TOPIC: Simplified Characters versus Traditional Characters in Chinese

Subject: Chinese Language Arts

Grade level: 7th grade Chinese Immersion

Task type: Curriculum embedded tasks

Context:

Simplified characters and traditional characters in Chinese co-exist in the Chinese world. Simplified

characters are mainly used in China, Singapore and Malaysia and traditional characters are mainly

used Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the United States, both character systems co-exist in different

schools, communities, and media. To be an effective Chinese user, one should master either one

character system or both. In order to deepen the learning of the lesson, “simplified characters and

traditional characters” in the textbook, a series of tasks and assessments will be given to ask

students to think and to demonstrate their learning

through justification of the choice of using simplified or traditional characters.

Task 1: Student self-reflection to tap into prior knowledge through a Constructed Response

Task.

Students will be given a prompt to reflect upon their learning history and process of the character

systems. The amount of information, completion of task, organization of ideas, and

comprehensibility will be assessed.

Task 2: Experiments on reading aloud in both character systems

In order to collect data of reading fluency in simplified and traditional characters, students will be

asked to do timed reading in both simplified and traditional characters on the same paragraph.

Each student will read two paragraphs. First, read paragraph 1 in simplified characters, then read

paragraph 1 in traditional characters. Record the time of each reading. Second, read paragraph 2

in traditional characters, then read paragraph 2 in simplified characters. Record the time of each

reading and calculate the average time of reading in simplified characters and reading in traditional

characters.

Students are suggested to work in pairs to ensure the validity and reliability of data collection.

Task 3: Writing assessment in both characters through two Constructed Response tasks

Prompt 1:

You will be attending an overnight Chinese camp next weekend. You are asked to prepare for a

speech in Mandarin to share with the participants at the camp fire. Make sure your speech is

interesting. Use simplified characters to write at least 15 sentences. Use pinyin when you do not

know how to write the characters. Amount of information, organization of ideas, accuracy of

characters will be assessed. Finish the task in 20 minutes.

Prompt 2:

Write a story narrative. The following pictures present a sequence of events. Write a complete

story based on the pictures. Use traditional characters to write a complete story which includes at

least 15 sentences. Use pinyin when you do not know how to write the characters. Amount of

information, organization of ideas, accuracy of characters will be assessed. Finish the task in 20

minutes.

After completing two writing samples, students use scoring rubric to do self-assessment and peer

assessment. Teacher will be the third evaluator when there’s a discrepancy between self-

assessment and peer assessment in scoring. Use http://roobrix.com/ to convert rubric score to

grades

Students’ reflection:

1. Based on the collected data, how proficient am I as a reader in simplified characters?

2. Based on the collected data, how proficient am I as a reader in traditional characters?

3. Based on the scoring rubric, how proficient am I as a writer in simplified characters?

4. Based on the scoring rubric, how proficient am I as a writer in traditional characters?

Task 4:

Have students to self-select two books about 100 pages long or two articles about 500 characters at

their reading level: one in simplified characters and the other in traditional characters. Write a short

summary of each text.

Students’ Reflection:

1. Is there a discrepancy between the difficulty level of the two books?

2. Why is there a discrepancy? Support your reasons.

3. What do you prefer in reading: simplified or traditional characters?

Task 5: Make conclusion through a Constructed Response Task

Based on the data and reflection, identify if you are a better reader and writer in simplified and/or

traditional characters. Decide on which character system you will focus based on your learning

needs. Justify your choice with strong supporting ideas. If you choose to focus on both character

systems, justify your choice too.

If time permits, the class will be divided into debate teams.

Task 6: Debate

Topic: The Mandarin immersion programs in United States should only teach simplified characters