Learn and study Chinese Mandarin at the International Language Institute (ILI) in Washington, DC!
Fall session starting the week of Sept. 20, 2010 - enroll now!
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2010
Chinese Mandarin Group Classes
The Chinese Mandarin Language Program at ILI consists of four 10-week terms throughout the year. We are offering eleven different levels from beginner to pre-advanced. Classes meet at the Institute once a week in the evening or on Saturday mornings. Our teachers are all native-speaking and experienced. The Chinese Mandarin Language Program integrates speaking, listening, reading and writing. We maintain small class sizes to enable adequate time for conversation in every class. To find your level, please refer to the level description or use our self-evaluation guide. If you have further questions, please call Francisco Todd, ILI's Foreign Language Coordinator, at 202-686-5610 ext. 105.
11 different levels, plus Mandarin for Travelers
Classes once per week for 2.5 hours
Small class size (max. 9 students)
Experienced, native-speaking teachers
Four 10-week terms per year
Affordable tuition
Conveniently located at Dupont Circle
$340 for 1 level, $20 early-sign up discount through Sept. 1, 2010
Level Description
The Chinese language program offers students, without prior background either from schools or homes, classroom group classes of eleven different levels to acquire a solid foundation of the language and the ability to apply the language in life. Throughout these eleven levels, the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are pursued in concert, and are used to reinforce one another. Students who may have previously studied the language at school, or have experienced the language at home, are recommended to have a phone interview with our senior Mandarin instructor for proper placement, before registering. The teaching materials for the pre-advanced and advanced levels will vary from group to group and term to term. The choices will be made based on the consensus of each particular class under the guidance of the instructor. In addition to the often seen classroom structures, these classes also focus on presentations, topic discussions, theme readings and writings. All levels sections A, B, and C are all identical in content.
Objective: The course is to provide students the most basic skills in studying Mandarin; to understand the differences between traditional and simplified characters and the benefits and disadvantages of both, to master the pronunciation. Learning Outcome: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to pronounce Mandarin correctly, including tones, read and write around 100 words, introduce oneself or others, exchange greetings, ask about someone’s nationality, talk about family members, ask about someone’s profession, express time, dates and age, arrange a date or an appointment, and invite someone to a dinner or movie. Topics: Chinese pronunciation system, surnames and full names, basic and ordinal numbers, particles – “的de” “吗ma” “呢ne”, nationalities, greetings and introductions, measure words, question pronouns, dates and time. Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 1" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $89 Lessons: Introduction and Lessons 1-3 & Review lesson Basic 1A: Wednesdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 1B: Thursdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 1C: Saturdays: 10 am - 12:30 pm
Objective:
To strengthen the pronunciation; to understand stroke order in writing characters; to learn the basic radicals in characters; to recognize 100 new characters.
Learning Outcome:
After completing this course, in addition to reading a minimum of 150 new words, students should be able to talk about hobbies, visiting friends or welcoming guests, set up an appointment on the phone, ask for favors, talk about daily routines and habits, and talk about studying Chinese vocabulary and grammar.
Topics:
Word order in Chinese, go + action, verbs or adjectives as predicates, modal verbs, preposition “在zài” “给gěi”, particle “吧ba” “了le”, adverb “就jiù” “才cái”, double objects, directional complements, descriptive complements.
Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 1" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $89 Lessons:
Lessons 4-7 & Review lesson
Basic 2A: Mondays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 2B: Tuesdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 2C: Saturdays: 10 am - 12:30 pm
Objective:
To enable students to hold uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward social situations; to express personal meaning on learned phrases or re-combinations of them.
Learning Outcome:
Students will master at least an additional120 words and start writing simple sentences in Chinese characters. Students should be able to hold simple conversations regarding school life, purchase clothes and shoes independently, comment about several modes of transportation, and describe traffic routes.
Topics:
The position of Time-When expressions, series of verbs/verb phrases, past tense and future tense, comparison sentence structures, topic-comment sentences, daily used associated conjunction structures.
Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 1" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $89 Lessons:
Lessons 8-10 & Review Lesson
Basic 3A: Mondays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 3B: Wednesdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 3C: Saturdays: 10 am - 12:30 pm
Basic 4:
Objective:
To comprehend and compose more complex sentences; to study etymology of basic characters; to converse with much advanced vocabularies and be understood by interlocutors who accustomed to dealing with non-natives.
Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this course, students can expect to compose complete paragraphs, apply sophisticated vocabulary and construct compound-complex sentences. Students should also be able to talk about climate and the weather, order dishes and drinks in a restaurant, ask for and give directions, make suggestions, describe durations of time, describe someone’s appearance, and talk about common illnesses with a doctor.
Topics:
Weather patterns, complex comparison structures, ordering Chinese dishes, partially agree or disagree with others, reduplication of adjectives and verbs, action in progress, verbal phrases and subject-predicate phrases used as attributives, time duration, describe a past tense action, 把(bǎ) construction, location adverbs. Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 2" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $102 Lessons:
Lessons 11-15 & Review lesson
Basic 4A: Tuesdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 4B: Thursdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Basic 4C: Saturdays: 10 am - 12:30 pm
Objective:
To provide students the abilities to actively participate in most informal and limited formal conversations related to work, school, home or leisure activities; to make structured arguments. Learning Outcome:
By the end of this course, students can expect to write paragraphs with ease as well as carry conversations with greater fluency. Students will be able to politely accept and decline an appointment, describe current and ideal living quarters, name common pieces of furniture, discuss and negotiate rent, talk about sports, present vacation plans, describe and compare cities, book airplane tickets, and check in at the airport.
Topics:
Verbal complements – descriptive, potential and directional complements, approximate number, question pronouns used in statement sentences, continuation, duration of actions, status particle 着(zhe), passive-voice sentences, question pronouns as indefinite references (whoever, whenever, etc.). Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 2" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $102 Lessons:
Lessons 16-20 & Review Lesson
Basic 5: Mondays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Objective:
To recognize minimum of five hundreds characters while able to write half of them at least; to study Pinyin and Character Texts simultaneously; to write compound-complex paragraphs; to converse with greater ease and confidence. Learning Outcome:
Students will be able to use both oral and written Mandarin with greater ease. More specifically, students will be able to give a detailed self-introduction, describe living quarters, to disagree tactfully, order food and drinks with the knowledge of Chinese regional cuisines, shop and bargain in Mandarin speaking settings, state their major area of study and academic department, and talk about career plans and goals. Topics:
The dynamic particle 了(le), the 是(shì)…的(de)construction, connecting sentences, existential sentences, topic-comment sentence structure, the emphatic 是(shì), rhetorical questions, education system: China vs. US, complex resultative complements. Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 2 Part 1" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $92 Lessons:
Lessons 1-5 & Review lesson
Intermediate 1A: Mondays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Objective:
To provide students the abilities to narrate with ease and confidence; to negotiate a bargain when shop; to discuss about everyday life; to participate in ease on conversations in routine and social situations. Learning Outcome:
The students will be able to talk about Chinese dating and marriage customs, describe someone’s personality, discuss uses of the internet, talk about educational expenses in China, discuss part-time jobs for college students, talk about friendships, briefly introduce the geographic features of China and the US, and plan a trip to China. Topics:
Adverbials and 地(de), 的(de), 地(de)and得(de) compare, set phrases, complex potential and descriptive complements, 来(lái) connecting two verb phrases, adverb 可(kě) and 并(bìng), 过(guò) indicating past experience. Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 2 Part 1" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $92 Lessons:
Lessons 6-10 & Review lesson
Intermediate 2A: Tuesdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Intermediate 2B: Thursdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45pm
Objective:
To provide students the abilities to actively participate in most informal and limited formal conversations related to work, school, home or leisure activities; to make structured arguments. Learning Outcome:
When successfully completing the course, students can expect to converse with accuracy, clarity and precision. They will also be able to talk about Chinese traditions and festivals, describe famous Chinese historical tourist sites, and discuss the development and modernization of Chinese cities, talk about daily routines and health issues, and talk about Chinese women’s social status changes. Topics:
The usage of status particle 着(zhe), reduplication of measure words, particle 过(guò), particle 啊(a) and 嘛(ma), numerals in idioms, multiple attributives, disyllabic words becoming monosyllabic, 使(shǐ) pivotal sentences, pronoun 某(mǒu), 是(shì)...的(de) to affirm a statement. Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 2 Part 2" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $94 Lessons:
Lessons 11-15 & Review Lesson
Intermediate 3: Thursdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Intermediate 4:
Objective:
To provide students the abilities to handle with ease and confidence on variety of topics relating to work, school, home, public interests as well as personal interests or individual relevance; to prepare students for Chinese Reader series. Learning Outcome:
Upon successful completion of the course, students can expect to comprehensively narrate and describe all major time frames; misunderstandings are kept to a minimum. Students' vocabulary will be fairly extensive – especially in a chosen area of specialization or interest (for example environmental issues, personal financing, important Chinese historical figures, job interview, time management, life abroad, culture shocks, etc.). Topics:
Adjectives that can be reduplicated like verbs, V着(zhe) V着(zhe), adj + 于(yú), summary of the 把(bǎ) construction, grammar summary – word order in Chinese, frequency adverbs, presentation practice. Textbooks: "Integrated Chinese Level 2 Part 2" pack of 3 books (textbook, workbook and character), $94 Lessons:
Lessons 16-20 & Review lesson
Intermediate 4: Wednesdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Pre-Advanced:
Students that have a strong grammatical base but struggle integrating this knowledge into fluent conversation are encouraged to join the class. This class will focus primarily on conversation, vocabulary building and idioms with grammar addressed as necessary. This class is meant for those students who do not yet feel they are advanced and lack the confidence in speaking. It can be taken numerous sessions as the course curriculum will change.
Objective:
This level will cover subjects of historical, political, economical, and social relevance to the Chinese speaking world, on a more advanced level, relying on group discussions, essay writing, class debates and critique. Learning Outcome:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be become acquainted with specific vocabulary and varied forms used in Taiwan and mainland China. The goal of this course is to prepare them towards an advanced level of proficiency. Topics:
Grammatical areas of concern will be covered based on the specific needs of the participants in class. Current social, economic, historical, political and other topics will be introduced and discussed. Textbook: "Anything Goes", an advanced reader of modern Chinese, $51 Lessons:
Chapters 1-15 & teacher selected materials/handouts.
Pre-Advanced: Wednesdays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Advanced (Periodicals):
This course is designed for students who have achieved an advanced level and is conducted entirely in Mandarin. Students discuss their interests in competent discussions, and will explain complex matters in detail with ease, fluency, and accuracy. The instructor reviews points of grammar based on student errors in speaking and writing. Students can repeat this class as curriculum and materials change from session to session.
Objective:
Chinese culture, traditions, literature and arts as well as political and economical issues that concern America, Taiwan, China and East Asia will be the subjects of in-depth conversation/discussion. They also express opinions on a structured argument to support their opinions of topics of importance to them, such as political and social issues. Learning Outcome:
Students will have acquired exposure in a wide range of types of media in the current Mandarin Chinese speaking culture and society. Advanced students will be able to engage in any types of media and read it, listen to it, view it, and acquire a better understand of it. Topics:
To be chosen by the teacher and students. Textbook: "Anything Goes", an advanced reader of modern Chinese, $51 Lessons:
Chapters 16-30 & teacher selected materials/handouts.
Advanced: Mondays: 6:15 pm - 8:45 pm
Mandarin for Travelers: This course is designed with the social traveler in mind. Using a phrase book/travelers guide the student will practice basic phrases for everyday use while traveling, through in-classroom role-plays, enabling them to communicate instantly on a host of topics: restaurants, shopping, hotel check-ins, health and medical situations, essential services, boat, plane and train travel, much more. Vacation travelers will find everything they need for a smooth, successful trip with the combination of the use of the phrase book/travelers guide and real-life classroom instruction. Tuition: $160.
Textbook: Phrase Book, cost included in the tuition.
Length of program: Saturdays, 12:30-2:30 pm; 5 weeks.
2010 Schedule:
Summer Term
June 28 - Sept. 4, 2010
Deadline: Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Fall Term
Sept. 20 - Dec. 4, 2010
Deadline: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 2011 Schedule:
Winter Term
Jan. 10 - Mar. 19, 2011
Deadline: Wednesday, January 5, 2011 Discount ends: Dec. 5, 2010 Spring Term
Apr. 11 - June 18, 2011
Deadline: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Discount ends: Mar. 1, 2011 Summer Term
July 11 - Sept. 17, 2011
Deadline: Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Discount ends: Jun. 1, 2011 Fall Term
Sept. 26 - Dec. 3, 2011
Deadline: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 Discount ends: Sep. 5, 2011 Tuition: $340 for one level. Early sign-up discount: $20 for one level. $160 for Traveler class. Please click here to apply on-line.
Duration: Classes meet once weekly in the evening or on Saturday mornings for 10 weeks. Each session is 2.5 hours.
Refunds: No refunds are issued once classes have started.
Textbooks: May be purchased at the time of registration or at the Institute before or on the first day of class. Prices are subject to change at any time.
Attendance & Tardiness Policy: It is important for students to attend every class meeting. It is also important that they arrive on time for class. We cover a lot of material in each class. The instructor cannot repeat material for students who are absent or come late. Students will be marked absent when they do not come to class. Students who arrive 15 minutes after the advertised starting time will be marked late. For every 3 times that the student is marked as late, it will count as a missed hour. If we notice that a student’s attendance is in danger of falling below 70%, we will issue an attendance report to the student.
Performance Measurements: Our program requires each student to participate in weekly quizzes, which will be graded, based on a “Pass” or “Fail” system. There will be a final quiz that will measure the sum of the instructional objectives for the course. Grades are verbally communicated to students at the end of each class/course, and are marked on the attendance/performance sheet. Students must have completed and passed at least 70% of the quizzes to move to the next level.
ACCET Certification: ILI’s foreign language group programs are now accredited by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training), and we also offer 2.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) per every successfully completed course, 5.0 for the accelerated courses. Upon request, our Certificates of Completion can include the CEU’s earned per semester.
Certificates of Completion: We issue certificates at the end of the semester and they can be ordered at the front desk. In order to be eligible to receive a certificate or pass to the next level, you are required to attend a minimum of 70% of the classes and have a “Passing” grade. We will need a couple of days in order to verify your attendance and passing grade before issuing the certificate.
Inclement Weather: Classes are cancelled in accordance with federal government closings (not school closings!) due to inclement weather. Please check public announcements on radio, TV and the Web; or call ILI at (202) 362-2505.
Cancellation/Substitution: The International Language Institute reserves the right to cancel any class if deemed necessary. Prior to commencement of class, students will be given a full refund. In the event of cancellation after the commencement of class, the pro-rata portion of the unexpended tuition will be refunded within $5. The pro-rated amount of refundable monies will be determined by the ratio of classes completed to the total number of classes in the scheduled program. The International Language Institute reserves the right to assign substitute instructors whenever necessary.
Location: See address below.
Questions? Please call Francisco Todd, Foreign Language Coordinator of ILI, at 202-686-5610 extension 105.
International Language Institute
1337 Connecticut Ave, NW, 4th Floor
(Metro: Dupont Circle)
Washington, DC 20036Phone: 202-362-2505
Fax: 202-686-5603
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