China's top language promotion institute issued the first
Chinese language proficiency benchmarks for foreigners on
Wednesday.
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The Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other
Languages is the first reference standard to assess the fluency of
foreign learners of Chinese.
The system features a five-step, comprehensive measure of the
ability to communicate, Xu Lin, director of the Office of Chinese
Language Council International (OCLCI), told the Confucius
Institute Conference. The OCLCI has promoted the global development
of the institute over the past three years.
The basic framework of the scales has three parts: writing,
speaking and listening ability. Each of these areas breaks down
into five bands.
Xu introduced the "exemplification of tasks" system to
facilitate the understanding of the various proficiency bands.
For example, for band one of listening proficiency, students
should be able to understand basic personal information, follow
simple instructions, make apologies, and so on. Band five, the top
of the scale in listening comprehension, requires an advanced
understanding of such things as a description of how something
happened, a broadcast interview, a doctor's diagnosis, and so
on.
She said the scale was developed to meet the needs of Chinese
language teaching and learning worldwide and would serve as an
important basis on which students' proficiency could be measured in
a scientific way.
Xu noted that the office had consulted language education and
testing experts from over 80 domestic and foreign universities
about the scales. It had also solicited advice and opinions from a
wide range of Chinese and overseas experts, scholars and
teachers.
Xu said the scales were designed with reference to the results
of research concerning international language proficiency scales
such as the Common European Framework of Reference for Language:
learning, teaching, assessment and Canadian Language
Benchmarks.
(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2007)