Home » Mandarin Chinese Heritage Language Survey

Mandarin Chinese Heritage Language Survey

ACTFL/CILC Heritage Speakers Written Proficiency Study

Qualification Questionnaire – Mandarin Chinese

 

The Center for Integrated Language Communities (CILC) at The Graduate Center, CUNY, is seeking heritage speakers of Mandarin Chinese to participate in a research project. The purpose of this study is to gather information about the linguistic profiles of heritage speakers.

In order to qualify for this research project, you must be:

  • A heritage speaker of Mandarin Chinese*
  • 18 years or older
  • Willing to complete a survey pertaining to education and language background, preferences, and use
* For this study, the term “heritage speaker” is defined as an individual who:
  • Learned Mandarin Chinese in an informal setting (i.e., at home, in the community) and uses Mandarin Chinese with family, friends, co-workers, etc.
  • Lives in the U.S. and has received the majority of his/her education in English-speaking schools

 

Once qualified as a heritage speaker of Mandarin Chinese, participants must agree: to take an Internet-delivered assessment of written language proficiency – the ACTFL WPT – in the heritage language, and to allow the use of the speech sample for research purposes. Participants will be paid $25.00* and will receive an Official ACTFL WPT certificate indicating their level of written proficiency in the language according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines – Writing.

 (Please note that the $25.00 compensation is only provided to those who qualify as heritage speakers and agree to take the ACTFL WPT.)

Thank you for taking the time to complete this qualification questionnaire.

 

    1) Do You Speak Mandarin Chinese?

    YesNo

    If your answer to question 1) was "Yes", please continue to question two.
    If your answer to question 1) was "No", you may end the survey now.

    2) Where/how did you first learn to speak Mandarin Chinese? (Please check all that apply)

    At home with family

    From your community (workplace, church, relatives, friends, etc.)

    In your native country where Mandarin Chinese is spoken

    Living abroad ( Peace Corps, missionary, etc.)

    Other: Please Specify

    3) If you were not born in the United States, how old were you when you arrived in the United States? Otherwise leave blank

    4) Please translate the following into Mandarin Chinese. You may use Chinese characters or pinyin transcription

    I live in the city with my family.

    I have two brothers.

    5) Are you willing to participate in a compensated research study on your heritage language?

    YesNo

    6) Are you willing to complete a background survey about how you learned and use your languages? It will take approximately 3 to 5 minutes.

    YesNo

    7) Are you willing to take an Internet delivered or handwritten test of written ability in your heritage language? It will take approximately 90 minutes.

    YesNo

    8) Are you willing to have your written responses used for the purpose of language research?

    YesNo

    9) Which statement best describes your writing ability in Mandarin Chinese?

    I am able to produce most kinds of formal and informal correspondence, in-depth summaries, reports and research papers on a variety of social, academic, and professional topics. I can write about abstract issues with virtually no linguistic errors.

    I can write routine informal and some formal correspondence, as well as narratives, descriptions, and summaries of a factual nature. I can narrate and describe using the major time frames of past, present and future. I can elaborate to provide clarity.

    I have the ability to meet practical writing needs (i.e., I can write simple messages and letters, requests for information, and notes). I can ask and respond to simple questions in writing. I am able to communicate simple facts and ideas in a series of connected sentences on topics of personal interest.

    I am able to write words and phrases. I can write lists and short notes. I can fill in information on simple forms and documents.

    If your answers to 5, 6, 7, and 8, are all YES, please provide us with your contact information (all information will remain confidential and will be used strictly for research purposes)

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Your Phone Number

    Please select your preferred location and time from the list below. You must be available for one of the following sessions. We will contact you soon to confirm your selection.


    Please enter the letters you see in the text field before you submit.
    captcha

    Comments are closed.