Chapter 1. Module 1: Orientation

The Orientation Module and associated resource modules provide the linguistic tools needed to begin the study of Chinese, The materials also introduce the teaching procedures used in this course.

The Orientation Module is not a typical course module in several respects. First, it does not have a situational topic of its own, but rather leads into the situational topic of the following module — Biographic Information. Second, it teaches only a little Chinese grammar and vocabulary. Third, two of the associated resource modules (Pronunciation and Romanization, Numbers) are not optional; together with the Orientation Module, they are prerequisite to the rest of the course.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module and the two associated resource modules, the student should:

  1. Distinguish the sounds and tones of Chinese well enough to he able to write the Hànyŭ Pīnyīn romanization for a syllable after hearing the syllable.

  2. Be able to pronounce any combination of sounds found in the words of the Target Lists when given a romanized syllable to read. (Although the entire sound system of Chinese is introduced in the module, the student is responsible for producing only sounds used in the Target Sentences for ORN. Producing the remaining sounds is included in the Objectives for Biographic Information,)

  3. Know the names and locations of five cities and five provinces of China veil enough to point out their locations on a map, and pronounce the names well enough to be understood by a Chinese.

  4. Comprehend the numbers 1 through 99 well enough to write them down when dictated, and be able to say them in Chinese when given English equivalents.

  5. Understand the Chinese system of using personal names, including the use of titles equivalent to "Mr. ,"Mrs. ," "Miss," and "Comrade."

  6. Be able to ask and understand questions about where someone is from.

  7. Be able to ask and understand questions about where someone is.

  8. Be able to give the English equivalents for all the Chinese expressions in the Target Lists.

  9. Be able to say all the Chinese expressions in the Target Lists when cued with English equivalents.

  10. Be able to take part in short Chinese conversations, based on the Target Lists, about how he is, who he is, and where he is from.