Non-degree Programme for Chinese Language

The Centre for Chinese Language and Culture

The Centre for Chinese Language and Culture, which is part of The School of Foreign Languages, offers non-degree Chinese language courses for overseas students.

Course Levels

Our centre provides ten levels of Chinese language courses.  There are four elementary levels (Chuji 1, 2, 3, 4), four intermediate levels (Zhongji 1, 2, 3, 4) and two advanced levels (Gaoji 1, 2).  Each course is for one semester (17 weeks) in duration, and students will generally not move classes during that semester. Students are allocated to levels mainly according to the results of their placement exam. Our centre arranges 20 periods of classes per week.

1. · Chuji 1 is for absolute beginners.
2. · Chuji 2 is for those who know Pinyin and a little bit of basic Chinese.  (Studied previously for less than 50 hours.)
3. · Chuji 3 is for those who know five to six hundred words.  (Studied previously for about 300 hours.)
4. · Chuji 4 is for those who know seven to eight hundred words.  (Studied previously for about 350 hours.)
5. · Zhongji 1 and 2 are for those who know more than 1200 words.  (Studied previously for about 600 – 650 hours.)
6. · Zhongji 3 and 4 are for those who know more than 2500 words.  (Studied previously for about 900 – 950 hours.)
7. · Gaoji 1 and 2 are for those who know more than 4000 words.  (Studied previously for more than 1200 hours.)

For those who study for more than one semester at our centre, it is typical to move up two levels at the beginning of the next semester.  For example, if a student is in Chuji 1 for the first semester, then he or she will be in Chuji 3 for the second semester (assuming he or she passes the course).  Those who fail the course, or feel that they are struggling to keep up, will move up just one level (for example, from Chuji 1 to Chuji 2).

Classes Provided

Each course consists of a number of compulsory classes, which will typically be taught by different teachers.  These compulsory classes are:

Normal Chuji 1-4:

Reading and Writing (12 periods per week)

1. · Pinyin (for Chuji 1 only)
2. · Vocabulary and grammar
3. · Character reading and writing

Speaking (four periods per week)

1. · Topic-centred conversations
2. · Focus on functional everyday expressions

Listening (four periods per week)

1. · Focusing on listening comprehension
2. · Improve listening skills

Zhongji 1-4 and Gaoji 1-2:

Intensive Reading (four to six periods per week)

1. · Vocabulary and grammar
2. · Focus on written Chinese

Extensive Reading (four periods per week)

1. · Vocabulary building through reading
2. · Improve reading skills

Speaking (four periods per week)

1. · Focus on authentic oral expressions
2. · Focus on expressing ideas

Listening (four periods per week)

1. · Focus on listening comprehension
2. · Improve listening skills

Audio Listening (four periods per week, for Zhongji 4 and above only)

1. · Encounter with authentic audio materials

Writing (two periods per week)

1. · Designed around different writing genres
2. · Improve writing skills

Optional classes:

We provide about ten different optional classes each semester.  These classes include Characters, Elementary Reading, Elementary Writing, Cantonese, HSK Tutorial, News Reading, Chinese History, Chinese Songs, Taiji and Calligraphy.These classes are free to all full-time students enrolled in our School, to a maximum of four periods per week.  Classes start in the first week.