China is one of the most dynamic countries in the world today. In recent decades its role in world affairs has grown tremendously. For Botswana, and for Africa as a whole, China has become a major partner in terms of diplomacy, trade, investment, tourism, aid etc. Relations are expanding rapidly in many sectors, involving companies and members of the public as well as governments.
The Chinese Studies Programme at the University of Botswana aims to produce graduates who are proficient in the Chinese language and at home in the Chinese cultural environment. The Programme was launched in 2011. It is unique in the region because it it is interdisciplinary in nature: our courses cover an array of aspects, ranging from the study of Mandarin Chinese to the rich history and philosophy of Traditional China to the thriving economy and foreign relations of today’s China. The knowledge, skills and attitudes that our graduates acquire enable them to interact adeptly with the economy and society of China. They can thus make a unique contribution to Botswana’s and Africa’s growing relations with the world’s foremost emerging power.
Students pursuing the major in Chinese Studies will have acquired a proficiency in Mandarin Chinese that is at least equivalent to Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Test Hanyu Shiuping Kaoshi (HSK) by the time they finish Level 400. This means that they are fluent for practical purposes and able to translate correctly and appropriately both ways.
Chinese Studies graduates typically possess excellent intercultural competence skills. This is the ability to interact appropriately and efficiently with people from different cultural backgrounds, a skill that is increasingly favoured by employers in today’s competitive local, regional and global market place.
Other key skills that our graduates will have developed are communication skills, critical thinking skills, analytical skills, the ability to work in a team, public speaking skills, time management etc.
Eligibility for admission to the programme is in accordance with the General Academic Regulations of the University of Botswana and the Special Regulations of the Faculty of Humanities. The Faculty has discretion to admit students who do not fully meet these requirements but who have prior qualifications in Mandarin Chinese.
Graduates with a qualification in Chinese Studies can find employment opportunities in sectors such as:
Chinese Studies is offered as a single major at the University of Botswana. The single major is a concentrated four-year programme leading to a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies. Students take a well-rounded series of core courses in Mandarin Chinese and on various aspects of China. Apart from these subject-specific core courses, students also take courses in key professional competences such as computer skills and communication skills. Finally, students take a specified number of optional courses from other subjects within the University. An extensive list of potential options is provided for students to choose from according to their personal interests and professional goals.
COM 111 Communication and Academic Literacy Skills (3)
ICT 121 Computer Skills Fundamentals 1 (2)
CHN 101 Basic Mandarin 1 (6)
CHN 103 Introduction to China (3)
CHN 105 Basic Practical Mandarin 1 (3)
Total: 17 credits
COM 112 Academic and Professional Communication (3)
ICT 122 Computer Skills Fundamentals 2 (2)
CHN 102 Basic Mandarin 2 (6)
CHN 104 Understanding China (3)
CHN 106 Basic Practical Mandarin 2 (3)
Total: 17 credits
CHN 201 Pre-Intermediate Mandarin 1 (6)
CHN 203 Ancient and Imperial History of China (to 1911) (3)
CHN 205 Chinese Philosophy and Religion (3)
CHN 209 Chinese for Travellers (3)
Total: 15 credits
CHN 202 Pre-Intermediate Mandarin 2 (6)
CHN 204 Modern History of China (since 1911) (3)
CHN 206 Political Economy of Contemporary China (3)
CHN 207 Introduction to Chinese Literature in Translation (3)
CHN 210 Introduction to Classical Chinese (2) [OPTIONAL]
Total: 15/17 credits
CHN 311 Intermediate Mandarin 1 (6)
CHN 307 Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK Level 3) (3)
CHN 309 Approaches and methods in Chinese Studies (3)
CHN 313 Africa-China Relations (3)
Total: 15 credits
CHN 312 Intermediate Mandarin 2 (6)
CHN 310 Attachment / Project (7)
1 Optional Course (3)
Total: 16 credits
CHN 401 Advanced Mandarin Chinese 1 (3)
CHN 407 Chinese Proficiency Test HSK Level 4 (3)
CHN 404 China, Globalization and Changing Power Relations (3)
Subtotal: 9 credits
CHN 411 Fundamentals of translation and interpreting from Mandarin Chinese (3)
Relevant optional course (3)
Subtotal: 6
Total: 15
CHN 409 Research Proposal (3)
Relevant optional course (3)
Subtotal: 6
Total: 15
CHN 402 Advanced Mandarin Chinese 2 (3)
CHN 406 Business Chinese (3)
Total: 6
CHN 410 Fundamentals of teaching Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language (3)
Relevant optional course (3)
Language course from Confucius Institute at University of Botswana (3)
Subtotal: 9
Total: 15
CHN 408 Dissertation (6)
Relevant optional course (3)
Subtotal: 9
Total: 15
TOTAL CREDITS: 125
This is a beginner’s course for learners with no prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese language. It introduces students to basic features of Mandarin including the phonetic system, the grammatical system and the writing system (Chinese characters). The course helps students acquire a basic vocabulary of around 400 Chinese words.
This course is for students who have completed Basic Mandarin 1. The course teaches skills of reception (reading and listening) and production (speaking and writing) in Mandarin Chinese at basic level. In this course students are expected to start acquiring basic translation skills from Mandarin into English.
The aim of this course is to introduce students to key features and aspects of China so that they acquire a basic general knowledge of the country and its history, society and culture. The course covers topics such as history, language, geography, culture and social life.
This course provides an in-depth survey of aspects of Chinese society and culture. It builds on the knowledge that students have acquired in CHN 103 but aims to be more analytical and reflective. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach and provides a further foundation for the continued study of traditional and contemporary China.
This is a practical beginner’s course in Mandarin Chinese with a focus on basic listening comprehension and oral skills. Starting with pinyin, students will gradually build up their communicative competency in Chinese. The aim of the course is to enable learners to have simple everyday conversations in Mandarin Chinese. This practical twelve (12) credit course is suitable for students from a non-Chinese Studies background to take as an elective.
This course is for students who have completed CHN 105 Basic Practical Mandarin 1. In this course students will continue to master expressions of everyday language use and strengthen their communicative competency in Mandarin Chinese.
This is a pre-intermediate language course for students who have successfully completed two semesters of Mandarin Chinese at introductory level and who have acquired a vocabulary of around 800 words. The course aims to develop language skills in all four areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are trained to communicate intelligibly in a variety of real-life situations in a Chinese speaking environment.
This is a pre-intermediate language course for students who have successfully completed three semesters of Mandarin Chinese. It builds on the foundation laid at the previous levels but adds length and complexity to the Chinese language used.
The course examines the ancient history of China from its prehistoric/ legendary starting point to the establishment of the Chinese Imperial system. It then looks at the imperial period from both a chronological and thematic perspective. Finally it examines Imperial China’s nineteenth century decline, including foreign aggression, internal resistance and failed attempts to modernize.
China had a tumultuous history in the twentieth century, including revolution, civil war, foreign invasion, and political extremism. In order to understand China’s present-day society and public affairs it is necessary to understand this background. This course begins with the 1911 Revolution that ended the Empire. It then covers the Republican era, the triumph of the Communist Party in 1949 and the first decades of the People’s Republic ending with Deng Xiaoping’s policy of Opening Up and Reform.
The course introduces issues, developments and debates of Chinese thought. It explores key concepts, such as the Tao, Heaven and qi. The course reviews in detail the crucial period of the “Hundred Schools” in which the main Chinese traditions, including that of Confucius, were established and explores how these traditions evolved later on. The course also covers the introduction of Buddhism to China, its acceptance and acquisition of distinctively Chinese features.
This course looks at modern-day China from the perspective of the interaction between politics and economics. It analyses four decades of economic and political reform paying particular attention to the political context of economic development and the political and social consequences of economic reform. The course aims to prepare students for a deeper understanding of and independent thinking on modern China.
This is a language course which specifically teaches Mandarin Chinese for travel situations (e.g. to arrange a travel schedule, to book tickets and hotels, etc.). The focus of this course is on practical communicative skills.
This course introduces students to the broad development and significance of China’s rich literary legacy including through studying representative sample texts in translation.
This optional course aims to introduce students to Classical Chinese, the language in which China’s ancient philosophical texts were written. This language also formed the foundation of the literary language of China that was in use until the early twentieth century. Students will be introduced to the basic syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of Classical Chinese, including through reading text fragments in the original wherever possible such as short proverbs and philosophical writings.
This is an intermediate language course for students who have successfully completed four semesters of Mandarin Chinese. It teaches more advanced vocabulary and syntax of Mandarin Chinese. Particular attention is paid to training reading and writing skills in Chinese at the intermediate level.
This is an intermediate language course for students who have successfully completed five semesters of Mandarin Chinese. It teaches more advanced vocabulary and syntax of Mandarin Chinese. The course focuses on comprehensive skills development at the intermediate level.
This is a preparatory course for the Chinese language proficiency test Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). It helps students to achieve a Mandarin Chinese language proficiency level that conforms to HSK level 3.
This course will run during the winter session, i.e., the long vacation from May to July. Students will carry out a supervised and assessed research project or attachment related to Botswana-China relations. The research project involves structured reading, field research and writing on a topic agreed upon by the student and a supervisor and approved by the lecturer responsible for the unit. Students are expected to employ the skills and conceptual knowledge acquired in earlier courses to investigate an appropriate issue or topic in Botswana-China or Africa-China relations. The attachment involves the external placement of a student with a professional or other kind of body in order to gain relevant first-hand experience in the field of Chinese Studies. The period of attachment should be at least six weeks. Members of staff visit the students and meet their supervisors to gather feedback on the attachment.
The course is intended to introduce basic concepts, approaches and methods of research and insights into the strengths and weaknesses of an area study-based approach to the study of China versus discipline-based approaches. Students will read and discuss sample research papers to explore different research methodologies and conceptual and theoretical frameworks applied in Chinese Studies research. Through this course students should get a better understanding of the scope of Chinese studies and the approaches and methods used in various fields of research.
The aim of this course is to critically explore the changing economic, political and people-to-people relations between Africa and China. The course covers Africa-China relations in the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial era, but the main focus is on the past two decades of rapidly changing relations between Africa and China.
The course is intended for students who have successfully completed six semesters of Mandarin Chinese. It focuses on language use in real life communication. All learning activities are organised to build up students’ comprehensive language abilities as a preparation to participate in real life situations. The course trains students to communicate fluently and appropriately.
This is the most advanced language proficiency course offered in the Chinese Studies Programme. It assists students to reach a high level of language proficiency. Students will be exposed to a variety of audio-visual materials and required to discuss issues in both oral and written form.
This is a preparatory course for the Chinese language proficiency test Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). It helps students to achieve a Mandarin Chinese language proficiency level that conforms to HSK level 4.
This course is designed to help students learn specialized business and economic expressions and the principles and formats of business correspondence in Chinese. While focusing on the Chinese language that is used in the business world, this course also provides a brief introduction to related business and economic environments, practices and customs of Chinese speaking communities.
This course aims to examine the dynamic relationship between China’s economic development and the changing structure of the global economy since the end of the twentieth century. It critically reviews debates on the meaning, nature and direction of globalization as well as how various countries, regions and other players affect and are affected by this process with a special focus on China.
This course presents an introduction to both theoretical and practical approaches to the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language. It will consider broad issues such as curricular design, articulation, assessment, teaching and learning strategies as well as more specific topics such as approaches to teaching grammar, vocabulary, receptive (listening and reading) and productive (speaking and writing) skills.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the work of an interpreter and a translator. It enables students to acquire the basic skills required to listen to or read a Mandarin Chinese speech or text, analyze it, summarize it and render a consecutive interpretation into English. It also equips learners with a basic understanding of the strategies behind translation. In this course students will also have an opportunity to practise their writing and public speaking skills which are instrumental for a translator and an interpreter.
Final year students in the non-language stream are expected to write and submit a dissertation on a topic related to China. The dissertation should demonstrate ability to synthesize knowledge and insights, and to apply a range of academic skills. The dissertation should incorporate conceptual, analytical as well as empirical components. The research proposal developed in CHN 409 will form the basis for the dissertation. An academic staff member will be assigned to supervise each student for the dissertation.
This course requires students to develop a research proposal on a topic selected by the student and approved by the assigned supervisor. The research proposal will be the basis for fulfilment of the course CHN 408 Dissertation. While the course equips students with specific skills to develop research proposals, students are also expected to apply knowledge and skills acquired in CHN 309 to conceptualize their proposal. Students will meet regularly with assigned staff members and will be required to make periodic reports.