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Students who will be studying Chinese as a second or foreign language (aka "non-background-speakers")

Students who speak (but not read) a Chinese language fluently

Students who can read Chinese fluently

The following information about typical patterns of progression is offered to assist students with varying levels of proficiency in planning their majors. Of course, if you have already taken senior CHNS credit points under the pre-2006 codes, these will still count towards your major.

Students who will be studying Chinese as a second or foreign language (aka "non-background-speakers")

There is a four-year "ladder" of basic language instruction, with various supplementary options along the way. Only units whose first digit is "2" or higher count towards the major. You can step off with a major after the third level if you take a supplementary option, or you can progress to level four if your degree structure permits this.

The basic "ladder" is structured as follows:

CHNS1101 / 1102, Chinese 1A and 1B (For Beginners)

CHNS2601 / 2602, Chinese 2A and 2B (Lower Intermediate)

CHNS3601 / 3602, Chinese 3A and 3B (Upper Intermediate)

CHNS3603 / 3604, Chinese 4A and 4B (Advanced)

CHNS3605 / 3606, Advanced Chinese Studies A and B

In addition, you are strongly advised to take ASNS1101, Introduction to Chinese Civilisation in the first semester of your first year at university.

Senior electives that will be available in 2009 for you to count towards your major are:

CHNS2611 / 2612, Classical Chinese A and B

CHNS3608/3609, Chinese for Business Purposes A and B

CHNS3633, Lu Xun and China's Modern Literature

CHNS3634, Gender in Modern Chinese Literature

CHNS3642, Governing China: The Premodern Heritage

CHNS3645, Classical Chinese Prose

CHNS2650 to 2657, Chinese In-country Study

ASNS units of study that focus on China can be counted towards an Asian Studies major.

Students who speak (but not read) a Chinese language fluently

If you are already fluent in a Chinese language (e.g., putonghua or Cantonese) but have limited knowledge of characters, you may enter the language program either in a specially designed first-year sequence or at the advanced level, depending on how much you know. Please do not be frightened by the word "advanced." It is a relative term, and you can rest assured that the assigned materials have been chosen with the needs of all appropriately enrolled students in mind.

The first-year sequence:

CHNS1201 / 1202, Chinese 1C and 1D (For Advanced Beginners).

In addition, you are strongly advised to take ASNS 1101, Introduction to Chinese Civilisation in the first semester of your first year.

Core subjects for the major:

CHNS3603 / 3604, Chinese 4A and 4B (Advanced).

Senior electives that will be available in 2009 for you to count towards your major are:

CHNS2611/2612, Classical Chinese A and B

CHNS3605/3606, Advanced Chinese Studies A and B

CHNS3608/3609, Chinese for Business Purposes A and B

CHNS3633, Lu Xun and China's Modern Literature

CHNS3634, Gender in Modern Chinese Literature

CHNS3642, Governing China: The Premodern Heritage

CHNS3645, Classical Chinese Prose

Chinese In-Country Study

ASNS3617, Citizens and Politics in China Today (with permission)

ASNS3619, China and Globalisation (with permission)

Students who can read Chinese fluently

If you can already read Chinese fluently, you can move straight to the study of Chinese society and culture, perhaps taking the time to learn some Classical Chinese first. Here is the recommended program for students who can read Chinese fluently, speak a Chinese language (e.g., putonghua, Cantonese) and would like to study Chinese culture, literature and society in a Western academic context.

The recommended first-year sequence:

ASNS1101, Introduction to Chinese Civilisation

CHNS2612, Classical Chinese B

Senior electives that will be available in 2009 for you to count towards your major are:

CHNS2612, Classical Chinese B

CHNS3633, Lu Xun and China's Modern Literature

CHNS3634, Gender in Modern Chinese Literature

CHNS3642, Governing China: The Premodern Heritage

CHNS3645, Classical Chinese Prose

Chinese In-Country Study

ASNS3617, Citizens and Politics in China Today (with permission)

ASNS3619, China and Globalisation (with permission)