<p>I plan on taking Chinese 8 (an intensive course that covers 1, 2, 3) in the summer. Do I need to take a placement exam before I can enroll in it? The next placement exam is offered at the beginning of Winter Quarter, and I'm not sure if I should bother with it.</p>
<p>bump… Anyone know?</p>
<p>You are not allowed to enroll in the course unless you take the placement exam.</p>
<p>I thought placement exams dont apply to summer intensive language courses, only to the peope who want to take it during the fall winter or spring quarter.</p>
<p>just take it better safe than sorry</p>
<p>And in order to get into the chinese intensive course, you’d have to fail it on purpose in case of accidental higher placefment right?</p>
<p>If I don’t know a lick of Chinese, what am I suppose to do on the Chinese placement exam? Do I just write my name and jot down a few chicken scratches? How long is it anyway?</p>
<p>Try talking to the Chinese department and show them that taking the placement test would be a waste of your time.</p>
<p>Although I really would like to see a non-speaker cram three levels of Chinese in a summer intensive course. I passed out of Spanish with the placement test, so I have no idea how much you’re supposed to know after the third level.</p>
<p>I am not quite sure I know what you mean. Are you saying that taking Chinese 8 would be a bad idea?</p>
<p>I just saying, as a native speaker of Chinese who still struggles with the language, that it will be more difficult to learn coming from an European language’s perspective. Spanish is ridiculously easy to pick up, but having to learn a completely new syntax, pronunciation styles, grammar rules, etc. means the Chinese language will have a steep learning curve.</p>
<p>I am very interested in Chinese. It’s not just a matter of picking up just any language or satisfying UCLA requirements. </p>
<p>btw, how long was the Spanish placement exam?</p>
<p>It was 30ish questions, I want to say? It didn’t take very long at all. However, every language department conducts their placement tests very differently. I think the Chinese placement test has an interview at the end.</p>
<p>Gravyman:</p>
<p>Just go take the placement test, do the best you can (even if it means chicken scratches) and then you’ll definitely be allowed to take Chinese 8.</p>
<p>Talking to the department will only result in them telling you to take the test.</p>
<p>Yes, learning Chinese is a steep learning curve with lots of difficult memory work, but as you said, it’s not about picking up just any language or passing the requirements. If you know this, then I assume you’re clear about the myriad importance on why you want to learn Chinese.</p>
<p>The Chinese placement has a few “fill in the blanks”, a short essay and the interview at the end. As I said, if you know nothing, go for the chicken scratches.</p>
<p>Coldness: If you don’t know the language, there is no chance of a ‘accidental higher placement’. And it’s a placement test, so there is no such thing as a pass or a fail.</p>
<p>Gotlactose: How can you still struggle with the language when you’re a native speaker?</p>
<p>Gotlactose - As long as the person has the desire and drive to learn it, it won’t be horrible. I took Japanese up to level 6 and it wasn’t a problem. I’m sure Chinese is harder, but as with Chinese, there is a whole different grammar structure (Subject, Object, Verb), pronunciation, intonation, etc associated with learning Japanese.</p>