Year 1
Chinese
You will study Chinese 1 an introduction to modern spoken and written Chinese.
If you already have some knowledge of the Chinese language you may qualify to enrol in Chinese 2A an intermediate-level Chinese course.
You will study the skills development course Academic Skills for Asian Studies.
German
If you have not studied German before you will take German 1A an intensive language course.
If your entry qualification for German is a Scottish Higher A level or equivalent you will be admitted to German 1B which covers language as well as literature and culture from 1770 to the present day.
If you are studying German 1B you will do a project in which you interview a German native speaker working in Edinburgh or Glasgow giving you the opportunity to practise professional communication find out about the value of languages in the workplace and gain insights into possible career options.
Year 2
Chinese
In your Year 2 Chinese language classes you will continue to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture.
You will begin to learn classical Chinese and modern Chinese translation skills.
In addition to developing your language skills you will be taught a range of research skills and complete an independent project in Chinese studies.
German
On our German 2 language course you will further develop your oral language skills and practise translation and grammar including in writing.
You will also continue to study literature and culture choosing at least two courses from a suite of options. These are likely to include:
Researching Disability in German Literature and Society
Sexualities on the German Screen (title to be confirmed)
Culture Modernity and the City in the Weimar Republic
Reading Antisemitism in Modern German Literature
The Contemporary Short Story in German
Migration in German-Language Discourse
German Colonialism: History Memory Controversy
Year 3
If international travel restrictions allow you will spend Year 3 abroad dividing your 30 weeks between either China or Taiwan and a country in which German is spoken. You will spend at least eight weeks in each country.
In China or Taiwan you will study at a university. In Germany or another German-speaking country (usually Austria) you will either study or complete a work/teaching placement.
Whether studying or working our graduates have told us how much the year abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills as well as their understanding of East Asian and German-speaking cultures.
During your year abroad we will aim to ensure your experience is as beneficial as possible to your final year as well as to your wider language learning cultural awareness and skills development.
For example you will take an e-learning course in German which will count as part of your Year 3 mark and prepare you for your Year 4 German courses.
If international travel is not possible you will be offered alternative ways of engaging with your subjects. This will allow you to meet your learning outcomes and prepare for your final year.
Year 4
You will continue to study Chinese language focusing on advanced skills in speaking reading and writing. You will build on your existing translation skills.
Alongside the Chinese language you will be able to choose from courses on film politics modern and pre-modern history literature contemporary Chinese society and economic history.
You will take German language classes in essay and précis writing spoken German and German-to-English translation of literary and journalistic texts.
You will also choose a specialist honours-level course from a wide range in German literature film and theatre and write a long essay in German.
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