1. Introduction to the Degree Program

Authorized by Ministry of Education and Hanban, started in 2010, the degree program for master of teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages (overseas students) in Henan University is in the charge of International School for Chinese Language and Culture. Henan University has begun enrolling overseas students since 1985. It is the test centre for HSK, the teaching and training centre for teaching Chinese as a foreign language, the base for the international promotion of Chinese and traditional arts of the central plain area. Henna university runs 18 undergraduate programs for teaching such as Chinese, English, history. Its teachers are rich in teaching experience.

Based on the two master degree programs of linguistics and applied linguistics, and Chinese language and literature, supported by the programs for doctor degree of the first-level discipline such as Chinese language and literature, foreign languages and literature, educational science and history, the degree program for master of teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages is eminent in its own filed with 11 supervisors, including 3 professors and 7 with the doctoral degree. All of the full-time teachers have the Certificate for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language given by the Ministry of Education. Most of them have the experience of teaching abroad and have acquired high-level teaching and research qualities. International School for Chinese Language and Culture (ISCLC) has language teaching lab and multi-media lab. The library of the university houses many relevant books, journals and various electronic resources. The School provides many bases both home and abroad for teaching practice of students, such as Confucius institute of Akron University, Confucius Classroom in Lakewood High School, Shaolin Vocational and Technical School of Marshal arts in Henan. Located in Kaifeng, the capital of seven ancient dynasties, the university is rich in cultural resources and good in the conditions for education.

2. Research Orientation

Teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages

3. Educational Goal and Fundamental Requirements

The postgraduates are to reach the first-level of qualifications, develop modern educational concepts, practice fluent Chinese as a second language, have good teaching and communication skills, be accustomed to international promotion of Chinese, be qualified for various teaching tasks. The person who gets the degree is supposed to master systematic and solid knowledge of Chinese language and culture, possess strong professional sense, have the teaching skills of Chinese as a second language, be devoted to the international teaching of Chinese, have the pioneering and persevering spirit. The person who gets the degree should be qualified for teaching international Chinese in various types of schools, and engaging in any job relevant to Chinese and Chinese culture in organizations such as governmental departments, companies and enterprises.

4. Enrollment Requirements

The applicants are supposed to be foreigner who love Chinese language and culture, tend to engage in the international teaching of Chinese and the communication of China and other countries, have got their bachelor degree in Chinese or other social sciences, reach the required level of Chinese language, are sound both in body and mind.

The application is supposed to be verified by the university. The applicant with the scholarship of Confucius Institute is to be reexamined by Hanban of China, the applicant with the national scholarship by State Scholarship Council, the self-financed by Department of Education in Henan province. The entrance exam is solely organized by International School for Chinese Language and Culture, and includes both the written exam and the interview. The written exam is to asses the applicant’s knowledge of Chinese language and culture, while the interview is to examine the applicant’s comprehensive qualifications, communicational sills and potential for teaching.

5. Study Mode and Duration

The normative time for full-time postgraduates is 2 years. The first year is for the study of courses. The first term of the second year is for the educational practice and the cultural experience at the practice bases home and abroad. The second term of the second year is for thesis writing under the guidance of the supervisor.

6. Curriculum

The degree program applies the credit system with the minimum credit of 32, including 28 for the courses and 4 for the educational practice. The educational practice includes Chinese teaching design, observing and learning, classroom teaching.

7. Thesis and Degree

Only those who reach the above requirements for the courses and accomplish the compulsory stages are allowed to start their thesis writing. The thesis should focus on the case study and be closely related to the international teaching of Chinese. The thesis can be issue research, investigation report, educational experiment report, case analysis, teaching design etc. The thesis should be independently accomplished under the guidance of the supervisor, reach the required level of originality and include no less than 15,000 characters. Thesis writing involves the following stages:

(1) Research plan: the study and research plan for each postgraduate should be made in the first term of the first year.

(2) Thesis proposal: the thesis proposal should be submitted in the beginning of the third term and examined by the supervising group.

（3）Progress report: the postgraduate should regularly report the progress of thesis writing to the supervisor.

(4) Thesis defense: accomplishing the required credits, approved by the supervisor and the school, the postgraduate is to engage in the thesis oral defense. The defense is to be conducted at the end of the fourth term and based uponRegulations of Degree Conference of Henan University.Those who accomplish the required credits, acquire the certificate of HSK Band 6 or higher bands, be qualified in the educational practice, successfully defend the thesis, are awarded the master degree of teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages

8. Educational Mode and Method

This degree program features the combination of classroom teaching and educational practice home and abroad, the guidance of the supervisor and that of the supervising group. Based on the guidance of the supervisor, the supervising group consists of 5 to 7 teachers, highlighting the advantages of group supervision. The appointment of the supervisor for the postgraduate results from the mutual choice of both the supervisor and the postgraduate. The supervisor is in charge of all the education of the postgraduate, responsible for the making of the study plan and the selection of the research direction.