A Level Chinese
Through a multitude of topics, you will learn to communicate at a sophisticated level in the language. At A level, the emphasis shifts to a much higher level where you are expected to offer opinions, to evaluate and to comment on key aspects of the country in which the target-language is spoken. The vocabulary is accordingly at a more demanding level. Chinese is an enjoyable course which enables students to explore in depth various aspects of the recent history, society, culture and, of course, language of the country.
What sort of student does it suit and what will you get out of the course?
An A level in a Modern Foreign Language is an ideal subject whether you are taking mainly sciences, humanities or arts subjects. As China is developing faster than ever, Chinese becomes an increasingly popular subject in the world; many schools, colleges and universities would value the qualification. Any student who has an interest in Chinese culture and language, and who is looking to acquire a skill currently in demand all around the world, would be well advised to take the subject.
Also, the huge requirement for native English speaking teachers in China benefits those who have the ambition to pursue a career in China. Through preparations for the oral examination, students find that their debating and interview skills are greatly enhanced. Linguists are highly regarded by employers for their confidence in communicating ideas and presenting themselves. Learning Chinese is therefore a sensible choice if you are targeting Education, Law, Medicine, and Business Administration amongst many other degree courses.
Reading
AS
Basic Chinese– A Grammar and Workbook
By Yip Po-Ching and Don Rimmington
Published by Routledge
Developing Writing Skills in Chinese
By Yuan, Boping and Kan, Qian
Published by Routledge
Colloquial Chinese
By Kan Qian
Published by Routledge
A Level
China Shakes the World: The Rise of a Global Superpower
By James Kynge
Published by W&N
City of Heavenly Tranquillity: Beijing in the History of China
By Jasper Becker
Published by Allen Lane
Mao’s War Against Nature
By Shapiro
Published by Cambridge University Press
Students should own a large Collins or Oxford bilingual dictionary; a specification related textbook will also be required, details of which will be provided prior to the start of the course.
Discover more at MPW
Success Stories
In their own words - testimonials from our past students and their parents.
Inspection Reports
MPW Birmingham was judged as Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted.
"The best part about studying at MPW is the friendly, encouraging and supportive classroom environment that MPW provides. It makes asking for help and reaching your potential easy and enjoyable. The college really helps students to believe in themselves. The Personal Tutor system is great because it is available for you to use to whatever extent you might need whether that be having weekly meetings or meeting every now and then for a quick catch up to analyse my current progress. The weekly Timed Assignments have also enabled me to build my confidence in the build up to my exams. They help you to feel comfortable in an exam environment, as well as enable you to consolidate the material you need to recall in the final exams"
Grades achieved at MPW: AAA Progressed to: Leeds University (Dentistry)
"I chose MPW because of the academic support provided by the college, which was instrumental in helping me throughout the challenging nature of my one-year A level courses. The weekly Timed Assignments and assistance provided by the Personal Tutor system helped me in areas I had previously struggled. Playing for the college football team was a great release from the challenging academic nature of the year and it helped me build friendships with other students in the college"
Grades achieved at MPW: A*AA Progressed to: Exeter University (Business Management)
"Having not achieved the grades I wanted or needed in my A levels at my previous college I decided that retaking would be the best option for me. I have found the small classes at MPW to be a real asset, and that, coupled with the fantastic teaching, has certainly enabled me to grow academically. Further to this, both the academic support and the university guidance provided by the college have been exceptional."
Grades achieved at MPW: A*AB Progressed to: Exeter University (International Relations and History)
"After failing to get into Dental School last year I lost a lot of confidence and was worried that I might never get into my dream course. The one-to-one support you get from MPW is so much more efficient compared to the main stream schools and colleges. The individual help you get for applying to University which includes interview support is amazing. No matter if you are a resit or a first time student, no one judges you and as long as you are hardworking and want to be a success"
Grades achieved at MPW: A*A Progressed to: Manchester University (Dentistry)
"I joined MPW because I wanted to be part of a close knit community that focuses on helping students attain the grades they are really capable of. Each student is assigned a Personal Tutor who assists them in all aspects of student life. I would recommend the individual and personally tailored care given to any student looking to expand their academic horizons. The encouragement and support has allowed me to aim high and achieve results that I had previously thought weren't possible."
Grades achieved at MPW: A*A*A*A Progressed to: Oxford University (Mathematics)
"MPW gave me a second chance in pursuing a career in dentistry. The small class sizes and weekly timed assessments gave me and my tutors a clear indication of my progress. The rigorous teaching schedules, structured and tailored to my personal needs, was exactly what I needed. MPW placed heavy focus on exam technique as the key to achieving the required higher grades. Being able to talk with my tutors at any time in the day was an invaluable aid. It was also clear how much the teachers took a personal interest in the development of each individual student"
Grades achieved at MPW: A*AA Progressed to: King’s College London (Dentistry)
"I joined MPW having not fulfilled my academic potential during my AS level exams at my previous school. I decided to retake my AS year at MPW and it was the best decision I ever made. The tutors at MPW have pushed me to achieve my maximum potential and have greatly improved my academic performance. The best part of studying at MPW is the weekly timed assignments as they ensure that you continuously review and revise work as well as helping you to make weekly improvements on exam technique."
Grades achieved at MPW: A*AA Progressed to: University of Warwick (Management)
"Throughout my time at MPW I have been provided with constant support. The college has prepared me for not only my exams but also the university interviews I attended. It has been an amazing experience from start to finish. The friendly and welcoming environment created by the staff and students made it an ideal setting for me to concentrate on achieving my targets"
Grades achieved at MPW: A*AA Progressed to: Bristol University (Dentistry)
"I came to MPW with very low self-confidence after under-achieving at AS level at my previous school, and have left with greater confidence about my academic ability and with a definite degree of clarity about what I hope to achieve in terms of my career. My experience at my previous school was that those with Oxbridge potential receive the most support and attention. This is not the case at MPW. I have found that it does not matter about that what the student's potential may be, each student receives the same amount of help to achieve their goals"
Grades achieved at MPW: AAA Progressed to: University of Birmingham (Law)