Monday, 28 May 2012

Online Certificate in Chinese Culture: Program Overview

A certificate program in Chinese culture can be used to supplement an existing field of study. For instance, those with bachelor's degrees in education may earn a certificate in Chinese culture as part of a teacher preparation program for teaching Chinese language.

Online Certificate in Chinese Culture Overview

In an online professional certificate program in Chinese culture, students learn to read, write and speak Chinese, Mandarin or Taiwanese. Fluency in English and Chinese is recommended before entering a program such as this. Various types of Chinese text and films are used for studying Chinese dialect and culture. A bachelor's degree is beneficial for the student who wants to enhance his or her existing degree and is required for those who want to become certified teachers in public schools.

Program Information and Requirements

Certificate requirements include approximately 15 credit hours that can be completed within one year. Courses are delivered online to accommodate working professionals. Online course materials may include online text, videos, lessons and discussion forums. Assignments can be posted and submitted online.
Proficiency in the input of Chinese characters with proper language software is helpful. Students should be able to read Web pages encoded in Chinese UTF-8 or Unicode.

List of Common Chinese Culture Certificate courses

Students access online courses through a school's online learning platform. Introductory coursework includes historical and cultural studies of Asian countries. Language studies include translation of literature and other media formats.

Chinese Translation Course

This course is primarily taught in English and introduces students to Chinese literature. Major works are studied and Chinese literary periods and trends are discussed.

Chinese Fluency in Films Course

Historical and cultural issues in contemporary Chinese cinema are examined. Students observe linguistic styles and features in films.

Spoken Chinese Language Course

Students engage in theme-based discussions to learn linguistic attributes of the Chinese language. Principles of understanding and acquiring Chinese as a second language are reviewed. The course is conducted primarily in Chinese.

Chinese Reading and Composition Course

This course involves the study of Chinese text in common daily print forms, such as letters, magazines and pamphlets. Similarities and differences between U.S. and Chinese cultures are analyzed to determine the role culture plays in writing styles.

Career Information for Graduates

Students with a certificate in Chinese culture may seek employment as interpreters or translators. Interpreters can work in corporate conference events or accompany U.S. travelers to China. Translators typically translate written material, such as works of literature or business documents, from Chinese to English or vice-versa. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that job prospects for translators and interpreters are better in urban cities (www.bls.gov). Interpreters and translators made an average annual salary of $45,700 in 2009, and those working for the government as language specialists earned an average annual salary of $79,865 in 2009.

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