A Cambridge IGCSE Elective
Course Description
Cambridge IGCSE Chinese – First Language is a practical subject that prepares students for an increasingly global world. Through developing linguistic and cultural understanding of Chinese-speaking communities, they are equipped with transferrable knowledge and skills that can benefit them in their future careers and daily lives. This subject is designed for learners who already have a working knowledge of the language and who have had reasonable education in a Chinese-speaking community such as China.
Course Aims
Enable students to:
- develop the ability to use Chinese effectively for the purpose of practical communication, especially in writing
- maintain linguistic and cultural skills required for further study or employment using Chinese as the medium
- develop an awareness of the nature of language and language-learning skills
- promote learners’ personal development as a bilingual or multilingual learner
Content Overview
This subject content is skills based with a focus on reading and writing. Topics studied are relevant to learners’ own life and experiences as well as those of the broader Chinese-speaking community.
Assessment
Paper 1: Reading
Paper 2: Writing
Across the two years, students will complete formative assessment designed to prepare them for the formal assessment tasks listed above. Papers 1 and 2 are completed in Year 10, during May/June. Course results and certificates of achievement will be released in August/September. Once the formal course is complete, students will have opportunities to further develop their language skills in areas of personal interest and/or in topics relevant to further studies of Chinese in Stage 6.
