All teacher lessons follow a communicative approach, and are divided into five sections:Warm-up, Intensive practice, Review dialogue, Communicative activities, and Games & songs. This approach ensures as much involvement as possible of all students in the class, quite unlike the one-way lectures which characterize so much Chinese teaching.
90% of the class time is dedicated to oral and listening practice, and about 10% will be dedicated to character recognition and writing - depending on the grade.
Daily Connection (Levels 1-2) is for people who have never learned Chinese or know only a few phrases. About 400 common words are included, and the practice focuses on pronunciation, useful phrases and simple sentences. Topics are related to daily situations, such as greetings, shopping, eating with friends, asking for directions, talking about home environment, taking a taxi, and so on.
Daily Competence (Levels 3-4) is for people who have learned around 400 words, and some simple language points, and can speak basic Chinese. During this level about 500 new words and useful phrases are used, making a total vocabulary of 900. Practice focuses on phrases and sentence building, and learning to express simple feelings, like apology, gratitude, hope, regret, etc. Topics are related to common social and interpersonal contact such as birthday and family parties, favorite colors, illness, travel, looking for a job, and so on.
Daily Comfort (Levels 5-6) is for people who have learned to use about 900 hundred Chinese words and phrases,and can talk about daily situations withouttoo much difficulty. At this level a further 600 words and phrases are taught, making a total vocabulary of about 1500. Practice concentrates on further and more accurate expression of one's meaning and feelings. There is a wider range of topics from daily life,work and social situations,such as attendingformal receptions and weddings, booking hotels, collecting people at the airport, watching shows, talking about tours, and so on.
The online lessons contain full lesson contents and a wide range of practice activities, with lots of audio, graphics, and visual exercises - all interactive.
Upon successful completion of the whole program, people should be able to deal confidently and comfortably with all everyday life and work situations.
