A survey of 198 Chinese language teachers in primary and secondary schools in the United States showes that 73.13%of the teachers do not have fixed textbooks,and the Chinese language proficiency of most students(60%-90%)stays at entry-level for a long time,rarely(10%-30%students)reaching the intermediate to advanced level.The number of students reaching the intermediate to advanced level in Chinese language classes without fixed textbooks but a syllabus is much bigger than in those with neither fixed textbooks nor syllabi.The main teaching factors to account for the fact that most students'Chinese proficiency remains at the entry-level,including a lack of standardized textbooks and syllabi,disordered teaching content,inadequate transformation of teachers'second-language teaching identity,and inappropriate teaching principles.Prolonged low proficiency levels among learners may result in frustration and eventual abandonment of Chinese learning.This article proposes that the key measure to promote the standardization of Chinese language teaching in primary and secondary schools is to develop a Chinese language teaching syllabus and assessment criteria that are suitable for the country,school district,and even individual schools.Strengthening the top-level design and theoretical research of Chinese language teaching in overseas primary and secondary schools is the fundamental measure to ensure its sustainable development;strengthening the research on the issue of"incorporating Chinese into the national education system"is a new task for the international Chinese language education community.
lowering of the age demographic in overseas Chinese educationChinese teaching contentChinese teaching effectivenessChinese teaching syllabus for primary and secondary schools