There is no limit in learning.
~ Chinese Proverb ~
As the dominant global language, widely taught in schools around the world, English is spoken by a large number of Chinese people. But how many native English speakers understand the Chinese language?
Have you ever considered learning Chinese?
Despite China's rapid rise to economic power, there is still the prevailing attitude among Australian people, business owners in particular, that it's okay because everyone speaks English.
If you disagree and can see the advantages — both personal and career — of being able to communicate in Chinese, there are a wide range of options when it comes to the study of Chinese. From informal (and sometimes free) culture and conversation classes to tertiary diploma, bachelor, honours and master degree courses, you will soon be working towards advancing your career or planning your self-guided tour of China.
Isn't Chinese Difficult?
Study of any foreign language is difficult but, yes, Mandarin is known to be very complicated. With the sole use of thousands of characters when reading and writing, along with a diverse vocabulary and grammar, and tonal pronunciation, a student can feel very overwhelmed and intimidated initially.
It is well known that the younger you are, the more receptive you are to being able to pick up and apply new skills. So, if you are not exactly young, surely Chinese will be impossible to learn.
Think again. If you are committed and interested, you can learn and master anything.
Plus, there are proven benefits to your brain health, including memory, when you learn a language. Your listening skills will also improve and you'll be able to differentiate between the different sounds and tones before too long.
The ability to communicate, through writing as well as speaking, in Chinese can be a huge career boost, especially given an increasing number of business owners are preferencing people with foreign language skills.
In addition to the health and career advantages, there is also a growing interest in the culture and history of China (and other Chinese-speaking countries). Of course, language and culture are intrinsically linked and more students are coming to realise this.
As an added challenge, there are at least ten other dialects apart from modern standard Mandarin. making it just that little bit harder to understand the locals in more remote regions of China, many of whom may themselves only understand a smattering of Mandarin.
Grasp the challenge with both hands though and enjoy the learning process.
Options For Learning Chinese
There really is no shortage of Chinese language teachers and tutors. Students can choose from informal conversation lessons once a week, intensive programs at a language school, tertiary level degrees or private one-on-one tuition. There's something for everyone.
Before you give up because you can't find a Mandarin course or teacher in your local area, remember that Superprof has a large number of tutors and you can study Chinese with them online if needed.
Superprof tutors are a great option and are always more flexible, with both scheduling and content of lessons, than a formal course. You can ask your tutor to focus on reading and writing skills, building your character knowledge, pronunciation, grammar or technical vocabulary. Students can also use private tuition to supplement their formal degree studies, to get extra practice or to study for an exam.
Of course, at a language school, you will have group lessons meaning you get speaking practice with other students. There's also the opportunity to participate in cultural events that may be organised for the student body.
A Few Disadvantages To Be Aware Of
It's important to be aware of the downside of language study too.
Price
Language studies are not cheap — particularly if you want to enrol at a languages school or apply for a tertiary degree course. Students also need to commit for more than one semester.
Time
Sometimes, finding a lesson time that fits your schedule is impossible. Daytime classes don't work for every student and evening lessons aren't always an option either. The most popular times also fill quickly.
Personality
Learning a language can be confronting for many students. Finding a teacher you feel comfortable with can sometimes take a while. The 'wrong' teacher means you won't learn.
A student needs to know when and how they learn best.
The Best Places To Study Chinese In Australia
Throughout Australia, there are numerous Chinese education options available at the tertiary level.
You can also find an amazing Chinese course on Superprof!
Open Universities Australia
If you want to study online, a great place to start your search is on the Open Universities Australia platform. Here you can compare all the universities offering online study programs, the degrees they offer and the subjects. Make your choice, enrol and you're set.
Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute is housed in a number of Australian universities. Students can enrol in standard Mandarin courses, programs for career development or preparation programs for senior secondary exams.
University of Sydney (UoS)
The Department of Chinese Studies at UoS offers a range of undergraduate degree courses, both diploma and bachelor level, as well as Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy courses with a major in Chinese.
University of Western Australia (UWA)
UWA offers a Chinese Studies major, which can be taken as degree-specific or the first major in undergraduate degrees such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours).
Deakin University (DU)
Located in Victoria, Deakin University offers a Diploma of Chinese, a number of undergraduate degrees (including Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of International Studies) and a Master of Arts.
University of Queensland (UoQ)
The Institute of Modern Languages at UoQ offers short courses in Mandarin for beginners and continuing level students, along with a high school enrichment program. The university's School of Language and Culture offers a range of undergraduate diploma and bachelor degrees, dual and honours degrees, graduate certificate courses and a Master of Arts in Chinese Interpretation and Translation.
RMIT University
At RMIT, students can select Chinese as their major in a Bachelor of International Studies. Students can also choose Chinese as an elective subject in any other course of study.
Australian National University (ANU)
Students can study both Mandarin and Cantonese at the ANU in the Australian capital. There are a range of undergraduate degree programs available. For postgraduate students, Chinese can be selected as the major for courses including Master of Translation, Master of Linguistics and Master of International Relations.
University of Melbourne
Melbourne Uni has one of the largest undergraduate Chinese language programs at diploma and bachelor level in Australia. Postgraduate students can study a Master of Modern Languages Education as well as incorporating Chinese into any other program.
University of Wollongong
This NSW university offers a Bachelor of Arts degree for non-native speakers and another pathway for native speakers of Chinese.
University of South Australia (UoSA)
Chinese studies are available as a major, sub-major or minor course of study in a range of undergraduate degrees.
Monash University
There are six entry points into the Chinese Studies program, from complete beginner to the Chinese as a first language pathway. Chinese Studies can be taken as a major, sub-major or minor in any undergraduate or postgraduate degree program.
Macquarie University
Students can learn Mandarin through the Department of International Studies. Chinese studies courses, including literature, history and calligraphy, can be taken in English or in Chinese.
Other Options
It's important to remember that you don't necessarily need to study at a university level if you want to start learning Chinese for your career or personal reasons. There are many other options for people who want to learn business Chinese or simple conversation.
Hutong School
Located in Sydney, the Hutong School teaches Mandarin to students of every level. Programs include business Chinese, Chinese for Tourists and children's classes.
MoTai Mandarin
This private languages institute in Sydney caters for all students from children to adults. They offer general Mandarin, business courses, corporate training and lessons for children and teenagers.
Australasian Centre of Chinese Studies (ACCS)
Students in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart can choose from Mandarin or Cantonese lessons. There are over 20 levels to their comprehensive program, which covers adult and children learners as well as business Chinese. You can participate informally through conversation classes, or enrol in full study programs with a focus on reading and writing, grammar, vocabulary and translation. Most classes are conducted online.
Before you begin your search, find out more about how to prepare and what else you need to know.
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