Chinese program coordinator Chris Magriney. The Center for Language Studies Chinese immersion program is acknowledged as one of the best in the country. Our team is composed of exceptional teachers who provide individualized instruction and continuous feedback in small classes.
Combining innovative pedagogical methods with excellent instructional materials, our intensive courses ensure rapid learning, cultural literacy, and long lasting retention of the language. The CLS Chinese program is excellent preparation for individuals interested in work or study abroad or simply looking to continue their work to becoming fluent in Chinese.
Available Courses
This course is designed for students with no prior background in spoken or written Chinese. Its primary goal is to help students develop basic Mandarin language skills, aiming for the Novice Mid-level on the ACTFL proficiency scale. By the end of the course, students ask and answer questions about family and interests, express opinions and react to others’ views, discuss why someone becomes their friend, present information about their school life and daily schedule, and give a presentation about a Chinese friend. (1S)
This course is designed for students with the knowledge of one semester of college-level spoken and written Chinese or the equivalent language background. This course aims to further develop students’ basic Mandarin language skills, targeting the Novice High level on the ACTFL proficiency scale. The course focuses on helping students manage a variety of communicative tasks related to personal topics, interests, and daily activities. By the end of the course, students can present information about the weather in their hometown and compare it to weather in China, describe a friend’s biography, likes, dislikes, and character, ask and answer questions about getting around their hometown, describe familiar neighborhoods, and express opinions on activities and entertainment options in their hometown. (1S) Prerequisite: Chinese 100 or equivalent.
This course is designed for students with one year of college-level Chinese or equivalent experience. It aims to further develop Mandarin skills, targeting the ACTFL Novice High level in writing and Intermediate Low level in speaking. By the end of the course, students can handle basic communicative tasks, ask simple questions, and produce sentences on personal and general topics. They also improve their ability to write essays, understand basic speech, and read simple texts. Topics include school life, living arrangements, Chinese cuisine, relationships, and sports, with practical tasks like asking someone on a date, declining invitations, and discussing rent and living quarters. (1S) Prerequisite: Chinese 105 or equivalent.
This course is designed for students with three semesters of college-level Chinese or equivalent experience and aims to further strengthen Mandarin skills, targeting the ACTFL Intermediate Mid-level. By the end of the course, students can discuss topics like school, work, recreation, and general interests using more complex sentence structures. They exchange basic information in social settings and present cultural differences. In writing, students compose short essays on everyday events and personal interests. Topics include school courses, relationships, addictions, funding education, part-time jobs, childhood experiences, and geographic comparisons between China and the students’ home country. (1S) Prerequisite: Chinese 110 or equivalent.
This course is designed for students with two years of college-level Chinese or equivalent experience, aiming to solidify Mandarin skills at the Intermediate High level on the ACTFL proficiency scale while introducing contemporary Chinese society and culture through readings and discussions. By the end of the course, students comprehend main ideas of discourses on various topics, including unfamiliar messages, and apply reading strategies like skimming and scanning. In speaking, they communicate effectively in informal and formal conversations, expressing and defending their viewpoints. Writing focuses on composing cohesive essays, while listening skills include understanding idiomatic expressions. Practical goals involve comparing cultures, discussing social issues, and addressing modern problems and solutions. (1S) Prerequisite: Chinese 115 or equivalent.
This course is designed for students with two and a half years of college-level Chinese or equivalent experience, aiming to solidify Mandarin skills at the Intermediate Mid to High level on the ACTFL proficiency scale. By the end of the course, students comprehend the main ideas of discourses on selected cultural topics, using both informal and formal expressions, and engage in discussions using clear, connected paragraph-length discourse, including narration and explanation. Reading skills focus on understanding authentic writings on cultural topics, applying strategies such as skimming and scanning. Writing involves producing cohesive short prose, including summaries and essays. Practical goals include discussing equality and equity issues in their cultures and Chinese communities, examining the history of gender equality movements in China, addressing housing inequality in various regions, and analyzing the reasons and consequences of wealth distribution. (1S) Prerequisite: Chinese 200 or equivalent.
This course is designed for students with three years of college-level Chinese or equivalent experience, aiming to solidify Mandarin skills at the Advanced Low level on the ACTFL proficiency scale. By the end of the course, students comprehend the main ideas of discourses on selected cultural topics, using both informal and formal expressions, and engage in interactive discussions, expressing and defending their viewpoints in clear, connected paragraph-length discourse. Reading skills focus on understanding authentic writings and applying strategies such as skimming and scanning. Writing involves producing cohesive short prose, including summaries and essays on selected cultural topics. (1S) Prerequisite: Chinese 205 or equivalent.
This course is designed for students who have completed seven semesters of college-level Chinese or equivalent experience, aiming to solidify Mandarin skills at the Low level on the ACTFL proficiency scale. By the end of the course, students are expected to understand short conventional narrative and descriptive texts, such as academic essays and poetry, with a grasp of main facts and supporting details. Listening skills focus on comprehending main ideas from authentic materials on topics like employment and current events. Speaking involves handling various communicative tasks in informal and formal conversations, linking sentences into coherent paragraph-length discourse. Writing skills include composing compositions and summaries related to work or school experiences, incorporating cohesive devices. (1S) Prerequisite: Chinese 220 or equivalent.
Textbooks
In 1st Year Chinese 1st Semester, we cover IC Vol 1 Lessons 1-7.
In Session II of Fourth Year Chinese, we cover Lesson 3, Lesson 7, Lesson 8, Lesson 10 to Lesson 12 of The Routledge Advanced Chinese Multimedia Course: Crossing Cultural Boundaries 2nd Ed.
Testimonial
Xiao Hu
Senior Instructor Third-year Chinese
“I have been teaching Chinese at Beloit for five summers now. I keep coming back to CLS and would like to recommend it to everyone I know for its strong learning atmosphere and the feeling of being a harmonious cultural community.
This intensive program provides teachers chances to not only teach students language but share their experience and cultural knowledge in and out of class. The language classes with abundant practice and all the cultural activities together like the Chinese dinner night, the trip to Chinatown, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese chess and so on involve the whole Chinese language team and enhance the teaching effectiveness.
The experience, knowledge and friendships gained at CLS last me well beyond the summer and will continue to enrich me for life.”
