AP Chinese-中文大学预科

Thursday, August 31, 2006

AP Chinese Syllabus Discussion

After I posted my syllabus online, some teachers sent me questions and comments. I appreciate very much. Here are some questions with "---", and answers follow afterwards.
---I am interested to chat with you how you plan to integrate the 'language' part into these units?
My plan is to integrate language components into the cultural sections. All the material selected will have a language focus. Through the practices of language components, students understand better the cultural themes. I believe that, in this way, language and cultural components can be naturally integrated. Students will not feel bored in just practicing the language part. Of course, it is easy to say.

---Do you start out using a fixed text book, and enhence it with the suggested cultural units? Or is the suggested syllabus the sole content of the class? If latter, I suspect you would devise a complete set of classroom curriculum including language texts and grammar rules?
I don't have one fixed text book for the moment. I will try to merge them together with an emphasis of a language component. This syllabus draft will be definitely revised.
--On the other hand, your AP students might be at a level so advanced that is beyond the most advanced text books available?! Could it be why you focus your AP class on the 'culture' but not the 'language''?
Yes and no. I teach heritage students. Most of them graduated from junior high schools, and some from high schools in Taiwan, Hongkong, and China. It is not easy for me to select a good textbook for them. I am confident that my students will be able to handle the language part quite well but they need to explore more about the Chinese culture. From the workshops and training I received, I realized that most questions or texts in the AP Exam will contain very specific cultural components.

-- If there is no existing publication that can support your syllabus, the burden, then, lies in you to research, construct, compile and integrate all your findings before you custom fit them into your curriculum.
Yes. Your are absolutely correct. However, since I have been teaching Chinese language and culture for over 14 years, I accumulate much resources and material. Furthermore, the Internet provides immense, and up-to-date resources to us. I will let students to explore and create projects appropriate to the units. Student-centered learning is a hot topic now. They are the ones playing the key roles in this course. They will research, construct, compile and integrate all the findings from their learning. With this option, students don't really have any limits to learn the topic of each unit. The only issue is how we can better organize what we can find online in a coherent and productive way. Hopefully, at the end of semester, students can produce some nice material and publications for the future AP course. Of course, next AP class always has a job to replenish and update the material, which is also how language and culture evolve.

I know that my draft is very primitive. I appreciate that you noticed my courage. For that, I would like to thank you again. I need comments like yours to revise my syllabus. Of course, if I can offer some ideas to other teachers, I will feel very happy to do so.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

中文输入与英文版的win xp /win 2000的中文显示

转载: http://teachchinese.blogspot.com/2005/09/win-xp-win-2000.html

一、微软在Windows XP操作系统中不但提供了简、繁体中文字库,而且提供了相应的输入法支持。如果你要启用英文版Windows XP操作系统对中文的支持,可参考如下的方式设置(以英文版Windows XP Professional为例,Windows XP Home Edition的设置方法与此类似)。

1. 打开“控制面板”,双击“Regional and Language Options”图标,打开区域和语言设置窗口;

2. 在区域和语言设置窗口中,选择“Language”选项卡,将“Install Files for East Asian Languages” 选项打勾;

3. 系统提示需要约230MB的空间,请选择确定并根据提示操作,成功后返回到“Regional Options” 页中;

4. 在“Regional Options”选项卡中的“Standards and Formats”下拉框中选择“Chinese (PRC)”使用中文格式,“Location”下拉框中选择“China”,表示当前所属区域为中国;

5. 在“Language”选项卡中单击“Details”按钮,在“Settings”中的“Default input language”下拉框中选择“Chinese (PRC)-Chinese(Simplified)-US Keyboard”,并且在“Install Serivces”中点击“Add”按钮即可添加中文输入法。

二、人比较喜欢使用英文版的windows 2000/XP操作系统,所以对在英文版操作系统正确 显示、使用简体中文作了点研究。以英文版windows2000为例,具体操作过程如下:

Start->Settings->Control Panel->Regional Options->General,在Your Locale (Location)下拉菜单中选中Chinese(PRC)。
在Language settings for the system中选中Simplified Chinese;
单击Set default...,在下拉菜单中选中Chinese(PRC),点击OK;
插入英文版windows2000光盘,单击OK,系统重启即可;
这样,所有的关于简体中文的东东就都能正常运行了。

三、由于某些原因,你只能选择英文版的Windows XP, 比如工作需要,或爱机只带了英文版操作系统,亦或你想强化你的E文等等,而又在英文的平台上被困于简体中文显示,输入方面的问题,也许下面这些经验能帮助你解决问题。^_^

1.如果是英文版Windows XP Professional, 建议安装Chinese MUI,可以一劳永逸地解决许多中文方面的问题,如中文文件名支持,中文输入法支持,中文软件界面支持等。可以到微软的官方网站下载Chinese MUI:
a. 如果未安装service pack 1:
××××××××
b. 如果已安装service pack 1:
××××××××
注:在第三方网站上提供语言包下载,或提供该链接都是不允许的,因此,如需要使用语言包,请与访问微软的这个页面,找到下载链接及各种详细的说明:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/downloads/list/winxpembedded.asp

下面讨论的都是不安装Chinese MUI时比如英文版Windows XP Home出现的问题及解决方法。

2.中文显示问题,(如中文文件名,中文内容等) 的解决。
在 Start -> Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options -> Languages 中把 "Install files for East Asian languages"选项打上钩(如下图)。确定后系统会开始安装。必须确保Windows XP的安装光盘在光驱里,或手动指定Windows原始安装文件的I386目录。安装完后重启,系统可以正常显示简体中文,繁体中文,日文,韩文等东亚语 言。

3.中文软件界面乱码问题解决。
有些中文软件的界面会显示为乱码,即使你已经如2安装了东亚语言支持。其原因为这些中文软件的界面文字采用了non-Unicode编码,而英文版 Windows XP默认对于这样的编码是采用英文显示。你可以在Start -> Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options -> Advanced 中在"Language for non-unicode programs"下拉菜单中选择"Chinese PRC"。即可解决。

4.中文输入法安装。
英文版Windows XP自带了几种中文输入法。如微软拼音3.0, 全拼,双拼,郑码。这样安装:Start -> Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options -> Language 中点""Details"按钮,会弹出"Text Service and Input Languages"页面。在Settings中点"Add"按钮。选择"Input language" 为Chinese PRC。然后在"keyboard layout/IME"选择以 Chinese (Simplified)开头的几个即是简体中文输入法。
Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0: 微软拼音3.0
Chinese (Simplified) - NeiMa: 内码输入法
Chinese (Simplified) - QuanPin: 全拼输入法
Chinese (Simplified) - ShuangPin: 双拼输入法
Chinese (Simplified) - ZhengMa: 郑码输入法

AP Chinese Syllabus (Draft)

AP Chinese Language and Culture (2006-2007)

Syllabus Outline

Semester One:
Unit one: Language and People/Chinese Language Histroy and Dialects
Unit two: Geography and History/Chinese Character and Written Language
Unit three: Festivals and Holidays/Words and Expressions
Unit four: Diet and Health/Grammar
Unit five: Life Style and Costume/Grammar
Semester Two:
Unit Six: Traditional Arts and Folk Arts/Grammar
Unit Seven: Arts and Crafts/Grammar
Unit Eight: Literature (novel and poetry)/ 修辞
Unit Nine: Music and Songs/修辞
Unit ten: Philosophy and Religions/修辞

Semester One
Unit one: Language and People /Chinese Character and Dialects (September, 2006)
1. Nationalities
2. Language, characters
3. Ethnic regional diversity and linguistic variations (dialects)
4. Schools and community
5. Current affairs
Language focus: Chinese Language History and Dialects
Technology:
• Blogging: setup personal blogs
Web Design: Introduction to Macromedia Dreamweaver (web design tool)
Assignments & quiz

Unit two: Geography and History (October, 2006)
1. Geography/regions
2. History
3. Travel
4. Transportation
Language focus: Chinese Character and Written Language
Technology:
• Internet and search (wikipedia)
• Podcasting
• Web Design: Dreamweaver
Assignments & quiz
Exam One

Unit three: Festivals and holidays (November, 2006)
1. Major festivals (Spring festival, Moon festival, Memorial Day,
2. National holidays: National Day, May 1st, Women’s Day, Children’s Day….
3. Weddings and other events
Language focus: Words and Expressions
Technology:
• Movie Maker
• Digital Photography (Photoshop)
Assignments & quiz

Unit four: Diet and Health (December, 2006)
• Food
• Diet (tea)
• Health
• Sports
Language focus: Grammar
Technology:
• Flash animation
• Web Design: Dreamweaver
Assignments & quiz Exam two

Unit five: Life Style and Costume (January, 2007)
1. Traditional styles
2. Fashion
3. Influence of globalization
Language focus: Grammar
Technology:
• MSN group discussion
• Videotaping and editing (Movie Maker)
Project Presentation: Web design, video, poster
Assignments & quiz Semester Exam

Semester Two:
Unit Six: Traditional Arts and Folk Arts (February, 2007)
• Calligraphy,
• Painting,
• Opera
Language focus: Grammar
Technology:
• Online publishing
• Digital photography
Assignments & quiz

Unit Seven: Arts and Crafts (March, 2007)
• Kites,
• Paper cuts
• Architecture, gardening
Language focus: Grammar
Technology:
• Blogging
• Digital photography
Assignments & quiz Exam One

Unit Eight: Literature (April, 2007)
• Novels
• Poetry
• Play
Language focus: 修辞
Technology:
• Wikipedia
• Podcasting
Assignments & quiz

Unit Nine: Music and Songs (May, 2007)
• Chinese classic music
• Music instruments
• Popular songs and music
Language focus: 修辞
Technology:
• Movie Maker
• Flash/animation
Assignments & quiz Exam Two


Unit Ten: Philosophy and Religions (June, 2007)
• Confucius
• Taoism
• Buddhism
• Other religions
Language focus: 修辞
Technology:
• Web project
• MSN group online discussion
Project Presentation: Web, Books, research paper, video, etc
Assignments & quiz Semester Exam

Technology:
It is a very important component of this course. Students will learn various tools and techniques in using the Internet, software/programs as well as laptop computers, pocket PC, iPod, and other devices during this course. They are required to produce presentation projects with assigned or selected themes. Their final projects will be published online or through different media. A class showcase will be set up at the end of each semester.

Parent/Community involvement:
Student learning should not be limited to themselves. Their learning should extend to outside of the classroom, beyond any physical boundaries, to their home, to their community, with their friends, and relatives, parents in U.S. as well as in China or any other places. During this course, students will interact with these people, visit local Chinese institutions and cultural centers to broaden their learning experience and become a life long learner. In fact, language and culture are the essence of their life and community.

Resources:
The Internet provides immense resources for teaching and learning. We will use as much online resources as we can for our classroom discussion, group activities, projects, etc. Of course, we are not limited to the online materials. We will also use books, magazines, newspapers, and any other useful sources. Students are required to collect materials for the course. Student projects can also be used for this course as resources. Hopefully we will have our own classroom library while we are working on this course. Here is a brief list of what I will be using:
1. World Journal (Local Chinese newspaper)
2. http://www.china.com/
3. http://yahoo.com.cn/
4. http://baidu.com/ (search engine)
5. http://zh.wikipedia.com/
6. 胡裕树主编《现代汉语参考资料》上册,上海教育出版社,1980年;
7. 胡裕树主编《现代汉语参考资料》中册,上海教育出版社,1981年;
8. 胡裕树主编《现代汉语参考资料》下册,上海教育出版社,1982年;
9. 鲁允中等编《现代汉语资料选编》,甘肃人民出版社,1981年。
10. Chinese Poetry (Books)
11. Chinese Novels (Books)
12. Classic Chinese Literature (Books)13. Other audiovisual materials and software