Introduction to University Programs

The university offers a range of programs for international students, including Chinese language training and preparatory education for undergraduate studies.

Chinese Training Plan for Preparatory International Students

Subjects

International students shall receive preparatory education for Chinese language for any formal education. However, in any of the following cases, the Chinese language study can be exempted:

• The applicant has completed secondary education in Chinese language.
• The applicant has got standard HSK-4 results required by universities. HSK results are valid for two years in principle.

General Training Objectives

To improve the applicant's Chinese language skills, capability, other related knowledge and cross-culture capability so that he/she can meet the basic requirements for higher education in China, after pre-school study, the applicant shall have the following knowledge and capabilities:

1. Chinese language and cross-cultural communication skills. A preliminary knowledge of Chinese culture and society. Capability of fixing daily problems with Chinese language knowledge and skills. A command of Chinese language basic vocabulary and grammar. A command of vocabulary for special disciplines and common expressions for scientific and technical Chinese language. Capability of listening, writing and asking questions in Chinese in professional classes. Preliminary skills to read Chinese professional documents with the help of reference books and written language skills required by further study.
2. Language proficiency shall meet the following criteria: HSK shall reach level 4 or above for applicants for science, engineering, agriculture, medical (excluding traditional Chinese medicine), economics, law, management and/or education. HSK shall reach level 6 or above for applicants for literature, history, philosophy and/or traditional Chinese medicine studies.
3. With a certain degree of professional knowledge: preparatory students of Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine should master Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science and other knowledge that the profession requires. Preparatory Students of Economics, Law, Management and Education should master necessary Mathematics, Computer Science and other know-how; preparatory Students of History, Literature, Philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine should master critical knowledge on Ancient Chinese and Computer Science.

Study Period

In principle, the study lasts for 1-2 school years. Among them, for new preparatory Students without language capacity in Chinese, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine (Except For Traditional Chinese Medicine), Economics, Law, Management, Education and other disciplines of pre-school education require 1 school year (40 weeks). Literature, History, philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine preparatory education generally require 2 school years (80 weeks). For students who know Chinese, learning time can be adjusted.

Curriculum and Teaching Methods

We adopt intensive education, adhere to the combination of language teaching and professional knowledge teaching, and focus on language teaching, supplemented by professional knowledge teaching. Preparatory courses include compulsory and elective courses. The proportion of the two can be flexible in light of the realities in the preparatory school.

Preparatory Course Plan

• Language
  • Compulsory: Chinese Reading and Writing, Chinese listening and speaking
  • Elective: HSK counseling
• Culture
  • Compulsory: Chinese culture, China profile
• Professional Courses
  • Compulsory: Basic Mathematics, Science and technology
  • Elective: Basic chemistry, Basic physics, Business Chinese language
• Language Practice
  • Elective: Cultural Practice

Training Plan for Chinese Language Learners

Training Objectives

Rapid growth of China's economy and international influence attract more and more international students to come to China to study Chinese language and culture. To help those who love Chinese language and culture to improve their Chinese language proficiency and their knowledge of Chinese culture, we start short-term and mid-long term Chinese language training courses.

Eligibility

1. Graduate from senior high school or above;
2. Aged above 18 & below 50, healthy;
3. Foreign nationals with credible financial guarantee and guardian;
4. Friendly to China, without criminal record.

School Register and Routine Management

School of International Studies is the main authority for teaching and management. Refer to Rules for Management of International Students in Taiyuan University of Technology for details.

Training Objectives

The programs are intended to help students to build their Chinese language systems in a short period through study of Chinese language vocabulary and grammar, master certain Chinese language knowledge, improve their comprehensive Chinese communication capability and get them well prepared for further study and promote students' understanding of Chinese culture through abundant cultural experiencing activities.

Periods of Study Available

Periods of study available are 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 32 weeks. The courses will factor into listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, lecturing combined with language and cultural experiencing activities. Training objectives are varied according to students' Chinese language proficiency and study period.

Table 1 Study Levels, Periods and Training Objectives

• Entry Level: Start from zero, or have learned Chinese Pinyin, and a little vocabulary, can not express in one whole sentence or in one complete clause, can not speak fluent Chinese
  • 4W: After 4-week study, students can read Chinese Pinyin; has a vocabulary of around 100 characters; can understand and use simple language phrases and sentences; capable of basic communication and ready for further Chinese language study.
  • 8W: After 8-week, students can have a vocabulary of around 200 Chinese characters and have simple and direct communications with familiar daily topics.
  • 16W: After 16-week intense study, students have a vocabulary of around 1000 Chinese characters; have learned basic grammar, major syntactic patterns; have continual conversation towards simple topics; can express in simple clause and reach preliminary Chinese language level.
  • 32W: After 32-week study, students have a vocabulary of around 2000~2200 Chinese characters; have completed preliminary Chinese language grammar training and learned basic usage of vocabulary; can have discussion on a wider topics and can have fluent communications with native speakers.
• Preliminary Level: Can have discussion regarding general topics, can express in paragraphs, with right intonation, appropriate speed, coherent, appropriate wording, with certain flexibility for language expression.
  • 4W: After 4-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 1200~1400 Chinese characters; have learned major Chinese syntactic patterns; can have discussions on a wider topic and can communicate fluently with native speaker.
  • 8W: After 8-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 1400~1500; have completed study of preliminary Chinese grammar training; can express in paragraphs; and can communicate with native speakers fluently.
  • 16W: After 16-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 2400~2500 Chinese characters; can read Chinese newspapers, magazines; can enjoy Chinese TV & movies and can give complete speeches in Chinese.
  • 32W: After 32-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 4400~4500 Chinese characters and completed study of intermediate level Chinese grammar and usage of lexicons.
• Intermediate Level: Can have discussion regarding general topics, can express in paragraphs, with correct intonation, normal speed, coherent, appropriate wording, with certain flexibility for language expression.
  • 4W: After 4-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 2200~2400 Chinese characters; can read Chinese newspapers and magazines; and can watch Chinese movies.
  • 8W: After 8-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 2300~2500 Chinese characters; can deliver personal opinions in systematic & appropriate Chinese language.
  • 16W: After 16-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 3000~3500 Chinese characters; studied certain intermediate level grammar and lexicons; with flexibility to use Chinese language.
  • 32W: After 32-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 4000~4500 Chinese characters; have completed intermediate level grammar and lexicons training; can understand Chinese newspaper, TV and broadcast News by listening; and can deliver opinions systematically and completely.
• Advanced Level: Can understand news in Chinese newspaper, broadcast and TV by reading and listening. Can systematically express own opinion orally or in writing. Can use Chinese language like a Chinese native and has flexibility with use of Chinese language.
  • 4W: After 4-week study, students have a vocabulary of 3600~4000 Chinese characters; can deliver personal opinions systematically and completely; can express appropriately and comply with Chinese language usage and rules.
  • 8W: After 8-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 4000~4500; can easily understand Chinese either by reading or listening; can fluently express personal opinions in either speaking or writing.
  • 16W: After 16-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 4500~5000 Chinese characters, can express personal opinions systematically and completely orally or in writing; language expression compliant with Chinese language usage and rules; with flexibility to use Chinese language.
  • 32W: After 32-week study, students can have a vocabulary of 5500~6000 Chinese characters; have received training on advanced grammar and discourse; with a brief training on Chinese rhetoric.

Courses

1. Theory:

• Entry level: Listening and speaking complemented by reading and writing. Listening and speaking are highlighted, comprehensive courses are the stem course and skill training courses such as oral Chinese, listening and Chinese characters are provided.
• Preliminary level: Comprehensive course, oral Chinese and listening are major courses, complemented by reading and writing to be more specific to training objectives.
• Intermediate level: Compulsory and optional courses are adopted for teaching. Compulsory courses include comprehensive course, oral Chinese, listening, reading, writing, language practice and optional courses such as HSK preparation, China country overview, Shanxi history and culture, contemporary topics, idioms and Chinese movies taking into account of students' personal traits, Chinese language proficiency, study requirements.
• Advanced level: Courses are mainly provided to promote learner's Chinese communication capability and understanding to China. The comprehensive course and oral Chinese are major courses. Reading, writing, movie-watching, listening and speaking, introduction to ancient Chinese language and language practice are complemented to enrich the study.

2. Language Practice Activities: Language practice activities intend to provide opportunities for learners to practice and apply Chinese language, 2 courses per week, including: communications with Chinese students, task-based social survey, visit, language competitions (Chinese characters, pinyin, speech and singing).
3. Culture Experiencing Activities: Chinese culture experiencing activities is a featured optional course for short-term training program, which includes Chinese calligraphy, drawing, paper cutting, Taiji, tea ceremony and culture lecture and one large scale Chinese Culture Day for Chinese language learners to experience Chinese culture and language.

Table 2 List of Courses

• Language:
  • Compulsory: Comprehensive Chinese language, listening, reading, oral Chinese, writing
  • Optional: Chinese language elements: Chinese character, idiom, proverbs and two-part allegorical saying (Chinese Xiehouyu), Movie appreciation, Exercise: HSK comprehensive exercise
• Culture Experiencing Activities:
  • Eating & drinking, music, calligraphy, Chinese drawing, Chinese chess, paper cutting, Taiji and traditional Chinese sports.
• Practice:
  • Language & culture practice: Visit museum, places of interest; watch art TV program, Chinese performance, Chinese singing competition, essay writing competition, communications with Chinese students, task-based social survey, visits.