Chinese in CBSE
In order to cater to the diverse needs of students in a globalised world, CBSE offers 32 languages at the secondary and senior secondary level out of which 12 are foreign languages. In view of China emerging as one of the major global economies and Mandarin being spoken by a large population of the world, the Board is set to launch Chinese in class VI from April 2011.
General Objectives of Learning Mandarin Chinese
- To enable the learner to communicate effectively
- To build proficiency in the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking in Mandarin Chinese.
- To build greater confidence among learners to use Mandarin Chinese in oral and written forms.
- To build sensitivity and awareness regarding the culture and traditions of the Mandarin Chinese.
- To facilitate self learning to enable them to become independent.
At the end of middle school learners will be able to do the following:
- give a brief oral description of events / incidents of topical interest
- retell the contents of authentic audio texts (weather reports, public announcements, advertisements,
- interviews, etc.)
- Participate in simple social conversation.
- Narrate the story depicted pictorially or in any other non-verbal mode.
- Respond in writing in simple ways.
- Read with proper rhythm and intonation
Methods and Techniques
The methodology is based on a multi-skill, activity based, learner centered approach. Care is taken to fulfill the functional (communicative), literary (aesthetic) and cultural (sociological) needs of the learner. In such situation the teacher will be the facilitator of learning, s(he) presents language items, contrives situations which motivates the child to use Mandarin Chinese for the purposes of communication and expression. Aural- oral teaching and testing is an integral feature of the teaching-learning process. The electronic and print media could be used extensively. The evaluation procedure will be continuous.
A few suggested activities are:
• Role playing • Simulating real-to-life situations • Dramatizing and miming • Problem solving and decision making • Interpreting information given in tabular form and schedule • Using newspaper clippings • Borrowing situations from the world around the learners, from books and from other disciplines • Using language games, riddles, puzzles and jokes • Interpreting pictures / sketches / cartoons • Debating and discussing • Narrating and discussing stories, anecdotes, etc. • Reciting poems • Working in pairs and groups • Using media inputs - computer, television, video cassettes, tapes, software packages. Other Salient Features
1) The Curriculum and textbooks are being developed by eminent practicing scholars in this field 2) The Board will be conducting the training programme for teachers to make them understand the fundamentals of the pedagogy and contents shortly.
The Board would like to request schools desirous to introduce this language in class VI from the academic session 2011-12 to send their option. Interested schools may fill the form and mail it at sadhanap.cbse@nic.in or send it by post not later than January 15, 2011 for further processing.
We would love to hear your opinion and views on this in the comments below.
