Placement Test and Class Levels

There are three proficiency levels designed for beginning and intermediate students. Classes or individual tutoring for higher level students are available on demand. Participants are placed according to a written and oral placement test.

Class Levels

Level 1 Part 1
Begins the first year of study in Chinese, and introduces 350 characters.
Gets to the basics quickly, with simple, graded activities on essential topics such as Greetings, Dates and Times, Shopping, and Family.
Presents pinyin texts directly above Chinese character texts, so students can focus on speaking and pronunciation.

Level 1 Part 2
Continues the first year of study and introduces about 350 more characters.
Helps learners build solid communicative skills as they discuss everyday topics such as food, sports, travel, going to a party, and renting an apartment.
Presents pinyin texts at the end of each lesson, so students can begin reading characters without the help of pinyin.

Level 2
Spans the entire second year of Chinese study, and introduces about 600 more characters.
Contains topics of interest to college-age students: campus and family life, social issues, aspects of Chinese culture.
Helps expand learners' understanding of Chinese grammar by focusing on important linguistic structures.
Gradually introduces the more formal written-style expressions, which are used in news broadcasts and formal speeches.