About the Course

Develop your Mandarin Chinese language skills and learn about Chinese culture. You’ll practice communicating in Chinese and you’ll engage with real-life materials such as newspaper articles, films, music, and books.

Skills You'll Learn

· Understanding Chinese when you hear it and read it

· Holding conversations in real-life situations

· Writing stories, letters, emails, essays, and other texts

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College Course Equivalent

A fourth-semester (or the equivalent) intermediate-level college course in Mandarin Chinese language

Recommended Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites, but students are typically in their fourth year of high-school-level study. In the case of native or heritage speakers, there may be a different pathway of study leading to this course.

Exam Dates

Mon, May 18, 2020,
12 PM ET

AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam

May 18, 2020 is the updated date for the AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam.

About the Units

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Course Content

Unit 1: Families in Different Societies

You’ll learn Chinese language skills in the context of studying family life and values in Chinese-speaking communities and explore contemporary beliefs and challenges that families face.

While engaging in activities related to these topics, you’ll practice skills such as:

Understanding audio recordings (for example, a transportation announcement)

Reading posters, public signs, and other texts

Taking part in discussions

Writing emails and notes

Narrating stories based on a sequence of pictures

Creating a short written and oral presentation

Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity

You’ll build your vocabulary and learn about how language and culture shape and reflect evolving ideas about identity in Chinese-speaking communities.

While engaging in activities related to these topics, you’ll practice skills such as:

Understanding audio recordings (for example, a radio report)

Reading journalistic articles and other texts

Writing and responding to emails

Holding conversations, including starting and ending them appropriately

Narrating stories based on a sequence of pictures

Giving a short oral presentation to explain ideas and opinions

Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art

You’ll explore how ideas of beauty and art influence and reflect culture in Chinese-speaking communities.

While engaging in activities related to these topics, you’ll practice skills such as:

Understanding audio recordings (for example, a school conversation)

Reading emails, notes, and other texts

Engaging in conversations and narratives based on pictures

Understanding what a speaker or writer means and responding in a culturally appropriate manner

Exchanging information, ideas, and opinions in discussions and written exchanges

Identifying, comparing, and explaining how features of cultures in Chinese-speaking communities relate to ideas about beauty and aesthetics

Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

You’ll examine how developments in science and technology affect and shape daily life in Chinese-speaking communities. You’ll use your growing language skills to help you interpret unfamiliar words and read and write more complicated texts.

While engaging in activities related to these topics, you’ll practice skills such as:

Understanding audio recordings (for example, a voice message)

Reading pen pal letters and other texts

Exchanging information in conversations and written exchanges

Writing emails, letters, and narratives using either simplified or traditional characters and with appropriate formality

Creating written presentations with an introduction, development of topic, and conclusion

Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life

You’ll learn more about contemporary life in Chinese-speaking communities and how social status, cultural perspectives, and access to jobs and resources can make an impact on the quality of life.

While engaging in activities related to these topics, you’ll practice skills such as:

Understanding audio recordings (for example, responses and replies to a statement or question)

Reading short stories and other texts

Applying what you’ve learned from working with real-life Chinese-language materials as you prepare for speaking and writing tasks

Writing an email response using either simplified or traditional characters and with appropriate formality and format

Using strategies in conversation such as paraphrasing and asking for clarification

Discussing different cultural perspectives and using cultural information to prepare and deliver an organized cultural presentation

Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges

You’ll explore how complex global issues affect people’s lives in Chinese-speaking communities and engage in deeper discussions to suggest possible solutions.

While engaging in activities related to these topics, you’ll practice skills such as:

Understanding audio recordings (for example, an advertisement)

Reading brochures, advertisements, and other texts

Carrying out conversations and interviews

Getting information from sources to prepare and deliver an organized cultural presentation

Giving and explaining your viewpoint with supporting details and elaboration

Writing an email response providing suggestions with justifications

Narrating stories based on a sequence of pictures