Chinese Language Major

Total units 48 Units

Areas of interest Asian Languages, Asian Studies, Asia Pacific Studies, Language Studies, Asia-Pacific Studies
Major code CHIN-MAJ

Academic career Undergraduate

In this major students will learn to speak, listen to, read and write Standard Modern Chinese (Mandarin). Mandarin is the official language of China and one of the world's major languages. As Australia's future is increasingly tied to the rise of China as a world power, the importance of Mandarin will continue to grow. Knowledge of Mandarin not only provides a means of understanding Chinese society and culture but it is also a skill valued in a wide range of professions, both in Australia and internationally. This major is also designed for heritage and background speakers. For heritage learners, relevant language courses recognized in the major include advanced-level translation and readings courses (in Mandarin); Cantonese; and Literary Chinese.

Students in this major are encouraged to spend time studying at a tertiary institution in the PRC or ROC, or other Mandarin – speaking areas. Competitive scholarships are available to qualified students.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this major, students will have the knowledge and skills at an Advanced level of Standard Modern Chinese to:
1. Express themselves confidently in spoken and written Standard Modern Chinese in informal and formal registers of the language, with vocabularies appropriate to the context.
2. Identify and use advanced grammatical rules and complicated sentence structures relevant to a range of conversational situations and texts;
3. Communicate spontaneously and with confidence in writing and speaking on a range of intellectually and linguistically challenging topics.
4. Analyse aspects of contemporary Chinese culture, society and politics.

Other Information

A student may not take a course that is a prerequisite or a lower level than a course which they have already passed.

Students that are commencing language studies who have prior knowledge of the language will be required to take a placement test before enrolling for the first time. Students will not be permitted to enrol in a course at a lower than the level they achieve in the placement test, and may be exempted from compulsory courses.

Relevant Degrees

Back to the top

Requirements

This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:

6 units from completion of the following course(s):

Code	Title	Units
CHIN3023	Modern Chinese 6	6

A minimum of 30 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:

Code	Title	Units
CHIN1012	Modern Chinese 1: Spoken	6
CHIN1013	Modern Chinese 1: Written	6
CHIN2022	Modern Chinese 2: Spoken	6
CHIN2023	Modern Chinese 2: Written	6
CHIN2014	Modern Chinese 3	6
CHIN2017	Modern Chinese 4	6
CHIN2525	Learning Language Locally: China	6-12
CHIN3022	Modern Chinese 5	6
CHIN3024	Advanced Modern Chinese A	6
CHIN3025	Advanced Modern Chinese B	6
CHIN3041	Chinese-English Translation	6
CHIN3216	Chinese-English Interpreting	6
CHIN3211	Chinese for Native Speakers A	6
CHIN3212	Chinese for Native Speakers B	6

A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:

Code	Title	Units
CHIN2019	Literary Chinese 1	6
CHIN2021	Literary Chinese 2	6
CHIN3015	Advanced Literary Chinese	6
CHIN2013	Taiwanese	6
CHIN2024	Cantonese 1	6
CHIN2025	Cantonese 2	6
CHIN3203	Cantonese 3	6
ASIA2103	Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)	6
ASIA2100	Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific (L)	6
ASIA2098	Asian and Pacific Studies Internship	6-12

Back to the top