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Chinese Program

MHC Course Catalogue

 Fall 2008 Language Courses

110-01, 110-02 First-Year Chinese I
This course introduces Mandarin Chinese and emphasizes development of oral proficiency as well as gradual acquisition of reading and writing skills. Supplements class work with lab. Satisfies language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement.; 6 credits.
Y. Wang. Mon-Fri 10-10:50am or 1:15-2:05 pm

120-01, 120-02 First-Year Japanese I
Introduces listening, speaking, reading and writing modern Japanese; hiragana, katakana, and approximately 150 Kanji. Supplements class work with audio and video-tapes. Satisfies language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement.; 6 credits.
N. Nemto. Mon-Fri 11-11:50 am or Mon, Wed, Fri 11-11:50 and fourth hour Tues, Thurs 12:20-1:10 pm

130-01 First-Year Arabic I
The curriculum introduces learners to a variety of functional tasks carefully sequenced to help them cope with the real-world communication demands they will face in an Arabic environment. Topics include the Arabic alphabet and elementary vocabulary for everyday use, including courtesy expressions; speaking and listening skills; and basic reading and writing. Satisfies language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement. 4 credits.
M. Jiyad. Mon-Fri 10-10:50 am

212-01, 212-02 Second-Year Chinese I
This course continues elementary Chinese. Emphasizes equally speaking, listening, reading, and writing modern Chinese. Supplements class work with audio- and videotapes and multimedia materials.
Satisfies language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement.  Prereq. Asian Studies 111 or equivalent. 6 credits.
S. Kao. Mon-Fri 9-9:50 am or Mon, Wed Fri 9-9:50 and fourth hour Tues, Thurs 2:40-3:30 pm

222-01 Second-Year Japanese I
This course continues elementary Japanese. Emphasizes equally speaking, listening, reading and writing modern Japanese. Includes approximately 200 kanji. Supplements class work with audio- and videotapes and computer programs.
Meets language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement.  Prereq. Asian 121 or equivalent. 6 credits.
N. Nemoto. Mon-Fri 10-10:50 am

232-01 Second-Year Arabic I
This continues Asian Studies 130-131, study of modern standard Arabic. It covers oral/aural skills related to interactive and task-oriented social situations, including discourse on a number of topics and public announcements. Students read and write short passages and personal notes containing an expanded vocabulary on everyday objects and common verbs and adjectives.
Satisfies language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement.  Prereq. Asian Studies 130 and 131 or permission of instructor. 4 credits.
M. Jiyad. Mon-Fri 10-10:50 am

295, 395 Independent Study
Does not satisfy a distribution requirement. 1 to 8 credits; The department.

310-01, 310-02 Third-Year Chinese I
This course helps students to build both linguistic and communicative competence in Mandarin Chinese through reading, discussing, and writing about authentic texts. Newspapers, essays, and short stories will be the teaching material for this course. An interactive approach will be incorporated into the curriculum to improve students’ conversational skills. The class will be conducted mostly in Chinese and class hours will be supplemented by individual work in the LRC.
Satisfies language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement. Prereq. Asian Studies 213 or equivalent; 4 credits.
S. Kao; the department. Mon, Wed 11-12:15 pm or Tues, Thurs 1:15-2:30 pm

312-01  Fourth-Year Chinese I: Learning Chinese through news media
This course advances students' four communication skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) by studying materials selected from the news media. The teaching materials include news reports on political, social, economic and cultural issues, mainly from mainland China, Taiwan and the US. This course also addresses issues of formal expression, writing styles and terminology in the news media. Meets language requirement. 4 credits.
The department. Mon, Wed 11-12:15 pm

324-01 Third-Year Japanese I
This course helps students attain a higher level of proficiency in modern Japanese through the extended use of the language in practical contexts. The class will be conducted mostly in Japanese.
Satisfies language requirement; does not satisfy a distribution requirement. Prereq. Asian 223s or equivalent; 4 credits.
The department. Mon, Wed, Fri 11-12:15 pm

Fall 2008 Courses Taught in English

261f-01 Hinduism
In this thematic and historical introduction to the major religious tradition of India, Hinduism is explored in its various expressions. The roles of key religious figures, movements, techniques, institutions and concepts are studied in their cultural contexts, and with reference to issues of gender, class and agency. Meets multicultural requirement and Humanities I-B requirement.
4 credits. Cross listed as Religion 261.
I. Peterson. Tues, Thurs 11-12:15pm

295s, 395s Independent Study
Does not satisfy a distribution requirement. 1 to 8 credits; The department

340-01 Love, Gender-Crossing and Women's Supremacy:
A reading of the Story of the Stone
This is a seminar onf the 18th century Chinese masterpiece, The Story of the Stone. Discussions focus on love, gender-crossing, women's supremacy and the paradoxical treatments of these themes in the novel. We explore these themes within the context of the socio-political, philosophical and literary milieus of 18thy century China. We also examine this novel in relation to
Chinese literary tradition and the conventions of pre-modern Chinese vernacular fiction. Meets multicultural requirement and Humanites I-A requirement. 4 credits.
Y. Wang. Wed 1:15-4:05 pm

5-College CourseASLC 32 Classical Literature of India
An introduction to the rich classical literature and secular literary culture of ancient India, through readings in translation, mainly from the Sanskrit, but also from the Prakrit, Pali and Tamil languages. We will study major works in the principal genres of classical Indian Kavya courtly literature from the beginnings to the 11th century, paying attention to issues of genre, to themes and contexts drawn from courtly culture and ancient Indian civilization (poetic language, kingship, nature, gender), to literary theory and criticism, and to comparative perspectives.
Meets Mondays from 2-5 pm at Amherst College. Limited to 20 students. Open to sophmores, juniors and seniors. Instructor permission needed. Email ipeterson@mtholyoke.edu. Equivalent to MHC 300-level course.

Fall 2008 Extra-Departmental Courses Which May Be Counted Toward the Asian Studies Major/Minor