Pre-U Mandarin Chinese CAIE

This subject is broken down into 40 topics in 4 modules:

  1. Cultural Understanding 10 topics
  2. Reading and Writing 10 topics
  3. Listening and Speaking 10 topics
  4. Grammar and Vocabulary 10 topics
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  • 4
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  • 40
    topics
  • 15,268
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Mandarin Chinese

Cultural Understanding

Understanding Chinese societies

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Understanding Chinese societies

Understanding Chinese Societies

Historical Background

  • China boasts over 5000 years of recorded history, making it one of the world's oldest civilizations. Key periods such as the Qin and Han dynasties, the age of imperial China, and the 20th-century revolutions significantly shape Chinese society today.
  • Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have deeply influenced Chinese thought, governance, and attitudes towards life and death, despite official atheism under communist rule.
  • The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) unleashed a decade of chaos, fundamentally impacting intergenerational relationships and societal values.
  • Awareness of China's "Century of Humiliation" (mid 19th to mid 20th century) affects contemporary attitudes towards the West and informs nationalistic feelings.

Chinese Family Values

  • Filial piety (孝, xiào), a cornerstone of Confucianism, revolves around reverence and respect for one's elders and ancestors.
  • The "Four Generations Under One Roof" (四世同堂, sì shì tóng táng) ideal may no longer be common, but extended family links remain important.
  • The "One Child Policy" (独生子女政策, dú shēng zǐ nǚ zhèng cè) has shaped demographics and family structure, exacerbating somewhat an ageing population and altering the traditional preference for male children.

Education

  • Education is highly valued, with competitive exams, such as the gaokao, determining university placements and future careers.
  • Efforts in recent years aim to de-emphasise rote learning, though memorisation and long study hours are still prevalent.
  • There is a growing trend of study abroad, especially in English-speaking countries.

Economy and Work Life

  • China's transformation from an agrarian to a predominantly industrial and service-based economy is one of the most rapid and vast in human history.
  • A culture of overwork (加班, jiā bān) can lead to immense pressure in urban areas especially in high-tech industries; the term "996" (working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) has sparked controversy.
  • Increasing wealth inequality marks a shift from the communalist ideals of the Mao era.

Social Movements and Trends

  • Questions of gender equality are increasingly prominent, with changing expectations on women in work and family life.
  • The internet has provided a new public sphere for social commentary and memes (biaoqingbao), as well as online censorship (The Great Firewall).
  • Environmental awareness is rising as China grapples with the consequences of rapid industrialisation.
  • "Little pink" (小粉红, xiǎo fěnhóng) denotes young, often female, netizens expressing fervent nationalism online.

Art, Music and Literature

  • Traditional arts such as calligraphy, poetry, and guqin music continue to be esteemed, though less commonly practised.
  • Contemporary Chinese literature and cinema often explore themes of modernity, migration and identity.
  • The wave of sinophone pop music, or C-pop, including genres like Mandopop and Cantopop, is gaining international attention.
  • Rapidly expanding urban landscapes have given rise to a vibrant street art scene and controversies about cultural preservation.

Course material for Mandarin Chinese, module Cultural Understanding, topic Understanding Chinese societies

Mandarin Chinese

Listening and Speaking

Interacting in Mandarin with accuracy and fluency

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Interacting in Mandarin with accuracy and fluency

Section 1: Accuracy in Speaking

  • Make use of a variety of sentence structures in order to express more complex ideas.

  • Ensure you have a strong grasp of core grammar rules: subject-verb agreement, word order, and correct use of tense.

  • Practice accurate pronunciation of tones in Mandarin, as this is essential for conveying the correct meaning.

  • Aim for accurate use of vocabulary, bearing in mind that some words may share a sound but have different meanings.

  • Employ measure words correctly. These are used with nouns and their usage can be complex.

Section 2: Fluency in Speaking

  • Engage with authentic Chinese media such as films, TV shows, and music to immerse yourself in the pace and rhythm of spoken Mandarin.

  • Practice thinking in Mandarin. This will reduce the need for translation in your head, allowing for more natural speech.

  • Regularly use language exchange platforms to chat with native speakers and gain confidence in speaking Mandarin fluently.

  • Memorise and call upon common phrases for various situations. This allows for more spontaneous and fluid conversation.

Section 3: Being Interactive

  • Learn to ask open-ended questions. This encourages more conversation, and allows you to gather more information.

  • Develop your skills in listening and responding. Restate or summarise what the other person has said to show understanding, and to keep the conversation going.

  • Employ body language and visual cues to enhance communication. Remember to maintain eye contact, and to use gestures or facial expressions where appropriate.

  • Practice turn-taking in conversations. It's important not only to express yourself, but also to listen carefully to others and react accordingly.

Section 4: Listening Skills

  • Enhance your understanding of different accents and speaking styles of native Mandarin speakers. Watching Chinese films or listening to different dialects can be helpful.

  • Take time to learn idioms and phrases as these are frequently used in everyday conversations.

  • Develop your speed comprehension. Start with slower-paced conversations and gradually increase the speed until you're comfortable.

  • Ensure that you don't just listen passively, but actively engage and respond to what's being said. Practice makes perfect here.

Course material for Mandarin Chinese, module Listening and Speaking, topic Interacting in Mandarin with accuracy and fluency

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