General goal of the program:

Raise student proficiency level from S1 to S2 (see below) based on ILR scale and from Novice High to Intermediate Mid based on ACTFL proficiency scale.

Specific goals of the program:

• Listening and speaking - Students will be able to understand and talk about a variety of topics encountered in daily life.
• Reading and writing - Students will be able read articles and texts selected by the instructor-written materials and selected readings from the Internet. They will be able to discuss the readings and write summaries of what they have read.
• Cultural knowledge - Students will be able to read texts related to Chinese culture and tradition and strengthen their understanding of Chinese culture and history.

The Interagency Language Roundtable ILR (FSI) proficiency scale

S1 - Elementary proficiency is the first level of five in the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale of language proficiency, formerly called the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) scale. This level is sometimes referred to as S-1 or Level 1. A person at this level is described as follows:

• Able to satisfy routine travel needs and minimum courtesy requirements.
• Can ask and answer questions on very familiar topics; within the scope of very limited language experience.
• Can understand simple questions and statements, allowing for slowed speech, repetition or paraphrase.
• Has a speaking vocabulary which is inadequate to express anything but the most elementary needs; makes frequent errors in pronunciation and grammar, but can be understood by a native speaker used to dealing with foreigners attempting to speak the language.
• While topics which are "very familiar" and elementary needs vary considerably from individual to individual, any person at the S-1 level should be able to order a simple meal, ask for shelter or lodging, ask and give simple directions, make purchases, and tell time.

S2 - Limited working proficiency is the second level of five in the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale of language proficiency, formerly called the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) scale. This level is sometimes referred to as S-2 or level 2. A person at this level is described as follows:

• Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements.
• Can handle with confidence, but not with facility, most social situations including introductions and casual conversations about current events, as well as work, family, and autobiographical information.
• Can handle limited work requirements, needing help in handling any complications or difficulties; can get the gist of most conversations on non-technical subjects (i.e. topics which require no specialized knowledge), and has a speaking vocabulary sufficient to respond simply with some circumlocutions.
• Has an accent which, though often quite faulty, is intelligible.
• Can usually handle elementary constructions quite accurately but does not have thorough or confident control of the grammar.

This information comes from the The ILR (FSI) proficiency scale prepared by "SIL International: Partners in Language Development."