Forum to spark interest in Chinese language

Chinese studies students at Charles Darwin University will share their experiences studying the most widely spoken language in the world at a public forum on Wednesday.

CDU Chinese studies lecturer Amy Yu said members of the public could attend the Chinese Language Forum at Casuarina campus to find out from current students about studying the language firsthand.

“People often believe that Chinese is a very difficult language,” Ms Yu said.

“But as soon as they begin to learn the language they find it isn’t as difficult as they first expected.”

Ms Yu said understanding Chinese language and culture could expose students to a wide range of future career opportunities.

“China is taking off and there are many jobs all over the world that require applicants to speak Chinese,” she said.

“The forum will be a good opportunity for those interested to find out how they can study the language and culture at CDU, either internally or online.” 

Attendees can also find out about CDU’s four-week Chinese In-Country language program at Anhui Normal University in Wuhu, China. The next in-country program will run from 23 November. 

“Chinese language should be learned in a systematic way and the beauty of Chinese lies in its Chinese characters,” Ms Yu said.

“By understanding the basic formation of the characters, you will find it easier to master this language and to continue on your own.” 

The Chinese Language Forum will be held at Orange Building 6, Level 1, Room 08 at Casuarina campus on Wednesday, 17 June from 4pm until 6pm.

Contact Amy Yu to RSVP: amy.yu@cdu.edu.au