Dear Language Enthusiast,
Welcome to the Chinese newsletter. As fall approaches,
we are all feeling the pull of the back to school season. Even if we do not have children
boarding the bus, the smell in the air, the change of season, and the end of summer
vacation still remind us of school.
That is why we have dedicated this issue to education. We thought you might be interested
in seeing how China differs in its approach to education. We believe that knowing about
the culture gives you an insight into the language. We have also included tips for
ChineseNow! and Power Chinese users, news about our web site, and a new product
announcement. We hope you enjoy it.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
In English:
A school system with a population almost as large as that of the United States? That's
the challenge in China, where 220 million students pose logistical issues almost as tough
as the examinations that Chinese students have dreaded for more than 2000 years.
China mandates nine years of compulsory education: pre-school, elementary and junior high.
Early education is broad, covering language and mathematics as well as values and
morality. Students who go on to senior high school study Chinese and history, math,
science, foreign languages (especially English) and geography.
Students aspiring to higher education must learn all these lessons well, since
universities include "social behavior and moral character" in their admissions
decisions. Each July, two college entrance exams are offered: one in the humanities, the
other in the sciences. If a student passes, he or she may enter the university for
undergraduate programs generally lasting four to five years.
The exam's difficulty, combined with China's brutally hot weather in July, leads many to
speak of "Black July." Students take small comfort in being part of a long
tradition. The Chinese examination system dates back more than 2000 years, when exams were
introduced to recruit for the emperor's civil service.
But this old tradition faces new challenges. Chinese universities, once free, now charge
an annual tuition of 1000-1500 yuan ($120-$180) that can rule out higher education for
poorer families. Teachers are some of the system's worst dropouts. Some years, more than
200,000 quit, largely over annual salaries averaging only $325. Just as in the West, money
will play a key role in determining whether China's education system continues to earn
passing marks.
Sources:
Chinaoninternet
Lock Haven University International Review
Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
Tips for ChineseNow!
Don't be overwhelmed by a Title! You don't have to work with all the text at once. Focus
on a paragraph, a page, or even a single sentence - however you feel comfortable. For a
quick summary and some background information about any Title, choose Help / Author
Introduction while the Title is open. It's a good way to get an idea of what the text is
about.
Numbers are a handy thing to know in any language. Many Titles contain numbered lists. The
sound for these numbers is recorded, just like any other word, so you can learn to count
out loud in Chinese by double-clicking on the numbers.
Tips for Power Chinese:
Click on the Map button for an overview of the topics covered in Power Chinese.
Numbers are a handy thing to know in any language, and section 1 of Power Chinese has
several topics to help you learn them. You'll be counting in Chinese in no time!
