Mandarin Chinese Course Expectations

Ms. Xu      Room 332     xuy@wellesleyps.org

Back to School Night Video

 

Office Hours 

Please make an appointment in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts and unnecessary waiting.

• • Before school: Days 1–7, 7:30–8:30 a.m.
  • After school: Monday–Tuesday, 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Peer tutoring is available to students who would benefit from additional one-on-one support with Chinese. Peer tutors are members of the National Chinese Honor Society enrolled in Chinese 3H, 4H, or 5H. They work with their tutees primarily during office hours and under the teacher’s guidance, providing individualized support with class materials, language practice, and effective study strategies.

Study groups are encouraged as a valuable way to learn with classmates. Students can review class materials, practice Chinese, ask questions, explain concepts to one another, and develop effective study habits. The teacher will provide guidance and immediate feedback to support students’ learning.

Chinese Club

I advise the Chinese Club, where student leaders meet after school to plan monthly cultural events and activities. The club provides students with opportunities to engage with Chinese culture, participate in cultural events, and develop greater cross-cultural awareness.  New members are always welcome! New members are always welcome! Students interested in leading the club may reach out for more details.

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Course Description

Mandarin Chinese is the national standard language of the People’s Republic of China. Through a variety of reading and listening materials, writing and speaking tasks, and projects, students will develop the ability to communicate effectively and accurately in a wide range of situations. Chinese history and culture will be introduced as they relate to each lesson. In addition, students will develop computer skills for learning and using Chinese, including the use of Chinese-language programs and digital tools to support their language learning.

Objectives        

Students will develop their ability to speak, read, write, and listen in Chinese at the appropriate level and use a wide range of vocabulary to communicate effectively in the themes and situations studied throughout the year.

Materials & Online Resources 

• A small three-ring binder to keep your course materials organized.
• A notebook or loose-leaf paper for error correction, reading summaries, and compositions.
• Pencils, a computer, headphones, and other materials as instructed.
• Simplified Chinese Pinyin input enabled on your home computer.
• Additional course materials will be available online through Canvas.

Grading 

Students will be graded using the following criteria with modified rubrics.  Grades, based on a point or letter system, will be earned by completing and turning in assignments on time. No late work will be accepted unless it is due to an excused absence. Please remember that World Language term weights are sequential as below.

1. Non-Performance Assessments 10%: all items in this category are stepping stones to having success in the Performance Assessment category. 

• Memorized materials which only requires memorization.
• Completion and quality of homework; Binder checking 
• Use of support services (extra help or peer tutoring) , as recommended by teacher

2. Performance Assessments 90%:

• Three modes of Performance Assessments: Interpretive( listening and reading), Interpersonal (speaking and writing), and Presentational (speaking and writing)
• Application of learning in an actual or simulated setting ( Real-world tasks)
• Use of the Target Language in class

Sequential Term Weights         

Q1: 12%           Q2: 19%         Q3: 26%            Q4: 31%           Final Experience 12%
Seniors             Q1: 14%         Q2: 22%            Q3: 29%           Q4: 35% 
Senior Project  Q1: 27%         Q2: 33%            Q3: 40%

EOY Assessment Policy

1. No early dismissals or canceled blocks. Meaningful engagement for the entire block is required.
2. EOY percentage is 12%. Multiple assignments prior to the final block can count toward this.

End-of-Year Assessment Practices for World Languages: No later than the Friday before April vacation, the themes for the EOY exam will be shared but not the actual prompts. The EOY assessment is in two parts. The Speaking component will be given prior to EOY blocks (6%). The Writing component will be given during the 2-hour EOY block.(6%)

District accommodations (DCAP)Links to an external site. are available to all students, and in the 26-27 school year, WHS is committed to moving this forward with fidelity.

While some accommodations can be offered at the moment, others require advanced notice. 

For example: Extended time on an in-class assessment is a collaborative decision made by the teacher, student, and family to meet individual student needs.  The WHS guideline is up to 25% extra time.  This accommodation relies on proactive student communication prior to the date of the assessment.  The student and teacher must establish how the accommodation will be provided. 

Grading Examples

• • A means you show consistent evidence of leveling up with more advanced language
  • B+  means you thoroughly meet the targeted standard
  • C+ means you are approaching the targeted standard
  • I (incomplete) means you are showing partial ability or incomplete work

C- policy     It’s our department policy that students who earn a D+ or lower for the year-end grade may not continue on to the next year of language study.  unless both of the following requirements are met: a. the student must develop a remediation plan for the summer and has that plan approved by the teacher (a plan typically includes a private tutor).  

Attendance Policy

• Regular attendance is essential for success in this course. Students are expected to be familiar with the school attendance policy outlined in the Student Handbook.
• Tardiness may affect your grade, as homework assignments are turned in or checked at the beginning of class. Please arrive on time and be seated promptly when the class bell rings.
• In the case of an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to find out what was covered in class and make up any missed work within 48 hours of returning to school.
• Make-up work, including missed quizzes and tests, is due within 48 hours of the student’s return to school. If a student has been absent for an extended period, the student will have the same number of days to make up the missed work as the length of the absence. For example, if a student is absent for five days, they will have five school days from the date of their return to complete any make-up work or make up any missed quizzes or tests. If work is not completed within the designated time frame, the student may receive a zero for the missed work.

To make up an excused absence:

✏ Complete all sections of the study guide covered during your absence.

✏ Schedule a meeting with me within 48 hours of your return in which you will discuss what you missed as well as present your completed section of the study guide.  Please be mindful that these makeup sessions are not the same as participating in class discussions! 

✏  Keep in mind that missing more than 4 classes is a serious cause for concern.  In that case, you will be required to attend the office hours consistently and demonstrate your understanding of the materials.  Please be mindful that there are no extra credits and these makeup sessions are not the same as participating in class discussions!  

Appointment Cancellation 

We understand that unexpected academic obligations, work commitments, or illness may occasionally affect your schedule. However, please let the teacher or your tutor know as early as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Appointment times are limited, and timely notice allows the teacher or tutor to offer the time slot to another student.

Please check your schedule carefully before making an appointment and make every effort to attend as scheduled.  Two or more no-shows may affect your priority for future appointments. This helps ensure that appointment times remain available to students who need support. 

Class Expectations: 3R3S

• Responsible, Respectful, Ready

• Communication Skills, Social Skills, Study Skills

True enjoyment and fun come from accomplishment. It will take a while before you enjoy doing something. So please be patient with yourself and give your best effort.  

Coursework & Academic Expectations 

• Homework and written work: Please type or write your homework legibly. Submissions that do not meet the stated requirements may receive reduced credit. Major writing assignments must be typed in 14-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins.
• Homework passes and retakes: Students may use one homework pass per term. Homework passes cannot be carried over to the next term. There are no retakes for performance (non-memorized) assessments.
• Rubrics: Please refer to the World Language rubrics for three-mode assessments.
• Academic integrity: Any form of cheating will not be tolerated. This includes copying, communicating answers, or plagiarizing a written assignment. Both the student who receives assistance and the student who provides it will receive an automatic zero for the assignment. Google Translate and online dictionaries may be used for individual vocabulary words, but should not be used to translate full sentences or paragraphs.

Canvas and School Email

• Homework, quizzes, and major assessments will be announced in class and included in the class notes posted on Canvas. Students are responsible for recording homework assignments in class or contacting a classmate or the teacher if unexpected technology problems prevent access to Canvas.
• Related course materials, including audio files, flashcards, vocabulary indexes, rubrics, grammar references, character packets, and tutorial links, will be posted on Canvas.
• Other important information, including formal letters, announcements, and newsletters, will be sent to students’ school email accounts.

To be successful in this class you must:

• Have a good attitude about learning.  Always make an effort to get better!
• Be organized with your materials.
• Exercise good study skills – constantly review what we do in class not just for tests/quizzes but daily!
• Speak Chinese as much as possible. 
• Tell me when you need help, feel confused, need something repeated, or have any questions. Please take an initiative and make an appointment for extra help or discuss the concerns.  I want to help you understand, improve and reach your full potential! 

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