Cheng Shiu University Chinese Language Center Kaohsiung

Cheng Shiu University's Chinese Language Center is on Chengqing Road in Kaohsiung's Niaosong district. Its regular seasonal course is intended for learners interested in Chinese culture, people preparing to study or work in Taiwan and students aiming for a particular Mandarin proficiency level.

Finding a starting point

A placement test determines the appropriate class. The centre publishes a detailed progression linking quarters of study with learning objectives, textbooks and levels on both the European framework and Taiwan's TOCFL scale. This helps students arriving with previous study to understand where their existing reading and speaking skills fit.

The early stages work on basic exchanges and familiar personal situations. Later classes develop the ability to discuss more complex texts, explain opinions and follow the news. Materials progress from the Modern Chinese series through advanced texts and eventually to newspapers, magazines and contemporary literature.

The seasonal timetable

The regular course covers eleven weeks and 165 hours, with weekday teaching at the university centre. Textbooks and other teaching materials are separate from tuition. The university also lists Practical Chinese, so students comparing formats should distinguish that route from the longer seasonal sequence when planning how much time to spend in Kaohsiung.