This course is designed to improve students' confidence and fluency in Mandarin for daily communication, expand their grammar and vocabulary, and emphasize cultural comparison and cross-cultural communication. Students will learn how to express opinions and exchange information in everyday situations while gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese and Taiwanese cultural traditions through storytelling and cultural walking tours. Below is the detailed course description:

Course Overview:

1. Contemporary, Book 4 & 5
   These lessons cover more advanced everyday conversation scenarios, such as problem-solving, requesting help, and exchanging opinions. Students will accumulate additional grammar points and vocabulary, gradually improving the accuracy and naturalness of their language expression.

2. Chinese Folktales (Speaking Focus)
   This unit emphasizes oral expression through the storytelling of Chinese folktales. Students will practice narrative skills, enhancing fluency in speaking. Discussions on the cultural values and meanings reflected in these stories will further promote cross-cultural understanding.

3. Newspaper Reading and Writing (1)
   In this unit, students will read simplified news articles to learn how to extract key information from written texts. They will practice related writing tasks, such as writing summaries or commentary, thereby enhancing their written expression in formal contexts.

4. TV News (1)
   This section involves watching TV news programs to improve comprehension of contemporary language. Students will learn how to grasp the main points of news reports and engage in discussions about current events, training their listening and speaking skills.

5. Local Culture and Folk Customs Walking Tour (Custom Materials)
   Using custom teaching materials, the instructor will guide students to explore Taiwan’s local culture and customs. Through cultural walking tours, students will experience different regions' lifestyles and traditions firsthand, deepening their understanding of Taiwan's culture and its contrasts with their own.

Quantifiable Learning Goals:

• Gradually master 200 basic grammar points and 1,000 essential vocabulary words.
• Develop communication skills in 24 daily life topics, enabling fluent responses to various situations.
• Deliver a three-minute oral presentation on a given topic.
• Read and comprehend texts containing 1,200 basic vocabulary words, understanding both general meaning and details.
• Write a 500-character narrative, expressive, or practical text, such as a story, travel notes, personal letters, reflections, or topic-based essays.

This course is suitable for learners with a foundational level of Mandarin, aiming to enhance their speaking and writing skills as well as their sensitivity to cross-cultural communication. The combination of Chinese folktales and the cultural walking tour of Taiwan will help students deepen their understanding of both Taiwanese and Chinese cultures while strengthening their language proficiency.