‎Business Chinese

Course Objectives

Basic Language Skills

• Acquire fundamental listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Mandarin Chinese, focusing on business-related vocabulary and expressions.
• Learn proper pronunciation and tones using Pinyin for effective communication in both daily and professional settings.

Business Communication Skills

• Master key phrases and sentences for typical business scenarios, including introductions, negotiations, meetings, and email correspondence.
• Develop the ability to ask and answer questions related to business activities such as planning, product descriptions, and service inquiries.

Cultural Competence

• Gain insights into Chinese business culture, etiquette, and social norms to facilitate communication and relationship-building.
• Understand the importance of hierarchy, gift-giving, and dining etiquette in professional interactions.

Practical Application

• Apply language skills in simulated business activities such as role-playing meetings, presentations, and negotiations.

Course Importance

This course aims to equip participants with the language skills and cultural knowledge necessary to succeed in Chinese-speaking business contexts. Participants will gain the following benefits:

• Enhanced career prospects in international trade, finance, and corporate relations.
• Confidence in communicating with Chinese partners, clients, and stakeholders.
• Improved cross-cultural communication and avoidance of common misunderstandings.

Participant Profile

The course is designed for:

• Students from Plekhanov University and other Dubai-based institutions interested in Business Chinese courses.
• Students and recent graduates pursuing careers in international business or trade.
• Business professionals who regularly interact with Chinese-speaking colleagues or clients.
• Entrepreneurs looking to enter or expand their business in the Chinese market.
• Professionals with a beginner-level knowledge of Chinese (HSK 1-2 or equivalent).

Participant Requirements

Participants should have:

• No prior knowledge or a beginner-level proficiency in Chinese (HSK 1-2 or equivalent).

Course Duration

• Credit Hours: 3
• Total Hours: 42 hours (3 hours per week over 14 weeks)
• Mode of Delivery: Hybrid (combination of online and offline classes)
• Self-Study: 10 hours
• Final Assessment: Spoken Chinese proficiency test and Business Chinese presentation.

Business Chinese Course Content

1. Introduction to Business Chinese Learning

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture	Greetings and Introductions in a Business Context Formal and informal greetings Introducing oneself and others Exchanging business cards	Chinese Pinyin: Introduction to pronunciation, tones, and phonetic system Basic Greetings and Introductions: How to greet others and introduce oneself in a business setting Cultural Background: An overview of Chinese business culture, etiquette, and the importance of hierarchy and respect	Practicing pronunciation and tones through Pinyin drills Role-playing basic greetings Watching videos introducing Chinese business etiquette	Memorize key phrases Watch videos on Chinese business etiquette Practice writing an introduction in Chinese	6

2. Numbers, Dates, and Basic Business Terms

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Numbers, Dates, and Basic Business Terms	Numbers (1-100), week, and dates Business terms: 公司 (gōng sī) - company, 老板 (lǎo bǎn) - boss, 职员 (zhí yuán) - employee	Numbers and Dates: Learn to count, state prices, and talk about dates Basic Business Vocabulary: Introduction to simple business terms	Role-playing transactions with numbers and prices Pronunciation practice for larger numbers and dates Practicing date formats relevant in a business setting	Write numbers in Chinese characters (一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九, 十) Learn how to form compound numbers (e.g., 二十五, 三十) Real-World Practice: Listen to audio recordings to understand number pronunciation Role-play scenarios: Writing phone numbers, discussing quantities in business contexts	6

3. Introducing One’s Job and Role

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Introducing One’s Job and Role	工作 (gōng zuò) - work, 部门 (bù mén) - department, 经理 (jīng lǐ) - manager, 人事 (rén shì) - HR	Job Titles and Descriptions: How to introduce one’s position, job responsibilities, and workplace Company Structure: Vocabulary related to departments and positions in a company	Pair activities to introduce oneself and one’s job role Presentation exercises with students describing their “job” in Chinese	Introduce the Chinese names of different occupations Review vocabulary related to corporate roles Write a short summary on corporate hierarchy in your own organization using Chinese terms	6

4. Making Appointments and Scheduling

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Making Appointments and Scheduling	约会 (yuē huì) - appointment, 时间 (shí jiān) - time, 星期 (xīng qī) - week, 会议 (huì yì) - meeting	Setting Up Meetings and Appointments: Phrases and vocabulary to make, reschedule, and cancel appointments Chinese Time Format and Business Hours	Role-playing exercises to schedule meetings Listening comprehension practice with audio dialogues about appointments	Write a meeting agenda in Chinese Watch recorded meetings and identify key phrases	6

5. Business Introductions and Formal Etiquette

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Business Introductions and Formal Etiquette	名片 (míng piàn) - business card, 介绍 (jiè shào) - introduce, 贵公司 (guì gōng sī) - your (honorable) company	Formal Introductions: Introducing others, giving out business cards, and meeting etiquette Cultural Norms: Importance of face (面子, miàn zi) and politeness in Chinese business settings	Simulating introductions and business card exchanges Practicing culturally appropriate phrases and gestures	Introducing yourself to someone new Introducing two other people to each other Prioritizing introductions based on seniority or professional hierarchy	6

6. Basic Communication in the Office

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Basic Communication in the Office	办公室 (bàn gōng shì) - office, 电话 (diàn huà) - phone, 邮件 (yóu jiàn) - email, 电脑 (diàn nǎo) - computer	Office Communication: Asking for and giving simple directions, providing assistance Using Technology: Basic terms for phone, email, and other communication tools	Role-playing conversations asking for directions and assistance Practicing giving instructions over the phone	List five common communication methods (e.g., email, meetings, phone calls, instant messaging, reports) For each method, write down: When it’s appropriate to use, Key principles for using it effectively	6

7. Introducing Products and Services

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Introducing Products and Services	产品 (chǎn pǐn) - product, 服务 (fú wù) - service, 价格 (jià gé) - price, 质量 (zhì liàng) - quality	Product Descriptions: Basic terms for describing products, prices, and services Customer Communication: Useful phrases to address customer inquiries	Practicing short descriptions of products and services	Review vocabulary related to corporate roles	6

Final Control

Assessment Components:

• Class Participation: 20%

Description: Student attendance and class activities.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Consistency and engagement in class.
• Accuracy and completeness of assignments.

• Notebook & Handwriting: 20%

After a semester of classes, students are required to write beautiful Chinese characters in their notebooks.

• Chinese Conversations: 30%

Description: Teamwork (2 people together).

Students in the inspection team should communicate fluently in Chinese and use business Chinese vocabulary.

• Final Project Presentation: 30%

Presentation & PPT (1 Person)

At the beginning of the semester, students will choose a presentation topic from 20 Chinese topics provided by the teacher.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the semester course, students will be able to:

Listening and Speaking:

• Comprehend and respond to basic conversations on familiar topics such as greetings, family, daily activities, and hobbies.
• Use accurate pronunciation and tones to communicate effectively in everyday situations.
• Engage in simple dialogues, including asking and answering questions in Mandarin.

Reading:

• Recognize and understand key vocabulary and phrases in written texts, including signs, menus, and short passages.
• Identify and interpret approximately 100–120 basic Chinese characters.

Writing:

• Write sentences and short paragraphs using proper grammar and a foundational set of Chinese characters.
• Compose simple written texts, such as self-introductions, descriptions, and short notes.

Grammar and Sentence Structure:

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic grammatical structures, including subject-verb-object order, question formation, and the use of measure words.
• Apply common sentence patterns in spoken and written communication.

Cultural Competence:

• Identify key aspects of Chinese culture, traditions, and etiquette as they relate to communication.
• Understand the significance of cultural practices, such as traditional holidays and regional variations in language use.

Study Techniques:

This teaching plan helps students develop effective study habits for language acquisition, including:

• Memorization techniques for characters and vocabulary.
• Utilization of tools and resources such as dictionaries, apps, and multimedia content to support continuous learning.