INTRODUCTION

I think I would be well-justified to say that taking a Chinese language class for one year
has been one of the most challenging yet also most rewarding experiences.  I had decided 
to take Chinese language because I already speak one Asian language, and felt that knowing 
another would only benefit me in the future.  And what better language to learn than Chinese, 
being one of the most useful and commonly spoken languages in the world.  Looking back on my 
decision now, after having taken Chinese for one year, I do not at all regret my decision to 
take this language.  It has been extremely challenging, and at times frustrating.  Chinese is 
the type of language that really tests your desire to learn, and I feel that anyone who sticks 
with it, who doesn’t give up, is well-deserving of respect and should be proud of what they 
have achieved.  And so, my advice to anyone flirting with the idea is know that it is not 
something that can be accomplished without much effort and dedication.  However, also know 
that it is a wonderful learning experience and a beautiful language.  And so if in doubt, do 
what a fortune cookie once told me Learn Chinese!

My Most Excellent Work: 1) Hometown  2) Travel  3) Renting an Apartment

I ranked the passages this way because, first of all, they are all assignments done towards 
the end of the course, and so display an improvement in comparison to my earlier works.  I
 chose Hometown as my first preference because it is one of my longer assignments, and hence 
I had spent more time writing it, and also I liked the topic.  I also felt that Travel was 
well-written, and Renting an Apartment was another monologue that I had written in which I 
liked the topic.



Self-Introduction:    Image File   NJ Star File     Audio File
Hometown:             Image File   NJ Star File     Audio File
Travel:               Image File   NJ Star File     Audio File
Renting an Apt:       Image File   NJ Star File     Audio File