Mandarin 9 / Intro Mandarin 11
This is the first of a four-level Chinese curriculum and it is designed for students beginning to learn Mandarin Chinese as a second language. This course focuses on pinyin (the Chinese phonetic system), vocabulary based on both the textbook and the IRP, basic sentence structures, etc. It will also promote the introduction of Chinese culture. It is hoped that students, throughout the school year, will develop an appreciation for the richness of Chinese language and culture.
When finishing this course, students are expected to be able to
- introduce themselves and family members using appropriate family relationship terms
- identify and exchange personal preferences and interests
- using appropriate vocabulary to communicate needs, desires, and emotions
- describe day-to-day activities and interests orally and in writing
- convey information orally and in simply written forms
- exchange information about interests and day-to-day situations, events, and activities.
- identify some cultural content in Chinese language resources
Mandarin 10
This is the second of a four-level Chinese curriculum and it is designed for students who continue to learn Mandarin Chinese as a second language. Students are encouraged to consolidate and expand the communication skills they have acquired in Mandarin 9 since the course focuses on developing students’ ability in speaking, listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing. It will also promote the introduction of Chinese culture. It is hoped that students, throughout the school year, will develop an appreciation for the richness of Chinese language and culture.
When finishing this course, students are expected to be able to
- use appropriate vocabulary to communicate needs, desires and emotions
- describe events, experiences and procedures sequentially
- describe day-to-day activities and interests orally and in writing
- convey information orally and in simple written forms
- recognize and apply commonly used idiomatic expressions
- identify cultural content in Chinese language resources
Mandarin 11
This is the third of a four-level Chinese curriculum and it is designed for students continuing to learn Mandarin Chinese as a second language. This Mandarin course focuses on further developing students’ skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. It will also promote the introduction of Chinese culture. It is hoped that students, throughout the school year, will develop an appreciation for the richness of Chinese language and culture.
When finishing this course, students are expected to be able to
- exchange opinions on topics of interest
- describe or narrate events, situations, or experiences
- apply idiomatic expressions with some frequency
- interact with increased independence in familiar life situations
- research, analyze, and use relevant information to complete authentic tasks
- produce a variety of written, oral, and visual creative works
- identify and examine cultural content in Chinese language resources
Mandarin 12
This is the highest of a four-level Chinese curriculum. The four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing will all be further developed with more emphasis on reading comprehension and writing abilities. Knowledge of grammar will be introduced at an advanced level, including choice of words or expressions, sentence structures, use of punctuation, parts of speech, etc. In addition to writing letters, reports, journals, etc. students’ writing ability will also be improved in composing short essays with emphasis on the content and structures. Reading will be focused on fluency as well as comprehension and appreciation.
When finishing this course, students are expected to be able to
- demonstrate confidence and sophistication in their use of Mandarin in daily interaction at home, at school, and in the community
- use Mandarin to exchange ideas and thoughts on topics of interest, express plans, goals and intentions
- give reasons and information to support points of view on various issues, and use idiomatic expressions with some frequency
- produce a variety of creative works based on Chinese language resources
- examine cultural content in Chinese language resources and demonstrate cultural sensitivity in everyday situation through appropriate behavior and language
AP Chinese Language and Culture
The AP Chinese Language & Culture course provides various opportunities for students to further develop competence in their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The primary goal is to enable students to communicate successfully in Chinese, both linguistically and culturally. To this end, a significant exposure to Chinese cultural elements is integrated in the process of learning the language. Students improve their proficiency across the three communicative modes (interpersonal, interpretive and presentational) and the five goal areas (communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities), as stated in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century.