Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will
• become familiar with the history, culture and economic situations of the main Chinese-speaking areas including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
• be capable of talking about the general features of the Chinese economic life.
• learn more common characters used in Chinese written texts and documents.
• be able to understand a few types of basic Chinese documents with the help of Chinese computer programs
• be able to write Chinese characters and texts with the help of the most common word-processing programs
• be able to check the correctness of the written characters and texts with the help of internet tools

Course contents
“The course is divided into two parts: Introduction to the Chinese-Speaking Areas (Part 1) and Chinese Written Language and Documents (Part 2). Part 2 is a web-course via Moodle.”

Introduction to the Chinese-Speaking Areas:
• Introduction to the situations in different Chinese-speaking areas
• Economic life of the mainland China and overseas Chinese societies
Chinese Written Language and Documents:
• Learn more useful characters and learn to understand unknown Chinese characters with the help of common internet tools
• Basic level PR and business documents: basic e-mails, invitations, travel agenda/visiting program, CV compilation

After completing the course, students will
• become familiar with the history, culture and economic situations of the main Chinese-speaking areas including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
• be capable of talking about the general features of the Chinese economic life.
• learn more common characters used in Chinese written texts and documents.
• be able to understand a few types of basic Chinese documents with the help of Chinese computer programs
• be able to write Chinese characters and texts with the help of the most common word-processing programs
• be able to check the correctness of the written characters and texts with the help of internet tools

Learning methods
The learning goals of this module can be reached in the following ways:
• Interactive classroom activities
• Individual or pair work for the presentation
• Internet learning via Moodle
Assessing one´s own learning is a compulsory part of the module.

Alternative ways to complete the course
Writing an essay instead of the oral presentation. The internet learning sessions are compulsory.

Recognition of prior learning
A student can demonstrate his or her equivalent language skills or culture knowledge relating to the course objectives and content. This must be agreed upon with the teacher no later than two weeks before the course begins. Each student may attempt this only once in the period prior to the giving of the course. Evaluation is on a scale of 1-5.

Course materials
Meiru Liu 2006: Basic Business Chinese, Beijing University Press
Handouts and materials provided by the teacher via Moodle

- The presentations will be arranged during the last two teaching weeks.
- Other arrangements can be discussed with the teacher

A student can take this course only after he/she has passed the course "Chinese Business Communications 2".

Assessment criteria/Introduction to Chinese-Speaking Areas/scale 5-1.
The student:
• is able to make a presentation
which is suitable for the situation.
• is able to use sources of information to support his/her work and shows cultural knowledge when using sources.
• is able to share his/her professional
knowledge and skills to others in a limited manner.

Assessment criteria/Chinese Written Language and Documents/scale 5-1.
The student:
• knows the basic structures of the written characters and understands only part of the written characters demanded for the course.
• is able to understand independently
over half of the basic documents in
Chinese and write some of them with the help of internet tools.
• follows deadlines and instructions and participates in working.
• knows how to follow instructions given to her/him.

Assessment criteria/Introduction to Chinese-Speaking Areas/scale 5-1.
The student:
• is able to make a presentation which is well targeted and suitable for the situation.
• is able to use sources of information independently to support his/her work and shows good cultural knowledge when using sources.
• adapts the cultural content well and is able to share his/her professional knowledge and skills to others.

Assessment criteria/Chinese Written Language and Documents/scale 5-1.
The student:
• knows pretty well the structures of the written characters and understands most of the written characters demanded for the course.
• is able to understand independently most of the basic documents and
texts covered in the course and is able to write some of them. She/he is able to use the word processing and other internet and mobile phone tools, which help in the understanding and creating of the basic Chinese documents.
• masters the proper ways of professional working and follows deadlines.
• knows how to use instructions independently and apply her/his skills.
• knows how to benefit from feedback and learn from mistakes.

Assessment criteria/Introduction to Chinese-Speaking Areas/scale 5-1.
The student:
• is able to make a presentation which is skillfully targeted and
suitable for the communication situation.
• is able to use sources of information versatility and critically to support
his/her work and shows excellent cultural knowledge when using sources.
• adapts the cultural content deeply and is able to share his/her professional knowledge and skills to others.

Assessment criteria/Chinese Written Language and Documents/scale 5-1.
The student:
• not only masters the structures of the characters but can also apply the knowledge in learning new characters. She/He understands all the written characters demanded for the course.
• is able to understand independently almost all the basic documents and texts covered
in the course and is able to write some of them. She/he is able to manage the most
demanding activities in word processing and other internet and mobile phone tools, which
help in the understanding and creating of the basic Chinese business documents.
• follows schedules well and is able to plan how to best use her/his own time. She/he shows initiative and is able to share her/his know-how and peer feedback to others.
• is able to assess critically the contents, appearance and phrasing of documents and improve working methods and new solutions.

Assessment criteria (H-5)
Presentation/essay 50%
Moodle assignments 50%