Social Perspective : An Intermediate-advanced Chinese Course

社会视角 Social Perspective is a course set over one academic year for intermediate learners of Chinese. In two volumes, it focuses on developing learners’ language competency to a high advanced plus/advanced level (ACTFL/CEFR B2-C1) through exploring social issues in contemporary China.

The textbook draws upon the discussion of a wide range of current social issues in China to provide students with a real-life background to increase their debating and written skills. Volume I explores five topics: gender equality, e-commerce, Internet culture, food and health, and environmental protection. The textbook is written in fluent, accurate and high-quality Chinese language which is conveniently broken down to highlight all the important language elements (expressions, vocabulary, phrases and grammar). This course will equip students with language production capability at an advanced level and prepare students for the transition from academic study to employment.

Each lesson includes a wide range of language drills and exercises designed to quickly improve learners’ oral expression and conceptual understanding through group discussions, essays, presentations, bidirectional translation and critical reflection. Online resources such as audio recordings, dictation exercises and supplementary reading material are also included.

Written by a team of highly experienced teachers, 社会视角 Social Perspective is the ideal course to progress intermediate students to an advanced level. Academics and researchers with an interest in Chinese contemporary social issues will also find this a useful tool for further language study.

Yi Ning is an associate professor and has nearly 30 years of teaching experience in Chinese language at the University of Leeds. She was in charge of Chinese teaching in East Asian Studies for more than 15 years until her retirement in 2017.

Wei Shao is a lecturer and BA Chinese Programme Director at Cardiff University. He has been an associate lecturer at the Open University since 2009 and has taught in the BA Chinese programmes at the Universities of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield, and at several British private and public secondary schools.

Zhengrong Yang is a qualified lecturer of Chinese Language and Culture with nine years’ experience and is currently a Tutor of Chinese Language and Culture at the University of Leeds.

Esther Tyldesley has a BA in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MA in Applied Translation Studies (Chinese) from Leeds. She is a teaching fellow in Chinese and Translation at the University of Edinburgh.