Asian Languages 204

Second Year Chinese for Heritage Speakers

Fall 2024

Instructor:
Name: Yan Zhong

Office: 202 South Thayer Street， 6084 STB，Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1608

Phone: 734.647.8657

E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: T&Th 2PM-3PM
Optional Zoom Office Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/96759955315

I. Course Description

This course is a continuation of ASIANLAN 104 designed for students who master listening and
speaking skills but have limited knowledge in reading and writing. This course adapts different
pedagogical approaches to help students acquire basic skills in reading and writing in Modern
Standard Chinese. Having completed both 104 and 204, students should be able to read simple
articles and write short essays. This course emphasizes on but is not limited to the skills of
reading and writing. Speaking development is also one of the instructional objectives. Class
meets four hours a week and the instructional language is Mandarin Standard Chinese and
Simplified Chinese Characters. Students who have completed ASIANLAN 204 should register
for ASIANLAN 304 if they want to continue their Chinese studies.

II. Textbooks & Canvas

(Due to copyright issue，we are not be able to provide scans of the textbooks)

 Required Textbook :
Simplified Chinese characters: Traditional Chinese characters:
A Primer for Advanced Beginners of A Primer for Advanced Beginners of
Chinese Simplified Character Version, Chinese Traditional Character Version,
Volume Two Volume Two
Columbia University Press (2003), ISBN: Columbia University Press (2003), ISBN:
0-231-13585-8 0-231-12557-7

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  Canvas course site
Course related materials are available at Canvas course site. Students should check the
site on a regular basis to access to announcements, schedules, shared language resources,
assignments, grades, etc.

III. Class Requirements & Policies

1. Registration
 Student must be registered for the class session to attend. Auditing is not permitted. No
cross sections are allowed without the instructor’s permission.

2. Assignments
 Students are responsible for ensuring all assignments (including all homework,
quizzes, tests and essays, presentation, etc.) are completed as required and submitted
on time.
 All assignments should be submitted in advance in case of any sort of absence.
 Written assignments must be completed before class. Late submission after class and
before 5:00 PM on the same day will be accepted but with a 20% deduction. NO
SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 5:00 P.M. ON THE DUE DATE.
 No make-ups will be given unless you can provide valid reasons with proof. If a
student is absent from a class for valid reason, it is the student’s responsibility to keep
track and schedule to make up the missing work. Make-ups are only allowed WITHIN
A WEEK SINCE THE ABSENCE.

3. Attendance
 Punctual and consistent attendance is crucial to success in a language course. Most
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 importantly, unexcused absences (such as feeling lazy, oversleeping, not setting the alarm
clock correctly, etc.) are strongly discouraged. Medical reasons, conferences, job
interviews and family emergencies are considered excused absences. To avoid the impact
of unexcused absences as much as possible, we will execute the following attendance
rules:

1） The first three absences due to medical reasons will be excused with no proof needed.
After that, a proof (such as a doctor’s note) is necessary to have a medical absence
counted as excused.
2） Each unexcused absence will lead to a deduction of 2.5% （ 13 points ） of the maximal
score. I would like to see a proof of an excused absence. If you have trouble getting one,
please discuss it with me. You also need to try your best to notify your instructor of the
absences via email BEFORE class.
3） Further unexcused absences beyond 8 times (at which point about 10% of maximal score
has been lost) will downgrade the student’s final grade by one tier, e.g., from A- to B+;
from B+ to B, etc.
4） Failure to attend 1/3 or more of class meetings will lead to failure in this course,
regardless of whether the absences are excused or not. This rule overrides the above three
rules.
5） Being absent from a class meeting for at least 20 mins (regardless when that happens)
will be treated as being absent from the entire class meeting if there is no valid reason.
Frequent lateness for class may affect your final score in Class Participation.

4. Participation
 Students should always consider Chinese as the primary language during class time.
 Consistent proactive participation in class is one of the key indicators when grading a
student’s participation. The Participation score will be deducted significantly for those
unwilling to do so.
 Personal usage of all electronic devices is STRICTLY PROHIBITED during class.
 Unrelated side conversation during class or group activities is not allowed.
 Preparation before class is crucial to a smooth and efficient class, and therefore it is
strongly encouraged.

5. Grades
 Grading will be done based on student’s academic performance and work effort. Detailed
criteria are available on Canvas.

6. Others
 The instructors reserve the right to suggest that students who are overqualified or not
qualified for this course to switch to a different level/course.

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IV. Final Grade Distribution

Participation and attendance 80

Homework 15 x10 150

Quizzes 5 x (20-2) 90

Dictation Quiz 5 x (10-2) 40

Tests 60 x 4 240
Essays 50 x 2 100
Presentation 50 x 2 100
Final Test 200
Total 1000

Grade Cut-Offs

1000 -970 A+ 969-930 A 929-900 A-

899-870 B+ 869-830 B 829-800 B-
799-770 C+ 769-730 C 729-700 C-
699-670 D+ 669-630 D 629-600 D-

V. Guidelines for Our Classroom Community

1. Understand that we are bound to make lots of mistakes in this class, as anyone does when
learning
a new language. Take risks and support others in their risk-taking.
2. Be mindful of how much you are contributing to discussions, and share responsibility for
including all voices in the discussion. If you have an idea, don’t wait for someone else to say it;
say it yourself. If you have a tendency to contribute often, give others the opportunity to speak.
3. Listen respectively. Don’t interrupt or engage in private conversations while others are
speaking. Use attentive, courteous body language. Comments that you make (whether asking for
clarification, sharing critiques, or expanding on a point) should reflect that you have paid
attention to the previous speaker’s comments.
4. Take pair-work or small group works seriously. Remember that your peers’ learning is partly
dependent upon your engagement.
5. Make an effort to get to know other students. Introduce yourself to students sitting near you.
Refer to classmates by Chinese name.
6. Respect others’ right to hold opinions and beliefs that differ from your own. Be open to
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hearing their perspectives. Be open to changing your perspectives based on what you learn from
others. Be open with disagreement.

VI. Accommodation
I am committed to helping all students in this course. If you have special needs due to physical
or mental health issues, please come see me at semester’s start (by the end of the second week)
with proper documentation through UM’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) (located
in G-664 Haven Hall, 505 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104).
University of Michigan is committed to advancing the mental health and wellbeing of its
students. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and/or in need of
support, services are available. For help, contact Counseling and Psychological Services
(CAPS) at (734) 764-8312 and https://caps.umich.edu/ during and after hours, on weekends and
holidays, or through its counselors physically located in schools on both North and Central
Campus. You may also consult University Health Service (UHS) at (734) 764- 8320
and https://www.uhs.umich.edu/mentalhealthsvcs, or for alcohol or drug concerns,
see www.uhs.umich.edu/aodresources.

VII． Academic Dishonesty

The University of Michigan community functions best when its members treat one another with
honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. The college promotes the assumption of personal
responsibility and integrity, and prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty and misconduct. All
cases of academic misconduct will be referred to the Office of the Assistant Dean for
Undergraduate Education. Being found responsible for academic misconduct will usually result
in a grade sanction, in addition to any sanction from the college. For more information, including
examples of behaviors that are considered academic misconduct and potential sanctions, please
see lsa.umich.edu/lsa/academics/academic-integrity.html.

Enjoy This Semester!

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