Certificate in Mandarin for Business (CMB)

There are 5 different levels under the Certificate in Mandarin for Business programme: Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, and Advanced. The learning outcomes vary for every level.

Learning Outcome for Beginner:
Learn vocabulary and grammar to communicate basic ideas in Mandarin; Introduce students to the fundamentals of learning Mandarin, including pinyin phonetics and Chinese characters; Preparatory foundation level for further Mandarin language study.

Learning Outcome for Elementary:
Learn essential Chinese vocabulary and grammar to converse in simple sentences; Expand vocabulary and grammatical constructs in Business Mandarin.

Learning Outcome for Intermediate:
Develop language skills in listening, speaking, reading as well as its application in a general business context.

Learning Outcome for Upper-Intermediate:
Acquisition of most of the basic knowledge and communicative skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing in chinese.

Learning Outcome for Advanced:
Ability to express confidently in Mandarin and to articulate thoughts and opinions effectively in a business environment.

The program is offered to both local (Singaporean) and international students who wish to study business Mandarin. All potential students are required to sit for a placement test to ascertain their proficiency levels before admittance to any level of the course.

Beginner Level:
No background knowledge is needed as the course is designed for beginners of Mandarin who have no previous background in this language. After successfully completing this level, students will be able to speak and understand simple texts in daily Chinese conversations.

Elementary Level:
The course is designed for those who have completed the Beginner level course, or learners who possess some proficiency in Mandarin but have not had proper education of this language in the past.

Intermediate Level:
The course is designed for students:

(1) who have completed Certificate in Business Mandarin at the Elementary level; or

(2) who have passed ‘O’ or ‘N’ level in Chinese (A placement test will be required); or

(3) who have passed HSK level 2.

Upper-Intermediate Level:
The course is designed for students

(1) who have completed Certificate in Business Mandarin at the Intermediate level; or

(2) who have passed ‘O’ or ‘N’ level in Chinese (A placement test will be required); or

(3) who have passed HSK level 3.

Advanced level:
The course is designed for students

(1) who have completed Certificate in Business Mandarin at the Upper-Intermediate Level; or

(2) who have passed ‘O’ or ‘N’ level in Chinese (A placement test will be required); or

(3) who have passed HSK level 4.

A placement test is required before enrolment into the respective level of course.

Firstly, students will be given a written test. Then, students will be invited to an interview through a face to face chat, video conference or teleconference. Results of the placement test will be finalized and released to students as an indication of which level they qualify in.

Part Time – up to 4 Months (2 times/ week, 3 hours/day)

Full Time – Up to 3 months (5 days per week x 3 hours per day – excluding term breaks)

The curriculum has been designed to ensure progressive and systematic development of listening, speaking, reading skills, as well as linguistic competencies (i.e. pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary) across all levels within a business communication context in order to equip students with the basic skills to communicate in a Mandarin-speaking environment.

Pronunciation:
Pinyin is introduced to learners from the very beginning of the course. Accuracy of pronunciation is developed with communication skills throughout the course.

Conversation:
Listening and speaking are practiced in situations with demonstrations by instructors in various classroom settings and topics corresponding to real-world business activities.

Grammar:
Grammar and structure, the same as pinyin will be introduced into the lessons.

Vocabulary:
A vocabulary list will be provided at each level to help students learn all the essential words that appear in the lessons.

Part-time students who fulfill 75% of attendance and pass the end-of-level assessment will be awarded a certificate of proficiency and can progress to the next level.

Students will be assessed through the various components relevant to each level. Students will be assessed on their listening, speaking, writing, vocabulary, grammar and reading. In addition to the summative assessment, students will receive feedback through the use of formative assessments which may include in-class activities (tests, quizzes, presentations, written work, computer-based activities, individual and group work, field trips, homework, and individual assignments).

Max 30 students: 1 teacher

Levels with more than 25 students may be assigned a co-teacher or teacher’s assistant for added learning support and/or differentiated instruction.