Occupational Skills Certificates

Why? The enrollment has dwindled to a scary level. The main policy of the counseling office: to send the students out of the school as soon as possible. So they encourage the students to take the bare minimal to transfer or graduate with an AA. The school asks to see “completion numbers” each year in the grogram review. Students have trouble completing ALL courses in the AA requirements within 2 years. Students don’t see how an AA degree in Chinese help their future. The “occupational” aspect makes this more attractive. It is easier to get an occupational certificate than an AA degree.

1. Basic Level Successful completion of this program leads to a 10-13 unit Occupational Skills Certificate in a Foreign Language reflecting Basic Proficiency in that language. Occupational Skills Certificate for Foreign Language, Basic Proficiency in Chinese Chin 1, Chin 2 or Chin 2A (Elementary Chinese for Advanced Beginners), and One of the following: Chin150A (Chinese for Business and Travel), Chin 150B (Chinese for Business and Travel), Chin 8A (Introduction to Chinese Conversation), or Chin 50 (Chinese Cinema)

2. Intermediate Level Successful completion of this program leads to a 12-13 unit Occupational Skills Certificate in Foreign Language-Intermediate Proficiency. Occupational Skills Certificate for Foreign Language, Intermediate Proficiency in Chinese Chin 3, Chin 4, and One of the following: Chin 8B (Introduction to Chinese Conversation), Chin 9A (Chinese Conversation), Chin 22 (Chinese Calligraphy)

3. Advanced Level Successful completion of this program leads to a 12-13 unit Occupational Skills Certificate in Foreign Language-Intermediate Proficiency. Occupational Skills Certificate for Foreign Language, Advanced Proficiency in Chinese Chin 5, and Three of the following: Chin 9B (Chinese Conversation), Chin 9C (Chinese Conversation), Chin 10 (Chinese Civilization), or Chin 12 (Chinese Literature in Translation)

What needs to be done now? Advertisement: let the students in all levels know about this. Ask the current students what classes they have taken and help them ascertain how far they are to a certificate for any level. Ask the current students to sign up for a certificate and set a goal to target the courses for a specific level. Instructors have to keep meticulous records and communicate to one another in order to track student progress.