Chinese Program/CSL

MLES CHINA

Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) is offered to non-Chinese students at seven levels, from beginner to advanced. CSL is taught to international students enrolled in our Chinese elementary and middle schools, our Foreign Nationals schools, and is offered as a credit course in our MLWSP high school program. An increasing number of our international students are taking advantage of this option to learn oral and written Mandarin as well as Chinese university preparations.

MLES is very proud to host a Chinese National Han Ban certified office at our Dalian headquarters. MLES is approved through this office to deliver CSL & HSK instructor training, and is also authorized as a HSK, HSKK, YCT test site, as well as the School Base for Chinese International Promotion. International high school students completing CSL courses will be granted equivalency credit for Mandarin 10, 11, and 12.

Presenting Our Students with a Valuable Opportunity

Maple Leaf World Schools is also proud to be able to offer our students the unique and desirable opportunity of taking the Chinese as a Second Language program.

In MLWS, Chinese Language Arts is offered to students at three grade levels by a Chinese certified high school teacher. Academic elective course offerings include Mandarin 10, 11 and 12.

Maple Leaf Educational Systems in China has developed a nine-level course spanning over 15 textooks, ranging from absolute beginner to university preparation level for Mandarin Chinese. The textbooks are compiled for MLES Grade 1-12 students whose native language is not Chinese, based on the 5C standard of language learning theory (Communication, Community, Culture, Comparison and Connection), Maple Leaf CSL Level Standards and national standard. It is student-centered and skilled use-oriented, with the goal of developing communicative competence. We have striven to design the textbooks with to be multi-dimensional, with Maple Leaf characteristics.

Examples of expectations in each level:

	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
Level 1	Understand basic words	Write simple words & characters	Understand basic words	Greet others, self introduction
Level 2	Able to read short blurbs	Use simple words & sentences about personal stories	Understand basic conversations	Carry simple conversation to express personal needs
Level 3	Able to read short blurbs	Use simple words & sentences about personal stories	Understand basic conversations	Carry simple conversation to express personal needs
Level 4	Able to understand simple statements	Write a simple article or journal	Understand conversations at work or social occasions	Carry a continuous conversation to express oneself
Level 5	Read simple scientific articles with idioms	Describe instructions coherently & intelligibly on certain things	Understand conversations on different occasions with a little accent	Carry conversations on different occasions
Level 6	Read with speed and efficiency	Able to use rhetorical devices	Understand complex conversations	Express personal opinions clearly with right tunes
Level 7 - 9	Read long essays with no barriers	Write professional papers	Understand Chinese culture & conversations	Carry deep conversations to express personal opinions

Beginner Stage

MLCSL level 1 (Textbook 1)

It is focused on "Communication" of 5C. It is mainly for beginners with no Chinese experience. There are 5 units in the book. Most of the contents are easy conversations. It includes the basic vocabulary of daily life and helps students to build their confidences and interests in Chinese learning as a beginner and be able to carry a simple conversation to meet the basic needs.

Elementary Stage

MLCSL level 2 (Textbook 2)

It is also focused on "Communication" of 5C. It is mainly for the students who are ready to move to the next level. There are 5 units in the book. The contents are moving from the basic vocabulary to personal preference. The students can have a basic understanding in Chinese listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Intermediate Stage

MLCSL level 3 (Textbook 3A/3B)

It is focused on "Communication", and "Culture" "Community" of 5C. There are 8 units in the book. Most of the contents are conversations or short passages. It includes the vocabulary of daily life, school life, community involvement, as well as basic Chinese culture concept. Students will be able to use certain complex sentences to communicate with others and build a cross- culture awareness.
MLCSL level 4 (Textbook 4A/4B)

It is focused on "Culture" of 5C. There are 14 units with 42 lessons. The contents are mainly about Chinese society including education, history, art, as well as global issues. Students can understand conversations and articles related to social life.

Advanced Stage

MLCSL level 5 (Textbook 5A/5B)

It is focused on "Culture" of 5C. There are 10 units with 30 lessons in order to help students to understand the Chinese culture through famous Chinese literary works. Students also learn to write passages with various styles of writing and have the abilities to organize
MLCSL level 6 (Textbook 6A/6B)

It is focused on "Comparison" of 5C. There are 10 units with 30 lessons including science and undertanding of Chinese culture. They can discuss more popular topica and expand global views. They will also learn about rhetorical devices and different values through the comparison of Chinese and Western literature.

Enhanced Stage

MLCSL Level 7-9 (Textbook 7/8/9)

It focused on "Connection" of 5C. There are 8 units in each book including Chinese geography, history, population and nationality, politics and economy, technology and education, traditions, art and literature, and folk custom. It leads students to further deepen their understanding of Chinese society and culture, cultivate students' Chinese thinking ability, and make a good preparation for applying Chinese universities.

Students in our Maple Leaf World Schools will have the opportunity to enroll in the CSL program at no additional cost. If the student has no previous experience in Mandarin, they will begin the program at Level 1. If they do have some experience, they will complete an assessment and be placed into the appropriate level. After completion of a level, the student will be awarded a Maple Leaf Certificate of Completion, and may progress to the next level. The courses are fully taught by native Mandarin speakers with computer-based supplements and activities.

Students who partake in the program will graduate from our schools with an educational advantage, should they wish to pursue careers internationally.