The Concordia Mandarin Program
Concordia’s Mandarin curriculum has been recognized as a paradigm for Mandarin education courses among international schools. High school Mandarin teacher Doris Zhao has been invited to present the school’s Mandarin program to education experts all over the world and the program has received wide acclaim and affirmation at advanced educational conferences, such as the National Chinese Language Conference and Association of China and Mongolia International Schools Chinese Conference.
THE CURRICULUM OF THE MANDARIN PROGRAM
The Mandarin program at Concordia is based on the rigorous curricular standards developed by the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages and is designed to meet the learning needs of students at all language levels. Mandarin course levels in the high school include Mandarin as a Foreign Language (MFL) and Advanced MFL courses in addition to Near-Native and Native Mandarin courses. Each course offers a three-year learning cycle, and along with regular in-class assessments, students are required to sit for the Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages Test (AAPPL), organized by the American Foreign Language Association. Students may also choose to sit for the AP Chinese exam and HSK exam, which may be used for university application.
High school Mandarin courses are experiential in nature and designed to allow students to explore their language abilities outside of the “traditional classroom” framework. They incorporate a set of themed projects and activities that embrace the core qualities of 21st century learning. From presenting Ted Talks and creating film advertisements to participating in forums comparing Chinese and Western culture, students are expanding their language skills while improving their analytical and comprehensive abilities within an authentic language environment.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE MANDARIN PROGRAM AT CONCORDIA
In addition to Mandarin courses, co-curricular offerings such as Chinese Club and Chinese Honor Society allow students to develop their knowledge of Chinese culture while enhancing their language and leadership skills. Our heritage Mandarin courses and co-curricular offerings are equally suited for high school students who are coming to Concordia from other top schools.
