LA1C3: Chinese 3

Module code: LA1C3

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mrs Cong Xia Li, email: Congxia.Li@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE LA1C1 OR TAKE LA1C2 (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 26 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is intended for students of any year of study with previous basic knowledge of the Mandarin Chinese language (A2 of the CEFR or equivalent). It is also to equip Chinese heritage students of other dialects with the knowledge of the spoken Mandarin and its simplified written form. The module aims at enabling students to achieve a CEFR B1/B2, a level of proficiency comparable to HSK 3/3+ (Hanyu Shuiping kaoshi).

The module aims at providing students with:

• consolidate their previous knowledge and further their understanding of the language, beginning to acquire some of the more complex grammatical structures and to expand  vocabulary from the immediate personal communication into educational and work-related fields.
• develop the competence in Mandarin Chinese grammar and vocabulary required to communicate at a more independent level
• Increase intercultural competence

Our small, interactive classes are designed to equip students with communicative language skills in an engaging way.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of clear, standard spoken and written Mandarin Chinese on a variety of familiar topics as well as on contemporary issues relating to China or life in China.
2. Express themselves in Mandarin Chinese with reasonable fluency when speaking and writing about increasingly complex subjects in a communicative context (conversation or text type).  
3. Recognise an increasingly wider and more complex range of Mandarin Chinese vocabulary and grammatical structures, and apply these with increased confidence when speaking and writing about familiar and personally relevant subjects.  

Module content

The module will consolidate and develop the language and communicative skills required to engage with topics such as travel, lifestyle, leisure, culture differences, Chinese arts and music; Chinese classic novels and operas; past experience and future plans, film and literature of contemporary China. The students will able to discuss selected topics orally and in writing and to give oral presentations. Students will be able to pronounce Mandarin with increased accuracy and the use of (simplified) characters will be further developed and expanded.  Grammar and vocabulary will be explored in context in an accessible and engaging way, ensuring a solid linguistic foundation.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Our small, interactive classes are designed to equip students with communicative language skills in an engaging way.

The module provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential vocabulary and grammar structures in a communicative context, and is taught as far as possible in the target language. Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as group work and discussions, and include the study of short texts, oral development work and listening comprehension exercises. Learning activities are supported by a variety of digital and printed media.

Support is given and adjustments are made for students with disabilities. However, please note that Languages for All  language modules are communicative in nature and students are required to work in small groups. In addition, students should be aware that spelling, grammar and sentence structure are assessed. In this respect the Languages for All  assessment is exempt from the University’s requirement to take specific learning difficulties into account when marking in almost all cases.

Study hours

At least 60 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In order to consolidate and develop their language learning, students are encouraged to complete regular tasks – in class and outside – on which ongoing feedback is provided. 

Reassessment

Additional costs