An interactive session that aims to present practical ideas for building a K–12 proficiency-based program that focuses on developing students’ authentic oral communication and foundational literacy skills. Differentiation and personalized learning are the keys to a successful program, hence this presentation will include strategies for both. Focus points: proficiency — how to identify students’ levels and set learning goals; differentiated instruction — how to meet individual student needs, including learning styles, IT, personal interests, etc.; metacognition — how to raise the level of awareness of students’ self-assessment and provide strategies to move to a higher level of proficiency; resources — how to ensure rich and authentic content and materials; K–12 program articulation — how to align a program across all grade levels without following a set of textbooks — yes, it really is possible! Presenters will share the Singapore American School model, classroom practices, and examples along with Q&A and discussion. Facilitated by Susan Zhang and Sally Lean of the Singapore American School. Speaker: Sally Lean: Sally Lean (林莎莉) began a love of learning Chinese in middle school and further developed that through undertaking a Bachelor of Chinese Studies at the Australian National University. She has taught Chinese for over 15 years and managed Chinese programs for several well-known international schools and for several years worked as a co-founder, co-organizer and presenter of the ACAMIS (Association of China & Mongolia International Schools) Annual Summer Conference for teachers of Chinese language and culture. Apart from teaching Chinese, Sally was also head-hunted to create a teacher training project for the Chaoyang District Education Committee in Beijing, training local English teachers in current interactive and communicative teaching methodology. Yuehua (Susan) Zhang: Dr. Yuehua (Susan) Zhang obtained her BA degree in English from Beijing Normal University, MED from Concordia University of Nebraska and PhD in Curriculum and instruction from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the US. She has extensive experience in U.S./China educational programs. Currently she serves as Director of world languages at Singapore American School in Singapore.

1. Beyond Textbooks
Proficiency-Based K - 12 Chinese Program &
Strategies for Differentiation
Dr Susan (Yuehua) Zhang - Director of World
Languages
Sally Lean - High School Chinese (Dept. Chair)
Singapore American School

2. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
No Textbooks?! How?!

3. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
Only 4% - 5% of students who
study with textbooks are able to
communicate in the language
Traditionally

5. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
Current Chinese program at SAS
Grades Minutes of class
Kinder 35 per day
1-2 40 per day
3-5 45 per day
6-8 43 per day
9-12 85 every other day
Approximately
100 hours of
instruction per
year

6. SAS AAPPL
DATA (SPANISH)
2014
N= 87 MS students
Year 2= 72% > IL
N= 125
3rd-5th graders
Year 2=40%> IL
US
STAMP DATA
2008
N= 22,000
High School/
College Students
Year 1= NH
Year 2= NH
Year 3= NH
Year 4= NH/IL
SAS AAPPL
DATA (CHINESE)
2014
N= 120 G5 students
Year 2=22% >IL
N=37 G6 students
Year 1=27% >IL
N=88 G6 students
Year 2= 19% >IL

7. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
Measures what students
can DO with the language,
rather than what they do
or don’t know.
Created by the American Council
on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages
The Language Proficiency Pyramid

8.
HS
CHINESE
2015-­‐2016
Chinese Novice
Chinese:
Intermediate
Chinese:
Intermediate
II / III
Chinese:
Intermediate
High
Chinese:
Intermediate
High II/III
AP Chinese
Language &
Culture
Post AP
Chinese
Language &
Culture
G8 Near
Native
Near
Native I
NN AP
Chinese

9. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
How can we create a successful
program?
Proficiency-based Chinese Program at SAS

10. Proficiency
Goals
Questions
Materials/
Resources

11. Function
Accuracy
Content
Context
Text Type
Focus on
Proficiency:

12. Open ended questions

13. Open Ended Questions/ Prompts
What is your name and how old are you?
Please introduce yourself.
Say something about yourself, please.
How many people are in your family?
Tell me a little bit about your family.

14. Authentic Materials

15. Theme - 把“乐” 带回家 （Mind Map）

16. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
ORAL TASK: “Introduce Your Family”
How can you prepare for this task in a multi-
level classroom?
Novice High
Intermediate Low
Intermediate High
Discuss with your elbow partner...
Differentiated Instruction

17. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
Refer to the guidelines:
http://aappl.actfl.org/sites/default/files/AAPPL%20Scores%20Interpersonal.pdf
Differentiated Instruction

18. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
Differentiated Instruction
Level Function Text Type
NH *be part of a conversation
*use own language to express ideas &
get what you need
*ask & answer simple questions
*tend to speak in phrases and
some sentences
IL *can have a conversation
*use your language to express your own
thoughts & get the things that you need
*can ask & answer simple questions
*tend to speak in simple sentences
IM *you maintain conversations
*use your language to express your own
thoughts & get things you need
*ask & answer a variety of questions
*can connect some sentences
together

19. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
Differentiated Instruction
Student Sample 1: Novice High
Language points provided:
● 虽然..., 但是...
● 因为..., 所以...
● 不但..., ⽽而且...
● ⼜又..., ⼜又...
● ⻓长得像
*Task goals:
*try to use full sentences
*use at least 1 connected sentence
*ask 2 or more questions
Example Task & Scaffolding:
Pre-speaking brainstorm

20. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
Differentiated Instruction
Student Sample 2: Int Mid
Language points provided:
● 虽然..., 但是...
● 因为..., 所以...
● 不但..., ⽽而且...
● ⼜又..., ⼜又...
● ⻓长得像
*Task goals:
*use full sentences
*use at least 2 connected sentences
*ask 3 or more questions
*compare & contrast 2 family members
Example Task & Scaffolding:
Pre-speaking brainstorm

21. SINGAPORE AMERICAN SC
● Sustained PD – (e.g., OPI, comprehensible input,
stories, differentiated instruction ……)
● Clear exit proficiency goals
● Theme-based, Story-based, Project-based learning,
Personalized learning
● Use of target language
● High level of student engagement
o Mini lessons and small group activities
o Use of technology
Tips for a successful program

22. Email contacts:
Dr. Susan Zhang
szhang@sas.edu.sg
Ms. Sally Lean
slean@sas.edu.sg

23. Thank you!
谢谢光临