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Confucius Institute

Language Teaching

The USTB-DMU CI has 28 teaching sites and over 3,000 pupils, 1 Chinese test centre and 1 branch test centre in Little Bowden Primary School. There are Credit-bearing Mandarin courses, non-credit courses and Mandarin classes at Leicestershire schools.

Credit Courses
Non-Credit Courses
Classes at Leicestershire Schools

Confucius Institute at De Montfort University is one of the few Cls in the UK which offer credit-bearing Mandarin courses to its students. Mandarin is now one of the most popular elective courses for students who are studying in Business, International Relations, English, English Literature, Films, Education, History, etc. From 2014 to 2020, DMU CI offered credit-bearing Mandarin courses of 3 different levels for 173 DMU students from 3-year groups.

In the weekly 3-hour Mandarin session, students not only receive intensive and systematic Mandarin training through lectures and real-life communication, they also develop a more comprehensive and objective understanding of Chinese culture through workshops and free discussion.

Course	Module description
Mandarin Pre-Basic User A1a Term 1	This module introduces Mandarin by focusing on the development of the receptive skills of listening and reading at a very basic level, in a weekly three-hour language workshop. The geography and people of China will also be introduced.
Mandarin Basic User A1b Term 2	This module continues to develop receptive skills (listening and reading) but focuses on the development of the productive skills of speaking and writing at a very basic level. Language skills are the focus of a weekly three-hour language workshop which also explores aspects of the society and culture of the Chinese people through the study of very simple authentic materials.
Pre-Basic User Plus Mandarin A2a Term 1	This module further develops the receptive skills of listening and reading to a basic plus level in a weekly three-hour language workshop. Students will be exposed to a variety of authentic materials (e.g. brochures & leaflets; tourist information; weather forecasts; advertising and posters; simple native-speaker conversations). Aspects of Chinese Culture and popular culture (e.g. theatre, art, literature, music …) will be the focus of the intercultural element.
Basic User Plus Mandarin A2b Term 2	This module continues to hone receptive skills (listening and reading) but focuses on further developing the productive skills of speaking and writing through longer and more complex activities e.g. simple presentations and interviews in Mandarin; descriptions of simple events, explanations and stories. Language skills are the focus of a weekly three-hour language workshop. The intercultural studies element of this module will consider, in particular, health and well-being, including holidays and leisure and the health service, and education and the education system.
Pre-Independent User Mandarin B1a Term 1	This module further develops the receptive skills of listening and reading to a level which enables understanding without difficulty of most familiar topics delivered in clear, standard language. There is a weekly three-hour language workshop during which the key topics studied will be the media (press, radio, TV, on-line information; social media …).
Independent User Mandarin B1b Term 2	This module continues to hone receptive skills (listening and reading) but will focus on further developing the productive skills of speaking and writing at a level which requires the use of a wider range of vocabulary and more complex structures such as the description of feelings, impressions and familiar, everyday experiences. Language skills will be the focus of a weekly three-hour language workshop which will also explore the history and political contexts of China.

DMU CI provides three rounds of non-credit-bearing courses to DMU students, staff and members of the public every year, each round with ten weeks, 20 hours of classroom teaching. There are daytime and evening courses of 5 different levels available to cater to different needs of the learners. They could proceed to the next level after completing 20 hours of learning.

From 2014 to 2020, around 1200 learners attended non-credit-bearing Mandarin courses including about 1000 DMU students and staff. The number is rising each year as Chinese gains more popularity.

DMU CI aims to provide a broad range of quality Mandarin teaching services to DMU students, staff and the wider community. In 2020, DMU CI is exploring more possibilities to attract learners with special needs, especially people from the business community.

Level	Description
Level 1 Stage 1	For those that have never previously studied mandarin
Level 1 Stage 2	For those that have studied approximately 20 hours of mandarin
Level 2 Stage 1	For those that have studied approximately 40 hours of mandarin; mastering about 150 commonly used words
Level 2 Stage 2	For those that have studied approximately 60 hours of mandarin, mastering about 200 commonly used words
Level 3 Stage 1	For those that have mastered 300 commonly used words and related grammar
Level 3 Stage 2	For those that have mastered about 350 commonly used words and are able to read and write basic Chinese characters
Level 3 Stage 3	For those that have mastered about 450 commonly used words and are able to read and write Chinese characters
Level 3 Stage 4	For those who have mastered about 550 commonly used words and are able to read and write Chinese characters
Level 4 Stage 1	For those that have mastered 600 commonly used words, being able to read or write simple essays in Chinese
Level 4 Stage 2	For those that have mastered 800 commonly used words, being able to read or write simple essays in Chinese
Level 4 Stage 3	For those that have mastered 1000 commonly used words, being able to read or write simple essays in Chinese
Level 4 Stage 4	For those that have mastered 1200 commonly used words, being able to read or write simple essays in Chinese
Intermediate Spoken Chinese	For those that have mastered 350 commonly used words and related grammar, being able to read and have basic conversations in Chinese.

DMU CI is committed to providing support to Leicestershire schools and has already worked with more than 40 schools across the county.

Formal Mandarin classes

From 2014 to 2020, the CI has provided formal Mandarin classes to more than 20 schools across Leicestershire including in Leicester city centre, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray. A total of over 3000 school children benefit from this service.

After-school Mandarin clubs

DMU CI also provides after-school clubs to supplement formal Mandarin classes which allows students to build on what they learn during their classes. For schools who cannot schedule Mandarin into their timetable, after-school clubs help ensure that Mandarin can still be a part of their school education.

Mandarin taster lessons

DMU CI offers Mandarin taster lessons to Leicestershire schools. These events provide their students with the opportunity to have a taste of Chinese language and culture without leaving their classrooms.

Each year, DMU CI holds 15-20 Chinese language and culture tasters and workshops at DMU and Leicestershire schools, which help students learn and experience the beauty of the language and culture.

Name of school	Type of class	Year group	Teaching hours per week
Little Bowden School	Formal	Reception to Year 6	490 mins
Folville Junior School	Formal	Year 3 & 4	210 mins
Great Bowden Academy	Formal	Year 6	30 mins
Club	Mixed	60 mins
Mellor Community Primary School	Formal	Mixed	85 mins
Somerby Primary School	Formal	Year 2-5	120 mins
Uplands Junior LEAD Academy	Formal	Year 6	225 mins
Sandfield Close Primary School	Formal	Year 6	120 mins
Club	Year 3 & 4	60 mins
Captain Close Primary School	Formal	Year 1-5	210 mins
Elizabeth Woodville Primary School	Formal	Year 3-6	180 mins
Alderman Richard Hallam Primary School	Formal	Year 1 & 2	240 mins
Dovelands Primary School	Formal	Year 5 & 6	70 mins
Club	Mixed	60 mins
Leicester Preparatory School	Formal	Year 1-6	160 mins
Abbey Mead Primary Academy	Formal	Year 3-5	90 mins
Wolsey House Primary School	Club	Mixed	60 mins
Medway Community Primary School	Club	Year 4-6	60 mins
Hazel Community Primary School	Club	Year 4-7	60 mins
Spinny Hill Primary School	Club	Year 5	60 mins
Mayflower Primary School	Club	Mixed	60 mins
Robert Smyth Academy	Club	Year 7-13	180 mins
Welland Park Academy	Club	Year 7-9	50 mins
Madani Girls School	Club	Year 7-11	120 mins
Leicester High School for Girls	Club	Year 7-13	60 mins
Manor High School	Club	Mixed	60 mins