Chinese Upper Level

Year at a Glance

Theme 1: Social Issues

Civic Responsibility and Engagement

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Elicit an exchange and discussion on participation in community activities.
  • Maintain a discussion related to topics such as education, travel, and involvement in today's society.
  • Discuss topics related to adulthood.
  • Debate what makes one a responsible citizen.
  • Discuss personal rights and responsibilities of young adults.
  • Discuss a citizen's responsibility to vote and be informed politically.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Understand written and oral materials on the role of the young adult in his or her community.
  • Understand spoken or written information given by community organizations, schools and the media.
  • Comprehend written and oral materials on young adults' involvement in politics.
  • Comprehend literature pertaining to one's civic responsibility to be informed and aware of issues such as politics, the environment, and social issues.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Communicate oral and written information pertaining to community involvement.
  • Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on civic responsibilities upon reaching adulthood.
  • Produce and present original presentations highlighting one's community responsibility and civic rights.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Compare and contrast young adults' civic responsibilities in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Compare and contrast community structures and civic involvement in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various school subjects such as civics, government, and social sciences.
  • Examine the assimilation process that a person from a Chinese-speaking country undergoes upon arrival in his or her new environment in the U.S.
  • Compare and contrast civic responsibilities of a young adult in the U.S. and Chinese-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast the U.S. government to governments in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Compare policies and practices regarding voting and civic and personal responsibilities in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Compare and contrast business transactions in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Compare and contrast linguistic conventions in English and Chinese when discussing an individual's personal and civic responsibilities.

Communication Across Communities

  • Investigate voting practices and civic responsibilities in Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to community involvement and civic responsibility
  • Expressions of preference, agreement and disagreement
  • Use of the conditional

 

Diversity, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Maintain a discussion related to diversity.
  • Discuss and/or debate prejudice and discrimination.
  • Express and explain reactions to prejudice and discrimination.
  • Express opinions and react to issues concerning human rights.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Comprehend and analyze written and oral materials on diversity and discrimination.
  • Read and comprehend materials on prejudice in all societies.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Produce oral and written reports on prejudice and discrimination throughout history.
  • Produce an activity showing prejudice and discrimination and discuss possible solutions.
  • Produce an oral or written presentation reflecting current trends and/or attitudes in society related to diversity.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Explore traditional attitudes when reacting to diversity and discrimination in the U.S. as well as in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Explore bias in reporting human rights issues.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include humanities, social sciences, history and government.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries towards discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources in Chinese to broaden understanding of prejudice and discrimination.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to political and social systems
  • Vocabulary related to geography and contemporary issues
  • Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

 

Historical and Present Conflict

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Discuss past and present conflicts including causes, resolutions, and impact on the world (e.g. World War 1, WWII, war in Iraq, etc.).

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Understand current and historical texts relating to world conflict.
  • Understand spoken presentations about world conflict, including news broadcasts, speeches and interviews.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Express differing points of view and opinions about world conflict.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Identify the sources of conflict within Chinese-speaking cultures, such as language, religion, tradition, colonialism, etc.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Relate knowledge of world conflict from social studies classes to knowledge gained in Chinese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare prevailing opinions in the United States regarding world conflicts with those in Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate information about world conflict in Chinese-language resources.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to diplomacy, geography, and nationality
  • Vocabulary related to opinions

 

Crime and Justice

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Maintain a discussion related to a crime or mystery story.
  • Discuss the judicial system in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Express and explain reactions to crime and the judicial system.
  • Debate criminal cases.
  • Express opinions about the effectiveness of various laws.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Identify relevant information or legal issues when listening to newscasts.
  • Identify pertinent evidence when reading mystery stories.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Write and present a report on the judicial system in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Produce oral and/or written book report in Chinese on a mystery.
  • Produce and present an original mystery.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Explore attitudes when reacting to today's criminal justice system in the U.S. as well as in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include social sciences, literature, biology and government.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries towards the criminal justice system.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources in Chinese to broaden understanding of the criminal justice system in Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to political systems
  • Vocabulary related to legal systems
  • Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

Theme 2: Globalization and Communication

Current Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Debate issues concerning current events.
  • Express and exchange reactions to current events.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Identify pertinent information when listening to newscasts or reading selections.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Produce oral and written reports and articles on current events.
  • Develop and explain opinions and reactions to current news events.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Explore traditional attitudes when reacting to current events.
  • Explore differences in reporting current events.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include social sciences, history, government and science.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and Chinese-speaking countries towards world events.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources in Chinese to broaden understanding of current events.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to political systems
  • Vocabulary related to geography and contemporary issues
  • Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

 

Politics

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Participate in sustained conversation and/or debate about past and present political events.
  • Debate merits of political candidates.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Read newspaper and magazine articles related to political events.
  • Comprehend news broadcasts about political matters.
  • Comprehend written and oral materials on elections.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Produce spoken or written presentations on varied political views.
  • Give a detailed summary and/or critique of an article or news broadcast about politics.
  • Produce spoken and/or written presentations on the various political parties in Chinese-speaking countries.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Examine the influence of history on the political systems of Chinese-speaking countries to include monarchies, democracies, dictatorships, etc.
  • Explore the influence different political systems have had on cultural aspects of Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Relate knowledge of politics gained in government or social studies classes to information learned in Chinese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare the political systems in the U.S. and Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Compare the world view of the U.S. to world views of Chinese-speaking countries (international law, conflicts, economic issues, etc.).

Communication Across Communities

  • Access information on the Internet about political issues and events in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Investigate the various voting policies in Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to the legal system
  • Vocabulary related to rights and responsibilities
  • Vocabulary related to government, political parties, and elections
  • Vocabulary related to economic issues
  • Expressions used in negotiations

 

Technology

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Discuss the evolution of technology.
  • Discuss the applications of technology in contemporary society.
  • Describe how technology has influenced our society.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Comprehend oral and written information about the use of technology throughout history.
  • Explore and understand the history of evolution of technology in today's society.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Describe how technology has created as well as solved problems in our society.
  • Give a detailed summary and/or critique of an article or news broadcast about technology.
  • Produce spoken or written presentations supporting the use of technology in our community.
  • Use various technological techniques in a presentation to examine the use of technology in our community.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Discuss attitudes towards technology in education and the workplace.
  • Examine and discuss how technology has changed social interactions in today's society.
  • Compare and contrast historical achievements without the use of modern technology.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Discuss how technology is used in other disciplines, such as math, science, the humanities and vocational studies.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Increase awareness of the use of technology in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Identify cognates and other vocabulary related to technology.

Communication Across Communities

  • Access information on the Internet about the evolution of technology.
  • Use technology in the production of commercials, plays, recordings, menus, etc.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to technology

 

The Media

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Maintain a discussion related to the media.
  • Discuss the media's influence on current events.
  • Discuss the impact of the media's presentation of current events.
  • Analyze and discuss presentational techniques of the media.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Identify pertinent information when listening to newscasts or reading selections from print news sources or the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Produce an oral or written report on the positive and/or negative influence of the media.
  • Develop and explain opinions and reactions to the media.
  • Produce spoken and/or written presentations on the variety of ways in which the media can be used to slant the news.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Explore authentic media sources and discuss cultural attitudes when reacting to the media.
  • Explore differences in media reporting.
  • Explore how media presentations reflect cultural attitudes.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Identify and/or demonstrate a connection to various school subjects to include psychology, history, humanities, government and biology.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast reporting techniques of the American media with those of Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources in Chinese to broaden understanding of the media.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to the media, past and present
  • Vocabulary related to contemporary issues
  • Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

Theme 3: Culture

Visual and Performing Arts

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Express and elicit opinions pertaining to theatre, music, dance, the visual arts, and films.
  • Express and elicit opinions concerning Chinese-speaking artists and their work.
  • Analyze information pertaining to the arts.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Comprehend the basic themes and historical and cultural contexts of Chinese works of art.
  • Explore and understand the history and evolution of various forms of Chinese artistic expression.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Produce and explain opinions and reactions to visual and performing arts from various time periods.
  • Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on people in the arts.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Discuss how a particular work of art reflects the culture of a specific Chinese-speaking country.
  • Explore how music, art, theatre, dance, and films are influenced by historical and political events.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various subjects to include music, art, and the humanities.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and discuss different approaches to artistic productions observed in Chinese-speaking countries and in the U.S.

Communication Across Communities

  • Compare popular films, stories and actors in Chinese-speaking countries and the U.S.
  • Study and compare the value placed on the arts in Chinese-speaking countries versus the U.S.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to the visual and performing arts

 

Historical Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Maintain a discussion pertaining to major political events in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Discuss the cause and effect that wars have had on Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Discuss and analyze the various leaders in the history of Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Discuss the success and failures of a variety of past regimes in Chinese-speaking countries.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Identify and analyze pertinent information when reading materials pertaining to world history.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on historical events in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Perform an oral or written activity related to political leaders of Chinese-speaking countries.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Examine racial and class differences within Chinese-speaking societies.
  • Investigate ideological differences of China, past and present.
  • Explore current attitudes among the youth in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various school subjects including history, government, and political science.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast social structures, economies, and political regimes of various Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Identify political or economic patterns in China.
  • Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries towards historical events.
  • Explore the effects of colonialism on Chinese vocabulary.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources in Chinese to broaden understanding of the various political systems and historical events of Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to historical events and politics
  • Expression of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

 

Literature

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Maintain a discussion pertaining to literature in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Discuss and critique major authors of Chinese-speaking countries and their works.
  • Discuss and analyze the various literary genres in literature from Chinese-speaking countries.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Identify and analyze pertinent information when reading literature.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on writers from various time periods.
  • Recite poetry from Chinese-speaking writers.
  • Perform a play written by a Chinese-speaking author.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Explore how literature is influenced by historical and political events.
  • Analyze how literature reflects cultural attitudes of Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various school subjects including the humanities and social sciences.
  • Analyze how literature reflects cultural attitudes of Chinese-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries towards literature.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources to deepen understanding of Chinese literature from Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Literary terminology
  • Vocabulary related to historical events

Theme 4: Nature and Ecology

Environmental Issues and Problems

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Brainstorm different environmental issues and discuss ecological concerns.
  • Identify environmental issues.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Comprehend informational materials pertaining to environmental issues.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Present problems and propose solutions to environmental issues.
  • Produce and present well-organized spoken or written presentations on environmental issues and problems.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Compare and contrast environmental issues in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Relate environmental information gained in Chinese class to information learned in other classes such as science and the humanities.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast the ecological laws of the U.S. with those of Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Identify cognates that relate to environmental concerns and practices of various Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

  • Investigate environmental concerns and practices of various Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Environmental and ecological vocabulary
  • Subjunctive mood
  • Expressions related to giving opinions

 

Wildlife Conservation

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Participate in a sustained exchange about wildlife, its impact on the environment, and issues concerning endangered species.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Understand information on wildlife conservation from a variety of sources, such as TV, news, magazines, newspapers and the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Describe situations in a Chinese-speaking country where wildlife conservation is currently being debated, giving details on specific fauna or wildlife, its habitat, and its importance to the environment.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Examine the importance of protecting endangered species as part of the traditions and culture of a particular Chinese-speaking country.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Share information learned about wildlife conservation in another class (e.g. biology).

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and share information from Chinese sources on endangered species.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to wildlife conservation
  • Expressions used in formulating hypotheses
  • Terms and expressions used in oral debates or persuasive essays

Theme 5: Scientific and Creative Advancements

Health Issues and Disease Prevention

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Participate in a sustained conversation about health issues such as nutrition, exercise, and maintaining good health.
  • Analyze information pertaining to science and medicine.
  • Discuss the major health in our society.
  • Discuss diseases of the last two decades (e.g. AIDS, Monkey Pox, SARS).
  • Explain causes and prevention of a variety of diseases.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Understand spoken and written information on health issues and disease prevention from a variety of sources such as short stories, TV, newspapers, magazines and the Internet.
  • Understand and analyze current research on a variety of diseases.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Describe problems related to substance abuse, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and poor sleeping habits.
  • Explain causes and prevention of a variety of diseases.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Explore attitudes towards socialized medicine, comparing and contrasting the health care programs in Chinese-speaking countries and the U.S.
  • Examine health issues and diseases as related to the lifestyles of Chinese-speaking people.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Use knowledge of disease prevention and nutrition acquired in health classes.
  • Use information gained in social studies classes to discuss the political implications of disease and health issues in Chinese-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries towards health issues.
  • Explore the emphasis on sports and exercise in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Compare and contrast eating habits in Chinese-speaking countries and in the U.S.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources to broaden understanding of scientific contributions to the field of disease prevention.
  • Locate and use community resources and/or the Internet to broaden understanding of health-related issues and disease prevention.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to scientific and medical technology
  • Expressions of conviction, doubt, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
  • Use of the subjunctive mood and passive voice

 

Scientists and Mathematicians

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

  • Maintain a discussion pertaining to scientists and mathematicians.
  • Discuss inventions in science.
  • Discuss scientific contributions from Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Discuss or debate the application of scientific research in medicine.
  • Analyze information pertaining to science and medicine.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

  • Identify and analyze scientific research and inventions.
  • Identify diseases, illnesses, and cures in oral and written materials.

Oral and Written Presentation

  • Present well-organized spoken and written presentations on scientists, mathematicians, and medicine.
  • Research and report on advancements in medicine to include curable and incurable diseases.
  • Perform an activity about a scientist or mathematician from a Chinese-speaking country.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

  • Explore attitudes when reacting to scientific discoveries.
  • Explore attitudes towards socialized medicine, comparing and contrasting the health care programs in Chinese-speaking countries and the U.S.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

  • Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include science, mathematicians, and social sciences.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

  • Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries towards science and mathematics.
  • Explore the emphasis on mathematics and science in schools in Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

  • Locate and use authentic resources to broaden understanding of scientific and mathematical contributions.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

  • Vocabulary related to scientific and mathematical terminology
  • Expressions of conviction, doubt, opinions, and agreement or disagreement