Program Philosophy
“Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience.” As members of an international school and community, we endorse this statement by the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The learning of languages encourages students to respect and to understand other cultures, and heightens the awareness of one’s own culture. It also enhances divergent thinking and self-motivated learning.Language-learning equips students to participate more actively in the global community and to be more adaptable in an increasingly interconnected world.Literacy is built upon a foundation of spoken language competence; therefore we believe that oral communicative language should rest at the heart of language instruction. Reading is gradually introduced followed by writing.The central goal of language-learning is the communication and exchange of ideas, perceptions and needs. These skills will enable learners to meet social and informational needs in the Chinese-speaking world.The HKIS Chinese Studies program fully embraces the differentiated needs of our learners. Since the acquisition of an additional language depends on a variety of factors, HKIS's language program delivers reading/writing and listening/speaking lessons that are based on the needs of the learner.
General Information
All Upper Primary students participate in Chinese language instruction as a part of their daily program. Class activities are varied and include games, songs, rhymes, dances, arts/crafts, oral dialogues and excursions – all designed to immerse the students into the use of Mandarin. Additionally, homework is given to students to strengthen and practice learned skills of oral proficiency as well as the skills of reading, writing and listening. We encourage parents to actively participate and support their children's learning of this language by taking interest in the activities and projects.
Proficiency-based
As a proficiency-based program, Upper Primary students in the Chinese Studies are grouped based on their entry-level of Chinese language proficiency, and the curriculum will be targeting the next higher level of language proficiency with various themes and topics. The exit benchmarks for each proficiency group are based on benchmarks mapped out in the Chinese Studies R1-12 curriculum and the natural progression of language development.
Novice Levels
| Level | Interpretive | Interpersonal | Presentational |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novice 1 | Follow basic classroom instructions. Identify pinyin symbols and attempt to read short texts with pinyin. Identify a few very common words and phrases in familiar contexts. | Use visual and verbal cues to understand and convey meaning. Respond to spoken language using gestures, single words and phrases. | Copy characters. Use characters, pinyin, and/or drawing to convey meaning. Present simple information using words and memorized expressions. |
| Novice 2A | Follow basic classroom instructions. Identify pinyin symbols and read short texts with pinyin. Identify the topic and a few information on short texts or conversations. | Respond to spoken language using words, phrases or simple sentences. Ask simple topic-related questions. | Write about learned topics using lists, phrases, and memorized expressions with pinyin and learned characters. Give presentations on familiar topics. |
| Novice 2B | Identify common phrases in characters in familiar contexts. Identify learned or common words, phrases, and sentences formed by learned words. Identify some information in short familiar texts. Read short texts with pinyin support fluently. | Ask and answer simple topic-related questions using words, phrases and practiced sentences. | Present simple information using words, phrases, and memorized sentences. Write about learned or very familiar topics using lists, phrases and simple sentences with pinyin and characters. |
| Novice 3A / 3B | Follow common classroom routines and instructions. Identify the main idea and key information on familiar topics. (3B) Solidify skills needed for Novice 4 with expanded new topics. | Communicate familiar topics such as self, routine daily life and activities using practiced words and phrases. Ask and answer a variety of questions. | Write short messages using lists, phrases, memorized expressions and simple sentences with pinyin and characters. Present information about everyday and familiar topics using a series of sentences. |
Novice 4 and Intermediate Levels
| Level | Interpretive | Interpersonal | Presentational |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novice 4 | Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally by asking and answering questions about key details. Ask and answer questions about key details and unknown words in a text. Retell familiar texts with a logical sequence including key details. | Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges. Ask and answer questions to seek help or clarify information. Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners. | Describe familiar people, places, things, and events. Write narratives recounting events in sequence. Write informative texts on familiar topics with some facts. |
| Intermediate 1 | Ask and answer questions about texts or information presented orally. Recount stories and information in logical sequence with key details. Describe characters, settings and major events in a story. | Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners. Build on others’ talk in conversations by responding to their comments. | Describe familiar or fictional people, places and events with additional detail. Write narratives of events in order with some details and reactions. |
| Intermediate 2 | Recount stories including fables and folktales and determine their central message. Describe how characters respond to major events and challenges. Use illustrations and words in text to demonstrate understanding. | Build on others’ talk by linking comments to remarks of others. Ask and answer questions to gather additional information or clarify meaning. | Produce series of sentences with common connectors. Write explanatory texts on familiar topics with facts and descriptive details. |
| Intermediate 3 | Identify key details in texts by asking and answering questions. Compare and contrast settings, experiences or characters in stories. Retell a story or recount an experience with descriptive details approaching paragraph structure. | Participate in collaborative conversations about course topics with peers and adults. Ask and answer questions to clarify meaning and expand discussions. | Produce paragraph-like presentations orally or in writing with connected sentences. Write narratives with sequenced events and temporal words. Write opinion pieces with reasons and a concluding statement. |