Students seeking to fulfill the University A.B. language requirement must complete up to the second-year level (CHI 107 or equivalent). Heritage learners or students with previous Chinese language study wishing to place out of the language requirement or seeking an accelerated course of study will need to take the Chinese placement test (see Language Placement). Students seeking a Minor in Chinese Language must complete six language courses (two or more of which must be beyond the second-year level).

When to enroll in a language course?

If you are taking a language course to meet the A.B. language requirement, it is advisable to get started during your first semester, or as soon as possible. The recommended path for beginners is to start in the fall with CHI 101/102 elementary sequence, only offered in the fall and spring, respectively, and then take the CHI 105/107 sequence with the Princeton in Beijing (PIB) program during the summer, which will satisfy the language requirement before the start of your sophomore year. An alternative option for beginners is the CHI1001/1002 introductory sequence offered as a spring/fall series at half the pace of CHI 101, which rounds out with CHI 102 in the spring of your second year. After which, you can attend PIB and complete CHI 105/107 before the start of your junior year.

To wait until sophomore year to start your language studies means that you would be completing the language requirement during your junior year, along with junior independent work and departmental courses. If you are entering a language at the 105- or 108-level, you risk forgetting what you know if you wait until sophomore year to fulfill the requirement. The best advice is to complete the language requirement without delay. Remember that a 101-level language course will not count toward your degree unless you take the 102-level course.

Typically, a student with no experience will take the following course sequence

• Year 1: Fall Semester: CHI 101 / Spring Semester CHI 102
• Year 2: Fall Semester: CHI 105 / Spring Semester CHI 107
• Year 3: Fall Semester: CHI 303 / Spring Semester CHI 304
• Year 4: Fall Semester: CHI 403 / Spring Semester CHI 404

A student with some language experience will take the equivalent of two language years in the first academic year:

• Year 1 and 2: Fall Semester: CHI 103 / Spring Semester: CHI 108
• Year 2: Fall Semester: CHI 305 / Spring Semester: CHI 306
• Year 3: Fall Semester: CHI 405 / Spring Semester: CHI 406
• Year 4: Choice of several advanced course options: CHI 301/302 (Classical Chinese); CHI 451/452; CHI 411, CHI 412, or CHI 418

Introductory Chinese (CHI 1001/1002) & Elementary Chinese (CHI 101/102)
An introductory course series in spoken and written modern Chinese, emphasizing oral-aural facility. CHI 1001/1002 is taught at half the instructional pace of CHI 101.

Intensive Elementary Chinese (CHI 103/108)
For beginning heritage learners and students with fair fluency and limited ability in reading and writing. Intensive series covers CHI 101/103 and CHI 105/107 course materials within two semesters.

Intermediate Chinese (CHI 105/107)
An intermediate course series in spoken and written modern Chinese, focusing on daily life scenarios and contemporary cultural/social topics.

Third-Year Modern Chinese (CHI 303/304)
Designed to further develop overall language skills through readings and discussions on topics related to contemporary Chinese society.

Intensive Third-Year Modern Chinese (CHI 305/306)
For students who have familiarity with spoken Mandarin or any Chinese dialect to further develop the overall language skills through readings and discussions on topics related to contemporary Chinese society.

Fourth-Year Modern Chinese (CHI 403/404)
Advanced course series on contemporary topics from Chinese media, Chinese literature, and modern Chinese intellectuals.

Intensive Fourth-Year Modern Chinese (CHI 405/406)
For heritage learners, course series on contemporary topics from Chinese media, Chinese literature, and modern Chinese intellectual history. 

Fifth-Year Modern Chinese (CHI 451/452)
For advanced students, course series further develops Chinese language comprehension, communication skills, and cultural understanding and knowledge in Chinese social linguistics. 

Readings in Modern Chinese Intellectual History (CHI 411/EAS 411)
For advanced students with training in reading Chinese. LA distribution credit. 

Advanced Chinese: Contemporary Literature and Film (CHI 418)
Introduces students to the intellectual and literary development of China after 1949 by sampling literary masterpieces and representative movies. LA distribution credit.

Introduction to Classical Chinese (CHI 301/302)
Introductory course series to classical Chinese grammar and texts with theme-based readings on important cultural aspects of premodern China. HA distribution credit. 

Readings in Classic Chinese Short Stories (CHI 412/EAS 412)
Focuses on reading and discussing selections from Feng Menglong’s Sanyan, the most popular and well-known collection of classic Chinese short stories published in the late 16th century. LA distribution credit.

Practice speaking Chinese with instructors and peers on a weekly basis.

Fall 2023 schedule:

• Mondays, 6:00-7:00 PM
  Yeh College Dining Hall
• Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00 PM
  NCW Dining Hall
• Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 PM
  Whitman College Dining Hall
• Thursdays, 5:00-6:00 PM
  227 Frist Campus Center