This sequence of courses is offered fall (CHI110), winter (CHI120) and spring (CHI130). These courses are designed to help students develop a basic proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese. Students are introduced to the Chinese script using simplified characters as well as the Pinyin Romanization system for development of accurate pronunciation and tones. By the end of the first year, students are expected to have mastered upwards of 300 Chinese characters and nearly 400 vocabulary words. Frequent oral practice, reading and writing activities familiarize students with the vocabulary and grammatical structures necessary to communicate in everyday situations. Songs, calligraphy and other cultural activities are integrated to give students a fuller appreciation of the social and cultural framework of China.