<p>so i've been told to major in something i want to learn more about, and something i can see myself studying. i always wanted to be fluent in this language. i learned it informally my whole life. i can speak Cantonese fluently, and can read and write some traditional characters. </p>
<p>But I'm not sure whether to major in it or not. I like this subject a lot, and have a lot of fun studying for it. I took a few classes, and I enjoyed it, and got good grades too. But if I were to do anything serious with it, China uses simplified characters, so I would have to learn simplified characters, which shouldn't be too hard, if I can read one form already. And I don't know what I would do with this major after I graduate. Honestly, I don't really like to work with Chinese people for business... if you know what I mean. >< </p>
<p>I enjoy the topic and learning about it, but I don't really know if I want to use it. Does that make sense... I know it's strange. I like to know how to speak it, but not actually speak it. I just like to know what people my kind are saying without having them know. okay, please don't mock me. i'm not trying to be funny. </p>
<p>But I was wondering, since i like this subject so much, I could turn it into a hobby and just learn it on my own. But I find I'm lacking some motivation right now... = = and studying it in a class is much funner</p>
<p>I don't really want to double major either, because I'm already in a major that's way too abstract, and I already have a minor...</p>
<p>I'm in the same boat as you are on paragraph 1 and 3.
Anyways, what is your minor and what do you plan to do with that major, or, more importantly, what do you plan to do in the future?</p>
<p>If you plan on taking mandarin 1-4 or even more, then yeah you should do it. No harm in it.</p>
<p>right now, i'm majoring in English, thinking of double majoring in Philosophy, and minoring in math. i have no idea what i want to do in the future. but in the end, as long as i can read and write Chinese fluently, nobody really cares how I learned it, right? It will probably just take me longer to get there if i do it on my own. it actually might be better for me to major in Chinese though, since I hear the economy in China is rising.</p>
<p>You could always like work for the government as a chinese translator, since it's a communist country and I'm sure they'd need qualified people. :) I don't know.</p>
<p>China isnt communist. Not officially that is. But it is still corrupt as hell.
Anyway, there is no way that you can or will get fluent if you self study. It is literally IMPOSSIBLE without speaking and listening because of tones.
Learning to read and write is possible if you already have a strong basis in the language, but i reccomend really maxing out in chinese courses before you try and go on to learning all the bajillions of chinese characters.</p>
<p>well, i have all the tapes to listen to, and i already understand the stroke orders, the pinyin, and can already read a pretty good amount. maybe not every single word, but i get the main concept. well, turns out i'm way too behind to even major in Chinese. the most I can do is a minor anyway. That's only 1 more year of Chinese. I already took 1 year. I don't know how helpful it would be. =/</p>
<p>what do you all suggest for a school with a strong chinese language program and chinese studies that also offers study abroad -- chinese is not necessarily the major but could be -- thanks
have looked at
case western
lawrence
st olaf
... any info appreciated.</p>
<p>iwaveatcows, visit Lawrence. Meet with the faculty, view the program in the fall. If you can't do that then contact admissions and ask them all the questions you need to. They go out of their way to set up programs for their students. There are lots of options for majors, minors in whatever study path you choose and room for change. The percentage of internationals on campus is around 10% with an active Lawrence International house. My son doesn't study Chinese but I know he has been involved with the Japanese students. Best wishes.</p>