Lisa and others
This situation re A level Chinese has been going on for years now and it is 
about time that the exam boards wake up and the A level is made more 
accessible to non native speakers..
I get students every year wanting to take Chinese to A level but I have to 
discourage them from opting for Chinese because of the worry that they will 
not get good grades. Quite a few of them do get into university to study 
Chinese based on their good GCSE grades and their other A levels so all is 
not lost.
However it is still a serious issue.
I suggest that as teachers of Chinese we should draft a letter to Michael 
Gove and to the exam boards and the body that oversees the exam board and 
start to exert some pressure on them.
Anne
Trinity
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisa Wang" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 5:48 PM
Subject: A2 Chinese research based essay


> Dear Katharine,
>
> I have received a letter of complaint from a parent of my A2 student
> who did the A2 Chinese exam in June 2011, and I think this is a serious
> business, because it does not just concern this family only but also it
> is an ongoing issue in the Chinese A level provision and examination.
> When you have read the parent's letter, you will understand how the
> parent and the ex-pupil feel as this young man was seriously affected
> by his A2 exam marks regarding his choice of university!  He couldn't
> go to the univesity of his choice, due to his marks in A2 Chinese!
>
> I attach his research based essay and the letter of complaint here for
> a further discussion from the teachers.  I have three questions to be
> considered by those who are interested in the discussion, as I still
> feel confused after having taught A level Chinese for many years, why
> it is so difficult for non native students of Chinese to gain a top
> grade in A level Chinese examination.  We need a way out if we want to
> promote Chinese teaching and learning to a higher level and if we want
> to further promote Chinese in this country.
>
> My three questions are:
> 1.  what do you think this level of writing from a learner student and
> what marks he deserves?
> 2.  what is the requirement and standard of writing the examiners from
> Edexcel expect from a learner student?
> 3.  what is the future of A level Chinese? Do we encourage or
> discourage our students to choose to do A level Chinese based on this
> marking as attached?
>
> As this student was only awarded less than half marks for his REB, I
> do feel frustrated, to be honest, and I want to know what we need to do
> to help improve the situation, so that the same problem as such can be
> avoided in the future.
>
> I look forward to hearing from your advice and opinion.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Lisa Wang
> Calday Grange Grammar School