Heritage Chinese
YOCI Chinese Curriculum
From pinyin and early character learning to advanced communication and academic literacy, with YCT, HSK and AP Chinese milestones at appropriate stages.
Pinyin helps me decode Chinese while I begin to recognize and write characters.
Courses and PlacementStudents build systematic pinyin skills while developing early character awareness, strokes, stroke order and basic writing.
Level 1–4
Reading 约20–50字Build sound discrimination and decoding, then move into pinyin-supported reading with early high-frequency characters.
◆ YCT3 Ready
I gradually rely less on pinyin and read characters directly.
Courses and PlacementStudents systematically build the written characters, recognition characters, core vocabulary and foundational reading required across HSK 1–3.
Level 5–8
Reading 约30–130字Learn high-frequency characters, character building and early families through progressively longer reading.
Level 9
Reading 约100–150字Review HSK 1–3 coverage, fill gaps and practise HSK 3 task formats without guaranteeing an exam result.
◆ YCT4 Optional Milestone
◆ HSK3 Ready
I use phonetic components to see connections among character families.
Courses and PlacementStudents move beyond isolated memorization. For example, 巴 connects to 爸、把 and 爬. The stage builds toward HSK 4 and can integrate AP Chinese language, culture and task preparation.
Level 10–14
Reading 逐步加长Study different phonetic components and their character families across meaningful contexts.
Level 15
Integrate HSK 4 characters, vocabulary, reading, listening and exam formats, with AP Chinese preparation where appropriate.
◆ HSK4 Ready
I organize characters through radicals, semantic components and reusable structures.
Courses and PlacementStudents review, organize and extend a large character network. By the end of the stage, cumulative recognition is about 3,200 characters, alongside major growth in HSK 5–6 vocabulary and integrated skills.
Level 16–26
Reading 逐步达到长篇阅读Shift toward longer reading, listening, information organization, writing, summarizing, argument and analysis.
Level 27
Integrate HSK 6 listening, long-form reading, information extraction, writing and exam formats.
◆ HSK5 Ability Milestone
◆ HSK6 Ready
Chinese becomes a tool for learning, communication, research and creation.
Courses and PlacementFrom Level 28, there is no fixed new-character quota. HSK 7–9 is one possible proficiency outcome, not the only purpose of the curriculum.
Level 28–35
Develop advanced communication through authentic reading, multiple sources, presentations, projects and data interpretation.
Level 36–39
Develop academic reading, source synthesis, research, argument, defence and translation.
◆ Advanced Proficiency / HSK7–9 Preparation