Chinese is one of the principal languages of the world; Mandarin is the most commonly spoken language among Chinese-speaking peoples. The use of simplified characters and Hanyu Pinyin (phonetic system) is recognized globally as the International system, and it is the official writing system used by the majority of Chinese speakers in the world.
Communication in Mandarin Chinese is an appropriate and accessible goal for students in British Columbia. The study of Mandarin Chinese gives students the chance to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to interact and communicate with Mandarin Chinese-speaking communities in the world.
As students are introduced to the written Mandarin Chinese language, they will naturally be exposed to both the International system and traditional characters. Traditional characters will be introduced where appropriate, and this exposure will be especially valuable for comparative and practical purposes. The International system is beneficial to students who are studying Mandarin Chinese to increase their work skills for future employment.
The aim of the Mandarin Chinese curriculum is to enable students to learn to speak and understand the language; it is not expected that students will become fully fluent in reading and writing Chinese characters. Opportunities to recognize and become familiar with both simplified and traditional Chinese characters will give students the skills and knowledge they need to function in a practical way in a variety of environments (e.g., reading signs depicted in traditional or simplified characters).
As British Columbia continues to develop social and economic ties with the Asia-Pacific region, the study of Mandarin Chinese will give students broader choices when they make career and life plans. Other-language studies can also enhance students' understanding of their own languages and cultures. Finally, communicative competence can be a source of personal satisfaction that enriches individual life experiences.
Last Modified: March 24, 1999
