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I agree that we should try to promote the 'two exams' idea.  The GCSE has
already been changed to make it easier (obviously not enough judging from
comments from colleagues on this forum) and many Chinese schools now feel
that the AS exam is more appropriate for their pupils rather than the GCSE.
Having said that, it should be pointed out that many of the British born
Chinese children will not be 'native speakers' (and there are increasing
numbers of them); they are more like second language learners - being
bicultural but monolingual in English.  They would also benefit from any
amendments that cater to non-native speakers.  

Doesn't the IB offer two exams - one for native speakers and one for second
language learners of Chinese?


Amy Thompson
Coordinator for MFL
Lambeth Children & Young People's Service

-----Original Message-----
From: Mandarin Chinese Teaching
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MTATE
Sent: 30 September 2005 13:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: GCSE

Anne,

They do have two seperate exams in Australia and also in New Zealand, 
I think.  We brought this suggestion up at the meeting with Edexcel, 
DfeS, British Council, etc earlier in the year.  Edexcel's concern is 
that there used to be two exams and they were asked to make it into 
one.  So, it's almost as if this whole exam business has gone around in 
a big circle.  They took the suggestion on board, but I'm not sure that 
they are actually seriously considering doing anything about it!
 I think it would be the best way forward too, but financially for 
Edexcel it would be a disaster.  Think how many native speakers are 
taking the present exam.  About 97% possibly.  Now think about how many 
non-native speakers are taking it.  It wouldn't be financially viable 
for Edexcel to make a seperate exam.  It's just a theory, but there may 
be some mileage in this.

Michelle
 
----Original Message----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: 30-Sep-2005 11:52
To: 
Subj: Re: GCSE







How about two exams -one for native speakers and 
one for non native speakers ?
I have heard that this happens in some parts of 
Australia.  Does anyone know anything about this ?
Anne Martin

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Gina Edens 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  
  Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 10:56 
  AM
  Subject: GCSE
  

  I think Oliver's point about the boudaries 
  compared to Japanese is very important one.  I also agree that the 
  syllabus for Chinese is OK as it does list grammar required and 
there is a 
  core vocabulary but this will only get a student a C grade (I 
believe - I am 
  still quite new to this so I may be wrong.)  Would a comprehensive 
  vocabulary and character list (one for reading, another for writing) 
be 
  useful?  As  a beginner teacher in Mandarin I find it very hard to 
  prioritise characters for reading and writing.  I am constantly 
aware 
  that when characters come up in the exam that students don't know, I 
will be 
  the only one at fault for not having covered them in my lessons.  I 
don't 
  want my lessons to become a mad race to cover hundreds and hundreds 
of 
  characters at the expense of pupils' enjoyment, cultural studies, 
etc.  
  But at the moment as I have little guidance I am inclined to cram my 
schemes 
  of work with what is really an unreasonable amount of characters 
(which I 
  struggle with, let alone the students!!)
   
  We have just had our open morning and parents 
  were far more interested in Mandarin than Japanese.  I wonder how 
this 
  will change, however, when we have our first cohort take the GCSE in 
2008 and 
  parents compare our Japanese results of nearly 100% A* most years 
with 
  possibly very deflated Mandarin results unless changes are made.  I 
am 
  worried to say the least!!
   
  Gina Edens
  Whitgift 
School


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