2nd Grade - 8th Grade

Course Material: MeiZhou HuaYu

• "Meizhou HuaYu" is a Chinese heritage textbook published for learning Chinese in the Americas.

• The "Meizhou HuaYu" series consists of a Starter Volume and Volumes 1 through 10, making it suitable for heritage language school students who attend classes 2 to 4 hours per week.

• Each volume of "Meizhou HuaYu" is a self-contained set. Each set includes: a textbook, workbooks (6 pages per week, spanning 32 weeks), as well as grade-appropriate vocabulary flashcards, audio CDs, or DVDs.

• "Meizhou HuaYu" textbooks are available in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese versions. The Traditional Chinese version includes both Zhuyin (Bopomofo) and Hanyu Pinyin, while the Simplified Chinese version uses Hanyu Pinyin. The content of both versions is identical, allowing students learning Traditional and Simplified characters to attend the same class. The workbook content is also identical for both versions; however, the Simplified workbook includes additional exercises for recognizing Traditional characters, while the Traditional workbook is divided into two separate types: one using Zhuyin and the other using Hanyu Pinyin.

The editorial guidelines of the Meizhou HuaYu textbooks are based on the Standards for Foreign Language Learning (5Cs) and the National Assessment Governing Board framework (National Assessment of Educational Progress Framework), integrated with the principles of Multiple Intelligences.

The Standards for Foreign Language Learning (5Cs) are:

1. Communication

2. Cultures (understanding Chinese culture and customs)

3. Connections (linking with other academic subjects)

4. Comparisons (comparing the characteristics of Chinese and Western cultures)

5. Communities (applying language to practical life)

Within these five core indicators, "Communication" includes three communicative modes (3 Modes): Interpersonal (two-way communication), Interpretive (understanding and interpretation), and Presentational (expression and presentation).

Therefore, the selection of materials for each volume of the "Meizhou HuaYu" is tailored to the academic knowledge, life experiences, and equivalent level of Chinese culture appropriate for students of that specific grade age.

The design of each textbook, workbook, and supplementary material places special emphasis on student learning across listening comprehension, oral expression, reading comprehension, writing, and translation skills. This design aims to integrate the three modes of communication, encompass multiple intelligences, and meet the "5C" foreign language teaching standards.

The "Meizhou HuaYu" series articulates seamlessly with the American High School Chinese Advanced Placement Program (AP Chinese) and university-level Chinese language education.

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< Excerpt from Meizhou HuaYu >