Required Courses:

One-on-Two Drill

This course is designed to improve overall speaking proficiency as well as mastering standard pronunciation (near native speaker fluency is the goal). Teachers of this class identify student mistakes in pronunciation, tones, fluidity, and intonation in a natural speaking environment. Class activities include single sentence imitation, conversation with teachers, dialogues in pairs, and story narration.
4 hours per week
56 total hours
Text: Shiyong Hanyu Kouyu Keben, Beijng Language and Cultural University Press, Book 2; Additional primary source materials.  

One-on-One Tutorial

The One-on-one course is designed to address all four areas of language competency (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and help students reach a higher level in these areas through their exploration of an in-depth topic of their choice. The course emphasizes discussion and the exchange of ideas with the teacher. Students read authentic materials, mastering the terminologies on the chosen subject and writing well-researched essays. The course includes topic-related excursions outside of class once every few weeks.
4 hours per week
56 total hours
Text: To be determined by student and/or instructor.

In this class students will engage in vigorous debate with their classmates on a collection of topics including both general subjects of interest and also controversial social issues of the day. Students will prepare and debate a different topic each week. In addition to expanding vocabulary and mastering new sentence patterns, students will specifically develop and strengthen the ability to express opinions, debate, and argue viewpoints in both oral and written form.
4 hours per week
56 hours total
Text: 《话题讨论》, Compiled by Middlebury School in China;  primary source materials.

Business Chinese

This course focuses on learning specialized vocabulary, grammar structures, and expressions commonly utilized in Chinese business, with a special emphasis on cultivating excellent speaking skills. Students will also gain a working knowledge of contemporary Chinese economics and trade. Class activities include reading articles, learning useful words and syntactic structures, translating texts and role playing. Basic Chinese business etiquette is also covered.
4 hours per week
56 hours total
Text: Open for Business: Lessons in Chinese Commerce for the New Millennium, Cheng & Tsui (tentative).

Introduction to Chinese Newspaper Reading

In this class, students will learn the expressions and sentence patterns that are customarily used in Chinese newspapers and periodicals. Students will be trained in the basic skills required for reading Chinese newspapers. Discussion plays a key role in this class, as students will be required react to the contemporary issues they will be reading about.
4 hours per week
56 hours total
Text: A Course in Newspaper Reading Comprehension, Beijing University Press (tentative); Additional primary source materials.

Selected Readings in Modern Literature

This course focuses primarily on grammar and is similar to a 3^rd or 4^th year language class. In this class, careful study of contemporary short fictions introduces students to descriptive vocabulary and written grammatical forms. The objectives of this class are to expand vocabulary and mastery of new sentence patterns. In addition, appreciation for Chinese literature as well as an in-depth introduction and discussion on the cultural context and historical background of each piece of short fiction plays a significant role.
4 hours per week
56 hours total
Text: Chinese Literature Reading, complied by Middlebury School in China

Introduction to Classical Chinese 

This course is recommended for advanced students only. It focuses on the learning of the syntactic structure and grammatical words in Classical Chinese. During class students translate texts of Classical Chinese into modern Chinese paying particular attention to the content and philosophical implication of each. Discussions are held in modern Chinese.
4 hours per week
56 hours total
Text: Language of the Dragon, Cheng & Tsui, vol. 1 or 2, as appropriate.

Chinese Film Studies

This class is recommended for advanced students only, those with strong writing skills and a solid understanding of China’s history and culture. Students will study reviews and articles written about each film and engage in in-depth discussions on the historical and cultural background as well as the cinematic characteristics of each film. There is minimal teaching of new vocabulary and syntactic patterns in this class. Students are expected to master key words on their own before coming to class. All films will be screened outside of class.
4 hours per week
56 hours total
Text: <中国电影>, Compiled by Middlebury School in China

Please note:
Elective course offerings are based, in part, on enrollment. Should fewer than three students select a particular elective during a term, that elective will not be offered. Also, textbooks may change as new teaching materials become available. Each student's total number of contact hours, however, will be 16 class hours per week. All courses will have written exams with the exception of the one-on-two course.