This course aims at a further development of all four language skills which the students have acquired from the 100-level CHIN courses. In particular, the course emphasizes a further study of advanced Chinese grammar and basic essay writing. In this course students will not only learn authentic Chinese in terms of idiomatic usages, familiar sayings, and sophisticated grammar structure, but get to know Chinese society and culture as well. By the end of this course, students should have commanded around 250 new words and/or phrases in order to engage in linguistically and culturally sophisticated communication in Chinese.