Chin 421, 422, and 423

Business Chinese

Instructor: Dr. Taiping Chang

Email: taiping@u.washington.edu

Office Hours: M & W 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

 

　

Tsinghua University Business Chinese, Summer Program.

Are you interested in putting all that Chinese you are learning to good use? Hone your skills, and sharpen your business acumen while studying at Tsinghua University in the summer of 2004. Follow the link above to learn more.

Course Outline

The rapid growth of international trade in Greater China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) has greatly enhanced economic and foreign capital investment in the past two decades. In recent years Chinese government has attempted to accommodate the increased demand for greater market access for American goods and services. Supported by a strong economy and an increasingly open door policy, the greater China has emerged as an important economic giant in world affairs and has considerable influence over Asia and the globe. In the words of one scholar:

“It is not unimaginable or unrealistic to assume that early in the 21st century the combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Greater China will surpass those of the European Community and United States; it will be the world’s leading trader and in possession of the worlds largest foreign exchange reserves; it will be a source of state-of-the-art high technology and scientific and medical advances; it will be the world’s largest consumer; it will garrison the world’s largest military establishment; and may be the pre-eminent member of the Group of Nine nations (including Russia). Greater China will also overtake Japan as the dominant regional power, with Shanghai and Hong Kong the financial nexus of East Asian economic dynamism.” (David Shambaugh, “Introduction: The Emergence of Greater China,” The China Quarterly, December, 1993, p.653.)

Since the 1980s, the trend of opening up of the China market continues, and China handles its foreign economic activities in a more global manner. China in the 1990s finds itself in the ranks of the world’s top 10 exporters. Its total trade, having tripled in 10 years, is one-fourth of China’s gross national product. Both imports and exports rose at double-digit levels in the 1990s, and its has a substantial trade surplus and foreign exchange reserves.

Indeed, China is enjoying far more vigorous growth in recent years than the economies of the U.S., Japan, or most other countries. On November 15, 1999, the U.S. and China finally reached a bilateral trade agreement that should open the way for China’s accession to the World Trade organization, possibly before the end of 1999. This trade agreement will obligate China to cut tariffs and grant foreign companies greater access to China’s market. It may create millions of jobs in Chinese textile plants, agriculture, banking, auto, telecommunication industries. Thus World Bank estimated that the agreement could cause China’s share of global trade to more than triple to 10 percent, making it the world’s second largest trading nation, next to the United States. Above all, the most significant benefit of this agreement perhaps is to link China’s relations with the United States to the stable stake of mutual economic interest.

Class Goal

Doing successful business in China begins with an understanding of the business climate. This Business Chinese will focus on the international trade issues of China in the contemporary world. The subjects will include international business activities such as trade, banking, marketing, finance and investment. Contemporary writings which include newspaper reports, periodical articles, documentary materials, statistics, as well as video-recordings are the main tools to explore different aspects of international business. However the primary emphasis is placed on listening comprehension and speaking fluency. The goal is to improve students’ speaking and listening skills, and to increase their knowledge of Chinese culture and business practices. In the class, the students will

  •  Increase knowledge of business and professional terminology;

  • Read business related articles and statistical information;

  • Learn business customs and practices;

  • Learn proper manners of answering the telephone, responding to business inquiries, and making appointments;

  • Practice taking messages and notes, and writing a brief summary report in Chinese;

  • Practice making formal presentations;

  • Review business documents including invoices, shipping documents, bank statements, and brochures introducing new products;

  • Write basic business letters, resumes, etc.

This class will be conducted in Beijing, Tsinghua University. Professor Ding Xia, Deputy Director of the Department of Chinese languages Literature will be in charge of the Summer program.

Prerequisites

This course is designed for students who are interested in doing business with China. Students who plan to work in the fields of Chinese business law, marketing, banking, accounting, finance, investment, and China Studies in general are encouraged to take this course. Students who meet the following criteria are qualified to take this course:

  • Students who have a command of the material presented in the Third-Year Chinese course series at the University of Washington or a similar program at another university.

  • Students who exhibit considerable knowledge (living experience) of the Chinese

language, including speaking, reading and writing.

Textbook and Dictionaries:

  • Taiping Chang. International Business Chinese Course (国际商务汉语教程). Beijing: Peking University Press, 2000
  • Sun Dequan. English-Chinese Dictionary of Economic & International Trade (《英汉国际经贸词典》)  5th edition, Beijing: Commercial Press, 1996.
  • 北京外国语大学、英语系词典组编 《汉英词典》（修订版）  北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1998。

Class Preparation

This class required attention to reading, speaking, writing, analyzing the reading material, and being able to express oneself in writing as well as orally. It is required to preview the class material before coming to class.

Class Attendance

This class places significant emphasis on class attendance and participation. Students are required to attend class daily. Regular attendance does hand-in-hand with class preparation and participation, and unexcused absences will adversely affect the student’s performance in this class. In case of illness or emergencies, please communicate with the instructor.

Exams and In-Class Presentations

There are two exams during this winter quarter – Mid term and Final Exam – in the form of oral presentations. Students are required to use PowerPoint or video-recording to make the presentations. In addition to the mid-term and final exam, each student is required to give an oral presentation in class very week. Creativity and thorough preparation are greatly encouraged.

Grading Policy

  • Preparation/Participation                       30%
  • Midterm                                               35%
  • Final                                                     35%