Chinese Program

The Chinese Language Program in UCSB‘s Department of East Asian Language and Cultural Studies provides a 4-year, 2-track curriculum, specifically designed for traditional foreign language learners and bilingual learners in Mandarin Chinese.

The language curriculum emphasizes interactive and small group learning experience, provides individual tutorial sessions, and utilizes a technology-enhanced learning environment. Content-based instruction and cooperative learning are emphasized in upper-level courses.

Language courses cover both contemporary vernacular Mandarin Chinese and classical literary language. The program strives to provide a holistic learning experience in both culture and language. The following are the courses that we offer for each quarter.

Course Title	Fall Quarter	Winter Quarter	Spring Quarter
Elementary Modern Chinese	Chin 1/Chin 1NH	Chin 2/Chin 2NH	Chin 3/Chin 3NH
Intermediate Modern Chinese	Chin 4/Chin 4NH	Chin 5/Chin 5NH	Chin 6
Third-Year Chinese	Chin 122A	Chin 122B	Chin 122C
Advanced Chinese in Practice	Chin 127 A	Chin 127 B	Chin 118
Introduction to Classical Chinese	Chin 101 A	Chin 101 B

CHINESE Language Placement Test for Winter 2025

Students who have studied Chinese or speak it at home, MUST take the Placement Test in order to enroll in Chinese language classes at UCSB (except CHIN 1).

The next Chinese Placement Test will be on Friday, March 28, 2025 from 10:00am-12:00pm
–> Please sign up for the test using this FORM

About the Chinese Placement Test

The Placement Test will be online and consists of two parts:
Part 1: listening, reading and typing (90 minutes) on Canvas
Part 2: Interview (10 minutes) on Zoom

:: How to prepare for the Placement Test ::
Review the materials (textbooks) of the courses you have taken before.

Materials that we use:

First-Year Chinese (Chin 1-2-3) <Ni Wo TA> Developing Chinese Fluency: An introductory Course

Second-year Chinese (Chin 4-5-6) < Transitions: Developing Chinese Fluency: Intermediate Chinese

If you have questions, please contact the Chinese Language Coordinator:
Bella Chen at〈bellachen@eastasian.ucsb.edu〉

Please Note: The Chinese Language Placement Tests are ONLY for students who plan to take a Chinese language course or need to be evaluated for the Chinese Major or Minor or the Asian Studies Major.

If you are not an EALCS Major or Minor and are not planning to test into or enroll in Chinese language classes at UCSB:

Please sign up for the CHINESE LANGUAGE EVALUATION for students who need to clear the Area B GE (3 quarters) or who need to clear several quarters of Chinese for their Majors and Minors.

Please sign up for the CHINESE EVALUATION with this Form.

Classical Chinese Placement Test for FALL 2024

Please email Prof. Thomas Mazanec (mazanec@ucsb.edu) to arrange a placement test for Classical Chinese. The test is offered once a year, during the first week of the quarter in which Chinese 101A is offered (Fall 2024) and will require you to produce an accurate English translation of the literal meaning of a brief Classical Chinese text. Consulting dictionaries and other resources is permitted. Email Prof. Mazanec for further details. Note: This is for Classical Chinese (文言文), not Modern Mandarin Chinese. For Modern Mandarin Chinese, please follow the instructions above.

Chinese Language Program Activities

The Chinese program hosts various events and activities throughout the academic year. These activities allow students to explore Chinese culture in a relaxed setting that encourages interaction. Past events have included:

Festival Celebrations: Mid-Autumn Welcome Tea Party, Snowy Moon cakes making, Halloween Special Event, Lunar New Year Celebration, Lanterning Painting.

Cultural Experiences: Chinese music appreciation and tea tasting, Taiwan Indigenous Bookmark Making, Rice Exploration and Mochi Making, Mahjong and Board Games, Opera mask painting, blue and white porcelain painting, scallion pancakes making, Karaoke Night, Movie Night and Hotpot dinner and more.

Extra-curricular activities organized by the Chinese program are also an integral part of the language courses. Participants come from students of all levels.

Chinese Corner

Students who are enrolled in our language classes are encouraged to participate in Chinese Corner, which is organized by Chinese language coordinator. Chinese Corner provides Chinese language learners with opportunities to interact with the Chinese speaking community on campus. It is a great way for students to practice Chinese with native speakers and enhance their understanding of the Chinese culture.

Chinese Language Resources

Software / Learning Resources / Reference Tools

Other Links

• TOCFL 華語文能力測驗 （Test of Chinese as a foreign Language）
• HSK  中国汉语水平考试
• The International Society for Chinese Language Teaching

Chinese Language Courses Faculty