Purpose and Aims of the Course
The main purpose of the Course is to develop the skills of reading, listening, talking and writing, in order to understand and use Mandarin
The Course offers learners opportunities to develop and extend a wide range of skills. In particular, the Course aims to enable learners to develop the ability to:
- read, listen, talk and write in a modern language
- understand and use a modern language
- develop the language skills of translation
- apply knowledge and understanding of a modern language
The Course contributes towards the development of literacy skills by providing learners with opportunities to read, listen, talk and write in a modern language, and to reflect on how this relates to English.
The foreign language will be used in class as much as possible as the medium of instruction and discussion. Authentic videos and listening materials will be used for all class, group or individual activities. All classes will have the opportunity to work with foreign language assistants. The course involves an intensive study of the structure of the language and therefore involves the regular and thorough learning of grammar.
Regular and systematic revision and consolidation of the language and grammatical structures covered in class is crucial to the learning and acquiring of a Modern Language and is even more so when doing an accelerated course with a language which has a different written script (Chinese characters).
The foreign language will be used in class as much as possible as the medium of instruction and discussion. Authentic videos and listening materials will be used for all class, group or individual activities. All classes will have the opportunity to work with foreign language assistants. The course involves an intensive study of the structure of the language and therefore involves the regular and thorough learning of grammar.
- Ability to read, write, talk and listen in Mandarin.
- Appreciation for the significant contribution Mandarin speakers have made to our world.
- Discuss the importance of new technology e.g. Internet, mobile phones, Social Media.
- Discuss your key employability skills.
- Importance of travel and learning a foreign language.
- Problem solving, planning, writing, team-working and making presentations.
‘The study of Mandarin gives you a valuable insight into a fascinating language and culture which is growing in popularity in Scotland.’
Ross Palmer 6St
Is Mandarin for me?
You will enjoy this subject if:
- You enjoy developing multi-tasking skills.
- You want to understand how language works.
- You are interested in meeting new people and discovering new cultures.
- You like to strengthen your communication and decision making skills.
- Want to develop skills relating to a range of language disciplines.
Influential Mandarin Speakers
- Robert Fortune – Scottish botanist, plant hunter and traveller best known for introducing tea plants from China to India for the East India Company. He arranged for Chinese tea workers to go to India to help develop the tea industry. Many of the Chinese plants in the Botanic gardens in Glasgow and Edinburgh were propagated from plants sent back to UK by Robert Fortune.
- Kevin Rudd – Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd majored in Mandarin at the Australian National University of Canberra. He has delivered speeches in fluent Mandarin and also conducted Q&As in Mandarin.
- Vanessa Branch -The British actor spoke fluent Mandarin during an episode of ‘Entourage’ and in the film ‘Suburban Girl’. Branch also starred in a Chinese feature film called ‘Milk and Fashion’. She was the first non-Asian Hollywood actress to star in a Chinese-speaking lead role.