Chinese (Mandarin) O'level

The study area SEC Chinese (Mandarin) is informed by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

The study of languages enriches the mind and provides opportunities and challenges of the rapidly changing world. The Chinese (Mandarin) syllabus covers and gives equal importance to the four main language skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing. The main focus lies on the development of communicative language competences and communicative strategies. 

Chinese (Mandarin) is the standard variety and the official language of China. Chinese (Mandarin) is one of the most spoken languages by native speakersin the world and learning Chinese (Mandarin) will open up opportunities in many different fields of work. 

This programme also embeds learning outcomes related to cross-curricular themes, namely digital literacy; diversity; entrepreneurship creativity and innovation; sustainable development; learning to learn and cooperative learning and literacy. In this way students will be fully equipped with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and values needed to further learning, work, life and citizenship. 

The teaching and learning of Chinese (Mandarin) as a foreign language increases Malta’s global outreach as it will equip candidates with the necessary linguistic and cultural knowledge to communicate in Chinese (Mandarin) for both business and pleasure. 

At the end of the programme, the student will be able to: 

• talk in Chinese (Mandarin) about a familiar subject provided I can prepare beforehand
• express personal opinions and exchange information on familiar subjects and matters related to everyday life
• react to a situation verbally (accept, refuse, agree, disagree, apologise, thank, propose, confirm etc.)
• read straightforward factual texts on familiar subjects, identifying gist and extracting specific information
• understand straightforward factual information about familiar subjects provided speech is clearly articulated in a standard accent
• write on a range of familiar subjects
• communicate in writing to ask for and convey information on familiar subjects in emails, notes, messages, etc.
• react to a situation in writing (accept, refuse, apologise, thank, propose, confirm etc.)