The next step - or taking my Chinese to a higher level

[Sydney Matt]

As I come to the end of one year studying Chinese at university here in Kunming, I'm thinking about what to do next.

I studied Chinese for around two or three years in Australia, just on the weekends, since I was working full-time (in advertising, this was after I graduated from university). This year, I enrolled in the Chinese language program at Yunnan Normal University, starting in the intermediate class last semester, and I'm now in the pre-advanced （准高）class. I've enjoyed it, and I have without a doubt made progress in my Chinese. I've also been working with a tutor 1-on-1 twice a week. I'm planning to sit the HSK level 6 in January. Although pre-advanced might *sound* pretty good, I still have quite a way to go with getting my Chinese to a decent level.

So, it's now time for me consider the next step.

One option is the advanced class at the university next semester, but I have my reservations. I feel these classes are heading towards the point of diminishing returns for me. Although the class content is not too easy for me, I feel the classes move too slowly. Especially when I consider how much material I've covered in those two lessons a week with my tutor. Also, even for a small class of only seven students, abilities are pretty uneven. I may not be "top of the class", and I still have a lot of work to do on my speech, but... it's getting painful listening to some really bad Chinese coming from the mouths of some classmates.

I've been running through the other options in my head, such as looking for full time-work in China starting early next year, studying for a Masters program in China, or of course heading back to Australia and potentially my previous job. But I think my ideal is to intensively improve my Chinese over the next six months, then start either work or graduate study here. Basically, really good Chinese is my personal goal in and of itself, and I like having something to push myself towards. So, my question is: how do I best realise this idea? (I realise that won't be the end of the journey

Also, I like it here in Kunming, the weather's good and life's pretty comfortable, so I could stay if it made sense to. On the other hand, I could be ready for a little more buzz/challenge and a little less taking it easy......

[anonymoose]

If you're tempted to pursue graduate studies in China, then to do so in Chinese would probably give you the best combination of intensively improving your Chinese whilst achieving something else at the same time. Life probably won't be so comfortable though, if you take the studying seriously.

[jiasen]

It sounds like we are both at the same level. I, too, was looking to sit my HSK 6 this year during my time in China. Now I'm back in Australia working day and night in a corporate law firm (or, as it should be referred to, a sweat shop). The last six months, I have struggled to merely maintain my Chinese at its current level.

If you have time, money, and inclination to do a graduate course in China, I think it would be a great idea. Keep in mind, though, that it does begin to set you down the career path of a sinologist/academic, translator, or something along those lines. Three years is a long time to be out of the game after already spending a year abroad. Your Chinese as a wildcard to employers back home may also diminish in value during that time.

My goal has been to put my Chinese aside for a few years and build up some work experience back home. Which is hard, because I too think my Chinese has quite some way to go. After a couple of years, I'm looking to head back to Beijing or Shanghai and apply for a job at a law firm. Despite the recent negative press, the Chinese economy is still booming, and at its current rate will quadruple in size in 20 years. I believe people with skill sets in addition to Chinese will continue to be more and more in demand over the coming years.

During my study year abroad, I interned at a couple of places, and I found it very useful for developing my speaking/listening skills. Imagine sitting in on a conference call where all the participants are speaking Mandarin, and you must chime in at times and then afterwards send out comprehensive minutes! Imagine your boss asks you to entertain clients who don't speak English well. These are all very practical and natural ways to develop your Chinese skills, and it enhances rather than detracts from your career. If you can improve or maintain your Chinese at its current level, and join the advertising world up there in a decent role, I think it's something to consider.

I know another lawyer who did something similar, and he even convinced his employer to pay for him to do the 6 month IUP course. That, of course, in tandum with his practical experience in China, has taken his Mandarin to the next level.

Another option, if you intend to return home, is to buy a Kindle or something similar and install a Chinese pop-up dictionary. That way, you can read Chinese novels/novellas on the way to work (assuming you take public transport), and constantly learn new vocabulary without having to give up too much time. At the recommendation of this forum, I read Yu Hua's Chronicles of a Blood Merchant and my reading ability massively improved. It's fun too. I'm trying to read 圈子圈套 when I get time, which opens up a whole new set of vocabulary.

Anyway I look forward to reading other people's views, because this is an area I also struggle with. Wish you all the best with your future endeavours.

[OneEye]

I'm in a similar situation right now. I've been at the Mandarin Training Center in Taipei for the past 15 months (5 quarters), and even though there are higher courses available, I'm convinced that at this point taking classes would just hold me back. I'm starting a Master's program next fall (hopefully...applying in February), so I'm spending the time between now and then working intensively on Chinese and meeting with a tutor every week. I'm fortunate in that my wife's job provides us with a good, free apartment and a livable salary, but I also do freelance work as a translator, which pays quite nicely, doesn't take up too much of my time, and helps a lot with my Chinese anyway.

I spend 1-2 hours per day on translation or tutoring, and the rest goes to studying. I usually spend most of my day working intensively with TV shows, movies (watching, using subtitles, mimicking the way the actors speak, etc.), or reading novels, comics, or books in my (future) research field. This has done really good things for my Chinese, better than any of the courses I've taken. I also write some each week for my research proposal, which my tutor helps me correct.

Of course, I'm coming at this from the angle of someone looking to work in academia (sinology), and so advanced proficiency in Chinese is a basic requirement. I think that spending another year working on my Chinese, and then 3 years on my MA, is the best thing I can do for myself. That may or may not be the case for you.

[anonymoose]

But not everybody has the luxury of 吃ing 软饭.

[OneEye]

Hang on a sec there anonymoose, before you insinuate too much.

I don't know if that was intended as humor or what, but I earn about as much as my wife does through translation and tutoring. I mentioned her job to explain why I'm able to freelance and devote most of my time to Chinese as opposed to finding a regular job (which would almost certainly pay less per hour). Freelancing would be riskier were it not for the fact that she has a stable income, but I would still likely be able to support myself on my freelance income just fine. That's why I mentioned it, because it could be an option for the OP.

[skylee]

#5 is harsh. IMO one should not use 吃軟飯 unless he is sure the other person will not take offence (or only if he means to insult the other person). It is one of those terms like 沒家教 (insulting the other person's parents/family).

PS - Or perhaps I have lost touch with the trend of the society. Perhaps 吃軟飯 is not considered an insult now?

[anonymoose]

好吧 我错了

[Sydney Matt]

Thank very much for all the ideas. It's made me realise those vague options I've been thinking about can actually be worked into something concrete. Probably time for me to do a little bit more research, a little bit more thinking, and then take action. Over the short-term, I potentially see options like combining the study with tutoring/translating (or similar), and/or an internship as a good approach. Perhaps 我想太多, but I'll get there!

[OneEye]

Perhaps 我想太多

I believe it often takes that to get where you want to go. I don't always like being the over-analyzer and over-planner that I've become (I'm very 隨便 by nature), but I do like where it's taken me so far.

[skylee]

Perhaps 我想太多

I think it should be 我想得太多（了）.