School of Chinese Studies

屈原Qū Yuán (345-286 B.C.) and離/罹騷Lí Sāo: Encountering Sorrow

The Songs of the South is a collection of poems written by Qu Yuan and other poets. Born to aristocracy of the State of Chu (circa 650-232 B.C.), Qu Yuan was the first known poet, and one of the greatest, in Chinese literature. His masterpiece, Suffering Throes, or Encountering Sorrow (Li Sao), is one of the most influential poems in Chinese culture. As a repository of Confucian values, The Songs of the South, as how it is represented by Qu Yuan’s Li Sao, stands second only to The Book of Songs in Chinese literature. Together, The Book of Songs and The Songs of the South shine as the fountainhead to all things related to Chinese culture.

Poems of the Former/Western Han: A Bridge

An indispensable poetic bridge between the Book of Songs, the fountainhead to all things related to culture of China, and the later poetic forms, poetry of the Han dynasty, the Former Han (206 B.C.-25A.D.) and the Latter Han (25A.D-221A.D.), introduces the new pentasyllabic and heptasyllabic poems (as opposed to the quartosyllabic poems in the Book of Songs) and thereby marks as an indispensably influential new poetic force in Chinese literature. The Han ballads began during the dawning years of the dynasty. Human emotions are the central theme in these ballads: songs to inspire, move or to amuse the listeners and readers.

Though more mature and elaborate in style, the ballads are composed in the similar vein to their parental force, the Book of Songs: They portray in more detailed description the times, which not only bears historic significance, but also leads gloriously to the later poetic genres flourished during the following 8 centuries of the Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties… [Read More] .

Schedule:

Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 12 – March 16
10 sessions (20 hours)
$500 member / $540 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
*This class is taught in English.

Through a sampling of masterpieces by celebrated authors from Lu Xun (1881-1936) to Zhang Ailing (1920-1995), this course offers an extraordinary chance to analyze modern Chinese fiction for anyone who wishes to comprehend why and how China went through a turbulent century of violence, struggles, wars, revolutions and reforms as the birth of a new national language and mass culture seemed to forecast lasting impacts in China.

Selected short stories include works by Lu Xun, Li Jieren (1891-1962), Yu Dafu (1896-1945), Lao She (1899-1966), Shen Congwen (1902-1988), Ba Jin (1904-2005), Qian Zhongshu (1910-1998), and Zhang Ailing. Some pieces have not yet been explored within American college classrooms…[Read More]

Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 14 – March 25 (No Class on 2/11, Chinese New Year Eve)
10 sessions (20 hours)
$500 member / $540 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
*This class is taught in Chinese. Advanced level of proficiency in the Chinese language is required.

The three pillars of the traditional Chinese culture, i.e. Confucianism (Rújiā), Buddhism (Fόjiā) and Daoism (Dàojiā), competed against each other, influenced each other, but maintained distinct features. Daoism (Dàojiā) originated from a book of about 5000 characters popularly named as Dao De Jing (DDJ, the Classic of the Way and Virtue) reputedly written by a legendary figure of the 6^th century BC named Laozi. For more than 2000 years this little book, in spite of its short length, has tremendously shaped the traditional Chinese culture. As Wing-Tsit Chan said, “No one can hope to understand Chinese philosophy, religion, government, art, medicine—or even cooking—without a real appreciation of the profound philosophy taught in this little book.” In the 16^th century DDJ entered the West, inspired many great thinkers such as Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Tolstoy, Jung, Needham and so on, and became a master key to the traditional Chinese culture. DDJ is the second most translated book in the world after the Bible.  [Read More]

Schedule:
Monday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 11 – February 22 (No class on 1/18 & 2/15)
5 sessions (10 hours)
Tuition: $250 members / $290 non-members
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
*This class is taught in English.

Learn Chinese through Songs is an innovative approach for learning the Chinese language, created by Professor Hong Zhang of Binghamton University, SUNY, in 1992. This is a specially designed, interdisciplinary course, emphasizing both language acquisition and music appreciation and performance. Carefully selected songs students will learn in this class include famous Chinese art songs, folk songs, and popular songs. Song lyrics will serve as main texts, accompanied by vocabulary lists and exercises. Students will learn new words and sentence patterns as in regular language classes, while the improvement of pronunciation, diction, fluency, articulation, voice projection, and language expression will be achieved through singing practice. Students will also learn basic singing techniques such as breath support, voice projection, correct posture, and legato singing. In addition, presentation skills will be taught including building confidence, concentration, relaxation, communication with the audience, conveying song meaning, and stage deportment. Students will go through a step-by-step learning progression, from “singing along” to “singing alone.” By the end of the course, students will develop a foundation of singing, a special training on speaking Chinese well, an appreciation of beautiful Chinese songs, and enjoyment and confidence in learning Chinese. [Learn More]

Prerequisite: One year of Chinese with a good mastery of pinyin.

Class Schedule and Tuition

8 sessions (8 hours)
Wednesdays, January 13 – March 3
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Tuition: $225 Member/$265 Non-member
Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $30.00
Maximum Number of Students: 15

This class is designed for students who are interested in studying Mandarin Chinese at a faster pace, i.e., completing Beginning Chinese 101 and 102 in 10 weeks. Upon completion, a solid foundation will be established both in pronunciation (initials, vowels and most importantly, the tones) and fundamental knowledge of the Chinese characters. Students will be able to carry out conversations on daily activities and master about 120 Chinese words and expressions.

The textbooks required for this course are Road to Success: Threshold and Lower Elementary, Vol. 1.

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
January 12 – March 23 (No class on 2/11)
20 sessions (40 hours)
$900 member / $950 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is designed for absolute beginners with little or no knowledge of Chinese Mandarin. This class will introduce the phonics of Chinese Mandarin, sounds and tones, using the pinyin Romanization system. Upon completion, students will be expected to establish a solid foundation in Chinese pronunciation (initials, vowels and most importantly, the tones). In addition, students will easily master about 80 basic Chinese characters, most of which are very commonly used to construct other characters. Students are also expected to be able to conduct short daily conversations, including greetings, expressing gratitude, and introducing oneself and others, etc.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Threshold.

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

– Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 14 – March 25 (No class on 2/11, Chinese New Year Eve)
– Saturday, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will continue to build on the pronunciation and tones taught in Beginning Chinese 101. In addition, this course will cover the topics of making acquaintance, describing oneself, making appointments, discussing everyday situations, asking various types of questions, making suggestions or comments, etc.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Lower Elementary, Vol.1. Lessons 1-6

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

Thursday, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
January 14 – March 25 (No class on 2/11, Chinese New Year Eve)
Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will continue to introduce new vocabulary and sentence patterns. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to communicate about daily necessities, including shopping, making a purchase, and going to the bank, among many others.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Lower Elementary, Vol.1 Lessons 7-12.

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 1.

Monday, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
January 11 – March 29 (No class on 1/18 & 2/15)
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will bring students to a high beginner level. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to talk about daily activities, going to the movies, taking classes, and discussing sports.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Lower Elementary, Vol.2 (Lessons 13-17).

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 1-2.

Saturday, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will continue to introduce new vocabulary and sentence patterns. Topics to be covered include directions and locations, talking about personal skills, and describing sickness.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Lower Elementary, Vol.2, L18 – L22.

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 2.

– Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 14 – March 25 (No class on 2/11, Chinese New Year Eve)
– Saturday, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will continue to introduce new vocabulary and sentence patterns. Topics to be covered include style of clothing, making comparisons on weather, food and cities.  New grammar and sentence patterns include reduplication of verbs, the complement of manner, making comparisons, among many others.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Lower Elementary, Vol.2 (Lessons 23-28).

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 2.

Saturday, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

Following Heritage Chinese Beginner I, this course is designed specifically for heritage Chinese students who possess speaking skills but limited reading and writing skills in Chinese. More complex and functional vocabulary words, sentence patterns and systemic review of grammar will be practiced through reading texts in various cultural related topics. Writing is also an important part of the training in this class.

The textbook required for this course is Contemporary Chinese for Heritage Learners, L9-14

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon.

Monday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 11 – March 29 (No class on 1/18 & 2/15)
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is a continuation of the beginner level classes (levels 101-106) and is designed for students who are interested in studying Mandarin Chinese at a faster pace, i.e., completing Intermediate Chinese 201 and 202 in 10 weeks.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Elementary, Vol. 1. L1-8

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 3.

Monday & Wednesday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
January 11 – March 24 (No class on 1/18 & 2/15)
20 sessions (40 hours)
$900 member / $950 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course will bring students to the intermediate level courses, and covers topics of phone conversation, renting an apartment, going out to eat in a restaurant and watching TV programs, among many others. Upon completion, students will be able to discuss different aspects of daily life and use more complicated structures for language expressions.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success, Elementary Vol. 1 (Lessons 1-4).

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 2 or 3.

Saturday, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will continue with Intermediate Level 201. Students will learn how to express exclamation and other emotions, explain issues, and describe resultative events.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success, Elementary Vol. 1 (Lessons 5-8).

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 2 or 3.

Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class is a continuation of lower intermediate classes. Students will learn how to make emphasis and comparison in a more complex way, describe events in the future, talk about experience, and so forth.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success, Elementary Vol 1 (Lesson 9-12).

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 3.

Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 13 – March 17
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class is a continuation of Intermediate Chinese 205. Topics covered include entertainment and culture, etc. Students will learn grammatical points such as “把” structure in a more comprehensive way, the probable complement, and the passive patterns, among many others.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success, Elementary Vol 2 (Lessons 21-24).

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 3 or 4.

Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class is a continuation of Intermediate Chinese 208. More complex vocabulary words, sentence patterns and structures will be learned through fables and historical stories, such as a dialogue between Confucius and a fisherman, the inventor of chopsticks, the legend of the phoenix, etc. Student will be able to read Chinese literature works without much effort, and to extend on most topics.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success, Upper Elementary Vol 1 (Lesson 9-12).

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 4.

Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 12 – March 16
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class is designed for students learned about 1,000 vocabularies and structures covering various topics in daily life or at an equivalent proficiency level but want to improve conversational skills. The class will help students speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most informal conversational and business settings. The class is highly conversational and interactive, with a focus on live conversations and discussions to achieve fluency of the spoken Chinese. Topics for discussion revolve around a wide range of themes, including latest hot topics in China and worldwide.

NO textbook is required to purchase for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 12 – March 16
Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is a continuation of Heritage Chinese Intermediate I. It is designed specifically for heritage Chinese students who possess speaking skills but limited reading and writing skills in Chinese. It will introduce more functional vocabulary and sentence patterns and phrases, and provide a systemic review of grammar through reading texts in various cultural related topics. Writing is also an important part of the training in this class.

The textbook required for this course is HSK Standard Course 4 上 (Lessons 6-10).

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 13 – March 17
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course will continue with the book Eyes on China: An Intermediate-advanced Reader of Modern Chinese. It will continue to introduce new vocabulary and sentence patterns that bridges the gap between informal spoken Chinese and more formal written Chinese. Topics cover a variety of social topics, include high-speed railways in China, Chinese Guanxi culture, the “Chinese Dream”, and discussions on some of the major social issues currently facing China.

The textbook required for this course is Eyes on China: An Intermediate-advanced Reader of Modern Chinese, 2019 by Princeton University Press, (Lessons 6-10).

Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 13 – March 17
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

The class will continue with the book Eyes on China: An Intermediate-advanced Reader of Modern Chinese. It will continue to introduce new vocabulary and sentence patterns that bridges the gap between informal spoken Chinese and more formal written Chinese. Topics include Chinese festivals, the significance of turning traditional festivals into national holidays, jingles and Chinese sense of humor, “Zheng Neng Liang“: an optimistic attitude, and a healthy lifestyle, and discussions on some of the major social issues currently happening in China.

The textbook required for this course is Eyes on China: An Intermediate-advanced Reader of Modern Chinese, 2019 by Princeton University Press, (Lessons 16-20).

Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 12 – March 16
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is a necessary bridge between high intermediate Chinese and advanced level courses. Students will be trained to develop real-life competence in pronunciation, spoken communication and active listening skills mainly through watching selected authentic videos. Skills in writing, reading, vocabulary and grammar will progress as well. In addition, students will become familiar with Chinese customs, popular idioms, phrases and expressions used in daily life. Discussion topics are designed to allow students to apply content, language, grammar and linguistic style learned in the videos to guided speeches and presentations. This course has been designed for those who have completed high intermediate level courses (206~209) but lack the proficiency competence for the advanced courses.

NO textbook is required for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
January 16 – March 20
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is designed for those who have achieved an overall high intermediate to advanced level of proficiency in the Chinese language and wish to advance their spoken fluency and sophistication. Students will be fully engaged in discussions on a variety of reading topics about China’s economy, politics, social problems and cultural issues.

NO textbook is required for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
January 13 – March 17
10 sessions (20 hours)
$465 member / $505 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

China Institute will continue to provide online Chinese Brush Painting via Zoom. The instructor Ms. Sungsook Setton will employ a flexible and creative approach to teach her virtual Brush Painting class, integrating group instruction and individual tutoring.

This class provides training in the fundamentals of traditional brush painting, its principles, techniques, subject matters and styles. Themes covered include landscapes, birds-and-flowers, insects, fish, and others. Students are trained to master brushstrokes and taught the skills of capturing the essence of forms. [Read More]

20 sessions (30 hours)
January 12 – March 23
(No Class on February 12)
Tuesday & Friday, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
$430 members / $470 non-members
(plus $30 non-refundable registration fee)

The pipa, or Chinese lute, is an ancient instrument that is both elegant and playful, charming, and adaptable to both traditional and modern sounds. The origins of the pipa date back to the Han dynasty, about 2,000 years ago, when a similar type of stringed instrument was brought into China from Persia via the Silk Road. It has enjoyed wide popularity throughout its long history, especially during the Tang dynasty, and now again in our own time.

The pipa has four strings on a pear-shaped body and fretted neck. It is played by plucking and strumming much like a guitar, but is held upright with the base on the lap and the neck at the player’s shoulder.

Learning the pipa introduces the student to a wealth of tunes and an exciting solo repertoire. Pipa can also be played in Chinese instrument orchestras and ensembles, and has found its way into world music ensembles in recent years.

In this beginning-level class, students will learn plucking techniques and basic fingering, posture, tuning and care for the instrument, and basic notation, culminating in the ability to play a few simple songs.

No musical experience necessary. Instruments are provided for in-class instruction and are available to rent at a small fee. [Read More]

Class Schedule
6 sessions (15 hours)
Saturday, January 16 – February 27
(No Class February 13)
8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Tuition: $500 member / $540 non-member
Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $30.00
Maximum Number of Students: 6