Chinese 178
Introduction to the Chinese language and culture

Current Module Outline (pdf)

First year level module
Duration : one year
Credits : 24 Composition : 3 lectures, 1 tutorial and 1 practical per week
Admission Requirements : Chinese 178 is offered for beginners; no prior knowledge of Chinese is required.

The module is designed to provide basic knowledge of the language including alphabetical Pin Yin, Chinese characters and basic grammar. It enables students to understand, to speak the language in everyday situation and to recognize the Chinese characters.

Generic Outcomes

Students who have completed the course successfully are able to understand and speak Chinese in everyday situation and to recognize the Chinese characters with basic knowledge of components.

Specific Outcomes

After completing the Chinese 178 course successfully, a student is able to

 

Chinese 278
Intermediate study of Chinese language and culture

Current Module Outline (pdf)

Second year level module
Duration : one year
Credits : 32
Composition : 4 lectures, and 1 practical per week
Admission Requirements : Chinese 278 is offered for post-beginners; prior basic knowledge of Chinese is required.

The module is designed to provide further knowledge of the language and culture and extend vocabulary of Chinese characters. It enables students to understand and to read the Mandarin language with

Generic Outcomes

Students who have completed the course successfully are able to understand and speak Chinese in specific communicative situations be able to use new phrases and patterns within the correct context.

Specific Outcomes

After completing the Chinese 278 course successfully, a student is able to

 

Chinese 318
Intermediate level of study the Chinese language and culture

Current Module Outline (pdf)

Third year level module
Duration : one semester (first semester)
Credits : 24
Composition : 3 lectures, 1 practical per week
Admission Requirements : Chinese 318 is offered for intermediate learners; a substantial knowledge of Chinese is required.

The module is designed to provide extensive knowledge of the language and culture and enlarged vocabulary of Chinese characters. It enables students to comprehend, to read and write the Chinese language with more

Generic Outcomes

Students who have completed the course successfully are able to comprehend, and communicate in Mandarin in social communicative situations; to enlarge vocabulary extensively; be able to use the phrases and patterns within the correct context; write short essays with the help of dictionary.

Specific Outcomes

After completing the Mandarin 318 course successfully, students are able to

 

Chinese 348
Intermediate level of study the Chinese language and culture

Current Module Outline (pdf)

Third year level module
Duration : one semester (second semester)
Credits : 24
Composition : 3 lectures, 1 practical per week
Admission Requirements : Chinese 348 is offered for intermediate learners; a substantial knowledge of Chinese is required.

The module is designed to provide extensive knowledge of the language and culture and enlarged vocabulary of Chinese characters. It enables students to comprehend, to read and write the Mandarin language with more

Generic Outcomes

Students who have completed the course successfully are able to comprehend, and communicate in Chinese in social communicative situations; to enlarge vocabulary extensively; be able to use the phrases and patterns within the correct context; write short essays with the help of dictionary.

Specific Outcomes

After completing the Chinese 348 course successfully, students are able to

 

HSK Test Centre offering Chinese Language Proficiency Test

Early in 2007, with the approval of the application for HSK by Hanban, the Chinese Section became the host of the first HSK test centre in Sub-Sahara African Countries. On 27October 2007, the Centre successfully organized the first test (basic level). Nine candidates wrote the test. We plan to organize another test on 18 October 2008.

Mr Feng Lei took part in a working meeting on HSK test in Beijing on 5 and 6 April 2008. It was the first meeting on HSK since the test was first introduced in 1991. The general situation of overseas HSK centres was introduced and discussed. Approaches to improvement were suggested.

Donation

The department is proud that students of Chinese now have excellent learning facilities available to them though the Chinese Multimedia Language Laboratory and the Chinese Seminar Room which form part of the newly launched Centre for Chinese Studies. Both facilities which were equipped with donations from the Chinese government create an authentic learning environment and enable the department to offer a full undergraduate degree in Chinese from 2005, the first of its kind in South Africa. The opening ceremony for the Centre of Chinese Studies was held in the Arts Building on 13 October when China's Deputy Minister of Education Mr Baoqing Zhang visited the campus.

 

Mr Zhang hands over a donation of 1000 Chinese books to the Department's chair Prof. Carlotta von Maltzan, middle: Dr. Martyn Davies, Director of Centre for Chinese Studies
Left to right: Prof. Walter Claasen (Vice-Rector, Research), Dept. Minister Mr Zhang, Chinese lecturer Mrs Xiao Ping Yu, Prof. Hennie Kotze (Dean, Faculty of Arts)

 

 

Useful Links

http://www.ccs.org.za
The Centre for Chinese Studies at the University of Stellenbosch

www.chinalanguage.com
Introduction of the Chinese language and a dictionary for vocabulary

www.chinapage.com
Chinese culture, calligraphy, history and literature

www.chinatoday.com
General information about China

www.chineseculture.about.com
China online including Chinese characters, culture, art, calligraphy, society and entertainment

www.clavisinica.com
Key to the Chinese language, a reading assistant with text, pronunciation and a flash card tool

www.emnes.com
Interactive, self-paced with step-by-step instructions, learn to read, write and speak Chinese

www.mandarintools.com
Tools to learn Chinese and to use the Chinese language on the computer

www.ocrat.com
Animated Chinese characters

www.wenlin.com
A dictionary containing over 10,000 Chinese characters

www.winvue.com
Practical desktop for learning Chinese characters

www.hanban.edu.cn
The Chinese language proficiency test, “Chinese Bridge”, and competition news

www.blcu.edu.cn
Learning the Chinese language in China

 

Updated: 05-Mar-2018