HSK 4Lesson 40
Choosing what to study is a big decision. You will hear a student ask a teacher for advice, a graduate student explain why he went back to study, a friend explain how scholarships work, and an applicant sign up at a college.
You will learn to talk about choosing a university major, compare undergraduate and graduate study, ask about tuition fees and scholarships, and sign up for an entrance exam.
Part 1 · 15 new words
Contains 5 words
major; field of study
undergraduate course
graduate student
college; school (of a university)
course; curriculum
Contains 6 words
to graduate
graduate
Contains 4 words
tuition fees
scholarship
Part 2 · 8 phrases
你学的是什么专业？以后想做什么工作？
What's your major? What do you want to do later?
读完四年本科，我还想再读研究生。
After four years of undergraduate study, I want to study for a graduate degree.
我们学院的楼在图书馆后面，上课很方便。
Our college building is behind the library, which is convenient for class.
九月入学以后，新同学要先参加三天的活动。
After starting in September, new students first join a three-day orientation.
这个学期的课程太多，我每天晚上都要自习。
This term has too many courses; I have to study every night.
没有奖学金的话，一年的学费我要自己想办法。
Part 3 · 4 conversations
Bai Jiayue is finishing her first year at university. Sign-up for majors is next month, and she asks Teacher Wang for advice.
白家月Bai Jiayue
王老师，下个月就要报名了，我还不知道该选什么专业。
Teacher Wang, sign-up is next month and I still don't know which major to choose.
王老师Teacher Wang
别着急。你对什么最有兴趣？
Don't worry. What are you most interested in?
to start school
to sign up
to apply to sit an entrance exam
exam candidate
excellent
standard; criterion
Without a scholarship I'd have to cover a year's tuition myself.
想参加比赛的同学，下周一以前来报名。
Those who want to enter the contest, sign up before next Monday.
她成绩很优秀，每次考试都是第一。
She does very well in school; every exam she is first.
我喜欢画画，可是最喜欢的还是音乐，从小就开始学了。
I like drawing, but what I like most is music; I've been learning it since I was little.
王老师Teacher Wang
那可以考虑音乐专业。上次学校晚会上，大家都说你表演得特别好。
Then you could consider majoring in music. At the last school party, everyone said your performance was excellent.
白家月Bai Jiayue
哪个学院有这个专业？课程难不难？
Which college has that major? Is the program hard?
王老师Teacher Wang
我们大学的音乐学院就有。课程不轻松，每天都要练习好几个小时。毕业生可以做音乐老师，也可以去表演。
Our university's school of music has it. The program isn't easy: you have to practice for several hours every day. Graduates can become music teachers or go on to perform.
白家月Bai Jiayue
每天练习好几个小时？那我先去看看他们的课程，再做决定。
Several hours of practice every day? Then I'll look at their program first and decide after that.
Anne learns that Xiao Zhang, an older student she knows, went back to university after two years of work and asks him why.
安妮Anne
小张，你是读本科还是读研究生？
Xiao Zhang, are you an undergraduate or a graduate student?
小张Xiao Zhang
研究生。我本科毕业以后工作了两年，又回来读书了。
A graduate student. After my bachelor's I worked for two years, then came back to study.
安妮Anne
本科毕业已经可以工作了，为什么还要读研究生？
With a bachelor's you can already work, so why do a graduate degree?
小张Xiao Zhang
现在公司的要求很高，好的工作一般都要研究生。
Companies expect a lot now; good jobs usually want a graduate degree.
安妮Anne
那研究生毕业以后就容易多了吧？
So it gets much easier once you finish a graduate degree?
小张Xiao Zhang
也不一定。每年毕业生那么多，只有优秀的才能找到好工作。
Not necessarily. There are so many graduates every year that only the excellent ones find good jobs.
Liu Xiaoxue is thinking of applying for graduate study and asks Li Wen, who won a scholarship last year, about the costs.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
李文，读研究生一年的学费是多少？
Li Wen, how much is a year's tuition for a graduate degree?
李文Li Wen
一般五千到一万，要看学校和专业。
Usually five to ten thousand, depending on the university and the major.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
这么贵！我不想给父母太大的压力。
That much! I don't want to put too much pressure on my parents.
李文Li Wen
可以申请奖学金。我去年就申请到了，学费少交了一半。
You can apply for a scholarship. I got one last year and paid only half the fees.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
真的？奖学金的标准是什么？
Really? What are the requirements for the scholarship?
李文Li Wen
主要看成绩，成绩优秀的学生才能申请。别的条件每个学校不一样。
Mainly grades: only students with excellent grades can apply. Other conditions differ from school to school.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
那我今年得好好准备考试了。
Then I'd better prepare well for the entrance exam this year.
李文Li Wen
对，学校网上有今年的标准，我找一下发给你。
Right, this year's requirements are on the university website; I'll find them and send them to you.
A young applicant goes to a college office to sign up for its entrance exam and asks when new students start.
考生Applicant
老师您好，我想报考你们学院，请问怎么报名？
Hello, I'd like to apply to your college. How do I sign up?
老师Admissions teacher
先在网上报名，再把材料交到这里。今年考生很多，你最好早点儿交。
Sign up online first, then hand in your documents here. There are a lot of candidates this year, so you'd better hand them in early.
考生Applicant
好的。如果考试没问题，什么时候入学？
All right. If the exam goes well, when do I start?
老师Admissions teacher
九月一号入学。第一年大家上一样的课程，第二年再选专业。
New students start on the first of September. In the first year everyone takes the same courses; you choose a major in the second year.
考生Applicant
这样很好，我还有一年时间可以想想。
That's good; I'll have a year to think about it.
老师Admissions teacher
对。报名的时候有问题，就打这个电话。
Right. If you have any problems signing up, call this number.
