[Roxas]

(Original post by jnorton8)
Hello Everyone, i'm currently a second year student living in China right now, remembered how much help this topic was when i was applying so if anyone has anyway questions, feel free to ask, will be happy to help!

OOOH this is exciting! Also, you will regret saying feel free to ask, because I have millions of questions!

1) You are studying at Nanjing University right? What's it like there? How is the work load in comparison to year 1 at Sheffield? (and maybe put that in perspective of A level work so I can tell how much work is needed?)

2) did you start as a complete beginner? How quickly do you develop your language skills? What level of competancy would you say you are at currently?

3) What was the last thing you ate, was it yummy?! I general how are you finding the lack of Western food? Is your diet better or worse?

4) What did it feel like boarding a plane on your own to be seperated from what you have grown up with for an entire year?

5) Do you have any top tips of preperation for us who are just beginning our Chinese journey?

I narrowed it down to 5 for now! sorry! D: More to come! haha thanks!

[ZombieYoshi]

Well are you a guy or a girl? It's an all-boys school, so everything centres around being as horrible to each other as possible, whilst at the girls schools they're all nice and supportive of each other Some people have said it sounds awesome, but my friends aren't as nice But like I said, being really horrible to each other is how we show affection at our school haha They probably don't really think it's THAT bad a course, and they're just saying it because that's just what we do. And I'm getting better grades than all of them anyway, so who cares what they say!

But there is still all the Physics/Maths/Chemistry people that dismiss anything that isn't Science or Maths as a waste of time, and so I get made fun of a bit because all my subjects are humanities, so that automatically means I'll never get a job of course. And the fact I did Biology AS isn't good enough because apparently that's not a real Science because it's not hard enough


Now I read it back, I think I'm making my school and friends sounds like worse people than they really are haha. I guess you have to go here to understand

[jnorton8]

(Original post by Roxas)
OOOH this is exciting! Also, you will regret saying feel free to ask, because I have millions of questions!

1) You are studying at Nanjing University right? What's it like there? How is the work load in comparison to year 1 at Sheffield? (and maybe put that in perspective of A level work so I can tell how much work is needed?)

2) did you start as a complete beginner? How quickly do you develop your language skills? What level of competancy would you say you are at currently?

3) What was the last thing you ate, was it yummy?! I general how are you finding the lack of Western food? Is your diet better or worse?

4) What did it feel like boarding a plane on your own to be seperated from what you have grown up with for an entire year?

5) Do you have any top tips of preperation for us who are just beginning our Chinese journey?

I narrowed it down to 5 for now! sorry! D: More to come! haha thanks!

1. Yeah it's at Nanjing University, yeah its really nice here! If you any specific questions on the city just ask because don't know what to describe really! Oh you really have to work alot more here, both in lessons and outside, you have around 20 hours a week lesson time, with homeworks on top of that, and i'm sure you've heard the pass rate here is 60% not 40% so you have to work a little harder.

2. Yeah i was a complete beginner, knew how to say 你好(ni hao/hello) 你好吗(ni hao ma/how are you) and like 我叫(wo jiao/ my name...) and basics like that, but i couldn't write any characters. They don't spoon feed you and expect you to learn and revise these characters from day one. In my opinion keep on top of characters or they will come back to bite you in the arse. My level of Chinese right now i'd say is pretty good, can easily get by and have conversations (as long as they don't get too deep), personally i didn't find first year a great platform into coming here, you really learn your chinese here.

3. Aha it actually was a dish called Jingjiang rousi(京酱肉丝) like shredded pork in a soy bean sauce, absolutely amazing aha, erm in all honestly there is alot of western food on offer if you look, just costs a little more. Definately lots of things i miss though. Erm i would say my diet is slightly better here, but because im smoker the cheapness of cigarettes kinda balances that out aha, you smoke alot more here, part of the culture

4. Hmmm not really sure how to answer this one, obviously theres a lot of nerves when you leave to come here, but everyone is different i guess, just depends on how well you deal with it,

5 STAY ON TOP OF CHARACTERS, they seriously are the biggest pain in the world when it comes to studying chinese aha, I'm sure you'll here many horror stories about the pains of the Red Textbook aha

any more?

[Roxas]

(Original post by jnorton8)
1. Yeah it's at Nanjing University, yeah its really nice here! If you any specific questions on the city just ask because don't know what to describe really! Oh you really have to work alot more here, both in lessons and outside, you have around 20 hours a week lesson time, with homeworks on top of that, and i'm sure you've heard the pass rate here is 60% not 40% so you have to work a little harder.

2. Yeah i was a complete beginner, knew how to say 你好(ni hao/hello) 你好吗(ni hao ma/how are you) and like 我叫(wo jiao/ my name...) and basics like that, but i couldn't write any characters. They don't spoon feed you and expect you to learn and revise these characters from day one. In my opinion keep on top of characters or they will come back to bite you in the arse. My level of Chinese right now i'd say is pretty good, can easily get by and have conversations (as long as they don't get too deep), personally i didn't find first year a great platform into coming here, you really learn your chinese here.

3. Aha it actually was a dish called Jingjiang rousi(京酱肉丝) like shredded pork in a soy bean sauce, absolutely amazing aha, erm in all honestly there is alot of western food on offer if you look, just costs a little more. Definately lots of things i miss though. Erm i would say my diet is slightly better here, but because im smoker the cheapness of cigarettes kinda balances that out aha, you smoke alot more here, part of the culture

4. Hmmm not really sure how to answer this one, obviously theres a lot of nerves when you leave to come here, but everyone is different i guess, just depends on how well you deal with it,

5 STAY ON TOP OF CHARACTERS, they seriously are the biggest pain in the world when it comes to studying chinese aha, I'm sure you'll here many horror stories about the pains of the Red Textbook aha

any more?

Thanks for answering so quick! (I should check more often!)

1) What is the accomodation like in Nanjing? Do you stay in the universities accomodation?

2) How many people are on this course? How many started in the first year, and then dropped out before the year abroad? :O

3) Smoking is bad, you should quit! (that's not a question.. hmm)

4) How do you deal with the great firewall of china?! Also do you use a mobile phone in China?

5) Do you get much time off to travel/explore/get a job? or any other things like that?

6) Is a 'year' abroad actually a year? When did you leave and when do you return home?

7) Did you have culture shock/ food poisoning/ monkey in a zoo syndromes to get over when you first arrived?

8) What has been the best day/thing and the worst day/thing that has happened to you in China?

9) Do you take Single or dual honours? Do you see any benefits/negatives of doing single/dual?

10) Back to food again, darn my stomach! Did you find it odd having to eat random parts of animals you may have never heard of before? Do you go for the "try everything" mentality, and as a result do you have any odd favourites?

Thanks alot for talking to us about Chinese/China! It's awesome to get some insider knowledge

[jnorton8]

(Original post by Roxas)
Thanks for answering so quick! (I should check more often!)

1) What is the accomodation like in Nanjing? Do you stay in the universities accomodation?

2) How many people are on this course? How many started in the first year, and then dropped out before the year abroad? :O

3) Smoking is bad, you should quit! (that's not a question.. hmm)

4) How do you deal with the great firewall of china?! Also do you use a mobile phone in China?

5) Do you get much time off to travel/explore/get a job? or any other things like that?

6) Is a 'year' abroad actually a year? When did you leave and when do you return home?

7) Did you have culture shock/ food poisoning/ monkey in a zoo syndromes to get over when you first arrived?

8) What has been the best day/thing and the worst day/thing that has happened to you in China?

9) Do you take Single or dual honours? Do you see any benefits/negatives of doing single/dual?

10) Back to food again, darn my stomach! Did you find it odd having to eat random parts of animals you may have never heard of before? Do you go for the "try everything" mentality, and as a result do you have any odd favourites?

Thanks alot for talking to us about Chinese/China! It's awesome to get some insider knowledge

1. Well i got the scholarship so i was put into a shared room, regardlesss of what you get you will end up staying at a place called Xiyuan Hotel, which is pretty good really, you have a shared bathroom with others on your floor and squat toilets (which are horrible aha), I've actually already moved out and got a flat with a coursemate, alot of people have actually done this, its pretty cheap so not a bad option

2. Well my year was the biggest they had every had at around 20 students, but imagine there is more this year and more for your year, around 5 or so dropped in the first year

3. Haha yeah i know, i am trying to quit but it is useful 关系 because alot of people smoke here

4. Well at Sheffield you get a VPN which you can use which basically means our internet is based in England, i don't know how much you know about computers but take a look at the Sheffield VPN, means nothing is blocked and yes of course i have a mobile!

5. Well we've just had 2 months off around in which alot of people have gone around travelling and exploring and you can ask permission from your teacher to go exploring so its fine! and you have plenty of time for Jobs, recommended really you get good money and it helps practice your chinese, i teach Children who can't speak any English and get £10 an hour for it so

6. Erm you should arrive here in September and finish here the end of June so its more like a University year

7. Aha of course you do! its not distressing or anything like that though, just have to take it in your stride!

8. Best thing i'd say for me was being taken away with the Nanjing government official for a weeks drinking and site-seeing with his family and friends, unbelievable experience and nothing i think i will ever be likely to have again! Not really sure worst thing wise, never really had a horrific experience as yet tbh...

9 I do dual honours Chinese and Business management, personally i feel this degree looks more attractive to prospective jobs

10. Haha! its honestly not that bad! the food is really good here, and its easy enough to avoid the stranger stuff! just stick to normal meats at first before you brave anything else so your stomach gets used to it! Then maybe you can move onto the BBQ Snake which i had the other day... aha

Hope this are helpful! If i've not answered something properly just say!

[Roxas]

Oops, sorry for not posting much, I keep getting distracted! thanks for all the answers

Just got home from the SEAS open day and it's safe to say I still want to study Chinese! The accomodation tour was useful too, I don't know whether I want to stay in mixed or single sex rooms though O_O (anyone got thoughts on this?)

Hugo was as great as last time, but we got a Chinese specific talk from Dr Sarah Dauncey who felt a bit like a superhero! When she was talking about all the things she organises or controls I was quite shocked at how much she actually did, her talk was really useful though and helped clear up a few things.

Thanks to the three students who came into the talk and stood up and answered out questions, that was really great too!

brkjvijeicjijs, now I just need to get an A and two B's... ahh!

[ZombieYoshi]

You're home? I'm barely 2 hours into a ~5 hour drive ;_; Only just passing Birmingham I think. Damn living so far away.

[Roxas]

Well we are staying with friends, my mum didn't want to drive back to Suffolk in one day so we have a stop over!

What do you look like? I wonder if you are who I think you are.. haha

[ZombieYoshi]

We stayed in a Travel Lodge in Nottingham last night so it wouldn't be up and down in one day like September.
Umm, I'm wearing a blue hoody and probably had my glasses on during the talk, dunno how else to describe me :v

[Roxas]

Did you go with two adults? If you are who I think you are... The male you were with had his ear pierced? (wow I remember odd things about people)

So did you go to the korean talk or the japanese one? What were they like?

[ZombieYoshi]

Yeah I did, and yeah he does...he also wears glasses... The lady who took us on the coach to the accommodation tour (if you went on it) also seemed to develop a fondness for him...
I went to the Korean one since that'd be the major in the dual degree. Although I think I might do the single now and take a couple of Japanese modules in my third year instead.
It was great, it seems like a really friendly and fun department too because of the small class sizes, and the two tutors who were there seem really nice. I was the only male there though ._.

[Roxas]

Why are you complaining? A class full of females can't be all bad There were about 5 guys in the Chinese one I think, but mainly girls too... Why do more girls take East asian subjects than guys?!

That lady was odd, but quite nice! She kept talking to me every time I was looking bewildered or lonely, haha.

I'm really excited to go now >_< Better start revising for may? -.-

[ZombieYoshi]

I know, I know but there's a limit, I wouldn't mind at least one other guy being there though haha. One of the tutors also immediately greeted me by name since it was obvious who I was, which stunned me for a second. I dunno what causes it, but I hope it continues

I really really want to get on the course now, but no matter how much I say it's motivated me I just know when it comes to it I'll be just as lazy and unmotivated as I was for my History re-sit last month. Oh well, only time will tell.

We might even have a class together since I want to do a couple Chinese modules like History

[fortunecookie]

(Original post by jnorton8)
!

Sorry this is a bit random, but I'm a current first year Chinese student at Sheffield. What vaccines did you get before you went? I have spoken to a couple of the third/fourth years but can't decide whether or not to get Japanese Encephelitis?

Also how long did you leave it before booking your flights? We were told August because of exam results, but were thinking about when is best to get a good deal...

[jnorton8]

(Original post by fortunecookie)
Sorry this is a bit random, but I'm a current first year Chinese student at Sheffield. What vaccines did you get before you went? I have spoken to a couple of the third/fourth years but can't decide whether or not to get Japanese Encephelitis?

Also how long did you leave it before booking your flights? We were told August because of exam results, but were thinking about when is best to get a good deal...

Ermm lets see if i can remember what i had done i'd already had my DPT and Hep A booster, so i just got my Hep B jabs and Rabies done.

Unless you plan on visiting alot of rural areas i don't think you will need to get Japanese Encephelitis jabs, but then again entirely up to you!

I think i booked late july, because besides your exam results you have to do alot of things regarding your visa and scholarship stuff etc, you won't be able to find many return flights to China for under £500 so it is unlikely you will get a better deal than that, no matter how early you book tbh!

[Roxas]

Hey everyone! Just thought it was time for us all to update as January exams have just come out!

I had 5 exams and came out with A A B C D which was both good and bad!

I guess I speak as one of the.. Not so bright? People of this course as I a bigger mountain to climb!

I got BCDE at AS which sounds pretty terrible and I wasn't sure I could pull ABB off! But after January exams my AS levels sit at ABB e as I dropped one subject, so it's very doable! (I got the C/D in A2 exams and will be resitting them both) but I feel ABB is finally achievable for me!

Bring on Sheffield 2012!!

[Jon25]

(Original post by fortunecookie)
Sorry this is a bit random, but I'm a current first year Chinese student at Sheffield. What vaccines did you get before you went? I have spoken to a couple of the third/fourth years but can't decide whether or not to get Japanese Encephelitis?

Also how long did you leave it before booking your flights? We were told August because of exam results, but were thinking about when is best to get a good deal...

Only 2 people have ever known to die from Japanese Encephalitis. Also just a word of advice. Your original blood lab reports for AIDS, Syphilis, ECG report, X-ray report are only valid strictly for 6 months. I had to do another chest x ray and blood test in China as I went to the health clinic after my results .... Go to the health clinic in Nanjing and get the medical procedure out the way with and don't delay. Do this in the first week or so when you get there.

I booked mine early, but I was confident I'd pass my exams Would be sensible to book tickets in advance if you're confident you'll do well in the exams.

[Roxas]

Yikes, I keep having to necro this thread which is upsetting! We need to show those korean students which east asian language is best!

All the medical stuff you have to do before staying in China... What specifically are they looking for? Like.. What do you have to have wrong with you in order for them not to let you in?


Also, how is everyone feeling after exams? I am pretty conflicted, I am worried I might come out with 3 B's, but I don't want to start thinking that as it's bad! I can get the grades i'm sure!

Has anybody received any information regarding the course since they firmed it or anything? I recently got from Nottingham (my insurance) a really nice pack of information with an introduction booklet and a recommended but not mandatory reading list, articles and websites to check out, along with an annual report of what happened at notts last year and a news booklet. I was wondering if I should/could expect anything of the sort from Sheffield?

Wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwén. But I am sure looking forward to learning! That reminds me.. Does anyone plan on using any language programmes or anything before they start the course? I have been gifted some books/CD's that i'd like to start using but I am worried as the teaching may be different I might set myself up to be in a disadvantage or something compared to those who will be completely fresh to the language?

Hope to see you all in September!

[joeroberts93]

We had general medical checks that you might have at a GP appointment, but on top of that we had blood tests for I think Syphilis and HIV, an ECG, and a chest X-ray. I think they're fine letting people in with health issues, just as long as they're not hugely contagious - I think one of the boxes on the health form to be filled in by the doctor was for leprosy...
You should be getting materials from the uni, but I'm not sure if you only get them once your place has been confirmed. As for language programmes, at Sheffield we use "Character text for colloquial chinese", but any knowledge of characters at all would be handy

[thelawstudent]

sorry to butt in on this thread, but i'm just curious.. is it possible to learn mandarin somehow (maybe there are some classes/modules etc) at sheffield if you aren't studying chinese/east asia etc?