Two dialogues and weekly hours
This semester I use IC as the texbook for the first time. I noticed that there are two dialogues included in each lesson. I wonder how other instructors arrange the teaching: two at the same time (grammar then exercise) or finish one before starting the other.
I am also curious about whether there is an generally expected number of weekly instruction hours in order to finish the whole book for part 1 level 1.
Thanks
Hi,
from my own experience, each lesson of IC needs at least 5 or 6 hours per week. So, if a Chinese class meet only 4 or less hours per week, you might need to consider do half a lesson per week. The pace is very important esp. you are teaching true beginningers, meaning non-Chinese heritage students. And remember that each lesson, at least vol 1 part 1 and part 2, there are about 40+ characters to learn. So, learning the speaking, listening, grammar and character writing all together can be daunting for the first year students.
Also, for the introduction (the Pinyin), you need to take time, too. I would suggest 2-3 weeks to practice Pinyin and learning to write the radicals and numbers.
However, if you are teaching a class of advanced beginners (i.e. heritage students), your schedule should be set at a faster pace, for example, 3 or 4 hours per lesson is good.
Good luck