Chinese
Contents
Introduction
On this site you can find information about studying Chinese language and culture at UNE, either on-campus or by distance learning.
Why Study Chinese at UNE?
The University of New England is the only university in Australia to offer a full Chinese major programme externally (by distance education) to complement its internal classes. Chinese is taught in the School of Arts. We cater for a range of proficiency levels from complete beginners to native speakers. In addition, we offer units in English on aspects of Chinese culture, including Chinese calligraphy. External students study the same materials as internal ones, submit the same assignments and sit the same exams. We are highly experienced in dealing with both categories of student and we welcome all enquiries.
Chinese is used by more people in the world than any other language. At UNE we teach you Mandarin, which is the official language used throughout China. Anyone who is prepared to devote time to it regularly can learn Chinese. The spoken language has a simple structure and an elegant grammar, and it uses tones to give different meanings to a word. The written script is challenging but rewarding to learn: it has both a logical and an artistic appeal. It’s a fascinating language to study, and at UNE you can have a taste of it, and you can take it on to high levels.
It is strongly recommended that students of Chinese incorporate a period of immersion study in China in their degree, and we offer opportunities for doing this for periods ranging from 5 weeks to one or two semesters.
Learning Chinese opens a window to understanding Chinese culture and the Chinese way of life. A rapidly changing society with a history dating back to the 21st century BCE, China is also a multi-ethnic society consisting of 56 ethnic groups with a rich heritage of cultural diversity. UNE staff are experts in traditional and contemporary Chinese language and culture.
In Australia, Chinese is the most common language spoken at home after English. Cultural and educational links between China and Australia are growing rapidly. China is Australia’s biggest trading partner, and it’s also Australia’s fastest growing inbound tourism market. UNE courses encourage you to find opportunities to encounter and practise Chinese wherever you are based, at home or overseas.
At UNE, we offer you:
• Small classes, personal attention
• Challenging and fun learning activites!
• From beginners to advanced
• Step by step, structured courses
• All units also available by distance education
• Experienced and supportive staff
• Opportunities and encouragement to study in China, for credit towards your degree: from 5 weeks to one year
• Scholarships usually available for study in China
Who Studies Chinese at UNE?
Students learning Chinese at UNE come from a wide range of backgrounds and have many reasons for learning Chinese. The flexibility of our programmes allow you to fit your study in with your work and family commitments wherever you are based in the world. You may identify with some of the motivations below, or you may have your own reasons for wanting to study Chinese:
• "I just want to try out another language"
• "I want to find out more about a great Asian culture"
• "I plan to work in business or trade with China, eventually."
• “I tried learning Chinese informally, but now I need a structured formal study routine to follow.”
• "I’ve visited China before, and the next time I go I want to talk to people in their own language."
• "I’m an Australian-born Chinese and I want to learn more about my heritage language."
• "I’m teaching English in China, and I’d like a structure to help me learn Chinese and gain an Australian qualification for it while I’m here."
• "I previously studied some Chinese at another university and now I’d like to continue to study part-time at an advanced level."
• "I have a Chinese partner and I want to communicate better with my in-laws!"
• " I learned some Chinese in my childhood in south-east Asia, and I’d like to learn more now."
• "Actually, I come from mainland China. I’m studying at UNE, and I’d like to take some advanced units in Chinese and translation as a part of my UNE degree."
• "I’m studying commerce (or law, or business) and I’d like to add value to my degree by gaining proficiency in Chinese as well."
• "I’m a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine."
• "I’m a flight attendant studying towards a language badge."
• "I work in immigration or social services with the Chinese community in Australia."
• "I’d like to work in Australian tourism and hospitality, where the numbers of incoming tourists from China are growing rapidly."
• "I’m a schoolteacher, and I want to be able to teach Chinese."
• "I do business with China and I’d like to be able to talk to my counterparts in Chinese some of the time."
Courses
Chinese language and culture units can be studied as part of a major, minor or elective subject in the following UNE awards (a Chinese major – 48 credit points - can be completed in the awards marked with an asterix):
Bachelor degrees:
Bachelor of Arts*
Bachelor of Languages*
Bachelor of International Studies*
Bachelor of Archaeology with Honours
Bachelor of Psychology with Honours*
Bachelor of Communication Studies*
Bachelor of Social Science
Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
Bachelor of Financial Administration
Bachelor of Economics
Bachelor of Languages and International Business*
Bachelor of Arts / Laws*
Bachelor of Arts / Science*
Bachelor of Arts / Teaching*
Bachelor of Arts / Business*
Bachelor of Arts with Honours
Undergraduate Diploma awards:
Diploma in Modern Languages
Advanced Diploma in Arts
Postgraduate awards:
Graduate Certificate in Arts
Graduate Diploma in Humanities
Master of Arts
MA in Applied Linguistics
PhD
Units
CHIN 101 Chinese Language 1A
CHIN 102 Chinese Language 1B
CHIN 201 Chinese Language 2A
CHIN 202 Chinese Language 2B
CHIN 211 Chinese Calligraphy
CHIN 304 Intermediate Chinese: Reading
CHIN 305 Intermediate Chinese: Listening
CHIN 310/CHIN 410 Advanced Chinese 1: Writing
CHIN 320/CHIN 420 Advanced Chinese 2: Translation
CHIN 325/CHIN 425 Contemporary Chinese Culture
CHIN 330/CHIN 430 Advanced Chinese 3: Tradition and Modernity
CHIN 401H Chinese Honours Coursework
CHIN 402H Chinese Honours Dissertation
CIJ 210 Cultural Expression in Modern Asia
OSLS 391 Overseas Language Study 1
OSLS 392 Overseas Language Study 2
Thinking about studying ARTS 301?
If you are interested in enrolling in ARTS 301 Research and Professional Practice (previously called ECTW 300), please read About ARTS 301 first. You will need to fill in a Project Proposal Form and have your project approved before enrolling.
Careers
With a continuous and massive economic boom in China, Modern Standard Chinese has become the most important language used in the Asia-Pacific region. Nowadays university graduates with business and Chinese language skills combined are in great demand both in Australia and overseas. Demand for Chinese speakers is increasing further, with the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, and the rapid growth in Chinese tourism to Australia. With the increasing interest in learning Mandarin, school teachers with Chinese skills will soon be in particularly high demand.
Career areas welcoming graduates with Chinese skills include:
• import/export businesses,
• tourism,
• translation and interpreting,
• research,
• international banking,
• law,
• teaching: primary, secondary, tertiary
• multinational corporations,
• public service
• community service
• foreign affairs,
• defence,
• intelligence
• trade
• immigration
• foreign aid
• NGOs
Partnerships, Networks and Industry Links
UNE language students can study at the following universities in China:
Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an
Nankai University, Tianjin (Cheung Kong funded students only)
Contacts
For more information about studying Chinese at UNE, please contact...
Dr Cuncun Wu
Convenor of Chinese
Senoir Lecturer (Chinese)
School of Arts
University of New England
ARMIDALE NSW 2351
Australia
Telephone (02) 6773 3580 International: +61 2 6773 3580
Facsimile (02) 6773 3735. International: +61 2 6773 3735.
email: cwu2@une.edu.au