Welcome to the Chinese program at Langara College. 

Our courses are designed to accommodate students from diverse backgrounds and with varying goals. Our primary mission is to provide students with a solid foundation in the Chinese language while introducing them to China's rich and profound culture.

For Non-Chinese Speakers (individuals who have completed most or all of their education in a non-Chinese-speaking country)

We offer four foundational courses: CHIN 1115, 1215, 1117, and 1217. These courses are designed to provide a strong foundation in the Chinese language, emphasizing essential vocabulary, sentence structures, grammar, and, most importantly, practical communication skills in Mandarin.

For Learners Seeking to Enhance Speaking Skills

We offer conversational courses, CHIN 2221/CHIN 2223, for students who have reached a certain level of proficiency and want to further improve their oral communication skills.

For Native Mandarin Speakers (individuals who grew up and completed three or more years of schooling in Mainland China, Taiwan, or Singapore)

We provide Chinese literature courses tailored to their needs. Students who have finished elementary school in China or Taiwan and are comfortable reading and writing Chinese at an intermediate level can enroll in Classical Chinese (CHIN 3331/3333) and Modern Chinese Literature (CHIN 3381/3383).

Please note: There are no placement tests for Chinese courses. However, students are advised to carefully review the prerequisites before registering. Students with any Chinese language background must consult an instructor before enrolling.

For students enrolling in CHIN 1115, 1215, 1117, 1217, 2221, or 2223, a course placement interview form must be completed before the first day of classes.

Reasons to Study Chinese at Langara College

  1. Quality Teaching: Chinese instructors have decades of teaching experience at The University of British Columbia and Langara College.
  2. Community Building: Strong student-teacher interaction fosters a supportive learning environment.
  3. Facilities: Access to modern language labs and dedicated language-learning resources.
  4. Student-Initiated Chinese Language Club: Opportunities for peer engagement and language practice.
  5. Strong Student Support: Comprehensive counseling services (mental health and academic), accessibility services, and a drop-in medical clinic.
  6. Affordable Tuition Fees: Lower costs for higher quality education.

Student Testimonial 

"I initially chose to take Chinese because it is unlike English and my first language, Russian. I suppose the best way to describe taking Chinese classes at Langara is that it has been a very interesting and emotional journey. Truly, out of all the classes I have taken, Chinese class has been on a whole different level. 

I was fortunate to have Huimin Lin as my Chinese instructor, as she has been so supportive. I love the Chinese language and I have really enjoyed learning a little bit about Chinese culture and history during class. I hope to visit China someday soon (不到长城非好汉!) and my goal is to one day be able to speak fluently without being so self-conscious. 

Chinese is quite difficult for me, but it is this difficulty that makes it so rewarding to learn. I think when we try to accomplish things that do not come easily, we grow stronger and more resilient." - Nicole Alakhverdiants, UBC student