Beginners Class
The Beginners class is run in Mandarin with English only used occasionally as required. Each lesson is carefully planned with many visual prompts so that children with no prior exposure to Mandarin are able to follow and gradually acquire language. Songs, stories and interactive learning are the core activities of our Beginners program. Children are generally between four and seven when they join the Beginners class.
The Beginners program is based on the first section of the My First Chinese Words set of 36 books story based curriculum. Children are also exposed to a thematically linked vocabulary set each term and develop their memory skills practising these through interactive games and activities. They listen to and practise answering simple questions each lesson. Children consolidate their learning each lesson with craft activities or games which consolidate the focus language. They are introduced to a range of picture based characters and given time to gradually absorb them through memory games and craft activities.
Recommended resources for at home practice (optional): My First Chinese Words set of 36 Books and Sing with Better Chinese set of 4 CDs
Continuers Class
Continuers class
The Continuers class is run in Mandarin with English only used occasionally as required. Children learn songs, rhymes and expand their repertoire of simple conversational questions and answers. The program is based on the My First Chinese Words set of 36 books curriculum and we generally finish the books in the series in this year. There are vocabulary sets each term and previous vocabulary is frequently reviewed.
Children’s listening and responsive skills are further developed as teachers spend more time each lesson interacting with the children in Mandarin and read them a wider range of extension stories. Children are introduced to a wider range of characters and start to read and write sentences. Each term children produce a simple booklet in characters. Booklets are read aloud in class time and can be taken home at the end of each term.
Required resource: My First Chinese Writing Exercise Book
Recommended resources for at home practice (optional): My First Chinese Words set of 36 Books and Sing with Better Chinese set of 4 CDs
All classes are held at Gartrell Church, corner Alexandra Avenue and Prescott Terrace Toorak Gardens.
Term Three 2017 Times and Dates
Beginners: Saturday mornings 29 July to 30 September, 11.00 to 12.15 (no class 26 August)
Continuers: Saturday mornings 29 July to 30 September 9.30 to 10.45 (no class 26 August)
Intermediate Level 1: Saturday mornings 29 July to 30 September 9.30 to 10.45 (no class 26 August)
Intermediate Level 2: Thursday afternoons 27 July to 21 September 4.30 to 5.45
Intermediate Level 3: Tuesday afternoons 25 July to 19 September 4.30 to 5.45 (No class 22 August)
Intermediate Level 4: Wednesday afternoons: 26 July to 20 September 4.30 to 5.45
For Costs and Payment Options please visit this page.
For enquiries and enrolments please email enquiries@chineseforfamilies.com.au.
Intermediate Classes Levels 1,2,3 and 4
Intermediate Level 2
The Intermediate classes offer a clear pathway of upward learning progression for primary school aged children. They are open to children who have completed the Chinese for Families Continuers course or who have learnt Chinese elsewhere. The Intermediate program aims to help students’ acquire vocabulary, sentence patterns and learning skills which will set them up for success for in secondary Chinese language programs and beyond.
Each lesson follows a structured set of carefully designed learning activities including vocabulary practice in pairs, intensive conversation practice and listening and reading of the lesson text. The Intermediate classes have an increased focus on developing students’ productive skills (e.g. introducing yourself and others, offering opinions and writing and performing role plays). Students are exposed to both pinyin and characters. The My First Chinese Reader curriculum is used in the Intermediate classes. This reinforces and extends the listening and speaking skills the students have already developed and also provides a structured reading and writing curriculum.
Assessment and recognition of learning becomes more important as students become older. Preparing for internationally recognised Chinese language tests (YCT 1 and 2 and HSK 1) is one part of our Intermediate class curricula and students can then choose to sit the tests in their own time if they wish. Students have also participated in the Chinese Star writing competition and a five minute oral examination with an external teacher.
Intermediate Level 1 Required Texts: My First Chinese Reader Volume 1 Textbook and Workbook
Intermediate Level 2 Required Texts: My First Chinese Reader Volume 1 Textbook and Workbook (retained from previous year), My First Chinese Reader Volume 2 Textbook
Intermediate Level 3 Required Texts: My First Chinese Reader Volume 2 Textbook (retain from previous year), My First Chinese Reader Volume 3 Textbook
Intermediate Level 4 Required Texts: My First Chinese Reader Volume 3 Textbook (retain from previous year)