Multimedia Chinese Textbook for Intermediate-High and Advanced Low Learners—Chinese from Multiple Perspectives

This project is intended to develop an online textbook by utilizing a collection of video clips organized around an array of topics concerning various aspects of Chinese life--from sociopolitical changes, economic issues, to historical events and cultural traditions. This online project will employ www.quia.com to design and develop rich on-line interactive exercises that will be meaning-centered and form-focused. The target students are intermediate-high and advanced-low non-heritage learners of Chinese, in other words, MIT students from Chinese regular 4 up to Chinese regular 5. When completed, the proposed textbook can be used as a stand-alone audio/video text or as a supplement to any advanced Chinese textbooks that tap on the similar topics. The goal is fourfold: (1). To overcome the lack of a proper textbook for these students; (2) to provide learners with authentic learning materials to enhance their Chinese language skills; (3) to help learners gain an insight into a changing China from various perspectives; and (4) to provide Chinese instructors with powerful resources for their teaching.