Diploma in Modern Languages (Chinese)

Course 888-CH (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009.

Year and Campus: 2009
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Undergraduate

Coordinator

Convenor: Dr Du Li Ping

Contact

Enquiries: Arts & Music Student Centre
Rm 104 (Ground Floor) Old Arts Building

Location (PDF, 1027kb)

Tel: +61 3 8344 5235
Fax: +61 3 9347 0424
Search for an answer or send an email via our queries database: http://arts-unimelb.custhelp.com/

Course Overview:

The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. The diploma consists of a three-year sequence of first-, second- and third-year language study and adds one year to the duration of your degree course. You take language subjects alongside your degree subjects in an integrated sequence. The diploma will only be awarded on the completion of your degree course. Students who do not commence the Diploma concurrently with the first year of their degree studies may not be able to complete the Diploma at the same time as the degree. Students enrolled in the DML must complete the course before, or at the same time as their concurrent degree.

Students wishing to undertake an honours or postgraduate diploma program on completion of the DML (100 points) should note that they are required to complete the equivalent of a BA language major (112.5 points) before being eligible for entry to a fourth year level program.

Diploma graduates with the equivalent of a BA language major must have completed a BA degree to be eligible to apply for the BA (Honours), otherwise they may apply to enter the postgraduate diploma.

Objectives:

At the completion of the Diploma, students should:

  • have acquired a mastery of both oral/aural and writing/reading skills comparable to that of a student majoring in a language discipline;

  • have gained a basic understanding of selected aspects of the culture (or cultures) and of the society (or societies) associated with the language.

Course Structure & Available Subjects:

The Diploma consists of a three-year sequence of study in Chinese (Mandarin) language, totalling 100 points. The language subjects will be taken concurrently with an undergraduate degree in an integrated sequence and will normally add one year to the duration of a student's degree course.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that s/he meets the requirements of the Diploma by enrolling in the correct number of subjects at the appropriate year level and within the rules outlined for the relevant language stream of the DML.

The DML (Chinese) is offered in the beginners, post-VCE, and Chinese background streams. Chinese subjects are taken alongside degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. This must be approved by a home faculty student adviser. All students are required to attend an interview and/or placement test to determine subject enrolment (see above).

Students wishing to undertake Chinese language study as part of an exchange program may credit their studies towards the DML. However, such students should contact the Chinese Language Program Convenor in their first year of study to ensure that their study plan can accommodate exchange study in their DML.

Subject Options:

Beginners Stream

The beginners stream is for students who have little or no knowledge of Chinese. It is available to students at both first and second year, although students intending to complete a major will need to commence their language study in their first year.

Beginners Stream - First Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Beginners Stream - Second Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Beginners stream - Third Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Post-VCE

The post-VCE stream is usually only available to students with no background in Chinese who have obtained a pass in VCE Chinese or its equivalent.

Post-VCE stream - First Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Post-VCE stream - Second Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Post-VCE stream - Third Year

Three third-year subjects selected from the following:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.500
Semester 1
12.500

Students with a Chinese-speaking background

Two different levels are available to students who are from a Chinese-speaking background:
  • minimal literacy
  • limited literacy
Placement in one of these levels depends on a number of factors, such as spoken competence in Mandarin or a Chinese dialect and ability to read and write Chinese characters.

The Asia Institute determines the language stream in which a student is to enrol. For all students the subject(s) they enrol in will be determined by the Institute after an interview. Placement is based on the interview, VCE results, other language study record and, if necessary, a placement test. Interviews and placement tests will be held in the week preceding the first week of semester. No student may attend class without first attending an interview and/or placement test.

Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered according to the student's needs as determined by the Institute. As far as possible, the Institute will notify students of any changes to their stream enrolment during the first two weeks of semester.

Knowledge of written Chinese limited to approximately 500 characters (Minimal Literacy)

First Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Second Year

Chinese 5A

Chinese 5B

and one of

Chinese Cinema

Modern Chinese Literature

Great Chinese Classics

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Third Year

Three of the following subjects:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Pass in VCE-Chinese or equivalent (limited literacy)

First Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Second Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.500
Semester 2
12.500

Third Year

Three third-year subjects selected from the following:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Entry Requirements:

The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) is only available to students who are currently enrolled in a non-New Generation undergraduate degree course at the University of Melbourne. The DML must be completed alongside your degree studies and can only be awarded on the completion of your degree.

For continuing students, selection into the Diploma is based upon the weighted average of subjects across your entire course. For first-year students, eligibility is based on your ENTER score. The entry cut-off fluctuates from year-to-year. It is determined by the number of places available and the number of applications received.

For combined degree students and students from faculties other than arts, entry to the Diploma requires the approval of both the Faculty of Arts and the other faculty.

Core Participation Requirements:

The Diploma will be available to students with no prior knowledge of a language as well as to those who have completed several years of study (for instance, as part of the VCE).

Your stream enrolment depends on your previous language experience and is determined by the relevant School.

The Asia Institute will determine the language stream in which you can enrol, based on VCE results, other language study records and in some cases a placement test.

Further Study: Suitably qualified students studying Chinese in the Institute may undertake language study overseas for credit towards their degree. Opportunities for in-country study are provided by the subject Intensive Chinese Program: China or through the University of Melbourne's student exchange program. Interested students should consult the Arts and Music Student Centre for approval to receive credit for such studies.
Graduate Attributes: See course objectives
Generic Skills: All arts subjects provide students with transferable generic skills that prepare them for further study and the workplace.

As a result of attendance at scheduled classes, participation in planned activities and discussion groups, and timely completion of essays and assignments, arts graduates should acquire transferable generic skills in the following areas:

  • research

    through competent use of the library, electronic databases, and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;

  • critical thinking and analysis

    through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

  • thinking in theoretical terms

    through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;

  • thinking creatively

    through essay writing, creative writing, tutorial discussions and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence and by critical analysis;

  • understanding of social, ethical and cultural context

    through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument;

  • communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically

    through essay writing and tutorial and seminar discussion;

  • written communication

    through essay preparation and assignment writing;

  • public speaking

    through tutorial and seminar discussion and class presentations;

  • attention to detail

    through essay preparation and writing, and examination revision;

  • time management and planning

    through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision;

  • teamwork

    through joint projects and group discussions.

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