I am interested in taking the Superior or Master level TOCFL sometime early next year. While I do have a academic and personal interest in learning Chinese, I would be interested to know what sort of doors TOCFL success (and success at learning Chinese in general) can open for you.
Any reflections?
I passed the Superior level earlier this year, and I may take the Master level test next year. At the moment for me the only use it sees is in small print in the “languages” section of my CV under the heading “Mandarin Chinese”. There is an equivalence chart knocking around somewhere so you can compare TOCFL with other tests in other languages; some universities in Taiwan will allow a TOCFL certificate as evidence of proficiency before admitting you to a Mandarin-language course.
The only reason I did it was to push myself to actively study Chinese after a long hiatus. In that, it was well worth it.
Here’s why I need it up to Level 4: philo.ntu.edu.tw/entrance/
Oddly, faculties have been pretty cool to me despite my lack of this qualification. I have apparently won myself a “hardcore” labeling with some of them.
I passed the Master level in May, and I got a job here as a translator a few months later. However, they did give me their own translation test when I applied, so I’m not sure how much the cert actually helped. It’s not like the HSK, the general populace here has no idea it even exists. It is also useless when applying for a work permit. A lot of schools have it listed as a requirement for foreign students, but the levels are usually set laughably low, and the requirement is often to get it “by the time of graduation,” not on application. So I’d say it’s not terribly useful beyond fulfilling Taiwanese university requirements, but it doesn’t hurt.
By the way, ehophi, you might want to clarify with them about which level is required now. The revised TOCFL has just four pass/fail tests. The old Level 4 equates to the current Superior, I believe.
[quote=“ehophi”]Here’s why I need it up to Level 4: philo.ntu.edu.tw/entrance/
Oddly, faculties have been pretty cool to me despite my lack of this qualification. I have apparently won myself a “hardcore” labeling with some of them.[/quote]
Are you studying philosophy in English?
I’ll shoot them an e-mail. Thanks.
[quote=“archylgp”][quote=“ehophi”]Here’s why I need it up to Level 4: philo.ntu.edu.tw/entrance/
Oddly, faculties have been pretty cool to me despite my lack of this qualification. I have apparently won myself a “hardcore” labeling with some of them.[/quote]
Are you studying philosophy in English?[/quote]
Yes, but not entirely…
To put it in perspective, I trudge through 列子 (Liezi) and 工孫龍子 (Gongsunlongzi), but will eventually have to read all of those classics that mock me from my bookshelf (you know, the ubiquitous, green-covered ones). I skimmed a few logic books in Mandarin, but just enough to pick up some essential notation. And finally, I’ve been thumbing through my Chinese version of Philosophical Investigations (哲學探討) by Wittgenstein and have busted my balls trying to find the Tractatus in Traditional.
Interesting note: If I recall correctly, Taffy knows some philosophy, too.
[quote=“LURKER”]I am interested in taking the Superior or Master level TOCFL sometime early next year. While I do have a academic and personal interest in learning Chinese, I would be interested to know what sort of doors TOCFL success (and success at learning Chinese in general) can open for you.
Any reflections?[/quote]
I think the TOCFL is just a test.
I’ve been hearing back in the U.S. that businesses are giving a lot of hiring preference to Mandarin bilinguals (sort of how they were for Japanese speakers back in the Eighties).
I have the vocabulary sheets from Wikipedia. I’m going to start preparing for it. Quite a few words i don’t konw on those sheets.