This course contains materials that cover from Han dynasty to Xi’s Belt and Road initiative, and its applications to geopolitics, world history, and cultural and trade exchanges. Authentic materials include Hexi Corridor documentary, online articles, book chapters, and guest speaker’s lecture. It aims to open door for learners of Chinese to classical Chinese with insights from proverbs, idiomatic expressions from the insights of re-interpretation of Chinese Dream in Silk Road history and Belt and Road initiative. There is an individualization research component to this class. In addition to the class hours, students are also keeping their reading logs with the instructor and TAs from Stage 2 of learning (late September through November), during this period of time, students are reviewing materials covered during the first few weeks and start to make relevance and develop their research interests, to further and conduct research reading in Chinese.

Final deliverable for the course are a wrap-up research analysis paper of 12 to 15 pages (depending on your level, discuss with the instructor) or its equivalence of the content in the format of digital media integration), and a 20 min final presentation will be delivered in class, and a 5-7 min mini-version final presentation, if chosen by the class, on November 14thwill be delivered in Irvine Auditorium, open to MIIS community.

A key research topic is developed and concluded after the first 8 weeks, and further develop an individualization research project related to your major, using insights from Silk Road: East and West. The Individualization Research Project curriculum will be devised in a way that would allow students to develop their own interest and areas of expertise to conduct 5-minute outline reports in late October, 15 min final presentation, and 5 min Mini-Monterey Model presentation, if chosen by the class. The goal is to exchange views and acquired knowledge pertinent to selected topics and gain feedback from fellow classmates.