Prerequisites: C+ or above in JPNS W1001 or pass the placement test. The sequence begins in the spring term. JPNS W1001-W1002 is equivalent to JPNS C1101 or F1101 and fulfills the requirement for admission to JPNS C1102 or F1102. Aims at the acquisition of basic Japanese grammar and Japanese culture with an emphasis on accurate communication in speaking and writing. CC GS EN CE GSAS
This course is designed to develop basic skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing in Korean. Introductory Korean B is the equivalent to the second half of First Year Korean I.
Prerequisites: CHNS UN1010 Introductory Chinese A or the equivalent. The program is designed to develop basic skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing colloquial Chinese. This course is diivded into two parts: Introductory Chinese A and Introductory Chinese B. The two parts combined cover the same materials as CHNS 1101 FIRST YEAR CHINESE I and fulfill the requirement for admission to CHNS 1102 FIRST YEAR CHINESE II.
This course is designed for beginners of the Chinese langauge. The goal of the course is to develop basic communication skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing modern colloquial Chinese. Students who can already speak Mandarin will not be accepted into this course.
Basic training in Japanese through speaking, listening, reading and writing in various cultural contexts.
Basic training in Japanese through speaking, listening, reading and writing in various cultural contexts.
This course is designed to develop basic skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing in Korean.
This course introduces students to the linguistic and grammatical structures of Vietnamese, a major language of Southeast Asia. Language skills include listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will also be introduced to some aspects of Vietnamese life and culture.
The course is specially designed for students of Chinese heritage and advanced beginners with good speaking skills. It aims to develop the student's basic skills to read and write modern colloquial Chinese. Pinyin system is introduced; standard Chinese pronunciation, and traditional characters. Classes will be conducted mostly in Chinese. Open to students with Mandarin speaking ability in Chinese only. CC GS EN CE
Prerequisites: NOTE:Students must register for a discussion section, ASCE UN1360 The evolution of Chinese civilization from ancient times to the 20th century, with emphasis on characteristic institutions and traditions.
This course seeks to introduce the sweep of Tibetan civilization and its history from its earliest recorded origins to the present. The course examines what civilizational forces shaped Tibet, especially the contributions of Indian Buddhism, sciences and literature, but also Chinese statecraft and sciences. Alongside the chronological history of Tibet, we will explore aspects of social life and culture.
Corequisites: ASCE UN1377 This course provides a survey of Vietnamese civilization from prehistoric origins to the French colonization in the 19th century, with special emphasis on the rise and development of independent kingship over the 2nd millennium CE. We begin by exploring ethnolinguistic diversity of the Red River plain over the first millenium BCE, culminating in the material bronze culture known as the Dong Son. We then turn towards the introduction of high sinitic culture, and the region's long membership within successive Chinese empires. We pay special attention to the rise of an independent state out of the crumbling Tang Dynasty, and the specific nation-building effects of war with the Mongols and the Ming Dynasty, in the 14th and 15th centuries respectively. Our class ends with the French colonization of the region, and the dramatic cultural and intellectual transformations that were triggered as a result. Our course will interrogate Vietnamese culture as a protean object, one that is defined and redefined at virtually every level, throughout a history marked by foreign interest, influence, and invasion.
This course explores the core classical literature in Chinese, Japanese and Korean Humanities. The main objective of the course is to discover the meanings that these literature offer, not just for the original audience or for the respective cultures, but for us. As such, it is not a survey or a lecture-based course. Rather than being taught what meanings are to be derived from the texts, we explore meanings together, informed by in-depth reading and thorough ongoing discussion.
This course is designed to meet the needs of both first-time learners of Tibetan, as well as students with one year or less of modern colloquial Tibetan. It is intended to lay the foundation for reading classical Tibetan writings, including religious, historical, and literary texts. By focusing on basic grammatical constructions and frequently used vocabulary, this class offers an introduction to the classical Tibetan language.
This is an introductory course and no previous knowledge is required. It focuses on developing basic abilities to speak as well as to read and write in modern Tibetan, Lhasa dialect. Students are also introduced to modern Tibetan studies through selected readings and guest lectures.
Prerequisites: First Year Vietnamese (VIET UN1101 and VIET UN1102) or equivalent, or instructor's permission. This course is designed for students who have some background in Vietnamese language, and further develops students' familiarity with the linguistic and grammatical structures of Vietnamese. Students' reading, listening, speaking and writing skills will be emphasized through dialogues, reading passages, authentic materials, listening comprehension exercises, and media clips. Students will also further study life and culture in Vietnam.
Second Year Chinese I, CHNS2201UN, 4 points. You are required to take First Year Chinese II, CHNS2202UN, 4 points with this course.
Instructor:
Lingjun Hu
Prerequisites
: One (1) year of college-level Chinese or the equivalent
Texts
: Jingua Chinese (Columbia University staff, published by Peking University Press; traditional and simplified characters)
Consolidates and develops language skills used in everyday communication. Texts are presented in the form of a narrative that provides language situations, sentence patterns, word usage, and cultural information. Comprehensive exercises rely on highly structured practice in vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Semi-formal and literary styles are introduced in later lessons as transition to more advanced levels of Chinese language study. The first half of the course emphasizes skills for conducting everyday tasks such as shopping, making telephone calls, seeing a doctor, or looking for a job. The second half focuses on aspects of Chinese culture: the social norms of politeness and gift-giving, traditions such as inter-generational relationships and marriage ceremonies, customs such as special foods and holidays. While providing practical training, the course aims to raise the student's linguistic competence in preparation for advanced studies in Mandarin.
To enroll in this course, you must apply to the
Virtual Columbia Summer Chinese Language
program through the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE).
Global Learning Scholarships
available.
Tuition
charges apply.
Please note the program dates are different from the Summer Term A & B dates.
Prerequisites: JPNS C1102 or the equivalent. Further practice in the four language skills. Participation in a once a week conversation class is required.
Prerequisites: KORN W1102 or the equivalent. Consultation with the instructors is required before registration for section assignment. Further practice in reading, writing, listening comprehension, conversation, and grammar.
Prerequisites: chns un1112 or the equivalent. See Admission to Language Courses. Continuation of CHNS UN1112, with a focus on reading comprehension and written Chinese. Traditional characters. CC GS EN CE
This course is the first half of Accelerated Korean for Heritage Speakers. This course is designed specifically for heritage students who have some previous knowledge of Hangul and basic sentence patterns of everyday Korean. Upon completion of this course, students may advance to Accelerated Korean for Heritage Speakers II to complete the college's two-year foreign language requirement in one year.
n/a
n/a
This course focuses on helping students gain greater proficiency in reading Tibetan Buddhist philosophical and religious historical texts. Readings are selected primarily from Tibetan Buddhist philosophical texts (sutras) such as shes rab snying po, thu’u bkan grub mtha’ and other Tibetan canonical texts.
Third Year Chinese I, CHNS3003UN, 5 points. You are required to take Third Year Chinese II, CHNS3004UN, 5 points with this course.
Welcome to the Advanced Chinese course, intended for students who've completed two years of college-level Chinese, one year as heritage learners, or equivalent. This comprehensive study enriches understanding of the language and culture, utilizing a broad spectrum of content. Topics include Chinese mythologies, historical figures, ancient philosophers, Chinese idiomatic expressions, and the art of calligraphy. Students will examine works by contemporary Chinese writers, and be introduced to renowned texts like 'The Story of the Three Kingdoms' and 'The Story of the Stone.' Discussions on Chinese women and society provide a sociological angle. By reinforcing linguistic ability and broadening cultural perspective, students will gain the knowledge and competence needed for effective communication in advanced Chinese and deeper engagement with Chinese culture.
Prerequisites: CHNS C1222 or F1222, or the equivalent. Admission after Chinese placement exam and an oral proficiency interview with the instructor. Especially designed for students who possess good speaking ability and who wish to acquire practical writing skills as well as business-related vocabulary and speech patterns. Introduction to semiformal and formal Chinese used in everyday writing and social or business-related occasions. Simplified characters are introduced.
Prerequisites: JPNS C1202 or the equivalent. Readings in authentic/semi-authentic texts, videos, and class discussions.
Prerequisites: KORN W1202 or the equivalent and consultation with instructor. (See Entrance to Language Courses Beyond the Elementary Level in the main bulletin under Department of Instruction -- East Asian Languages and Cultures.) Readings in modern Korean. Selections from modern Korean writings in literature, history, social sciences, culture, and videos and class discussions.
This course is designed for students who have completed fourth semester Vietnamese or have equivalent background of intermediate Vietnamese. The course is aimed at enhancing students' competence in reading and listening comprehension as well as the ability to present or show their knowledge of the language and various aspects of Vietnamese with the use of more advanced Vietnamese.
This course introduces students to the world of artisans and makers in premodern Japan from the seventh to the nineteenth century. Broadly, this course is divided into two sections. The first section situates makers within their historical contexts, from the
ritsuryō
state of ancient Japan to the early modern Tokugawa regime, in order to introduce students to the forms of labor artisans engaged in over the course of premodern history, including corvée labor, guild labor, and free market labor. The second section of the course takes a more thematic approach rooted in fundamental frameworks and ideas in material culture and craft studies. Each week, we will dig into a particular theme or problem, such as embodied knowledge or social marginalization, and think through the ways in which these themes materialized in the specific historical contexts we covered in the first half of the semester.
For those whose knowledge is equivalent to a student who’s completed the Second Year course. The course develops students’ reading comprehension skills through reading selected modern Tibetan literature. Tibetan is used as the medium of instruction and interaction to develop oral fluency and proficiency.
This course examines film, tv, and a variety of short fiction as vehicles for the production of Vietnamese cultural identities in the modern era.
This course is intended to provide a focal point for undergraduate majors in East Asian Studies. It introduces students to the analysis of particular objects of East Asian historical, literary, and cultural studies from various disciplinary perspectives. The syllabus is composed of a series of modules, each centered around an object, accompanied by readings that introduce different ways of understanding its meaning.
Introduces students to research and writing techniques and requires the preparation of a senior thesis proposal. Required for majors and concentrators in the East Asian studies major in the spring term of the junior year.
Prerequisites: JPNS C1202 or the equivalent. Introduction to the fundamentals of classical Japanese grammar. Trains students to read Japanese historical and literary texts from the early period up to the 20th century.
The Business Chinese I course is designed to prepare students to use Chinese in a present or future work situation. Students will develop skills in the practical principles of grammar, vocabulary, and cross-cultural understanding needed in today’s business world.
Prerequisites: at least 3 years of intensive Chinese language training at college level and the instructor's permission. This advanced course is designed to specifically train students' listening and speaking skills in both formal and colloquial language through various Chinese media sources. Students view and discuss excerpts of Chinese TV news broadcasts, soap operas, and movie segments on a regular basis. Close reading of newspaper and internet articles and blogs supplements the training of verbal skills.
Prerequisites: Third Year Chinese or the equivalent The course is designed to help students master formal Chinese for professional or academic purposes. It includes reading materials and discussions of selections from Chinese media on contemporary topics, Chinese literature, and modern Chinese intellectual history. The course aims to enhance students' strategies for comprehension, as well as their written and oral communication skills in formal modern Chinese.
Prerequisites: CHNS W4006 or the equivalent. This is a non-consecutive reading course designed for those whose proficiency is above 4th level. See Admission to Language Courses. Selections from contemporary Chinese authors in both traditional and simplified characters with attention to expository, journalistic, and literary styles.
Prerequisites: JPNS W4006 or the equivalent. Sections 1 & 2: Readings of advanced modern literary, historical, political, and journalistic texts, and class discussions about current issues and videos. Exercises in scanning, comprehension, and English translation. Section 3: Designed for advanced students interested in developing skills for reading and comprehending modern Japanese scholarship.
The evolution of the Chinese language. Topics include historical phonology, the Chinese script, the classical and literary languages, the standard language and major dialects, language and society, etc.
This course is designed for students who have completed six semesters of Vietnamese language class or have equivalent background of advance Vietnamese. It is aimed at developing more advance interpersonal communication skills in interpretive reading and listening as well as presentational speaking and writing at a superior level. Students are also prepared for academic, professional and literary proficiency suitable for post-secondary studies in the humanities and social sciences.
This course aims to provide a deeper understanding of the Korean language, culture, society, and history through critical analysis of Korean contemporary popular culture (e.g., music, drama, films, TV shows, advertisements, comic books, and other digital discourses). More specifically, the purposes of the course are twofold: (1) to analyze various sociolinguistic issues represented in contemporary Korean pop culture (e.g., honorifics, dialects, language changes, language variations across gender and generations, language contacts, neologism, slangs) and (2) to develop cultural awareness, critical thinking, digital and media literacy, and multimodal competence in Korean media and popular culture. The course involves reading articles and essays, viewing audiovisual materials, class discussions, presentations, and writing short responses. The course, conducted entirely in Korean, is designed for students with proficiency in Fourth- and Fifth Year Korean.
Prerequisites: KORN W4006 or the equivalent. Selections from advanced modern Korean writings in social sciences, literature, culture, history, journalistic texts, and intensive conversation exercises.
Advanced Business Chinese is designed to help students who have studied at least three years of Chinese (or the equivalent) to achieve greater proficiency in the oral and written use of the language and gain knowledge in depth about China’s business environment and proven strategies. Student will critically examine the successes and failures of firms within the Chinese business arena.
This is a seminar for advanced undergraduates and master’s degree students, which explores the socioeconomic consequences of China’s development of a boom, urban residential real-estate market since the privatization of housing at the end of the 1990s. We will use the intersecting lenses of gender/sexuality, class and race/ethnicity to analyze the dramatic new inequalities created in arguably the largest and fastest accumulation of residential-real estate wealth in history. We will examine topics such as how skyrocketing home prices and state-led urbanization have created winners and losers based on gender, sexuality, class, race/ethnicity and location (hukou), as China strives to transform from a predominantly rural population to one that is 60 percent urban by 2020. We explore the vastly divergent effects of urban real-estate development on Chinese citizens, from the most marginaliz4d communities in remote regions of Tibet and Xinjiang to hyper-wealthy investors in Manhattan. Although this course has no formal prerequisites, it assumes some basic knowledge of Chinese history. If you have never taken a course on China before, please ask me for guidance on whether or not this class is suitable for you. The syllabus is preliminary and subject to change based on breaking news events and the needs of the class.
Prerequisites: completion of three years of modern Chinese at least, or four years of Japanese or Korean.
Since Buddhism was introduced to Korea 1,600 years ago, the religion has had great impact on almost all aspects of the Korean society, making significant contributions to the distinct development of Korean culture. In this course, we will explore how Buddhism has influenced and interacted with various fields of Korean culture such as art, architecture, literature, philosophy, politics, religions, and popular culture. Buddhist scriptures, written in classical Chinese, with their colorful imaginations, have stimulated the development of Korean literature. Buddhist art, sculpture, and architecture have also catalyzed the Korean counterparts to bloom. The sophisticated philosophy and worldview of Buddhism, along with its diverse religious practices and rituals have added richness to the spiritual life of Korean people. Buddhism also attracted a significant number of followers, often playing important roles in politics. Throughout the course, we will not only investigate the influence of Buddhism on diverse aspects of Korean culture on their forms and at their depths, but also examine the interactions between Buddhism and other religions, as well as politics. Students will learn how Korean people have formed and reformed Korean culture through the medium of Buddhism
Prerequisites: CHNS W3302 or the equivalent. Admission after placement exam. Focusing on Tang and Song prose and poetry, introduces a broad variety of genres through close readings of chosen texts as well as the specific methods, skills, and tools to approach them. Strong emphasis on the grammatical and stylistic analysis of representative works. CC GS EN CE
Please see department for details.
updating...
This course studies travel writing across the medieval world. Focusing on major types of medieval travelers—such as court ladies, pilgrims, envoys, warriors, merchants, knights, and beggars—and their documented travel experience, this course explores different modes of writing mobility and its constraints, addressing issues of knowledge production, boundaries of self, religiosity, (pre-)modernity, and colonialism. The questions we ask include: how did medieval writers fashion “self” and “others” in their travel accounts? How were gender dynamics articulated and negotiated when female travelers confronted society constraints on their mobility? How was violence instrumentalized to render the “mobile” into the “immobile”? Was there value in “stillness”? And broadly, how did the movement of body challenge the established cultural and epistemological norms? We engage with primary materials as diverse as diaries, poetry, official reports, travel accounts, historiography, and novels, and geographically span Japan, China, Byzantium, and Western Europe. By examining literary texts on shared themes across different cultural traditions, this course also encourages students to think deeply the value of juxtaposition and to reflect deeply on the implications and possibilities of the “global Middle Ages.”
Tibetan Buddhism offered a divine means of power and legitimacy to rule in Inner Asia and China. This class will explore the intersection of politics, religion and art in Tibetan Buddhism. Images were one of the primary means of political propagation, integral to magical tantric rites, and embodiments of power.
Major cultural, political, social, economic and literary issues in the history of this 500-year long period. Reading and discussion of primary texts (in translation) and major scholarly works. All readings will be in English.