LI Zhenxing is graduating from Central China Normal University and thinks that he shouldn't have taken so many easy-to-pass courses to get enough credits – while learning almost nothing.
"At job fairs, everyone's got a certificate, only those with extra skills or experience attract employers," 22-year-old Li said. He had the chance to do more at college, with all the extra courses like Japanese language or survival in the wild that were available.
Until recently, many students saw these optional courses to be just a source of extra credits required for graduation. But, this new semester, students see graduating classmates suffering from the job squeeze. Those with several years still left on campus also see that they need a lot more practical skills than they imagined. And optional courses are the thing that fits the bill when it comes to dealing with a risky future.
Get another
Yao Yalin, a sophomore at Guangzhou's Sun Yat-sen University, knows that learning a language takes time. She also knows that a language minor can make job-hunting a lot easier. The 20-year-old wants to be sure that all her efforts pay off: "When everyone on campus speaks English, it's time to study another one to make your resume stand out."
More than 1,000 students at Sun Yat-sen tried to get one of the 100 places available in a Japanese course.
In contrast to Yao's elective ， Zheng Qitao, a junior at Xi'an Jiaotong University, has thought social issues are the thing since the beginning of the semester.
The reason is that teachers will ask students to draw up a questionnaire on social issues, say, migrant worker problems. Then they're supposed to go out over the weekend and hand the questionnaires out to city dwellers to see what they think about the issue.
"I figure the more you get out into society, the more you understand and the more you gain from it. Also, having a city tour over the weekend is not a bad idea," Zheng explained. He says he's developing good interpersonal communication skills and that doing some research in the course is applicable to certain jobs.
Other aspects
Still, not everyone thinks that practical skills are the only thing. Some students want to get firmly established for the future, people like Yang Zhan, an architecture major at Tsinghua University, who likes loftier courses that equip you with ideas, not just with skills.
"University is where you meet the smartest minds talking about all aspects of life. Skills can be obtained anywhere, at any time, but in the case of wisdom, there's no better place than the university. Maybe just one sentence from one class will open up your thoughts and point you in the right direction in the future," Yang explained.
In the end, Yao thinks that your own desires are a good guide: "If you're interested in something, then it's not a burden and you enjoy doing what you really want to do. I think it would be so cool if I could just utter a Spanish phrase from time to time."
Special elective courses in recent years
Study on homosexuality (Fudan University): encourages students to take a serious look at the phenomenon to increase their sense of responsibility in caring about others.
Golf (Xiamen University): by playing this noble sport, students learn not only how to swing an iron pole but also how to handle manners and politeness.
Outdoor survival (Yunnan University): cool and trendy way to develop physical and mental powers.
Etiquette (Wuhan University of Science and Engineering): training in how to become a gentleman or lady at cocktail parties, at the dining table, and in other public arenas.
Practical Cantonese (Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus): just like learning a second language, only harder, and useful in job hunting.
译文:
学会现实点
李振鑫（音译）毕业于华中师范大学，他觉得自己在大学期间不应该为了修学分而去选那些很容易过的课程，因为这样往往学不到什么东西。
“在招聘会上，每个人都会有毕业证书，但是只有那些有一技之长或经验的求职者才能吸引雇主，”22岁的李振鑫说到。本来我是有机会在学校里学到更多的实用的课程的，像日语，如何在野外生存等。
直到现在，仍有许多学生把这些选修课当作毕业前要求修够的学分。然而，在新学期伊始，同学们看到很多毕业的师哥师姐们正面临求职困境。那些在校园里还有几年学业的同学也意识到自己比想象中要学习更多实用的技能。选修课就是帮助你解决未来将面临困境的一副良药。
再看一个例子
姚雅琳（音译），中山大学一名大二的学生认为学习一门语言是需要花费时间的，同时，如果辅修一门语言的话，那么在找工作的时候就会容易许多。20岁的她认为，一切付出皆有回报：“当所有人在校园里说英语的时候，你就应该学习另外一门语言了，这样才能让你脱颖而出。”
多达1000个中山大学的学生争夺学校提供的100个日语课程学习的名额。
与姚选择不同，交通大学大三的郑奇涛（音译）在这个学期的开始考虑得更多的是一些社会的问题。
原因是老师让他们制作关于社会问题的调查问卷，像，农民工问题。他们要求在周末去到市中心发放问卷以了解人们对这些问题的看法。
“我了解到，你越接触社会，越能加深对其了解进而学到很多东西。同时，在市里巡游也是个不错的主意，”郑解释说到，他正在学习培养良好的人际关系的技巧同时研究对某些工作有帮助的的课程。
其他方面
然而，并不是每个人都认为实用技能是唯一的要求。有些同学想为未来打下坚实的基础，清华大学建筑设计的杨展（音译）认为类似艺术鉴赏这种课程就能提高你的思维能力而不仅仅是技能。
“大学就是能让你见证卓智并与生活各个层面交流的地方。技能任何时候在哪都能学到，然而大学却是汲取智慧的绝佳场所。也许仅仅是班上一个同学不经意的一句话就能打开你灵感的窗户指引你走向正确的方向，”杨解释说。
最后，姚认为，你的渴望就是你最好的导师。“如果你对某事感兴趣，那么就不会觉得那是一个负担相反乐在其中。我想如果我用西班牙语说上几句话的话那感觉太爽了。
近年来出现的一些特别的选修课
同性恋研究（复旦大学）：鼓励学生正确看待这类现象同时提高他们关心他人的责任感。
高尔夫球（厦门大学）：通过学习这种贵族运动，学生不仅可以学到如何挥杆同时学会如何礼貌正确使用礼仪。
户外生存（云南大学）一种时尚时髦的锻炼身体和精神的方式。
礼仪（武汉大学科学与工程系）：培训如何在酒会或其它场合中做一个绅士或女士。
实用粤语（北京师范大学，珠海学院）：正如学习二外一样，只不过会难一些，但是在求职中很实用。