A Study of Quantitative Criteria in Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education A Case Study of The Initial Standards Level 1

Abstract

    The objectives of this study are as follows: 1) to study and analyze quantitative criteria in Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education. The quantitative criteria consist of a syllable table, a Chinese character table, Chinese grammar table and a vocabulary table. The samples of this study selected only the syllable table, the Chinese character table, and the vocabulary table of the initial standards Level 1.; 2) to compare the similarities and differences between the three tables of the Initial Standard Level 1 and the vocabulary tables of the HSK exams from Levels 1-3.The results revealed as follows: 1) the syllable table, the Chinese character table, and the vocabulary table of the Initial Standard Level 1 were related, but the researcher found that some syllables that appeared in the syllable table were not in the vocabulary table. Additionally, there was some problem directing the parts of speech in some words as well; 2) the vocabulary in the vocabulary table of the Initial Standard Level 1 exceeds the volume and scope of the HSK(Level 1). Compared to the HSK(Level 2), the syllables and the Chinese characters have the same higher proportion, but the vocabulary aspect still exceeds the HSK(Level 2). Compared to HSK(level 3), the same proportion of the syllables, the Chinese characters, and the vocabulary increased. Still, it turns out that HSK(Level 3) has a volume and scope of all three aspects that significantly exceed the Initial Standard Level 1.

Keywords: The standard, The Initial Standard, Vocabulary, HSK, Comparison