Chinese

Course summary

China is perhaps the world’s foremost emerging power. One-fifth of the world’s population speaks Mandarin Chinese and it is fast becoming a major global language for business and commerce. Indeed, not only is Mandarin spoken in China, but it is also used within the influential Chinese communities of Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and Mongolia. It is one of the world’s oldest languages, having a history of over 5000 years. This course provides pupils with a thorough overview of both the language and culture of this economic giant. Language is taught through the following themes: Social changes in modern China, Chinese Culture, Chinese Society and China’s Opening, and the Reform Policy’s impact on Modern China. Throughout, the focus is on developing comprehensive skills in the disciplines of Reading, Writing and Speaking as well as the capacity for critical and analytical thinking, as independent researchers through the language of study.