[jinjin<3]

I’m an English major right now. I haven’t studied Mandarin for five years since I’ve left high school. I took Mandarin again this year because I had to fulfill second-language requirements. After reviewing the information on my background with Chinese, the department head somehow decided that he was going to put me in a 400-level class. At my university, 400’s are the highest classes for undergraduates. I told him in a follow-up e-mail that I hadn’t taken Mandarin for five years, but he refused to change his decision. He also didn’t offer to test me orally, which was required for all students. EVERYONE in my class got tested. Maybe he forgot about me or something…
Anyway, I’m taking my second course now. I ended up getting an A in my first course, which I was quite surprised with. This instructor knew that I was an English major and that I wanted to become a prof for English. During a meeting in January, he asked me whether I’ve decided to become a prof in English or Chinese lit. I hadn’t even thought about becoming a Chinese lit prof, so I told him that I hadn’t considered Chinese. He then made me an offer. He told me that he thinks I should really consider switching into Chinese lit, and if I do, he would like to be my supervisor for my Masters degree. I was totally shocked and flattered. He also happens to be a specialist in my favourite type of Chinese literature.
After I started my second course, my class had to participate in a mandatory speech contest. I ended up getting first place in my class, which was a total shock to me because, like I said, I haven’t studied Chinese for 5 years. The article I wrote for the speech contest ended up getting published in my local Chinese newspaper under the request of the Board of Education in my city. My prof right now, who is also the department head, recently told me that he thinks I should really consider changing into Chinese lit. He’s also informed me that I have an A in his class right now. I like Chinese lit, but I really don’t have much experience in it. I also question if I was to switch if I really like it for what it is. Would I like it just because I can do it? Would I even like it as much as I like English. Also, it is quite questionable whether I would even get into grad school with my marks. I have a ton of courses left that I have to taken so my marks in English might pull up since I have a B average and need B+ to get into grad school.
What should I do?

[itrayya]

first off, im jealous of you.
you have soooo much people in support of you.
im sure you'll get into graduate school no matter what.

i think you should do something you like.
cause without passion, you can only go so far.
you can do english, but dont let go of chinese too, you know.

i do see you with sooo much greatness in chinese lit. if you do it too.
i think it's like... a win win situation for you.
you can do both. why not?
but it is important to consider your liking and passion.

i think your graduate life is pretty set.
you have great professors who would love to see you go far.
and when they offer all these to you,
it's because they believe that you can do it.
i believe so too.

go for it.
you sound smart, you can balance them, right?
good luck.
im rooting you on. hehehhee.
take care.

[clairdeluned]

Why not both? Major in one, minor in the other. Most grad schools appreciate well-rounded individuals, and English + Chinese lit sound like they would complement each other in a really interesting way. If English is something that you are passionate about (and I can relate, I'm a history major and I absolutely love it ), I see no reason to let it go, but if there is something else that you have a natural talent for (not to mention a group of people who support you and are more than happy to help you!), I see no reason to let that go either. As long as you have the time/finances to pursue both, I say try both

[Kang1004]

Do both haha

comparative literature ^^

one of my ta's doing that. She is so bright! She studies english litt. and chin. and how english litt. has influenced chin. llitt. over the past decades ^^