Proficiency Targets for Mandarin
Proficiency is the ability to use language in real-world situations in a spontaneous interaction and non-rehearsed context. (ACTFL Performance Descriptors for Language Learners, 2015)
Can create with language and handle social interactions in everyday situations:
- 7th & 8th Grades: Intermediate Mid
- 5th & 6th Grades: Intermediate Low
Can communicate on familiar topics using words, phrases, and simple sentences that have been memorized:
- 3rd & 4th Grades: Novice High
- 1st & 2nd Grades: Novice Mid
- Kindergarten: Novice Low
Updated proficiency guidelines are provided by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Why Do We Set Mandarin Proficiency Targets Differently From The Other Languages?
According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) language difficulty ranking, Chinese is ranked as a Category V language, while Spanish and French are Category I languages. This classification indicates that it takes longer for English speakers to learn Chinese than for Spanish and French.