The Duke Chinese program offers a 5-year and 2-track curriculum, specifically designed for traditional foreign language learners and bilingual learners in Mandarin Chinese. The program curriculum is highly integrated into the Duke Study in China (DSIC) summer intensive program in Beijing. The language curriculum emphasizes interactive and small group learning experience, provides individual tutorial sessions, and utilizes a technology-enhanced learning environment. The regular Chinese Circle, which consists of various cultural clubs and Chinese language table, facilitates a community learning experience. Content-based instruction and cooperative learning are emphasized in upper-level courses. An internship component is available in DSIC. The program strives to provide a holistic learning experience in both culture and language.
Video editing by Claire Budzik.
Placement in a Chinese language class follows the AMES department placement policy.
To maximize your learning opportunities and enjoy yourself in a learning community that is conducive to everyone in your class, students who are interested in taking a Chinese language course at Duke have to follow the procedures below for placement.
- Refer to both course descriptions and self-placement guidelines (see the section below) when trying to make a decision on self-placement.
- Verify your placement with the instructor who teaches the course into which you self-place by email, or make an appointment before or during the pre-registration period. The final placement decision lies with the instructor.
- Students may not enroll in a Chinese course below the level determined by the placement assessment as confirmed by a faculty member in the Chinese Program.
If you have any further questions regarding the courses at the 100-level, please consult with Professor Tianshu He, the Coordinator of First Year Chinese, at htianshu@duke.edu. For inquiries about courses at the 300-level and above or study abroad programs in Chinese-speaking regions, please contact Professor Carolyn Lee at kslee@duke.edu. If you have any questions concerning the overall Chinese language curriculum and 200-level Chinese courses, please consult with the Director of the Chinese Program, Professor Yan Liu, at yl286@duke.edu.
Self-Placement Guidelines
The self-placement guidelines below are divided into two sections: “Placement Guidelines for Regular-Track Curriculum” and “Placement Guidelines for Bilingual-Track Curriculum.” Students who are traditional foreign language learners and receive a score of 5 on the AP Chinese exam will automatically pass CHINESE 203 (Intermediate Chinese) and be eligible to take CHINESE 204 (Intermediate Chinese II) or CHINESE 305D (Pre-Advanced Chinese I) . Students who are heritage learners and receive a score of 5 on the AP Chinese exam will automatically pass CHINESE 131 (First Year Chinese for Bilingual Learners) and be eligible to take CHINESE 232/321/331/332/333. Students need to do a placement interview with a Chinese instructor before enrolling in a specific course. Students who speak a Chinese dialect at home but barely understand Mandarin Chinese, and students who studied Chinese as a foreign language in the K-12 school system but did not have a strong foundation, may take CHINESE 105 (First-Year Chinese in Review) in the regular-track curriculum. Please note that students who lived in a Chinese speaking country such as China, Singapore or Taiwan into their teenage years and received schooling higher than the elementary level in any Chinese speaking country are considered to be native speakers. The student who finished secondary school is only eligible for courses at or above CHINESE 450s (Understanding China and the U.S.: Stereotypes, Conflicts, and Common Challenges) to fulfill language requirements.
Placement Guidelines for Regular-Track Curriculum (For students raised in homes where non-Chinese language was spoken)
Enroll in CHINESE 101 (First-Year Chinese I):
- Students with no or minimal proficiency in Chinese
- Students who have been exposed to Beginning Chinese in a high school program but do not think the program was strong
Enroll in CHINESE 102 (First-Year Chinese II):
- Students who have successfully completed CHINESE 101 (First-Year Chinese I) or its equivalent, or students who studied Chinese for 2-3 years in high school program but do not think the program was strong
- Students may read and write at least 250-300 Chinese characters
Enroll in CHINESE 105 (First-Year Chinese in Review):
- Students who did not grow up in a household speaking Mandarin Chinese but studied over two years of Chinese in middle school and /or high school and didn't think the program was strong.
- Chinese AP score of 2, or SAT-II score in the 240-410 range, or IB Chinese score below 4.
- Students may read and write at least 100 characters.
Enroll in CHINESE 203 (Intermediate Chinese I):
- Students who have successfully completed CHINESE 102 (First-Year Chinese II) or its equivalent, or students who had over 3 years of high school Chinese and did well in the courses
- AP score of 3 or 4, or SAT-II score of 550-600, or IB Language B (HL) score of 4.
- Students may read and write at least 500-600 characters without a dictionary.
Enroll in CHINESE 204 (Intermediate Chinese):
- Students who have successfully completed Chinese 203 (Intermediate Chinese) or its equivalent, or students who have over 3 years of high school Chinese and did well in the courses.
- AP score of 4 or 5, SAT-II score of 600 to 700, or IB Language B (HL) score of 5 or 6.
- Students may read and write at least 700-800 characters without a dictionary.
Enroll in CHINESE 205 (Intermediate-Mid Chinese):
- Students who have successfully completed Chinese 105 (First Year Chinese in Review) or its equivalent, or students who had over 3 years of Chinese in a very strong high school program.
- AP score of 3 or 4, or SAT-II score in the 420-480 range, or IB score of 4.
- Students may read and write at least 800-850 characters.
Enroll in CHINESE 305D (Pre-Advanced Chinese):
- Students who have finished CHINESE 203/204 (Intermediate Chinese) or students who studied Chinese for more than 4 years in a very strong high school program and did very well in the courses
- Students whose family does not speak Chinese at home and who learned Mandarin Chinese for 2-3 years when they attended international school in a Chinese speaking country
- Students may read and write at least 950-1000 characters
Enroll in CHINESE 306 (Advanced Chinese):
- Students who have successfully completed CHINESE 305D (Pre-Advanced Chinese) or students who had over 3-4 years of high school Chinese and studied in an immersion Chinese language program in the U.S., China or Taiwan
- Students may read and write at least 1100-1200 characters
Enroll in CHINESE 321 (Business Chinese and Interculturality in China):
- Students who have successfully completed Chinese 232,306 or 407.
- Students who did not grow up in a household speaking Mandarin Chinese but studied over 3-4 years of Chinese in a very strong high school program and studied in an immersion Chinese language program in China or Taiwan.
- Students may read and write at least 1200-1300 characters.
Enroll in CHINESE 371S (Classical Chinese in the Modern Context I):
- Students who finished CHINESE 407 (Issues in Chinese Language and Society I) or 408 (Issues in Chinese Language and Society II)in regular track curriculum, or their equivalent, are eligible to take this course
Enroll in CHINESE 407S (Issues in Chinese Language and Society I):
- Students who have finished CHINESE 305D/306 (Pre-Advanced Chinese/Advanced Chinese II) or their equivalent
- Students who can read simple passages and produce fairly accurate piece of writing on familiar topics
- Students who learned Mandarin Chinese for 3-4 years when they attended international school in a Chinese speaking country
- Students may read and write at least 1300-1400 characters
Enroll in CHINESE 408S (Issues in Chinese Language and Society II):
- Students who have successfully completed CHINESE 407 (Issues in Chinese Language and Society I) or students who can read long texts and produce fairly accurate piece of writing on some complex topics
- Students who learned Mandarin Chinese more than 5 years when they attended international school in a Chinese speaking country
- Students may read and write at least 1500-1600 characters
Placement Guidelines for Alternative/Bilingual-Track Curriculum (For students raised in homes where Chinese was spoken or students were raised in homes where non-Chinese language was spoken but had formal Chinese language education in a Chinese-speaking region.)
Enroll in CHINESE 131 (First Year Chinese for Bilingual Learners):
- Students who have been exposed to Chinese at home and can communicate very basic things in Chinese, but reading and writing skills in Chinese are very minimal or almost zero
- Students may read and write 100 Chinese characters or less
Enroll in CHINESE 232 (Intermediate Chinese for Bilingual Learners):
- Students who have successfully completed CHINESE 131 or its equivalent, or students studied Mandarin Chinese in a Chinese community school for more than 2 years
- Students may read and write at least 300 characters
Enroll in CHINESE 331D (Modern Chinese Media):
- Students who have finished CHINESE 131/232 or their equivalent.
- Students who can read simple news, blogs or other authentic articles of several paragraphs in length and write simple descriptive or narrative texts.
- Students may read and write at least 800-1000 characters.
Enroll in CHINESE 332 (Chinese Translation and Interpretation):
- Students who have finished CHINESE 232, or CHINESE 333, or CHINESE 407S/408S (Issues in Chinese Language and Society I/II), or CHINESE 371S (Classical Chinese in the Modern Context I), or CHINESE 435S (Chinese in Humanities), or their equivalent.
- Students who can read Chinese texts (2/3 to 1 page in length) on various topics related to Chinese culture or society and can write descriptive, narrative, and argumentative texts (one to one and a half pages) in Chinese with a dictionary.
- Students may read and write at least 900-1000 characters without a dictionary.
Enroll in CHINESE 333 (Advanced Chinese for Bilingual Learners):
- Students who have finished CHINESE 131/232 or equivalent
- Students who can read somewhat longer prose of several paragraphs in length and write simple descriptive or narrative texts
- Students may read and write at least 800-1000 characters.
Enroll in CHINESE 371S (Classical Chinese in the Modern Context I):
- Students who finished CHINESE 333 (Advanced Literacy in Chinese) in alternative track curriculum, or their equivalent, are eligible to take this course.
- Students may read and write at least 1300 Chinese characters.
- Students may take this course with another Chinese language course at the same time or out of the sequence.
Enroll in CHINESE 435S (Chinese in the Humanities I):
- Students who have finished CHINESE 333, or CHINESE 371S (Classical Chinese in the Modern Context I), or CHINESE 408S (Issues in Chinese Language and Society II), or their equivalent
- Students who can read long texts and write reflective essays about them
- Students who completed elementary school and attended middle school for less than 2 years in a Chinese speaking country
Enroll in CHINESE 450S (Understanding China and the U.S.: Stereotypes, Conflicts, and Common Challenges):
- Students who completed most of elementary and secondary education in Chinese speaking country
- Students who have finished CHINESE 333, or CHINESE 407S/408S, or CHINESE 371S, or CHINESE 435S, or their equivalent
- Students who can read news articles and can express their opinions about the articles in oral or written discourses
Enroll in CHINESE 455/456 (Modern Chinese Culture: Narratives of Home and Abroad/Aspects of Chinese Culture and Society):
- Students who completed most of elementary and secondary schooling in a Chinese speaking country
Several programs offered through the Duke University Global Education Office for Undergraduates are jointly administered by Chinese Program and Asian/Pacific Studies Institute (APSI). Please see the Global Education links below for the following programs:
- Duke Study in China Summer Program (Beijing): 2 credits for 8 weeks of intensive language study, 2nd Year Chinese and above
- Duke Study in China Fall-Semester Program (Beijing): English taught courses on Chinese Business, Economics and Chinese Culture and History and Independent Guided Research on Contemporary China, non intensive Chinese courses (1st-4th Year Chinese)
- Duke Study in China Spring-Semester Program (Kunming): English taught courses on Chinese Culture and History and Independent Guided Research on Contemporary China, intensive Chinese courses (2 credits, 2nd year Chinese and above)
The Chinese Program hosts many events and activities throughout the academic year. The activities allow students to explore Chinese culture in a relaxed setting that encourages interaction. Past events have included Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration, Lunar New Year Celebration, Chinese Program Information Night, Karaoke Night, and a Meeting with a Chinese Theater Artist.
Extra-curricular activities organized by the Chinese program are an integral part of the language courses.Participants come from students of all levels. Most of the activities are open to all members of the Duke community who are interested in the Chinese culture.
Chinese Conversation Partner Program
Organized by the International House at Duke, the Chinese Conversation Partner Program provides students opportunities to interact with the Chinese community on campus. Students who are enrolled in classes above CHN 02 are encouraged to apply. It is a great way for students to practice Chinese with native speakers and enhance their understanding of the Chinese culture.
Chinese Speaking Table
Every Thursday during the semester, Chinese instructors, students from the Chinese language classes, and members of the Chinese Hall gather together to have dinner while practicing speaking Chinese in a casual and friendly atmosphere. Chinese speakers of all levels are welcome to join.
Location: the area right above Ginger + Soy restaurant in the West Union
Time: 6 to 7 p.m.
Chinese Hall
Chinese Hall is part of the Langdorm (Language Dormitory) selective living group at Duke University. The close-knit community, which is divided into five language-specific halls, celebrates a multicultural and linguistic experience through organizing a variety of cultural events during the semester. Many of the events organized by Chinese Hall are in collaboration with the Chinese program.
Chinese New Year Gala
Software / Learning Resources / Reference Tools
- Chinese Character Etymology
- Chinese Character Practice Website
- Chinese Reading Assistant and Dictionary (DimSum)
- Chinese Society in the New Millennium
- MandarinTools.com
- Mandarinspot.com
- Nciku.com
- Pinyin practice
- Radical practice
- Remembr.it
- Zhongwen.com
- Bab.la
Chinese Search Engines
Chinese Media
- China Digital Times 中国数字时代
- Chinese BBTV Radio online 上海网络广播电台
- Netease 网易
- Qq 腾讯
- Sina 新浪
- Sohu 搜狐
Chinese Studies at Duke
Other Links
Chinese Language Program Director
Chinese Language Program First-year Coordinator
Chinese Program Faculty
- Tianshu He, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator for First Year Chinese
- Guo-Juin Hong, Associate Professor of Chinese Literature and Culture
- Chi-Ju Hsieh, Lecturing Fellow
- Kun Shan (Carolyn) Lee, Professor of the Practice
- Kang Liu, Professor
- Yan Liu, Associate Professor of the Practice
- Carlos Rojas, Professor of Chinese Cultural Studies
- Eileen Chengyin Chow, Associate Professor of the Practice
- Ya-Chuan Chou, Lecturing Fellow
- Shu-Ting Hsu, Lecturing Fellow
- Shu Zhang, Lecturing Fellow
- Shasha Yang, Instructor
Mandarin for All:
The Duke Chinese Program offers courses with community-engaged learning projects. Since the fall semester of 2019, the website "Mandarin for All" has documented these projects, which aim to assist students of various age groups in self-learning the Chinese language and culture in the United States. We invite you to explore these projects and reach out to the program faculty if you have any questions.
Videos Created by AMES Students: