˙The learning goals that center on the thematic units are set in accordance with the language proficiency levels, established by the ACTFL
˙To Comply with the pedagogical principle of backward design to establish the teaching/learning goals for the intermediate learner of Chinese
˙Integrates into its thematic contents the ACTFL-defined, three mores of language uses as well the 5C concepts
˙Assist the learner to achieve holistic progress and to cultivate specific linguistic abilities of Chinese
˙The selecting of keywords/phrases in thetextbooks is greatly in line with vocabulary levels defined by the HSK and by the TOCFL. The regional difference in language uses between the two sides of theTaiwan Strait are also meticulously annotated in the textbooks
In recent years, the background of learners has become diversified, and the number of self-study students of elementary Chinese is also increasing. On the pedagogical front, however, learning materials, found to be biased towards school life and youth culture, fail to meet the needs and interests of adult learners. In response to the current dilemma, “Progressive Chinese: Intermediate Course” is thus designed for people from all works of life.
“Progressive Chinese: Intermediate Course” is based on the results of action research done by experienced Chinese instructors affiliated in colleges and universities in the United States. This series of textbooks is a set of two volumes, and each volume is composed of four thematic units. The learning goals that center on the thematic units are set in accordance with the language proficiency levels, established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Specifically, “Progressive Chinese: Intermediate Course” attempts to help the Novice-High learner attain the proficiency level of Intermediate Mid (with the first volume), and then to the level of Intermediate High (with the second volume).
“Progressive Chinese: Intermediate Course” complies with the pedagogical principle of backward design to establish the teaching/learning goals for the intermediate learner of Chinese. Through various forms of formative and summative assessment, every lesson and every thematic unit constantly provides the learner with chances to re-consolidate their developing Chinese proficiency. As standardized ways of ensuring successful learning, “Progressive Chinese: Intermediate Course” integrates into its thematic contents the ACTFL-defined, three mores of language uses as well the 5C concepts of Communication, Culture, Connection, Comparison, and Community.
In addition to the overall progress in Chinese, “Progressive Chinese: Intermediate Course” attempts to cultivate the following specific linguistic abilities of Chinese:
1. To ask questions, to answer questions, to deal with simple social transactions, (forthe high potential learner) to narrate, to compare, and to describe.
2. To process and to produce Chinese texts in paragraphs.
3. To develop strategies to comprehend audio and textual input: to put up with unfamiliar language units, to skim through materials, to infer information from co-texts.
4. To develop and apply language learning strategies to gradually become independent Chinese learners to achieve the purpose of lifelong learning.
☉ Six Features of the Textbooks
1. This textbook series is based on results from action research done by experienced Mandarin Chinese instructors affiliated with U.S. universities and colleges.
2. Eight thematic units run through two volumes of textbooks, covering personal, communitial, societal issues and learning tasks.
3. The design of learning tasks and assessment activities aligns with ACTFL’s proficiency benchmarks, three modes of communication, and 5C principles.
4. The selection of grammar and vocabulary aligns with the guidelines by HSK and Chinese Language Proficiency Test, with cross-strait differences clearly marked and listed.
5. This textbook series is designed for people from all walks of life and college students to meet the various needs and interests of adult learners.
6. Learners will develop intermediate level oral proficiency, while establishing listening and reading strategies, and eventually become independent learners of Mandarin Chinese.
Dr. Hsin-fu Chiu is an Associate Professor at the California State University, Los Angeles and earned his Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics at UCLA. Dr. Chiu worked for UCLA, Pomona College, and the Middlebury Chinese School. He has authored Language Socialization in Chinese Diasporas, Global Variation of Chinese Grammar, Interaction and Chinese Grammar Pedagogy, and more.
邱新富,洛杉磯州立大學現代語文副教授,洛杉磯加州大學應用語言學博士。曾任教於明德中文暑校、波莫納學院、文藻、中教大。著有《Language Socialization in Chinese Diasporas》、《全球華語語法•美國卷》、《語法動起來》等。
Yu Wu 吳瑜
Dr. Wu is Associate Professor of Chinese at the University of Rhode Island. She received her Ed.D. from Boston University. Dr. Wu regularly teaches in the Middlebury Chinese School. She has published journal articles and book chapters in Foreign Language Annuals, Language Educator, Classroom Research on Chinese as a Second Language (Routledge), etc. She is an ACTFL certified OPI tester.
吳瑜,美國羅德島大學現代與古典語言文學系副教授,波士頓大學教育學博士。長期任教於明德中文暑校。著有多篇學術文章,發表於《Foreign Language Annuals》、《Language Educator》、《Classroom Research on Chinese as a Second Language》等。現亦為美國外語教師協會認證的口語能力測試考官。
Yusheng Yang 楊玉笙
Yusheng Yang is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Georgetown University. She received her Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from NTNU in Taiwan. Previously taught at Hamilton College, Middlebury Chinese Summer School, and the Mandarin Training Center at NTNU. She is ACTFL’s certified OPI tester, OPI rater, and AAPPL rater. Co-authored Chinese Grammar Made Easy.
楊玉笙,美國喬治城大學東亞語言文化系助理教授。曾任教於臺灣師大國語教學中心、美國漢明頓大學、明德中文暑校,以及美國各大學聯合漢語中心暑期K-12中文教師培訓班。合著《Chinese Grammar Made Easy》等書。
Hsin-hung Yeh 葉信鴻
Hsin-hung Yeh, Ph.D. in Chinese Linguistics (Stanford University). Dr. Yeh is currently teaching at Santa Clara University and Middlebury Chinese Summer School. He also taught Chinese at Waseda University (Japan) and Harvard University. He is ACTFL’s certified OPI tester, OPI rater, and WPT rater.
Unit 1
Lesson 1 坐出租車和住旅館 Taking a Taxi and Checking in to a Hotel
Lesson 2 租房子 Looking for a Place to Rent
Lesson 3 請朋友來暖房 Housewarming Party.
Lesson 4 綜合練習 Comprehensive Exercise
Unit 2
Lesson 1 去超市 Going to a Supermarket
Lesson 2 上網購物 Shopping Online
Lesson 3 誰想戴綠帽子啊? Who Wants to Wear a Green Hat?
Lesson 4 綜合練習 Comprehensive Exercise
Unit 3
Lesson 1 中國人喜歡吃什麼? What do Chinese People like to Eat?
Lesson 2 我們點菜吧!Let’s Order!
Lesson 3 你能教我怎麼包餃子嗎? Can you Teach me how to Wrap Dumplings?
Lesson 4 綜合練習 Comprehensive Exercise
Unit 4
Lesson 1 到廣州出差 A Business Trip to Guangzhou
Lesson 2 坐高鐵旅行 Travel by High-Speed Rail
Lesson3 方祥安的遊記 Travel Diary
Lesson 4 綜合練習 Comprehensive Exercise
本教材也是根據一線教師教學後反思所做的行動研究成果,即在教學中發現問題,進行教學調整,最後實現教學目標,完成教學迴圈。本書以主題進行規劃,並依照美國外語教學委員會(American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, ACTFL)所制定的語言能力標準設定學習目標。進一步而言,《前進中文》目標將學習者的能力級別從ACTFL語言能力測驗大綱的初級高(Novice High)推向中級中(Intermediate Mid),然後再進一步推到中級高(Intermediate High)。第一冊目標:初級高到中級中;第二冊目標:中級中到中級高。在滿足中級中文學習者總體認知技能發展所需的同時,《前進中文》亦試圖培養學習者以下具體語言能力:
進一步來說,課本以紅色標記的“A 離B 不 + 遠 (A + lí + B + bù + yuǎn: Ais not far from B) → Grammar 3”為重點語法,建議老師重點講解。以藍色標記的“辦理⋯⋯手續(bànlǐ…shǒuxù: to go through the procedure for…) → Collocation 1”為詞語搭配,附有常見的搭配片語,而以綠色上標數位標記的“歡迎光臨4”則為慣用語,給學習者更多的固定表達,讓他們的語言更貼近自然的語言使用。生詞表裡習慣輕讀的字,在拼音的該音節前會加上一個下標的點“.”。比如先生(Mister),拼音記為“xiān.shēng”。這樣做的好處有二,一是標出漢字的本調,使學習者不至於混淆,比如先生(“生”可輕讀或保持原調),但發生(“生”不輕讀);二是在大華語地區,有些地方沒有輕讀的習慣,這樣的標示法可以兼顧標準與實用的需求。