person holding book from shelf

List of Communication Topics Reference Guidelines for TBCL (Taiwan Benchmarks for the Chinese Languag) Application

During the development of the “Reference Guidelines for TBCL Application,” international language proficiency standards, such as the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines (ACTFL 2012) from the United States and the CEFR (Council of Europe 2001) from the European Union, were consulted. These guidelines embraced mainstream perspectives, emphasizing practical language usage and a learner-centered approach. This effort led to the inclusion of fundamental concepts, curriculum objectives, learning priorities, and implementation details in the “Taiwanese Chinese Language Proficiency Standards” (TBCL), making the content, process, and goals of Chinese language learning more transparent. Moreover, it provided a consistent reference for curriculum development, textbook compilation, teaching implementation, resource selection, and assessment evaluation.

The guidelines categorize Chinese language learners’ abilities into listening, speaking, reading, writing, translation, and cultural performance, structured into three levels and seven sub-levels. Specifically, the “Foundation,” “Intermediate,” and “Advanced” levels constitute the “three levels,” while levels “1” through “7” form the “seven sub-levels.” To elaborate, the Foundation level encompasses levels 1 to 3, the Intermediate level covers levels 4 and 5, and the Advanced level includes levels 6 and 7.

Furthermore, these guidelines categorize the 5,288 words found in levels 1 to 5 into 18 themes, which can be selected by curriculum developers. These themes enable authors to integrate cultural elements into teaching and adjust the balance between language and culture according to students’ needs and goals. Finally, editors can design appropriate learning content for students of different levels based on the previously mentioned “cultural performance.” For example, concerning the travel theme, foundation-level students can learn “asking for directions,” intermediate-level students can learn “inquiring about recommended attractions,” and advanced-level students can learn “handling emergency situations.”

This guide encompasses seven main topics, twelve subtopics, and sixty-seven subjects, providing a significant reference for Chinese language education and ensuring that learning content and teaching processes are more transparent and organized. The table below is extracted from the appendix of the reference guide. Original document and Chinese version are also available.

ThemeSubthemeTopic Example
PersonalPersonal informationName, nationality, time and location of birth, age and mailing address
Personal education and work experience, and language
Kinship terminology
Personal habits and preferences
Personal characters and traits
Emotions and attitudeEmotions, attitude and reaction
LifeDaily activities and everyday livingDaily life
Living environment and location
Sharing of household chores
Moving
Leisure and entertainmentFilm, television and internet entertainment
Sports
Attending performances
Cultural visits
Transportation and travelPublic transportation tools
Private transportation tools
Travel
Travel information
Education and learningSchool attendance
School environment
Student life
Learning activities and experience
Stationery
Peer interaction
Shopping and stores Shopping behavior at brick-and-mortar stores
Online shopping
Food and beverage, and cooking Food, ingredients
Dining hours and locations
Dining etiquette
Food cookery and cooking
Eating habits and culture
TechnologyTechnology products
Digital media
The Internet
Body and medical careParts of the body
Expression of physical state
Medical activities and behaviors
InterpersonalSocial activities and interpersonal relationsGreetings
Daily living skills and social skills
Expression of opinions and emotions
Sharing of emotions and experience
Communications
OccupationsWorkplace titles
Job-seeking
Remuneration
Workplace culture
SocialPublic servicesPublic service locations (banks, post offices, gas stations and vehicle maintenance)
Administrative culture
Consulate affairs, immigration and residence
SafetySafety and public order
Police and fire rescue
Crime
Conflict
NatureNatural environmentTime and space
Flora, fauna, scenery and landscapes
Weather, climate and climate change
Environmental conservation
Taiwan’s geographical environment and global landscapes
The 24 solar terms
HumanitiesArt, history and culture History, heritage and localization
Traditional festivals, seasonal customs, ancestor worship and religious faith
Art and artistic philosophy
Literature, writing and dialects
InternationalInternational and socialGlobal distribution and migration of the Chinese people, and Chinese diasporas
International situation and major issues
Current affairs and social activities
Legal and economic activities

Please Login to Comment.