Chinese for Australia

Chinese for Australia Intermediate consists of a series of thematically-based interactive exercises involving reading and listening comprehension and conversation practice. A small number of web tasks is provided, enabling learners to visit authentic language environments where they can utilise and extend their language skills and cultural understanding. [ more information ]

Index

More Information

• Speaking Modules
• Reading Modules
• Listening Modules

Learning Strategies

• Speaking
• Reading
• Listening

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Speaking Modules

Sorry no information available at this time.

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Reading Modules

The reading passages in these modules, each of which is based around a specific theme, are all set in a contemporary Australian context. Successive modules assume a familiarity with the vocabulary and grammatical structures contained in Practical Chinese Reader II as follows:

Detailed notes are provided for any additional vocabulary.

The reading passages are designed to develop your wider reading comprehension ability and are accompanied by true/false, multiple choice and short answer comprehension questions. An audio version of each reading passage is also provided.

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Listening Modules

These modules, each of which is based around a specific theme, are designed to improve your listening comprehension ability and assumes a familiarity with the vocabulary and structures contained in Xin Hanyu jiaocheng as follows:

Each module comprises: Words and Expressions and two listening tasks. Task 1 includes a dialogue with accompanying listening comprehension questions. Task 2 is an extension exercise based on the material contained in the module.

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Learning Strategies

Speaking

Sorry no information available at this time.

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Reading

Your aim in reading each passage should be to gain a general understanding of its content in order to answer a number of questions. Bearing this in mind, it is not necessary for you to understand every word you read: you will not be required to translate the passage into English or to write any new characters from memory. Before reading the passage it would be a good idea to look through the questions in order to get an idea of what information you should focus on as you read. Note that each category of question covers the whole span of the passage (the first true/false question relates to the beginning of the passage, the last true/false question relates to the end of the passage, and likewise with the multiple choice and short answer questions). You should find the audio version of the passage helpful in making sense of word groupings in the passage and in recalling characters previously learnt which may have slipped your mind. As the texts are based on Practical Chinese Reader II, it would be useful to have this text available as a reference while you are reading. You can of course click on any new unfamiliar vocabulary items to ascertain their meaning.

Initially you will probably feel that you are being confronted with a large amount of new vocabulary, but with practice you will develop the ability to distinguish between what is important to answer the questions and what is of secondary importance. When reading English you do not stop whenever you come to an unfamiliar word, because you have developed this very ability to judge which words are essential to the meaning of a sentence. In tackling these Chinese passages, if you try to memorise every new word, your reading will be painfully slow. Of course there is nothing to stop you noting down any vocabulary items that you feel may be particularly useful or relevant to you personally.

Happy reading!

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Listening

Read the English instructions carefully before you begin each listening task. The background information provided sets the scene for each listening conversation and prepares you for what you are about to hear.

Try to actively guess what is being said. Remember, you don't need to know every word to understand the conversation. A good strategy is to use what you already know to work out the bits you don't quite understand. Also remember: there is no need to panic when you don't understand! Instead, give yourself a pat on the shoulder for how much you do understand and trust you will understand a bit more each time you listen.

Try to rely on your listening rather than on reading to do the tasks required.

For the extension task, remember there is often more than one way to complete the conversation.

One last thing: it might be helpful if you listen with a smile on your face!