CJK Language Learning at U of T

EAS100Y: Modern Standard Chinese I
A comprehensive introduction to Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin) as a second language for students with no background in any Chinese dialect; equal emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, writing Chinese characters and translation; active vocabulary of about 500 single characters and over a thousand phrases and idiomatic expressions.

EAS101Y, Modern Chinese I for Students with Prior Backgrounds
Designed to meet the particular needs of students who, usually because of their Chinese family backgrounds, can speak and understand elementary Chinese of any dialect but do not read or write enough to take 201Y.

EAS200Y, Modern Standard Chinese II
For students who have completed EAS100Y (minimum 67% or with the approval of the instructor) or completed EAS101Y with a mark under 63%). You will not only gain hundreds of single characters and thousands of words and expressions, but will also observe the wide diversity of present-day Chinese society. You will learn the complexity of various issues reflected through simple, everyday experiences.

EAS201Y, Modern Chinese II for Students with Prior Backgrounds
For students who have completed EAS101Y (minimum 63% or with the approval of the instructor).

EAS206Y, Classical Chinese I
This course is designed for students who have already received instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (EAS 100Y, 200Y, etc.) or the equivalent. It aims to provide basic reading skills in Classical Chinese, which are necessary for any student planning to study pre-modern China. Class readings, glosses and grammatical explanations help build proficiency in vocabulary and grammar. Emphasis is placed on grammatical analysis and translation into English as a vehicle for assessing competence
Co-requisite: EAS200Y/201Y or permission of instructor. Exclusion: EAS290Y.

NOTE: This is a full year course compressed into the second term, meeting twice weekly from January to April.

EAS260Y, Classical Chinese I
It is designed for students who have studied two years of Modern Chinese at U of T or the equivalent. It will help you read simple classical materials which are very common in Modern Chinese. By the end of the summer program, you will have a good command of hundreds of idiomatic expressions, philosophical maxims, daily proverbs and sayings that are still widely used today. You will also study and sing classical poetry of the Táng and Sõng dynasties that are loved by the Chinese generation after generation. When you sing these poems at the party in Guangzhou during the field trip, your Chinese host will be pleasantly surprised. The course will be conducted in both Mandarin and English.

EAS290Y Chinese Language for Non-Mandarin Speakers
For students who speak a Chinese dialect other than Mandarin and have acquired a basic knowledge of written Chinese. Gives basic knowledge of spoken Mandarin and ability to read both literary and modern texts.

Departmental Telephone: 416-978-3301
Instructor's Telephone: 416-946-5100

EAS300Y, Modern Standard Chinese III
Original writings chosen from the literature and social history of modern China. Oral discussion, written composition and techniques or reading from comprehension. To do reasonably well in this course, students are expected to put in 10-15 hours preparation work per week. Prerequisite: EAS200Y/EAS201Y with final mark 50-69%. Not open to native speakers of any Chinese dialect.

EAS302Y, Contemporary Chinese Newspapers
An intermediate level language course. Not a course on Chinese newspaper journalism. Development of reading skills using Chinese newspapers on contemporary Chinese politics, international relations, social and economic development. Also improvement of oral skills through drills and discussion.

EAS306Y, Classical Chinese II
The course will help students gain more in-depth control of grammatical structures, read classical materials with greater ease and discuss academic and scholarly topics more articulately. Additional sayings from traditional Chinese thought and classical poetry will supplement the main textbook.

EAS400Y, Modern Standard Chinese IV
Continuation of EAS300Y. Further study of texts from a wide range of topics.
Prerequisite: EAS300Y (minimum 70%) or the equivalent.

2000-2001 Graduate Courses

EAS1100H,Y Special Topics in Chinese Studies

or EAS1116H,Y Special Topics in Chinese Culture

or EAS1150H,Y Readings and Major Research Paper

Instructor: Dr. Helen X. Wu
The course deals in depth with various themes in modern Chinese culture and society, with the focus on continuity and change in contemporary China.

EAS1104Y Advanced Readings in Classical Chinese
Instructor: Dr. Helen X. Wu, 946-5102, helenxy.wu@utoronto.ca

Same as EAS306Y, plus a research paper and/or an exhaustive translation exercise