Since offering its first Chinese language courses in 1957-1958, the Chinese language program in the Department of Asian Studies receives over 2000 individual registrations annually, making it the largest, most comprehensive program for Chinese Studies in North America.
Curriculum
The Chinese language program offers courses in traditional and simplified Chinese as well as in Chinese Literature. A key strength of the intensive program is its division into two tracks, one for heritage learners and the other for non-heritage learners. This allows our faculty and staff to better accommodate to each students’ academic needs.
Our heritage track is designed for students with a strong background in understanding spoken Chinese but who have weaker reading and writing skills. Our non-heritage track is for foreign language learners with no prior exposure to the Chinese language and therefore need to develop four key skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Placement Procedure
Please note the following:
ALL incoming students who wish to take ANY CHIN, CNTO, or CLCH courses are required to complete the placement procedure whether you’re a new or continuing student. Students who do not follow the placement procedure will be removed from the course.
Step 1: Take the Online QuestionnaireThe online questionnaire will place students into the appropriate level of classes according to their language background. Please fill it in here. Step 2: Understand Your ResultUpon completion of the online questionnaire, the student will receive a certificate email titled “Placement interview completed”. Please first carefully read through your certificate. What to expect?If you are eligible to enrollYou can ignore the prerequisites for your approved courses and register for them on SSC. It is not mandatory for you to sign up for the placement interview. If you are required to do a placement interviewYou have a complex language background and are required to do an additional placement interview in order to better determine your language levels. Please note that the location of the in-person placement interview will take place virtually in ZOOM due to the COVID-19 outbreak. For placement interview for Chinese language courses, the upcoming interview dates and times can be found below. Please enroll yourself to THIS CANVAS COURSE to make an appointment and access the zoom link. For placement interview for Cantonese language courses, please email the Cantonese Language Program at cantonese.info@ubc.ca to schedule an interview. If you have concerns regarding your placementIf you think the placement does not accurately reflect your language level, please sign up for a placement interview. If you have further questions concerning the placement, you can email Chinese.Placement@ubc.ca. Please follow the proper email format found below. Your email title should include FULL NAME and # STUDENT NUMBER, e.g. Robert Smith, #12345678. If you are concerned about your eligibility for a certain course, add the course number at the end, e.g. Robert Smith, #12345678 CHIN233. You can expect to hear back within 48 hours during regular teaching days. During peak registration days, please allow up to 5 days before sending in another email with the same inquiry. You may experience delays if email title convention is not followed. Please note if your question is specifically about CNTO courses, please email the Cantonese Language Program at cantonese.info@ubc.ca. |
All placement interviews will take place virtually in ZOOM due to COVID-19 outbreak.
Please enrol yourself to THIS CANVAS COURSE to make an appointment and access the Zoom link.
| Date | Time |
| January 3, Tuesday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 4, Wednesday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 5, Thursday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 6, Friday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 7, Saturday | 7:00pm-8:00pm |
| January 8, Sunday | 2:00pm-4:00pm |
| January 9, Monday | 10:00am-12:00pm |
| January 10, Tuesday | 10:00am-12:00pm |
| January 11, Wednesday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 13, Friday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 14, Saturday | 10:00am-12:00pm |
| January 15, Sunday | 2:00pm-4:00pm |
| January 16, Monday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 18, Wednesday | 10:00am-12:00pm |
| January 20, Friday | 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| January 22, Sunday | 2:00pm-4:00pm |
| March 1, Wednesday | 10:00am-12:00pm |
| March 17, Friday | 10:00am-12:00pm |
| April 19, Wednesday | 10:00am-12:00pm |
Note: If none of the time above works for you or there are no more available time slots, please email Chinese.Placement@ubc.ca with your available time slots and we will try to accommodate that.
To be exempted for Chinese Language Proficiency, students must take the HSK exam. For the new HSK test, you must attain a Level 3. For the information about HSK test schedule, please visit: http://www.chinesetest.cn/getkdinfo.do?id=817428
If you need more information about the HSK test, please contact them directly via email, to either of
Cicoquitlam@gmail.com or winseychoi@hotmail.com
If you have any concerns about your placement result or scheduling a placement interview, please email chinese.placement@ubc.ca.
Emails should include your full name and student number in the title. If your inquiry is about a certain course, add the course code in the title as well. You may experience delays if the email title convention is not followed.
Please allow between 2 -5 business days before sending in another email with the same inquiry.
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