exclamations
• Describing physical attributes and skills
• Giving instructions
• Asking for and providing medical aid
• Offering encouragement and reassurance
• Expressing concerns and worries
• Seeking and providing advice
• Presenting polite counter-arguments
• Expressing surprise
• Expressing certainty and hesitation
• Discussing life expectations
• Writing a film storyline, simple instructions and practical tips

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered:

• Shaolin Kung Fu
• Body parts, physical movements and injuries
• Emotions and feelings
• Dating, relationships and life expectations

Linguistic structures/ Phonetics

• Using 光……就 or 光……不
• Using就算……也……
• Polite counter-argument using ……是……，可是/就是……
• Exclamatory sentences
• Imperative sentences
• Linking words in a conversation
• Expressions using 难道，估计，看来，我猜, etc.
• Tones and Intonations

Grammar

• Expressing potential/capability using potential complements
• Using 关于
• Expressing contrast of meaning using而
• The preposition 按照
• Expressing regularity using 等……了
• 刚 vs. 刚才
• Implicit comparison using ……一点
• Contrast of meaning using却
• 总是 vs. 老是
• Rhetorical questions using难道
• Using 像……这样/那样……

Learning resources

Books

Qi, Shaoyan. 2013. Discover China: Student's Book Three (Units 9-12), London: Macmillan. ISBN 9780230406414

Wang, Dan. 2013. Discover China Workbook Three (Unit 9-12), London: Macmillan. ISBN 9780230406421

Bilingual Dictionaries

Oxford Concise English Chinese/Chinese English Dictionary

Websites

Dictionary

In addition there are supplementary materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre.