The Biographic Information Module provides you with linguistic and cultural skills needed for a simple conversation typical of a first-meeting situation in China. These skills include those needed at the beginning of a conversation (greetings, introductions, and forms of address), in the middle of a conversation (understanding and answering questions about yourself and your immediate family), and at the end of a conversation (leave-taking).
Before starting this module, you must take and pass the ORN Criterion Test. The resource modules Pronunciation and Romanization and Numbers (tapes 1-4) are also prerequisites to the BIO Module.
The Criterion Test will focus largely on this module, but material from Module 1 and associated resource modules may also be included.
Upon successful completion of the module, the student should be able to:
Pronounce correctly any word from the Target Lists of ORN or BIO, properly distinguishing sounds and tones, using the proper stress and neutral tones, and making the necessary tone changes.
Pronounce correctly any sentence from the BIO Target Lists, with proper pauses and intonation, that is, without obscuring the tones with English intonation.
Use polite formulas in asking and answering questions about identity (name), health, age, and other basic information.
Reply to questions with the Chinese equivalents of "yes" and "no"
Ask and answer questions about families, including who the members are, how old they are, and where they are.
Ask and answer questions about a stay in China, including the date of arrival, location-purpose-duration of stay, previous visits, traveling companions, and date of departure.
Ask and answer questions about work or study, identification of occupation, the location, and the duration.
Give the English equivalent for any Chinese sentence in the BIO Target Lists.
Be able to say any Chinese sentence in the BIO Target Lists when cued with its English equivalent.
Take part in a short Chinese conversation, using expressions included in the BIO Target List sentences.