World Languages

CAIS has devised the World Languages Program for students to graduate as global citizens, who are skilled in and have good cultural-linguistic awareness of more than one language. After English, which is the medium of instruction at CAIS, the World Languages Program offers three widely-use languages in the world: Chinese, French and Spanish.

This program will improve students’ ability for direct communications with non-English speakers and boost their effectiveness in a global community. A language course other than English Language Arts can support students to complete their graduation requirements for the Alberta High School Diploma or the International Baccalaureate Diploma. In addition, language credits can enhance university (local and overseas) applications.

CAIS Chinese Department provides a tailor-made program for Prep to Grade 12 students. The Chinese Studies teachers help students to set a strong Chinese language foundation on which to build up their linguistic skills and cultural awareness. The school provides opportunities for various activities to enhance classroom learning, such as Parent-Child Story Competition, Chinese Reading Month, Book Battle, Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Riddles, Chinese Calligraphy Competition, Drama Performance, Chinese Fun Fair, Chinese Speech Festival, Chinese Debate Competition and more. The Chinese Department endeavors to cultivate CAIS students able to communicate with and serve the local community.

Please see Scope of the World Languages Program below for more information.

Entry Level Placement

Placement of students in the appropriate Chinese Studies section will be determined by the school's professional teaching staff.

Requirements and Credits

  • Chinese Studies is mandatory for Preparatory to Grade 6 students. 
  • Grade 7 to 9 students can continue to take Chinese Studies or opt for other languages. 
  • Chinese courses in Grades 10 to 12 are electives that count toward the Alberta Diploma. 
  • Students in the International Baccalaureate Programme can select Chinese for their Group 2 requirement, or Chinese Language and Literature if wanting to pursue the IB Bilingual Diploma.
  • Chinese Studies can also equip students for AP® Chinese Language and Culture.

Script

  • Traditional script will be taught in native/near-native classes.
  • Simplified script will be pursued as a teaching medium in non-native classes.

CAIS offers French and Spanish at the beginner and intermediate levels in grades 7-9. In grades 10-12, we offer intermediate and IB Ab Initio. Please see Scope of the World Languages Program below for more information about the language courses taught in high school.

GradeCourse(s)
PreparatoryChinese Studies Preparatory
(Traditional script)
Grades 1-6Chinese Studies#
Grades 7-9Chinese Studies#French
(Beginners)
Spanish
(Beginners)
Grade 10Elective: Chinese Studies#French
(Beginners)
Spanish
(Beginners)
Grade 11Elective: Chinese Studies#IB Chinese A: Language and Literature/ Chinese B
(Year 1)
IB French/ Spanish
(Ab Initio)
(Year 1)
Grade 12Elective: Chinese Studies#IB Chinese B
(Year 2)

#Traditional script for native/ near-native classes and simplified script for non-native classes

Current World Languages Options:

GradeCourse(s)
PreparatoryChinese Studies Preparatory
(Traditional script)
Grades 1-6Chinese Studies#
Grades 7-8Chinese Studies#French
(Beginners)
Spanish
(Beginners)
Grade 9Chinese Studies#French
(Intermediate)^
Spanish
(Intermediate)^
Grade 10Chinese Studies#French
(Intermediate)^
Spanish
(Intermediate)^
Grade 11Chinese Studies#IB Chinese A: Language and Literature/ Chinese B
(Year 1)
IB French/ Spanish
(Ab Initio)
(Year 1)
Grade 12Elective: Chinese Studies#IB Chinese A: Language and Literature/ Chinese B
(Year 2)
IB French/ Spanish
(Ab Initio)
(Year 2)

*Subject to minimum enrolment and availability

 

#Traditional script for native/ near-native classes and simplified script for non-native classes

 

^Students need to have 1 or 2 years of French/ Spanish study to be admitted to the program, or approval from the Alberta Program Administrators

World Languages

CAIS has devised the World Languages Program for students to graduate as global citizens, who are skilled in and have good cultural-linguistic awareness of more than one language. After English, which is the medium of instruction at CAIS, the World Languages Program offers three widely-use languages in the world: Chinese, French and Spanish.

This program will improve students’ ability for direct communications with non-English speakers and boost their effectiveness in a global community. A language course other than English Language Arts can support students to complete their graduation requirements for the Alberta High School Diploma or the International Baccalaureate Diploma. In addition, language credits can enhance university (local and overseas) applications.

CAIS Chinese Department provides a tailor-made program for Prep to Grade 12 students. The Chinese Studies teachers help students to set a strong Chinese language foundation on which to build up their linguistic skills and cultural awareness. The school provides opportunities for various activities to enhance classroom learning, such as Parent-Child Story Competition, Chinese Reading Month, Book Battle, Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Riddles, Chinese Calligraphy Competition, Drama Performance, Chinese Fun Fair, Chinese Speech Festival, Chinese Debate Competition and more. The Chinese Department endeavors to cultivate CAIS students able to communicate with and serve the local community.

Please see Scope of the World Languages Program below for more information.

Entry Level Placement

Placement of students in the appropriate Chinese Studies section will be determined by the school's professional teaching staff.

Requirements and Credits

  • Chinese Studies is mandatory for Preparatory to Grade 6 students. 
  • Grade 7 to 9 students can continue to take Chinese Studies or opt for other languages. 
  • Chinese courses in Grades 10 to 12 are electives that count toward the Alberta Diploma. 
  • Students in the International Baccalaureate Programme can select Chinese for their Group 2 requirement, or Chinese Language and Literature if wanting to pursue the IB Bilingual Diploma.
  • Chinese Studies can also equip students for AP® Chinese Language and Culture.

Script

  • Traditional script will be taught in native/near-native classes.
  • Simplified script will be pursued as a teaching medium in non-native classes.

CAIS offers French and Spanish at the beginner and intermediate levels in grades 7-9. In grades 10-12, we offer intermediate and IB Ab Initio. Please see Scope of the World Languages Program below for more information about the language courses taught in high school.

GradeCourse(s)
PreparatoryChinese Studies Preparatory
(Traditional script)
Grades 1-6Chinese Studies#
Grades 7-9Chinese Studies#French
(Beginners)
Spanish
(Beginners)
Grade 10Elective: Chinese Studies#French
(Beginners)
Spanish
(Beginners)
Grade 11Elective: Chinese Studies#IB Chinese A: Language and Literature/ Chinese B
(Year 1)
IB French/ Spanish
(Ab Initio)
(Year 1)
Grade 12Elective: Chinese Studies#IB Chinese B
(Year 2)

#Traditional script for native/ near-native classes and simplified script for non-native classes

Current World Languages Options:

GradeCourse(s)
PreparatoryChinese Studies Preparatory
(Traditional script)
Grades 1-6Chinese Studies#
Grades 7-8Chinese Studies#French
(Beginners)
Spanish
(Beginners)
Grade 9Chinese Studies#French
(Intermediate)^
Spanish
(Intermediate)^
Grade 10Chinese Studies#French
(Intermediate)^
Spanish
(Intermediate)^
Grade 11Chinese Studies#IB Chinese A: Language and Literature/ Chinese B
(Year 1)
IB French/ Spanish
(Ab Initio)
(Year 1)
Grade 12Elective: Chinese Studies#IB Chinese A: Language and Literature/ Chinese B
(Year 2)
IB French/ Spanish
(Ab Initio)
(Year 2)

*Subject to minimum enrolment and availability

 

#Traditional script for native/ near-native classes and simplified script for non-native classes

 

^Students need to have 1 or 2 years of French/ Spanish study to be admitted to the program, or approval from the Alberta Program Administrators