Clifton College Website

Mandarin

Head of Mandarin
Ms Emma Cordwell BA CELTA
Teachers:
Mr Ernie C M Tsao BA M.Ed. CELTA

Accreditation

Chinese GCSE was modified for beginners in the language in 2003. Since that time students who have learnt the language from scratch at Clifton have been taking the exam, and from 2006 across 4 skills. The teaching of Mandarin Chinese is a growth area in UK schools but few schools can offer a GCSE level qualification in Mandarin to non-native students.

At present the AS and A2 level exams are only taken by students from a Chinese background as the level of language remains high. However, non-native students who have completed a Mandarin GCSE can opt to take the Cambridge Pre-U short course, equivalent to an AS Level qualification in the language.

Students from a Chinese background tend not to take the GCSE exam but instead sit the AS and A2 exams early, typically the AS in Year 11 or 12 and the A2 in Year 12 or 13. The length of study is variable. Some students do not require lessons, some students attend one extra lesson a week, other students study Chinese as a curriculum subject for one year or more. The majority of these students are fluent Cantonese speakers and so emphasis is given to oral and aural work and to studying the differences in grammar and vocabulary between Cantonese and Mandarin as the AS and A2 exams are written in Modern Standard Chinese i.e. Mandarin.

From September 2003 the AS and A2 courses have been offered in the main timetable as an extra subject for students from a Chinese background in the Sixth Form.

We are introducing the Cambridge Pre-U course in Year 12 from September 2009. This is for non-native students who have completed a GCSE in the language.

Trips

The China trip is for students from Years 7 to 13. In 2004 students visited Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. In 2006 students travelled to Shanghai, Qingdao, Chengdu and Hangzhou. In 2010 the trip returned to Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. Students take part in a range of visits and cultural activities and have plenty of opportunity to use their language in practical situations.

Clifton College also offers summer language courses based in Beijing for students wishing to improve their level of language. Two of our Year 11 students took advantage of this offer during the summer 2006. You can read about their experiences!

Years 9-11

Students of Mandarin Chinese in Years 9-11 are currently divided into two sets. Each year group has one set of students who began learning Mandarin in the Preparatory School, or have some previous knowledge of Chinese, working towards GCSE, and another set of students from a Chinese background who are working towards AS and A2 level.

Chinese is a popular option in the Pre School and the number of students wanting to continue the language into the Upper School is growing.

Years 12 and 13

There is a popular beginner’s course in Mandarin offered in Year 12. Students learn how to “survive” in the language and enjoy role play across a range of topics including shopping and asking for directions. This course is unexamined.

The Cambridge Pre-U exam is available to non-native students who have completed a GCSE in the language.

AS and A2 Chinese are offered to students from a Chinese background in sector E in Year 12 and on a one-to-one basis in Years 12 and 13. Some students taking these exams opt for self study with teacher support for the A2 coursework element.

Chinese Festivals

To gain a better understanding of Chinese culture, students learning Chinese celebrate traditional Chinese Festivals together with students in the school from a Chinese background.