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Hong Zeng

College Mandarin Chinese on Your Own Advanced level 1 is a sequel to my three previously published, highly ranked courses: College Mandarin Chinese on Your Own Beginning Level and Intermediate Level 1 and 2. The beginning level of this sequence is ranked no. 1 in student review and sales in Chinese language category on Udemy, the largest paid online platform in the world. This course is the first half of advanced level Chinese, and allows you to learn in just one month a full semester's college Chinese curriculum at advanced level based on the same range of vocabulary, grammar, and discussion topics. As the other three courses, its design simulates to a great extent the teacher-student interaction in the classroom, such as found in oral exercises of answering questions, reading after the teacher, describing pictures, translation and grammar drill, etc. By using hundreds of entertaining pictures that immediately tests your application of learned language information after every slide, this course brings teaching, reviewing, testing and application of language into a quick succession simulating the cognitive mode of immersive learning of language. Therefore, it combines the benefits of classroom teaching, Rosetta Stone Chinese and online learning while avoiding their shortcomings. As the fourth sequel of language learning sequence (altogether five courses), it allows you to learn the discursive language of discussion and debate on social topics: such as whether college students should do part-time jobs, the comparison of children's education in China and in America, comparison of Chinese and American festivals, Chinese geography and tourist spots, the huge change of Chinese society since reform and open door policy, health, diet and physical exercises in China, etc. Through this course, you will learn advanced vocabulary and grammar for discussing popular social topics in China. The instructor is again me, Professor Hong Zeng, an awarding-winning professor of Chinese for 16 years at prestigious American liberal arts colleges and national universities. After this course, you will be fully ready to study advanced Chinese 2, the last course in this language sequence.

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What's inside

Learning objective

Learn advanced chinese language to conduct discussion and debate on popular social topics: such as whether college students should do part-time jobs, the comparison of chidren's education in china and in america, comparison of chinese and american festivals, chinese georgraphy and tourist spots, the huge change of chinese society since reform and open door policy, health, diet and physical exercises in china, etc.

Syllabus

The students will learn the course goal and methodology of this course, and be provided with detailed step-by-step study guide included in the resource part of this section
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This lecture teaches and practices the vocabulary and grammar of lesson 29 dialogue 1.

Imitate as closely as possible my pronunciation as you read after me
and memorize the sound, meaning and usage of vocabulary (not written
form yet), (you may pause the slide to ensure you memorize them) so that
in the very next page you can do oral exercises with these learned
vocabularies out of memory. Make sure do each oral exercise on your own
before I provide the correcting answer.

This lecture is on text practice: I will at first explain the text sentence by sentence, and then you will read the text after me twice, sentence by sentence, to ensure the accuracy of your pronunciation, for the third time just listen to my reading and answer question about the text (better not look at the text), and then listen to my correcting answer.

This is an acting video of lesson 29 dialogue 1. Enjoy, practice
listening comprehension with it, and you can also repeat after the
sentences.

Same approach of instruction and practice as the corresponding sections of description in lesson 29 dialogue 1.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Designed as a sequel to previous courses, which allows learners to seamlessly continue their language acquisition journey and build upon their existing knowledge
Simulates teacher-student interaction through oral exercises, which provides learners with opportunities to practice speaking and improve their pronunciation
Employs entertaining pictures to test application of learned language information, which reinforces learning and enhances retention through visual aids
Covers discursive language for discussing and debating social topics, which equips learners with the ability to engage in meaningful conversations about contemporary issues in China
Taught by Professor Hong Zeng, an award-winning professor of Chinese with 16 years of experience at prestigious American universities
Requires learners to closely imitate the instructor's pronunciation, which may be challenging for some learners due to differences in accents or learning styles

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Reviews summary

Advanced mandarin discussion skills

Based on the course description and syllabus, this course is designed for advanced learners of Mandarin aiming to discuss and debate social topics. It utilizes a simulated classroom methodology with oral exercises and reading practice. Covering a full semester's material in about a month suggests a fast pace requiring significant dedication. Taught by an experienced professor, the curriculum includes vocabulary, grammar, text practice, and includes unit tests and a final exam, structured into lessons featuring acting videos.
Includes text practice, vocabulary, grammar, videos.
"Each lesson includes vocabulary, grammar, and text practice."
"There are acting videos for dialogue and listening practice."
"The course uses unit tests and a final exam to check understanding."
Uses interactive exercises simulating a classroom.
"The method includes reading after the instructor and oral exercises."
"I practice describing pictures and doing grammar drills."
"The course uses exercises with pictures for application and testing."
Focuses on discussing complex social issues.
"The course content focuses on discussing social issues like education and festivals."
"I'm learning vocabulary to debate topics such as part-time jobs for students."
"The topics cover Chinese society, geography, health, and historical changes."
Taught by a professor with many years experience.
"The instructor is an award-winning professor with 16 years of teaching."
"Learning from an experienced university professor is a key feature."
"The professor previously created highly ranked courses in this series."
Covers extensive material quickly, semester in month.
"It aims to cover a full college semester curriculum rapidly."
"The pace is designed to be quick, simulating immersive learning."
"Completing this course in one month requires significant time commitment."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in College Mandarin Chinese on Your Own advanced Level 1 with these activities:
Review Intermediate Mandarin Chinese
Reinforce your understanding of Mandarin Chinese grammar and vocabulary from the previous levels. This will provide a solid foundation for the advanced-level material.
Show steps
  • Review vocabulary lists from previous courses.
  • Practice grammar exercises from previous courses.
  • Review dialogues and texts from previous courses.
Explore 'China: A History'
Gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural context of the topics discussed in the course. This will enrich your learning experience and provide a broader perspective.
Show steps
  • Read chapters related to the social topics covered in the course.
  • Take notes on key historical events and cultural trends.
Read 'Basic Chinese: A Grammar and Workbook'
Supplement your understanding of Mandarin Chinese grammar with a comprehensive grammar workbook. This will help you grasp the nuances of sentence structure and improve your accuracy.
View The Chinese Lexicon on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the relevant chapters on grammar points covered in the course.
  • Complete the exercises in the workbook to practice applying the grammar rules.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice dialogues with a language partner
Improve your speaking and listening skills by practicing dialogues from the course with a partner. This will help you become more fluent and confident in your Mandarin Chinese.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner who is also learning Mandarin Chinese.
  • Choose dialogues from the course to practice.
  • Take turns reading the different roles in the dialogues.
  • Provide feedback to each other on pronunciation and grammar.
Write a short essay comparing Chinese and American festivals
Apply your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar to express your thoughts on a cultural topic. This will improve your writing skills and deepen your understanding of cultural differences.
Show steps
  • Research information about Chinese and American festivals.
  • Outline the main points of your essay.
  • Write the essay using advanced vocabulary and grammar.
  • Revise and edit your essay for clarity and accuracy.
Create a presentation on Chinese geography and tourist spots
Consolidate your knowledge of Chinese geography and tourist spots by creating a presentation. This will improve your research, writing, and presentation skills.
Show steps
  • Research information about Chinese geography and tourist spots.
  • Create a presentation outline.
  • Develop slides with images and text.
  • Practice your presentation.
Start a blog about Chinese culture
Apply your language skills and cultural knowledge to create a blog about Chinese culture. This will improve your writing, research, and communication skills.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific focus for your blog (e.g., food, travel, history).
  • Create a blog website or use a blogging platform.
  • Write regular blog posts about Chinese culture.
  • Promote your blog on social media.

Career center

Learners who complete College Mandarin Chinese on Your Own advanced Level 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Teacher
A teacher educates students of all ages in a variety of subjects. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese can provide you with the language skills and cultural knowledge necessary to teach Mandarin Chinese to others. The course simulates teacher-student interaction and provides oral exercises that build your fluency. The course also brings teaching, reviewing, testing, and application of language into quick succession simulating the cognitive mode of immersive learning of language. The instructor is an awarding-winning professor of Chinese.
Professor
A professor teaches and conducts research at a college or university. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese allows you to improve your language skills and cultural knowledge. The course simulates teacher-student interaction and provides oral exercises that build your fluency. The course's focus on social topics, such as education, festivals, geography, and societal changes, may give you valuable insights into Chinese culture and current events. The instructor is an awarding-winning professor of Chinese for 16 years at prestigious American institutions.
Interpreter
An interpreter converts spoken language from one language to another. This advanced Mandarin Chinese course can help you hone your language skills. The course simulates teacher-student interaction and provides oral exercises that build your fluency. The course's focus on discussion and debate regarding social topics may prove useful, as may the lessons about Chinese geography, tourist spots, festivals, society, health, diet, and physical exercises. This course could also help you develop a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, which may be useful in interpreting.
Translator
A translator converts written material from one language to another. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese helps build your understanding of the language and its cultural nuances. The course includes instruction in vocabulary and grammar, plus practice in reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. Specifically, the lessons on Chinese geography, tourist spots, and festivals may be helpful as a translator. The discussions of Chinese society, health, diet, and physical exercises in China may also be useful.
Cultural Liaison
A cultural liaison facilitates communication and understanding between people from different cultural backgrounds. This advanced Mandarin Chinese course may be useful as it covers a range of social topics relevant to Chinese culture, including education, festivals, geography, societal changes, health, diet, and exercise. This course also simulates teacher-student interaction and provides oral exercises. These simulations and exercises can improve your ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. In addition, the instructor has taught Chinese at prestigious American institutions.
Localization Specialist
A localization specialist adapts content to a specific region or market, taking into account linguistic and cultural differences. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese may be useful as it allows you to learn the discursive language of discussion and debate on social topics. The course includes instruction in vocabulary and grammar, with practice in reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. The lessons on Chinese geography, tourist spots, and festivals, along with societal changes since reform and the open door policy, can provide a strong foundation for understanding the Chinese market.
Diplomat
A diplomat represents their country's interests in international affairs. This advanced Mandarin Chinese course helps you develop the language skills necessary to communicate effectively with Mandarin Chinese-speaking government officials and citizens. The course's focus on social and economic topics, such as education, festivals, geography, and societal changes, will give you valuable insights into Chinese culture and current events. The course simulates teacher-student interaction and provides oral exercises that build fluency.
Foreign Correspondent
A foreign correspondent reports on news and events from a specific country or region. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese may be helpful in preparing you for this role. The course's focus on social topics such as education, festivals, geography, and societal changes can give you valuable insights into Chinese culture and current events. The course's emphasis on discussion and debate may also help develop your communication skills. Furthermore, the instructor is an awarding-winning professor.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies consumer behavior and market trends. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese may be useful in conducting market research in China. The course's focus on social topics such as education, festivals, geography, and societal changes can provide valuable insights into Chinese consumer preferences and behavior. The course also simulates teacher-student interaction and provides oral exercises that build fluency. Specifically, you can learn the discursive language of discussion and debate on social topics.
International Business Consultant
An international business consultant advises companies on how to expand their operations into foreign markets. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese can help you communicate effectively with Chinese-speaking clients and partners. The course's focus on social and economic topics, such as societal changes since reform and the open door policy, can give you valuable insights into the Chinese business environment. The cultural information taught in this course may also be helpful.
Intelligence Specialist
An intelligence specialist gathers and analyzes information for national security purposes. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese helps you develop the language skills necessary to understand Mandarin Chinese-language communications and materials. The course's focus on social topics, such as education, festivals, geography, and societal changes, can provide valuable cultural context for your analyses. The course simulates teacher-student interaction and provides oral exercises that build fluency. This course also brings teaching, reviewing, testing, and application of language into quick succession simulating the cognitive mode of immersive learning of language.
Tour Guide
A tour guide leads groups of tourists on sightseeing excursions. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese may be useful for leading tours in China or for Mandarin Chinese-speaking tourists in other countries. The course includes instruction in vocabulary and grammar, plus practice in reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. The lessons on Chinese geography and tourist spots are particularly relevant. Also, the instructor is an awarding-winning professor.
Linguist
A linguist studies the structure, history, and social context of languages. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese may be useful in deepening your understanding of the Mandarin Chinese language. The course includes instruction in vocabulary and grammar, plus practice in reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. Specifically, this course allows you to learn the discursive language of discussion and debate on social topics. You will learn advanced vocabulary and grammar for discussing popular social topics in China.
Archivist
An archivist assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, and controls access to archives. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese may be useful for archivists working with Mandarin Chinese-language materials. The course includes instruction in vocabulary and grammar, plus practice in reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. The lessons on Chinese society, health, diet, and physical exercises in China may also be useful. This course is the first half of advanced level Chinese, and allows you to learn in just one month a full semester's college Chinese curriculum at advanced level based on the same range of vocabulary, grammar, and discussion topics.
Librarian
A librarian helps people find information and resources. This course in advanced Mandarin Chinese may be useful for librarians working with Mandarin Chinese-language collections or serving Mandarin Chinese-speaking patrons. The course includes instruction in vocabulary and grammar, plus practice in reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. You can learn advanced vocabulary and grammar for discussing popular social topics in China. Overall, this course allows you to learn the discursive language of discussion and debate on social topics.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in College Mandarin Chinese on Your Own advanced Level 1.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Mandarin Chinese grammar. It useful reference for understanding the grammatical structures used in the course. While not directly aligned with the course content, it offers valuable background knowledge and can be used as a supplementary resource for grammar clarification. It is commonly used as a textbook in introductory Chinese courses.
Provides a broad overview of Chinese history, which can enrich your understanding of the cultural context discussed in the course. It is more valuable as additional reading to provide context. It is not a direct reference for language learning, but it enhances comprehension of the social topics covered.

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