Students attending Barton Peveril Sixth Form College in Eastleigh will have the opportunity to take a Chinese Mandarin course from September 2019.
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Barton Peveril students on a recent trip to China
The college says the course is officially certified by the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) and is based on the HSK, the standardised Chinese language proficiency test for Chinese language learners around the world.
The course, which students can study alongside their programme of A Level or Vocational courses, will provide basic knowledge of the Chinese language and culture. After studying, students will have the opportunity to progress to the next level of the HSK and apply for Chinese Government sponsorship to study in China.
Barton Peveril’s Vice Principal for Schools and Community, Rob Temple, said the new course is “a fantastic opportunity for our students on an economic, social and personal level”.
He added: “By the end of the course, with the support of the teachers from the Confucious Institute at the University of Southampton, they will have mastered the basis of Mandarin Chinese and secured an internationally recognised qualification. We are delighted to be able to further develop our students' cultural awareness and support them as they move on to compete for jobs in a global economy.”