MVS collaborates with the Confucius Institute at Michigan State University (CI-MSU) and with China Central Radio and TV University to offer a series of online Chinese (Mandarin) courses for high school students. The online, semester-length high school Chinese courses include three levels of instruction. Middle school students may elect to enroll in the first level of instruction; MVS will attempt to group middle school students in the same course section.

The MVS online Chinese courses are audio- and video-based, revolving around coherent stories, using a variety of interactive activities. The MVS online courses are taught by highly qualified instructors and native speakers of Chinese.

• Initial Cost: $275 per student enrollment for Michigan students.
   
• Technical Requirements:
  • Use Internet Explorer to install the “Simplified Chinese Language Pack” to view web pages written in Chinese.
  • Install the free Adobe Acrobat Connect Add-in for Windows or Macintosh. The Acrobat Connect Add-in allows you to share your screen and upload files to meetings. Click here to read detailed installation instructions. Test your computer to make sure that you are set up with all of the tools you will need to participate in the meeting.
  • The free Adobe Presenter and Adobe FlashPaper are also required for Chinese courses. Click here for download and installation instructions for these programs and for the Simplified Chinese Language Pack.
  • Headset with earphone and microphone for group interaction and audio chatting.
  • Access to a computer with a full duplex sound card for recording voice (at school or at home).
  • Please review our general technical requirements. 
     
• Prerequisites:
  • Chinese 1A: There are no prerequisites to enroll in the Introductory Chinese 1A course. Just come in with a passion about Chinese language and culture.
  • Chinese 1B: Chinese 1A or equivalent level of Chinese with proficiency of 200 Chinese fundamental words in Pinyin, knowledge about Chinese and/or Asian culture and the ability to carry on short conversations.
  • Chinese 2A: Chinese 1B or equivalent level of Chinese with proficency of 500 Chinese fundamental words in Pinyin, knowledge about Chinese and/or Asian culture, and the ability to carry on conversations in real-life situations, for example, shopping or traveling in China.
  • Chinese 2B: Chinese 2A or equivalent level of Chinese with proficiency of 800-1,000 Chinese fundamental words in Pinyin, knowledge about Chinese and/or Asian culture, the ability to carry on conversations in real-life situations, for example, shopping or traveling in China, the ability to understand simple reading passages, and the ability to communicate in Chinese using electronic mail or online chat tools.
  • Chinese 3A: Chinese 2A and 2B or equivalent level of basic Chinese. 
  • Chinese 3B: Chinese 2A, 2B and 3A or equivalent level of basic Chinese. 
        
• Additional Courses: Over the next two years, the Confucius Institute at Michigan State University and MVS will develop additional online language and culture courses and instructional content for K-12 students. 

For more information on the MVS Chinese Language
 courses, call toll-free 888.532.5806 or email
learnchinese@mivu.org.