Chinese Language Sequence - Grades 9-12
Chinese Language Sequence Overview
The Chinese Language Sequence (Grades 9-12) at Summit is a structured, immersive pathway from beginner to advanced proficiency. The program follows the official Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) levels and prepares students for progressively higher HSK benchmarks. Students develop literacy in simplified characters, accurate pronunciation (pinyin and tones), intercultural understanding, and academic communication in Mandarin.
By completion, learners are ready for advanced university work in Mandarin and for internationally recognized proficiency exams such as HSK 5–HSK 6 (as appropriate to their track). The Chinese Language Sequence emphasizes research‑level reading, source synthesis, and formal speaking so students can perform in seminars and real‑world settings.
For planning and policies, see our internal pages: Course Catalog, and Admissions.
Chinese Language Sequence Progression (Grades 9–12)
| Grade | Course | Focus Areas | Target Proficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 9 | Chinese 1 (HSK 1) | Pinyin and tones; core sentence patterns; greetings; classroom language; family. ~150 characters; daily listening tasks. | ACTFL Novice High / HSK 1 |
| Grade 10 | Chinese 2 (HSK 2) | Descriptions; routines; shopping; likes/dislikes; food and travel. ~300 characters; short conversations and role‑plays. | ACTFL Intermediate Low / HSK 2 |
| Grade 10–11 | Chinese 3 (HSK 3) | Dialogue fluency; experience narratives; paragraph writing; storytelling. 600–700 characters; listening strategies. | ACTFL Intermediate Mid / HSK 3 |
| Grade 11 | Chinese 4 (HSK 4) | Social topics; opinions; past/future narration; academic vocabulary. ~1,200 characters; multi‑paragraph writing; debates. | ACTFL Intermediate High / HSK 4 |
| Grade 12 | Chinese 5 (HSK 5) | Argumentation; news and literature; speech analysis; formal writing. ~2,500 characters; critical reading; structured essays. | ACTFL Advanced Low / HSK 5 |
| Grade 12 | Chinese 6 (HSK 6) | Cultural analysis; research skills; long texts; presentations; formal interviews. 5,000+ characters; mastery across modes. | ACTFL Advanced Low+ / HSK 6 |
Related internal resources: Course Catalog · Admissions
Chinese Instructional Methods
Courses are taught primarily in Mandarin and emphasize immersive practice across reading, conversation, writing, and listening. Students work with authentic Mandarin resources news media, short stories, interviews, film, academic abstracts, and speeches. Tasks include video narration, news analysis, research summaries, cultural comparisons, and extended essays. From Chinese 2 onward, Mandarin is the dominant language of instruction.
Chinese Assessment & Grading
| Assessment Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Speaking & Listening Tasks | 30% |
| Reading & Writing Assignments | 25% |
| Vocabulary & Grammar Quizzes | 15% |
| Cultural Projects | 15% |
| Participation & Homework | 15% |
Chinese Academic Vocabulary & Key Concepts
| Category | Key Terms | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar Structures | Aspect markers; result complements; comparisons; conjunctions; measure words; discourse connectors for argumentation. | Used in academic writing, storytelling, research abstracts, and formal speech within the Chinese Language Sequence. |
| Lexical Fields | HSK vocabulary; idiomatic expressions; domain terminology (science, society, technology, culture). | Applied in debates, cultural analysis, news commentary, and presentations. |
| Certification Readiness | HSK 4-6; university placement exams | Preparation embedded from Chinese 3 onward and intensified in upper‑level courses. |