which U offers good degree course for chinese study?

Question

SIM, SMU, NUS & NTU offer degree courses, how should i select ?

Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry offers a diploma / double diploma which is more flexible (can complete in shorter / longer period). But i don't have a degree now, should I select the degree (less flexible, need more committment) or diploma ?

Answer 1

I am not familiar with the offerings in U.S. universities and maybe that is the "SIM, SMU, NUS & NTU" that you mention. I would caution you against signing onto a language program in the U.S. unless you know quite a lot about the background of the teachers. English is somewhat universal so one could learn English in Kansas or Pennsylvania or London and expect a good result. But "Chinese" is not universal. Most Chinese in western countries come from an ancestry of southern China because Hong Kong was the only port for quite a long time that was allowed to trade with western countries. Most Chinese Americans speak Guangdonghua or we call it Cantonese. It is useless away from that small area of southern China near Hong Kong.

I would suggest that you get some undergraduate degree such as Asian studies, International Relations or Eastern Phylosophy and then spend two years in northern China learning Chinese language, where the standard language, Putonghua (Mandarin), is usually spoken. Beijing is a good choice. Even though they have an accent (putting "er" on the end of sounds that should be "ah"), it is not as off the scale as that of Shanghai people whose dialect is only half understood by non-Shanghai people. Western China is also a good choice but stay clear of southern China where your daily talks with people on the street might be in any of several odd languages and dialects that will do you little or no good. The future of China is toward one language and that is the Putonghua of the north.

Answer 2

http://www.cucas.edu.cn/
I will suggest you to apply through CUCAS, CUCAS is a professional online platform for international students to apply for Chinese universities, it has a strong relationship with over 300 universities in China. They do not ask for any fee, the application fee is collect by them but only on behalf of the university, CUCAS also hold social activities for international students so they will not get bored, they always try to think as a foreigner and help international students to solve their problems. Very nice.