Written by: Chong Qing Ya (23J01), Lim Sing Yang Stanley (23J16), Liu Xuanyi (23J19)
With the last day of Term 2 over, the pressure is truly on for the J2s to revise and consolidate. For those of us who are taking humanities subjects, it may be daunting to face piles of content that have been accumulating for one-and-a-half years. Apart from the content, there are still argumentation skills and essay outlines that we have to grapple with…
Not enough time to study!
Do you feel overwhelmed by the thought of having to recap so much within such a short time? Well, don’t worry, for we have interviewed some seniors on their study methods! They have given us detailed tips that will hopefully guide you on how to revise most efficiently and improve your essay-writing skills for these Chinese-based humanities subjects. (Refer to our previous articles How to be an Academic Weapon Part 1: The Sciences and How to be an Academic Weapon Part 2: The English-based Humanities for more advice for the other subjects!)
Read on to hear from our seniors and learn from their wisdom so that you can become an academic weapon and make an academic comeback for mid-year exams and prelims! 🥳✨
Yesyesyesyes 🥳
Nopenopenope ❌
We’ll be addressing the subjects in this order:
H2 Translation
H2 China Studies in Chinese (CSC)
H2 Translation
Interviewees: Anica Lo Pui Yee (22J14), Hong Liying Rie (22J06)
How did you study for Translation?
Tip 1: Practise and review your mistakes
Anica: In class, I would take down the key answers and takeaways the teacher mentioned when going through our class practices, then review them at home in comparison with my own attempts. From there, I would analyse the gaps in my own answers, try another practice of the same question type, and consult my teacher on my new attempt. During consults, I would note down the reason behind the usage of the different translation techniques, and how to clearly explain this rationale and its linkages to 语法学 (where applicable) to strengthen my analysis of the text passage and translation in my next attempt.
Rie: A lot! Of practice! There's no escaping it. Ultimately, the skills needed for actual translation and analysis can only be trained with practice questions. Also, keep practising all the question types consistently! It does pay off, I promise.
It might also help to keep a list of mistakes you made, be it errors in direct
translation or in your analysis. While it’s highly unlikely that you’ll see the same set
of phrases or the exact text in an examination setting again, it helps to keep track of your mistakes and identify trends.
Tip 2: Make sure to review what you memorise
The first time you memorise things (e.g. 理论，语法，答题结构, etc.), keep going back to review them every few days to reinforce your memory. Once they are stuck in your brain for good, you'll have a much easier time during timed practices and exams.
Tip 3: Read widely in both English and Chinese
Rie: Another thing that might help would be to read widely in both English and Chinese, as it broadens your vocabulary and strengthens your affinity with both languages (“语感”).
Granted, it can be difficult to squeeze time for leisure-reading into your schedule, given how hectic J1 and J2 can be. But small steps (like reading a little on your way home, if you can) can go a long way, especially when compounded over two years.
Reading helps you de-stress too!
What do you think is the hardest topic(s) in this discipline?
Rie: My biggest challenge was in understanding and applying the grammar rules (“语法”). When doing papers, I relied more on my instincts rather than on technical knowledge to gauge whether a translation was accurate, and faced difficulty in explaining the techniques I used and in justifying my word choice.
What are your tips for understanding these topics?
Rie: Comb through the slides, pick out any areas of confusion or potential misconceptions, bring them up with the teachers as soon as possible, and don’t let it snowball! It can be challenging to explain things that feel instinctive in technical terms, but you can do it! 👍👍
What was your favourite thing about this subject?
Rie: My favourite part was exploring the linguistic and cultural nuances between languages. For example, learning how certain phrases can mean vastly different things in different cultural contexts grew my appreciation for both languages and taught me to be more sensitive to linguistic subtleties.
Why did you consider taking this subject?
Rie: I enjoyed my English and Chinese lessons in Secondary School and had a strong interest in both languages. Hence, Translation seemed quite fun to me as it offered me a chance I couldn’t turn down to explore what I liked most about both languages. On top of that, it allowed me to develop practical skills that I hope to continue strengthening even after graduating, and I’m glad to have had the chance to take it in JC.
What are some tips you would give to juniors and what should they look out for when
taking this subject?
Rie: Keep practising! Don’t be too worried if it’s tough at the start – it can take a while to get the hang of it, but you’ll definitely get there with enough time and practice. Also, consultations were especially helpful for me, so don’t be afraid to approach the teachers! (Thank you 洪老师 and 林老师 for making time for us every week for consultations and extra practices!!!)
H2 China Studies in Chinese
Interviewees: Hong Liying Rie (22J06), Goh Junyu (22J08)
How did you study for China Studies in Chinese (CSC)? (study methods)
Paper 1
Rie: Paper one was easier to get the hang of, as it's mostly about sticking closely to the answering format of each question. For the trickier part, regarding the suggestions to give (“建议”), you can mostly find the answers in the passage – otherwise, you might need to prepare a few “template” suggestions that can be used across several topics.
Paper 2
Tip 1: Read, digest, and memorise model essays
Rie: However, given the difference in weightage and content, I devoted much more attention to paper two, specifically by poring over the model essays (you can borrow the printed copy from the library or ask the subject teachers for a PDF!), trying to digest the points and understand the flow of logic. The way I did this was collating the essays by topic, and for each and every essay, breaking each body paragraph down into point-form (PEEL), then rephrasing them as I saw fit. After understanding and processing the points, I’d move on to memorising them.
Admittedly, it might be tedious and somewhat brain-draining at the start. After a while, however, you’ll be able to draw links between essays on the same topic and recognise common points that can be used across different essay questions.
It does get a lot better with practice! Leading up to the A-levels, our subject teachers made a point of giving us at least one essay plan to submit per week (which I am very grateful for, even though I felt like dying at the time).
Tip 2: Identify your strengths and weaknesses
Junyu: I mainly spent my time memorising statistics and evidence and doing timed practices for Paper 2 essays. I think it really depends on each student what their needs are. For me, I wasn’t exactly weak in argumentation, so I didn’t really write essay outlines, but some other students who might have a better grasp on the content itself but lacking in the arguing skills would practise writing more essay outlines. I think what is important is to identify your weaknesses and target them.
Beat your weaknesses!
Tip 3: Adapt your content to the question
Rie: Something that helped was learning to see each body paragraph as fixed content chunks/blocks to be used flexibly to meet the requirements of different questions. It's a bit like a jigsaw puzzle in how different points are fitted together to form a coherent argument, and I found that there was often little need to come up with new, original points. Even if an essay question differs from typical question types, having these content chunks as your basics makes it a lot easier to tweak your existing points to fit the question requirements.
Tip 4: Don’t just memorise; understand!
Rie: Also, don't just memorise blindly! This is (unfortunately) one of the dumbest mistakes I made when starting out. Memorising does not equal understanding and definitely isn't enough for application. Even if you manage to remember everything word-for-word, if you don't understand it fully, you won't be able to use your points in a way flexible enough to meet the question requirements effectively. At best, your points would come off as rigid, and at worst they would be inconsistent with the question. However, once you're able to explain the point to another person (preferably someone who doesn't take the subject at all) in your own words, you've most likely gotten the hang of it!
Tip 5: Be clear about the question types
Rie: Another thing to take note of would be the question types and their respective requirements, which can be confusing at times (e.g. the difference between “关键” and “最”...). Make sure you understand what each question calls for, and memorise the answering format of each type!
It’s also important to have an accurate view of the bigger picture (“大局观”), especially when comparing different factors. For example, when the question asks for a comparison of factors, you should instinctively know what your stance should be. (There's no “right answer”, but there is often an easier stance to take.)
A final reminder: Remember! To! 跨课题!
What do you think is the hardest topic(s) in CSC? What are your tips for understanding these topics?
Tip 6: Be strategic with how you tackle the content
Rie: I don't think there's a hardest topic per se, as they're all about the same in terms of difficulty
level. However, the biggest challenge would definitely be the sheer amount of content. I would suggest choosing the “bigger” topics and spending more time on mastering them in-depth, rather than covering all the topics at the expense of detailed understanding. In other words, go for depth rather than breadth.
That said, you should still cover all the topics! Ideally, if you start early enough, you should be able to master all of them. But, if you're short on time (as I was), you might want to invest more time and effort in the more important ones and take a gamble on the smaller ones.
Tip 7: Do additional research or consult your teachers when faced with complex topics
Junyu: I did not really like Theme 2, which is Politics. It was extremely complex as the Chinese political system itself is something students in JC would not have a very good grasp of. A lot of technical terms are involved which is why the difficulty of this theme is pitched similarly to university-taught modules.
To understand this topic, you should spend time beyond the classroom internalising the content, and do additional research to clarify any doubts that you may have. I often watch CNA Insider, Zaobao, or South China Morning Post documentaries to get a better grasp. Also, do feel free to reach out to teachers for consultations. Oftentimes they try to simplify the explanations to you and sort of “dumb it down” a little. Of course, you can’t write that way in exams but it really helps in your understanding.
Why did you consider taking this subject?
Rie: One of the reasons was that CSC is a compulsory subject for Bicultural Studies Programme scholars like me, as part of our scholarship commitments. More importantly, however, the prospect of learning how China operates appealed to me, given the global context of US-China tensions and the fact that China is a rising power.
CSC is indeed a challenging subject; however, it is a subject I can confidently say is still relevant in my day-to-day life, with rewards that I continue to benefit from even after graduating. To me, what I’ve taken away from it is far more important than the final grade.
Junyu: I only took it because I was under the BSP programme. Initially, I was quite repulsed by it and even wanted to request to drop it, but I eventually grew fond of it after I realised how important and useful it could be. It really is an eye-opener that allows you to have a more globalised lens, and see the world in not just black and white, but also the grey in-betweens.
What was your favourite thing about this subject?
Rie: My favourite thing about CSC is how it gave me a fundamental overview of how society in general runs. Through the lens of the rising power that is China, CSC discusses several issues (from foreign affairs, economics and politics to various social issues) that many countries – not just China – face.
Personally, I find the skills and knowledge that I gained from CSC very practical even now, especially in understanding current affairs and its implications for our day-to-day lives. (Also, I get to flex on my parents when we discuss the news 👍👍)
Junyu: I think that would be the breadth of this subject. You will honestly get to study and learn a lot of things in CSC which are very useful and relevant in your daily life.
You kind of get to dabble in many different disciplines like economics, politics, sociology, international relations, etc. in the Chinese context, but it certainly helps to set the background for applying these concepts to countries beyond China too.
What are some tips you would give to juniors and what should they look out for when
taking this subject?
Rie: The learning curve can be quite steep, but don't be disheartened. As long as you keep trying, your hard work will pay off. My grades throughout J1 and early J2 were... far from inspiring confidence, to say the least, but it's very possible to make the jump you need at the A-levels. Hang in there! If you can do CSC, you can do anything. 👍And if you have any doubts at all, find the subject teachers for consults! (To 蒋老师, 林老师 and 吴老师: 谢谢您的耐心教导!!!)
Junyu: Do not be afraid of the aspect of language in and of itself. I am not super proficient in Chinese, but I found that argumentation flows smoother as you practise more. And also to put in effort to research more outside of classrooms. CSC content is very fluid and dynamic because everything is happening in real-time. Teachers can teach you key concepts and case studies of each topic, but every other day, new events and developments are occurring, so do read the news widely.
Also, have an open mind. Learning CSC often means challenging the preconceived notions you have, be it pro-West or pro-China. At the end of the day, you are critically assessing relevant topics in China, which means a fair evaluation of both sides of the story is necessary. Thus, it is crucial to avoid trapping yourself in your echo chamber. This can be done by reading widely, be it Chinese state media news or extremely liberal newspapers, or our own local neutral papers. That said, don’t take everything wholesale – instead, critically judge the validity of these pieces and form your own informed opinion.
General Advice
Interviewee: Anica Lo Pui Yee (22J14)
After reading so many subject-specific tips, it is important to realise that many subjects require similar changes in mindset and general approaches to studying. We need to be strategic in how we consolidate and memorise our content, we have to PRACTISE, and we should consult our teachers when we face challenges. With that in mind, let’s look at the common conclusions Anica has gathered from her experiences across the various subjects that she took!
What do you think are the hardest topics that you have studied? What are your tips in understanding these topics?
Tip 1: Understand the big picture
I struggled most with the Global Economy, 语法学 and Macroeconomics respectively. I later realised that the reason behind my struggles is the same stemmed from the same thing – an inadequate grasp of the big picture.
When studying the Global Economy (GE) in International History, I tended to view the growth and decline of GE separately, which hindered my understanding of how the factors that bolstered the GE initially changed over time. This led to a gap in my understanding of the reasons behind the decline of the GE.
Similarly, in Translation, I was not strong in 语法学 as I was not drawing linkages from what I have learnt in 语法学 (the syntaxes, structuring and differences between English and Chinese words and phrases) to my explanations and the Translation theories.
As for Economics, the Macroeconomic topics functioned in tandem with one another (e.g. the Monetary, Exchange-rate, Fiscal and Supply-side policies working together to achieve the 4 macroeconomics goals that we study in detail later on in the syllabus).
Thus, the biggest tip I would share in mastering the above – and any other topics – is to always piece together the bigger picture. For me, this meant actively asking myself how one topic relates to others within the syllabus and analysing the identified connections.
For instance, instead of separating my notes into the “Growth” and “Decline” of the GE in International History, reorganising them into a side-by-side comparison between initial factors that bolstered the GE and how they sustained over time or presented a different problem for the GE later on allowed me to better understand how the decline of the GE was intertwined with how it grew in the first place.
Likewise, using my knowledge in 语法学 to explain the various 中英语言差异 (differences between English and Chinese) in my Translation enabled me to gain a deep realisation that the translation techniques we deploy to tackle 中英语言差异 stem from the breakdown of the formation and relationship between the words used within the sentences that we have learnt in 语法学.
What was your favourite thing about these subjects?
Across the three subjects, it would certainly be consultations with the teachers! Whether it was individual or group consultations with my friends, the consultations in which I was able to receive personalised feedback and interact with my teachers are surely my favourite memories of studying the subjects. Within the subjects themselves, I adore the freedom I had to express my views and analyses in my answers.
Any tips for these subjects in general?
Practice and consult! Across all three subjects, I believe that it is important to:
1) manage your time well,
2) understand how the concepts link up to form a bigger picture or argument, and
3) understand what the examiner is looking for in your answers.
Practice is therefore important as it exposes you to a multitude of questions and question types. Thereafter, consulting your teachers is just as important, as only then will you be able to fully eliminate the gaps in your learning, write better answers, and be aware of how to improve from there.
I found that consults allowed me to receive feedback tailored to my strengths and weaknesses in the subject, which enlightened me on which skills to keep and which concepts to hone. It also motivated me to be consistently in touch with the subjects and practice past A-Level/other school papers more frequently, so that I had material to consult my teachers on.
Simply knowing what went wrong does not equate to being able to produce better answers the next time round. When I was preparing for A-Levels last year, I found it especially useful to make sense of why my answers were lacking in certain areas, and re-attempt a similar question after my consults, as it allowed me to pinpoint exactly where I could improve in
Now, it’s time for your Academic Comeback!
And that’s all the stories, tips and tricks in How to be an Academic Weapon: Part 3! After reading about all the insights from our seniors who have braved this storm and won, are you more inspired and clearer about the way ahead? Never give up on trying to understand, and always remember, that our teachers are always available to lend us a helping hand! JIAYOU!! 💪📢
If you want more tips and advice for other subjects, refer to our previous articles How to be an Academic Weapon Part 1: The Sciences and How to be an Academic Weapon Part 2: The English-based Humanities for more!
Let's do this!!
Credits: Tenor
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