12.5 1st year Dr Daniel Kane. VCE Chinese or equivalent Second semester 3 hours per week. Students who complete this subject should be able to read, write and pronounce the 400 characters covered in Chinese 1A and 1B; be adequately prepared to undertake Chinese 2A and 2B. 400 basic Chinese characters. One two hour examination at the end of the semester. Beijing Languages Institute: Modern Chinese, Beginners Course, Book One and Chinese Character Workbook Book One. 12.5 Dr Daniel Kane. VCE Chinese or equivalent. Second semester. 3 hours each week. Students who complete this subject should be able to read, write and pronounce the 400 characters covered in Chinese 1A and 1B; be adequately prepared to undertake Chinese 2A and 2B. 400 basic Chinese characters. One two hour examination at the end of the semester. Beijing Languages Institute Modern Chinese Beginners Course Book One and Chinese Character Workbook Book One.