Chinese Advanced

Languages can unite or divide us. Learning another language lies at the heart of UWC mission, as the international mindedness that it entails is a force to unite people, nations and cultures. Learning about other ways of communicating, behaving, relating, thinking and being is an essential step towards understanding others and developing respect for cultural diversity. Expanding communicative skills in an additional language also fosters intercultural understanding, open-mindedness and empathy which are essential parts of the skillset of a globally aware 21st-century problem-solver and life-long learner.

• Develop both receptive and productive language skills as well as conceptual understandings in the target language in order to communicate effectively in multiple contexts, and for a variety of purposes

• Explore multimodal texts (written, audio, visual, audio-visual), artefacts, and different cultural perspectives in order to foster empathy and international mindedness

• Develop communicative and interpersonal skills, as well as information and cultural literacy, through inquiry and creative collaboration 

• Consider how the connections between languages, perspectives and cultures shape our identities 

Students will engage with conceptual themes such as identities, communication, relationships, culture and wellbeing. They will also consider linguistic concepts, such as context, audience and purpose, and engage with literary texts, as well as develop their capacity to make connections with all other areas of the UWCSEA learning programme : Activities, Service, Outdoor Education and Personal and Social Education. In addition, they will develop interpersonal skills through learning experiences and communicative projects that will involve thinking, research, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving.

Grade 9 Course

Youth and School Life
This unit focuses on Youth and School Life, exploring topics such as school introduction, subject selection, studying abroad, and future career pathways. Students will also examine the pressures commonly experienced by young people today. Through engaging discussions and practical activities, the unit develops students’ ability to use expository language and strengthen their argumentation skills. They will learn to analyse issues, organise ideas logically, and express personal viewpoints with clarity and coherence. They analyze real situations and reflect on how school experiences shape personal growth.

Leisure and Healthy Living
This unit examines traditional leisure activities and their changes in modern life, focusing on how balanced routines support physical and mental well-being. Through discussion, group projects, and research, students explore the role of leisure in shaping identity and share personal experiences through clear narrative writing. They also learn to promote healthy lifestyles by creating persuasive texts such as advertisements and speeches.

Grade 10 Course

New Technology
In this unit, students investigate how new communication technologies—such as AI, gaming, social media, and online shopping—are transforming daily life and reshaping Chinese culture and traditional values. Through debates, video clips, and real-world case studies, students develop critical reading and analytical skills to present clear arguments and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of technological change. They reflect on how to use technology wisely and responsibly, while engaging in Service by presenting their own technology product. Ultimately, students explore how to survive and thrive in an ever-changing technological world.

A Challenging World
This unit examines globalisation, environmental challenges, and sustainable development, encouraging students to think critically about how global changes influence tradition, immigration, identity, and cultural adaptation. Students explore issues such as environmental protection and cultural conflict through interviews, real-world investigations, and community-based research. They produce survey reports, proposals, action plans, speeches, and presentations that connect learning to the school’s sustainability initiatives and Service. Through these authentic tasks, students develop leadership and communication skills, deepening their understanding of what it means to be a responsible global citizen.

In this language acquisition course, students at an advanced level of Chinese will develop:

• Receptive skills: listening and reading

• Productive skills: speaking and writing

• Interactive skills: listening and speaking - responding to others

• Intercultural competence, by making connections with Chinese-speaking cultures and developing empathy and international mindedness

• Application of linguistic concepts to demonstrate conceptual understanding

• Learning skills: thinking, research, collaboration, self-management, and creativity

A varied range of formative and summative assessments will be used to evaluate students' progress in the Advanced course, including

• Vocabulary and grammar quizzes

• Oral presentations

• Group discussions, role plays and debates

• Individual orals

• Listening comprehension tasks

• Reading comprehension tasks

• Writing tasks: responses to texts and a range of text types

• End-of-year examination

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any other questions, please email Ms Laurie Kraaijeveld, Head of High School Languages, at lkr@uwcsea.edu.sg