Chinese I and Mediation
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Besides language classes, the course includes a module on Chinese culture focused on the relation between writing system and traditional culture. The connection between language classes and culture classes is motivated by the fact that the Chinese concept of "wen" (written sign) is a constitutive element of the concepts of "civilisation" (wenming), "culture" (wenhua) and "literature" (wenxue), as well as of the contrast between civil knowledge (wen) and military art (wu) characterising the millennial Confucian society. Students are expected to assimilate the cultural foundations of Ancient China, foundations that are crucial to understand the importance and features of the linguistic heritage and to take informed actions in the field of intercultural relations in the Chinese context.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will have acquired the ability to read and translate texts from the textbook, as well as to have conversations in daily and routine situations, such as: introducing themselves, family and friends; saying hello/goodbye and thank you; talking about the weather and seasons; describing where they live; presenting study programmes; going shopping; etc. Students will be able to write 400 characters to form more than 400 words.
Moreover, students will have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to study relevant aspects of the Chinese traditional culture, with reference to Chinese history, literature and history of thought.
Moreover, students will have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to study relevant aspects of the Chinese traditional culture, with reference to Chinese history, literature and history of thought.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Unit 1
Introduction to the Chinese language; writing, phonetics and transcription system start-up; grammatical and syntactic structure of the simple sentence.
References: units 1-6 of the Chinese language textbook - elementary course.
Unit 2
Verbal Predicates; introduction to verbal complements; prepositional phrases; final modal particle indicating the perfective action or the change of state; action in progress.
References: units 7-9 and 11-14 of the Chinese Language - Elementary Course texbook.
Unit 3
Introduction to writing and using the Chinese dictionary:
Writing simple and complex characters; recognition of the radicals in order to consult the Chinese-Italian dictionary.
Unit 4
The module will examine the main sources for the study of Chinese traditional culture. It will particularly focus on the development of Chinese writing system and of the most important schools of though.
Introduction to the Chinese language; writing, phonetics and transcription system start-up; grammatical and syntactic structure of the simple sentence.
References: units 1-6 of the Chinese language textbook - elementary course.
Unit 2
Verbal Predicates; introduction to verbal complements; prepositional phrases; final modal particle indicating the perfective action or the change of state; action in progress.
References: units 7-9 and 11-14 of the Chinese Language - Elementary Course texbook.
Unit 3
Introduction to writing and using the Chinese dictionary:
Writing simple and complex characters; recognition of the radicals in order to consult the Chinese-Italian dictionary.
Unit 4
The module will examine the main sources for the study of Chinese traditional culture. It will particularly focus on the development of Chinese writing system and of the most important schools of though.
Prerequisites for admission
No previous Chinese language knowledge is required.
Teaching methods
The course will be taught by three teachers: two of them will work on vocabulary, grammar and syntactic rules, and one on Chinese culture.
Teaching Resources
Adopted coursebook
BULFONI C. - SUN X., Lingua cinese - Corso elementare, Edizioni Unicopli, Milano, 2019
ZHANG Y. - BULFONI C., Tingting, dudu, xiexie, Edizioni Unicopli, Milano, 2014
JIN Z. - MOTTURA B., Caratteri cinesi. Esercizi di scrittura, Edizioni Unicopli, Milano, 2016
LAVAGNINO A.L. - POZZI S., Cultura cinese, Carocci, Roma, 2013
Suggested readings
ABBIATI M., Guida alla lingua cinese, Carocci, Roma, 2008
ALLETON V., La scrittura cinese, Astrolabio, Roma, 2006, oppure:
ALLETON V., La sfida della scrittura cinese, Carocci, Roma, 2012
Dictionaries
Dizionario compatto italiano-cinese e cinese-italiano e conversazioni, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2017
BULFONI C. - SUN X., Lingua cinese - Corso elementare, Edizioni Unicopli, Milano, 2019
ZHANG Y. - BULFONI C., Tingting, dudu, xiexie, Edizioni Unicopli, Milano, 2014
JIN Z. - MOTTURA B., Caratteri cinesi. Esercizi di scrittura, Edizioni Unicopli, Milano, 2016
LAVAGNINO A.L. - POZZI S., Cultura cinese, Carocci, Roma, 2013
Suggested readings
ABBIATI M., Guida alla lingua cinese, Carocci, Roma, 2008
ALLETON V., La scrittura cinese, Astrolabio, Roma, 2006, oppure:
ALLETON V., La sfida della scrittura cinese, Carocci, Roma, 2012
Dictionaries
Dizionario compatto italiano-cinese e cinese-italiano e conversazioni, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2017
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists in two parts: one written test and an oral exam.
The written test is focussed on the language skills. The oral consists in questions on the language units by the Italian and the Chinese teachers, and in questions on the Chinese culture unit.
Both the first semester partial exam and the written exam results will be valid for all the sessions of the 2025-2026 academic year.
The written test is focussed on the language skills. The oral consists in questions on the language units by the Italian and the Chinese teachers, and in questions on the Chinese culture unit.
Both the first semester partial exam and the written exam results will be valid for all the sessions of the 2025-2026 academic year.
L-OR/21 - CHINESE AND SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 12
Lessons: 80 hours
Professors:
Cella Gloria, Mottura Bettina Marta Rosa
Professor(s)