Students appreciated the well thought-out structure of the class. Students were pushed to learn and practice speaking Chinese by the weekly quizzes and assignments. The worst aspects of the course included the repetitive style of teaching and the overload of assignments. Many students felt the grading was too harsh because of the short amount of time allotted to learn the Chinese vocabulary. Many students felt the course could have been improved if more time was given to complete the assignments so that they could also use those assignments to study for the quizzes. Prospective students should know that the work is very intensive and that they should give themselves a substantial amount of study time outside of the classroom. 46

Students felt that the best aspects of this course included the balance of grammar, vocabulary, and culture in each lesson, and that they felt like they ended the semester with a solid foundation of the language. Students liked both professors and felt that the smal class size helped when they worked on conversations and had class discussions. However, many students were not prepared for the amount of work they needed to complete outside of the classroom, and felt that some of the lectures were a bit too fast-paced for beginners. Suggestions for improvement included adding more speaking exercises to the class schedule, and integrating more information about Chinese culture to give additional context for the vocabulary being taught. Prospective students should be prepared for a rigorous and comprehensive semester, and be wil ing to commit at least 10 hours of study outside of the classroom 47 each week. No prior knowledge of the language is necessary and students wil have a good grasp of the language upon completing this course.

Frequent opportunities to practice speaking, knowledgeable and engaging instructors, and the amount of information gained over the semester were the best aspects of this course. The heavy workload and fast pace of the class were the most negative aspects of the class. Suggestions to improve the course included slowing down the pace, reducing the workload, and ensuring that al students are at the same level when they join the class. Prospective students should know this course required a significant time commitment between daily classes and homework. Prospective students should also know that students found the course was both interesting and that it gave them a solid understanding of introductory Chinese.