Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1: Is Chinese Studies a credit bearing course?
A: Yes. Chinese Studies 1 and 2 are both offered as a full year credit courses, and are not semesterised.
Q 2: Is Chinese Studies offered as a major?
A: Chinese Studies 3 is now offered as a major.
Q 3: Which dialect do we learn in Chinese Studies?
A: Chinese Studies teaches the Mandarin dialect. Known as ‘Putonghua’ (Common Language) in China, Mandarin is spoken and understood by the majority of the Chinese population, with many people who speak different dialects still being able to converse in Mandarin.
Q 4: Do we learn to write as well as speak the language?
A: Yes. You will be introduced at first to the roman phonetic system of writing and reading called ‘Pinyin’ (Spelling Sound). Later on you will be introduced to Chinese characters and by second year you be reading and writing only in characters using pinyin as a point of reference.
Q 5: Does Chinese Studies encompass Chinese culture as well?
A: Elements of Chinese culture are incorporated in the curriculum but only marginally. The main focus is on the language itself. The Confucius Institute (CI) does however offer students the opportunity to take part in activities and workshops directly related to the learning of Chinese culture (see Question 8).
Q 6: Why is it called the Confucius Institute instead of the Chinese department?
A: While the CI offers courses that fall under Rhodes University’s degree programs, the CI itself is externally funded. As one of roughly 300 CI’s around the globe, the CIRU receives its funding from HANBAN, the executive body of the Chinese Language Council International: a non – governmental and non – profit public institution affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education. HANBAN is committed to developing Chinese language and cultural teaching resources and making its services available worldwide, meeting the demands of overseas Chinese learners, and to contributing to global cultural diversity and harmony.
Q 7: Are there any additional costs for Chinese Studies?
A: There is a course hand-out fee at the beginning of the year. This covers textbooks and interactive materials such as CD’s and DVD’s. Other than that, almost all other activities organised by the CI are offered to its students at no additional charge.
Q 8: Are there any extra-mural activities that take place?
A: The CI offers students the opportunity to engage with Chinese culture at Chinese Culture Corner evenings in which students are taught different traditions and practices relevant to that particular Culture Corner. These include various festivals, and cultural traditions.
The CI also has the opportunity to send its top students in Chinese Studies on a China Summer Camp for Excellent Students at the Hanban’s expense. This trip involves a cultural tour of various Chinese cities across China and a week or so spent at Jinan University (Rhodes’ sister university in Guangzhou, China) learning a variety of Chinese traditional skills and practices. The trip serves as an incentive for students and as an opportunity for those who excel at Chinese Studies to further their knowledge of Chinese culture.
There are several other activities set up throughout the year, which can be viewed here.
Q 9: Is it difficult?
A: Although Chinese is no more challenging than any other language, it requires constant practice and revision. It would be foolish for a student to take up the course as an ‘arb’ or to make up a credit, since current students find that it is one of their most time consuming subjects. The course is however, greatly rewarding, and students are introduced to the language at a comfortable and reasonable pace.
If you have any further questions, email internationaloffice [at] ru.ac.za or M.Ma [at] ru.ac.za
