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Studies & Degrees in Chinese Language and Literature (in Universities)

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Chinese Language and Literature (in Universities) Study Programs

Level: Undergraduate Associate     Location: Madrid

Since the opening of China’s door to other countries, its influence to the outside world is flourishing rapidly. It is becoming the fastest and biggest investment economy in the near future. Because of China’s strong economic growth, the study of its language and literature is being offered in many schools to address the high demand of jobs related to its study.

China has two major languages, the Mandarin and Cantonese. From these two, emerged many dialects. A majority of people in mainland China speaks the Mandarin while Hong Kong and Macau speak Cantonese. Their language is interesting because if you listen to them speaking, they refer to the same thing in different languages or dialects but their writing unifies the differences in their language. For instance, the number “3” varies in Cantonese and Mandarin but when they write it, it is the same. Their writing system is expressed by Chinese symbols which are referred to as characters. These are written and read from top to bottom and from right to left.

About billions of people around the world speak Chinese making it the most spoken language. Standard mandarin is the official language of The Republic of China, Taiwan, and one of the official languages of Singapore. Learning spoken Mandarin is sometimes difficult because pronunciations of Chinese words and letters are so closed that sometimes a little twists of the tongue can confuse a native speaker. This is the reason why some enthusiast learners take time to be taught to speak the language correctly. One good effect of this is that Chinese learners of other languages are perfectionists because to them if they do not say the words accurately, they would be misinterpreted.

In regards to the study of Chinese Literature, the coverage varies from school to school. However, in most cases it includes the tracing and development of poetry and its criticisms, its historical context, the pressure exerted by the government and religion. Also the songs, narratives and other forms of literature will be studied in different dynasties from Song to Qing and the present Dynasty.

China’s acceptance of other culture’s influence has opened many opportunities in Chinese Language and Literature graduates. One field where a graduate can venture is to be an interpreter. Its demand is high because they perform crucial roles in attaining successful communication in important communication dealings. In dialogues, discussions and gatherings where Chinese officials deliver their speeches need the help of an interpreter for their message to be conveyed fully well to their audience. Truly the same good chance is to become a translator. Its demand is also booming as there are more and more business transactions being conducted within and outside China. Many foreign companies are now investing in this country because of its robust economy. Of course everybody wants a share of the pie. You can also be a language consultant for Chinese book publications and for incoming students of the same course.

The course will not only let you learn Chinese language and literature but equally important is your understanding in the diverse Chinese culture in depth.

Understanding the literary tradition, background and language of the Chinese people is a way to preserve classic knowledge and work more effectively with Chinese-speaking partners. A course in Chinese language and literature will provide fluency in Chinese, knowledge of important Chinese literary works, and an understanding of Chinese culture. There are several Chinese dialects spoken in the modern world, such as Mandarin, Wu and Hunanese. However, the most widely used form of Chinese is Mandarin, and nearly all universities will offer a course in this dialect.
 
Universities will typically offer a combined course of Chinese language and literature, though the Chinese language can also be studied separately. Sometimes this course will be located under a wider branch of study, such as East Asian Language and Literary Studies. An associate, bachelor and master’s degree are all available in this course of study, with a bachelor’s degree being the most highly preferred.
 
The best places to study Chinese language and literature are in native Chinese-speaking countries, where a student will have constant exposure to the language both during study and elsewhere. Universities in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai and Chengdu are known for having world-class programs in this field of study.
 
If the student does not attend a school in a Chinese-speaking country, then they will most likely attend a study-abroad program that spends several months to a year in China. Some of the most popular Chinese cities for study abroad programs include Beijing, Shanghai and Kunming.
 
Skills, Qualifications, and Prerequisites for Studies in Chinese Language and Literature
 
Students studying Chinese language and literature in universities need to possess any prerequisites required for admission to their school of choice. This typically means earning a secondary school completion certificate, or passing standardized aptitude tests and entry exams.
 
Otherwise, students should have an open mind and invested interest in new cultures. Attention to detail is essential, as well as penmanship, pronunciation capabilities and communication skills. If possible, students should have a significant aptitude for languages or current fluency in a second language.
 
Skills and Qualifications Acquired from Studies in Chinese Language and Literature
Students who pursue a degree in Chinese language and literature will achieve the following skills:
  • Fluency in oral and written Mandarin Chinese.
  • Differences between standard and classical Chinese.
  • Fluency in Chinese literary styles, characteristics, terms and concepts.
  • Mastery of Chinese literary tradition.
  • Mastery of cannon and notable works of Chinese literature.
  • Understanding of Chinese cultural practices.
  • Understanding of relations between Chinese culture and language.
  • Advanced Chinese history, religion and regional studies.
Some students in this field will choose to dual major in another area of study, such as history, film or archeology, in which case additional courses and skills will be required.
 
Careers for Studies in Chinese Language and Literature
 
       &nbs p;    Accomplished students in this field are capable of working across the globe in dozens of countries for various corporate, government, education, travel and public service projects. High percentages become professors and teachers, both overseas and in native countries, while others pursue non-profit work in relief organizations such as the Peace Corps.
 
       &nbs p;     Many graduates become consultants, translators, interpreters, proofreads, writers or editors for educational institutions, government programs, global corporations, news and advertising agencies, airlines, travel companies, publishing companies and even banking systems. Depending on other areas of study, they may become computer programmers, government agents or even research assistants in a variety of fields.