Offered By	Faculty of Asian Studies
Academic Contact	Ms Tiejun Yang

Courses on China deal with language, script, linguistics, history, literature, and society. These courses are open to students taking Asian Studies degrees as well as students enrolled in other Faculties. The aim is to equip students with the linguistic and cultural competence needed to function effectively in China or Taiwan, and the education to enable them to understand these countries in depth.

In the undergraduate program on China, the core language is Modern Chinese. The language and pronunciation taught are those of Modern Standard Chinese or Putonghua (Mandarin), the national language of China. Classical Chinese, the standard written language of China until well into the twentieth century, and still a strong influence on the modern written language, is taught after the introductory year. Cantonese is may be offered to more advanced students if the demand exists.

In order to enable students beginning Chinese to make rapid progress in the language, the basic major in Modern Chinese consists of double-value one-semester courses in the first year (Modern Chinese 1 and Modern Chinese 2) followed by standard value semester long courses in later years: Modern Chinese 3 to Modern Chinese 6. In Modern Chinese 1 and 2, a solid foundation in the spoken and the written language is laid, so that by the end of the first year of study, students starting as beginners will reach basic all-round proficiency. Modern Chinese 3 to 6 build on this to reach greater fluency in reading, speech and writing. The emphasis is on introducing varieties of living Chinese and developing the ability to communicate independently in Chinese.

Students wishing to advance their language to a higher standard may continue with further reading courses, or enrol in the specialist Bachelor of Asian Studies (Chinese). This degree includes a year spent in immersion language studies in the Chinese world. More advanced courses in Modern Chinese are offered during the fourth year of the Bachelor of Asian Studies (Chinese) degree.

Classical Chinese is taught in a four-semester sequence. Some Classical Chinese is essential for students wishing to pursue serious studies in Chinese culture or in any aspect of China or Korea before the early 20th century.

Requirements

The Asian Language Major (Chinese) may comprise courses from the Summary of Courses page and beginners must include Modern Chinese 6.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.