Chinese as breadth at Melbourne Uni; worth doing?

[lzxnl]

It's time for me to think about breadth now, I think, given that it's something I can't avoid next year (yes that's directed at everyone who thinks I worry too early). I don't even know what breadth subjects would interest me; I like music, but my last music exams required too much general knowledge and musical history knowledge, and the course outlines seem to suggest a significant amount of music theory, so that's not too appealing.

Now, given that I speak Chinese everyday at home, can read and write to a comprehensible extent and can comfortably watch Chinese television series (which I do all the time), roughly what level of Chinese would I be put into, and would it be worth doing?

[LeviLamp]

Everyone I know who took Chinese (all at an upper level due to speaking fluently; Chinese 5, 7 and 9) hated it and thought the course structure was lazy/uninspired, and that the assessments were strangely organised and relied more on using the textbook and memorising parts of it than actually being able to communicate. That's just four people's opinions, though.
HOWEVER, I would stress that breadth is not something that has to be a burden; there are over 2000 undergraduate subjects total and even when the science and biomedicine faculties are discounted that leaves a LOT of room for other things. Additionally, if you really want to maximise science units, you can drop breadth to 4 subjects through your degree and take a full science load next year, though obviously you're going to have to do breadth eventually.

[lzxnl]

Everyone I know who took Chinese (all at an upper level due to speaking fluently; Chinese 5, 7 and 9) hated it and thought the course structure was lazy/uninspired, and that the assessments were strangely organised and relied more on using the textbook and memorising parts of it than actually being able to communicate. That's just four people's opinions, though.
HOWEVER, I would stress that breadth is not something that has to be a burden; there are over 2000 undergraduate subjects total and even when the science and biomedicine faculties are discounted that leaves a LOT of room for other things. Additionally, if you really want to maximise science units, you can drop breadth to 4 subjects through your degree and take a full science load next year, though obviously you're going to have to do breadth eventually.

To be honest, breadth just looks like a bunch of subjects where I am less likely to do well precisely because of how narrow my strengths are. I am certainly dropping breadth to four subjects; that's a given for me. My current second year schedule looks pretty hectic so that's when I'm cutting breadth.

I'm not sure what other breadth tracks would interest me. Arts don't generally inspire me; I did badly in commerce in years nine and ten and that put me off commerce; and music doesn't quite seem to suit me.

Although it's nice to be prepared for a boring Chinese course in case I do plan to take it.
The site says 80% attendance record for Chinese needed to pass!? Wow what the.

[LeviLamp]

You should really be attending 100% of language classes unless you absolutely can't avoid it.
Also, take a closer look at breadths. With hard work and careful analysis you'll be able to do well in almost anything I'm cutting mine to four too due to limitations but I want to do like 800 subjects, I wish I had room for more breadth

[lzxnl]

I wish I had your mindset. My interests are squarely in the science sector; without breadth, I could quite easily fill up 24 subjects with just sciences and have a great time.

[Shenz0r]

I got 38 in Chinese SL and got put into the Chinese 7 stream. I immediately dropped it and picked another breadth.

Good thing I did. A lot of people drop out of Chinese after the semester...

[gummo]

You would probably be put into a really high level of Chinese. I'm guessing Chinese 9.

I don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese at home. At the start of this year I could only write like 5 Chinese characters (couldn't even write 'ni'!) but I could understand Mandarin at a conversational level due to living in Hong Kong for a few months 11 years ago. I was put in Chinese 5. Chinese was easily the most fun and easy subject I've done at uni (apart from Anthropology), and I got H1s for both Chinese subjects.

"...thought the course structure was lazy/uninspired, and that the assessments were strangely organised and relied more on using the textbook and memorising parts of it than actually being able to communicate." This is all true. But I enjoyed it this way! I learnt a lot and you can easily supplement your learning by participating in language exchanges and watching Chinese TV shows like If You Are the One.

[ChickenCh0wM1en]

I wish I had your mindset. My interests are squarely in the science sector; without breadth, I could quite easily fill up 24 subjects with just sciences and have a great time.

I understand that your strengths/gifts lie in the science sector but sometimes it is good to step outside your comfort zone. The whole purpose of breadths is to give you a wider perspective of other areas which you may not have explored in great depth.
I initially had your mindset that breadth was a waste of a subject slot but now I'm actually really glad to have them as they give me a break from all the science subjects which can sometimes be rather overwhelming.
Explore other areas! What is taught in the high school curriculum is not necessary a reflection of what is going to be taught in Uni.

[Leronziia]

Ditto ^

I actually can't wait to get stuck into Arabic 3 next year. I think it's fantastic that I can learn the technicalities of a language and still pursue my desired career. Eventually the endless grind that is biology gets taxing and breadth is sort of a welcome relief if you choose wisely.

[ChickenCh0wM1en]

Ditto ^

I actually can't wait to get stuck into Arabic 3 next year. I think it's fantastic that I can learn the technicalities of a language and still pursue my desired career. Eventually the endless grind that is biology gets taxing and breadth is sort of a welcome relief if you choose wisely.

That's why I love languages, it's a life skill which can be used everywhere! Too bad I struggle with them though

[Stick]

I wish I had your mindset. My interests are squarely in the science sector; without breadth, I could quite easily fill up 24 subjects with just sciences and have a great time.

I think you can take Geography subjects that are offered in the Bachelor of Arts. That might suit you. Although, I do agree that it might be really good to open your mind and really embrace the breadth by doing something completely different. If I got into The University of Melbourne, I was planning all along to just do Italian (for similar reasons as you) but now I'm not so sure. I hope you figure it all out soon.

[simpak]

Biology...taxing?  NO ):

[Leronziia]

Biology...taxing?  NO ):

I come from a solid math background, anything that takes more than 1-2 rounds of reading to get 90+ is considered taxing

[lzxnl]

I understand that your strengths/gifts lie in the science sector but sometimes it is good to step outside your comfort zone. The whole purpose of breadths is to give you a wider perspective of other areas which you may not have explored in great depth.
I initially had your mindset that breadth was a waste of a subject slot but now I'm actually really glad to have them as they give me a break from all the science subjects which can sometimes be rather overwhelming.
Explore other areas! What is taught in the high school curriculum is not necessary a reflection of what is going to be taught in Uni.

Hmm. I highly doubt that I'll be overwhelmed by sciences. The last time that happened was when I had to learn pretty much the entire first year Melbourne Uni chemistry course (plus SOOOOOOOO much more................) in two weeks at the chemistry summer school because I had five hours of sleep everyday. I trust university life isn't like that and that I'll get more sleep

I'm a narrow minded person. It sucks, but it means breadth makes me feel uncomfortable. I have no idea what to choose, and as ShenzOr says, I may well end up dropping it immediately. I don't want to do that.


I do quite enjoy Chinese in general; I find it more fun to watch Chinese TV series and all the music I listen to is in Chinese. However, my parents have revealed to me how shocking my written expression is, and that has already scared me a lot. Also, VCE Chinese has put me off Chinese so much it's unbelievable. I don't think uni Chinese could POSSIBLY be worse than VCE Chinese.

Biology...taxing?  NO ):

REALLY!? YAAAAAAAAYYYYYY so I won't fail bio next year?

I come from a solid math background, anything that takes more than 1-2 rounds of reading to get 90+ is considered taxing

^this

Although by that definition, everything I do is taxing -.- can we increase the threshold to reading five rounds to be considered taxing? My mind is pretty slow.

[Leronziia]

Yes, I believe 5 is indeed more appropriate!