<p>Hey kfc4u, I think I have a question! I'm considering taking Chinese 1-3 or Chinese 1A-3A for remedial purposes (and to get 12 units for Fall Quarter). Do you know if we need to take the Chinese Placement Test if we want to enroll in Chinese 1 (and not Chinese 1A)? I'm getting conflicting statements from various online sources. The UCLA registar site says:</p>
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Beginning students and those who can speak some Mandarin, read and write some characters, and intend to enroll in Chinese 1A thru 3A in 2006-07 must take the Elementary Level Placement Test (a 60-minute written examination followed by a 5-minute interview).
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However, the Chinese Department FAQ says this contradicting statement:
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Starting from Winter 2006, all students, regardless of their background, need to take the
placement test.
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Which one is correct? Also, if someone is decent at spoken Mandarin but forgot how to read/write most Chinese (especially simplified), which series should he/she take, the normal series or the A-series? In general, has anyone ever gotten dropped from a language class for doing unreasonably well? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I'm pretty fluent in Chinese (that is to say that I can read novels/newspaper, speak, and write).. so my question is, should I give myself a break by taking chinese (and probably boosting my GPA), or should I try a different language, for example, spanish (of which I took for 4 years in high school.. but failed miserably on the AP test with a 2!!!) Any input?</p>
<p>to the best of my knowledge, those who are enrolling in chinese 1A or chinese 1 dont technically need to take a placement exam. i mean, you'd fail it anyway. i signed up for 1A w/o ever taking the placement exam, and my friend did the same for chinese 1. maybe the policy was implemented cuz too many people are taking chinese 1/1A when they should be in a higher level. i guess you can walk into the placement exam, and they'll probably say if you cant write anything, then just walk out. </p>
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Also, if someone is decent at spoken Mandarin but forgot how to read/write most Chinese (especially simplified), which series should he/she take, the normal series or the A-series?
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<p>you should take the A-series, which is taught in mandarin. they expect students who have decent speaking and listening comprehension, but no written background. chinese 1 will seem like a drag cuz there will actually be people who dont know a single word of mandarin. </p>
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In general, has anyone ever gotten dropped from a language class for doing unreasonably well?
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<p>i dont think so haha.</p>
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I'm pretty fluent in Chinese (that is to say that I can read novels/newspaper, speak, and write).. so my question is, should I give myself a break by taking chinese (and probably boosting my GPA), or should I try a different language, for example, spanish (of which I took for 4 years in high school.. but failed miserably on the AP test with a 2!!!) Any input?
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</p>
<p>you should take whatever youre interested in. you'll probably learn more and do better in it if youre interested in it.</p>
<p>hm if i really want to learn mandarin/chinese, should i take it as a 4th class behind math32a/engcomp3/ge? would that be ok or should i drop the GE and take that later?</p>
<p>you should take mandarin later. i think adding mandarin to your schedule would be too much for an incoming freshman. try taking it your 2nd year.</p>
<p>Is mandarin really that hard to learn? :s And is it really better to take a language after your first year since you'll mainly be fulfilling GE's most of the year? .-. I can't decide whether to get rid of my GEs first or learn chinese...x_x</p>
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I can't decide whether to get rid of my GEs first or learn chinese
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so you guys suggest to take mandarin 2nd year and take GE's 1st year???
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<p>there's students from all year levels (1st year to grad students) who take the chinese 1-3 sequence. so really it's on personal preference when you want to take chinese. it did seem like most of my classmates were 2nd years though. you can take chinese (or a foreign language) during your 1st year of course, just make sure you dont overload yourself with other courses. </p>
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i really want to learn how to speak fluent mandarin, and how long will that take?
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<p>are you a native speaker? if so, i would GUESS maybe after chinese 6 to be fluent? fluent like youre almost an asian immigrant or parent. if youre not a native speaker, you'd probably need to take the upper div chinese 100 sequence. of course, fluency isnt exactly determined by what class you take. fluency is developed from continually using the language and practicing it everyday, preferably in a country where the language is native so you can be immersed in it (go study abroad!). i suspect only a rare few of the students who take chinese classes only are as fluent as their parents. but most people can be "fluent" enough to told any normal conversation on most topics.</p>
<p>well for me, i speak cantonese and have gone to chinese school, but i've forgotten much how to read/write. is it fairly easy to learn mandarin if you already know how to speak cantonese? also what series should i take and you suggest 2nd year?</p>
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Is it required that you finish GEs in two years though?
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<p>no, u just have to finish it before you graduate. most people like to get rid of them early, but some like to balance their harder classes with a GE throughout the quarters. </p>
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econ 1 math 31B ge and chinese 2? x.x for second quarter...~_~
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<p>no. just make sure u either took chinese 1 in the fall or placed into chinese 2.</p>
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well for me, i speak cantonese and have gone to chinese school, but i've forgotten much how to read/write. is it fairly easy to learn mandarin if you already know how to speak cantonese? also what series should i take and you suggest 2nd year?
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<p>for the chinese A-series, it is completely taught in mandarin. if your chinese school was taught in mandarin, you should be fine. if you're from norcal and went to one of those rare cantonese schools, then no. if you speak cantonese but u can hold a decent convo in mandarin (even with a heavy accent), then you should be okay in the A-series. see where you fit in before and decide which series to take based on that. </p>
<p>its ok not to know how to read or write. the professor and TA's in the A-series expect to have a good number of students who dont know how to do both. but they expect you to be able to listen in mandarin and speak in mandarin. </p>
<p>i guess it's somewhat easy to learn mandarin if youre a cantonese speaker. really depends if you've been exposed to mandarin before. most cantos are in the regular chinese series. a few cantos (including myself) are in the chinese A-series.</p>
<p>Thanks, kfc4u... Another question: how did you get your PTE number if you didn't take the Chinese Placement Test? Didn't your Chinese 1A professor/TA check your test score to verify that you took the test before assigning you the proper PTE number on the first day? For all he/she knows, you could have been a fluent Chinese master and the department would have no idea which PTE number to assign to you (1A, 2A, 3A, etc.) since the corresponding PTE numbers are different for each course. :rolleyes:</p>
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how did you get your PTE number if you didn't take the Chinese Placement Test? Didn't your Chinese 1A professor/TA check your test score to verify that you took the test before assigning you the proper PTE number on the first day? For all he/she knows, you could have been a fluent Chinese master and the department would have no idea which PTE number to assign to you (1A, 2A, 3A, etc.) since the corresponding PTE numbers are different for each course.
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<p>if i remember correctly, i showed up at the chinese placement exam. she said if u dont know how to write anything, just walk out and just show up at the first day of the chinese 1A lecture section that you want. that's where the professor would give the PTE number (which is in the appropriate lecture that you want to enroll in). </p>
<p>i would think if you're walking into chinese 2 or chinese 3, then you'd need to show your test scores to get your PTE. but for people who placed themselves in chinese 1, i dont think you need the placement test score, unless it's a new policy.</p>
<p>hope that makes sense. basically, you have to show up at the appropriate class level first before they give you a PTE. they dont give you the PTE at the placement exam since they wouldnt know where to place you.</p>
<p>kfc4u, so you still recommend the regular series for Cantos? I mean, I'm feeling a little ambitious but I'm not sure if I can handle Mandarin. I never went to Chinese school, but I can comprehend some of it when it's spoken. Also, how do you recommend taking Chinese? One class a year, or all of them in one year?</p>
<p>Seconding collegegirlgirl's question as well.</p>