A rigorous program designed for children that speak the language at home and are able to understand and converse in Mandarin Chinese. Reading is taught using the Zhuyin Phonetic System and writing using Mei Zhou Chinese. The program focuses on more in-depth materials including the history of Chinese language and culture, in addition to the reading and writing of Chinese stories.
Level K1:
Early learner level with basic or limited knowledge of Chinese. This level is designed to introduce basic Chinese characters and phonetic sounds of the characters to the early learners. In addition to learning simple characters, they will learn the language through pictures, sounds, songs, and play. This is equivalent to the prekindergarten level. Recommended ages 4-6 years old.
Level K2:
Early learner level with basic knowledge of Chinese. For new families interested in jumping into this class, it is recommended for at least one parent/guardian to speak the language at home or for children who may speak but may not be familiar with writing. This will continue to build on the K1 level foundation and will begin using the Zhuyin phonetic system. The focus will be on the pronunciation of words and the build-up to dialogues. Upon completing this level, your child should be able to write at least 25-30 characters. This is equivalent to the kindergarten level. Recommended ages 5-7 years old.
Level T1:
This is the first level of the Traditional (Zhuyin) Program and is designed for children who have previously learned Chinese. The children are expected to understand basic Chinese Mandarin and be able to converse in Chinese Mandarin. They should be familiar with the standard written numbers and basic Chinese characters. By the end of this course, the child should be able to recognize at least 40-50 new characters. The minimum age is 6 years old to register for this class.
Level T2 to T9:
Each level builds upon the previous year’s material. Upon completing these levels, your child will be able to engage in meaningful conversations around daily life topics. The acquired knowledge will allow them to build longer and more complex sentences and progress to a point where they can write their essays. By the end of the curriculum, they will clearly and logically express ideas on the topics of interest. Note that all levels above T2 will require standard testing.
