Университет Шеффилда, BA (Hons), Chinese Studies with German

This degree offers intellectual challenges and rewards and it allows students to combine the study of China with the study of Germany; it also allows students to develop skills in a major European language and in a world language; students follow a balanced programme that develops their language skills in Chinese and German and a sophisticated understanding of how China and Germany work, socially, politically and culturally; the intensive 4 year Chinese language programme can accommodate both absolute beginners and students with some prior knowledge; beginners will cover the core grammar of the language in the 1st year, as students who have studied Chinese before develop and consolidate their skills; students spend their 2nd year at the University of Nanjing covering more advanced material and more complex sources such as newspapers; after returning to Sheffield for the 3rd and 4th years students refine their skills in speaking, writing and understanding Chinese through work on material from the Chinese press, the internet, film and television, fiction and official publications on subjects that affect the Chinese today, from education and the family to crime, the environment, ethnic relations and employment issues; at the same time, students develop a critical appreciation of the challenges facing contemporary China through units on politics, society and the economy, as well as a more sophisticated understanding of specialised questions on population and environmental issues, business, on China's early modern history and literary culture, and on Taiwan; students also have a wide choice of units on German literature, politics and society.