How to improve Chinese

[Dr. Polaris]

Next year I am going to be taking Chinese A2 SL. I was going to try and take language B, but it's already my third year, therefore i can't take it. Even if I was eligible, it'd only be me, and they aren't going to open a class just for one student.

I can speak chinese fluently, and also understand chinese.

However, my reading and writing skills are absolutely terrible.

For example:

You give me an extract to read. I will be able to understand 75% of it, because I link the words up. But actually, I only know half the words.

You READ out the extract to me, and I can only spell out 30% of the extract.

I only have one summer to catch up before IB starts, and I really don't want to get a score lower than a 5, or else that'll pull down my overall quite a bit.

I'm not sure if Chinese is the same as any other language in terms of studying, but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[masochist]

Omfg I would strongly STRONGLY advise against taking A2 SL Chinese, then! It's all about reading essays and writing essays. One of the papers is a comparative essay -- but how can you compare two texts if you can barely understand them?

I'm get 6/7 in Chinese A2 SL but i've been studying Chinese for a really really long time and with what you outline as your capabilities idk I think a 5 would kind of be stretching it.

To improve? Read a lot. Test yourself on vocab.

Good luck if you decide to go through with it. You can pm me for help if you need anything.

[Dr. Polaris]

but if I do A1 or even A2 HL, I think passing might be stretching things. I would certainly fgo for French Ab if I can, but I can't.

French B is too hard.

I thought A2 Sl was supposed to be easy

and I only have one summer, I'm not sure how to test myself on vocab, etc.

[Aquarius]

I thought there was no rule about the years of previous knowledge to take Language B. I take English B myself even though I've been exposed to English for almost 7 years.

I don't think Chinese A2 will be a good choice for you given your proficiency (No offense!)

[Dr. Polaris]

What I mean is, I would take French Ab Initio if I can. French B will definitely be too hard for me to take, even tougher than Chinese A2 SL

[I`m Potato]

I'm not taking Chinese A2 but perhaps I could offer some really really general help?

I think you should start reading hard on some Chinese literature? Because at least then you can familiarize yourself with the type of prose/poems paper 1 would be testing you on for the comparative essay.

That way not only are you exposed to the style of Chinese literature but you can also get some improvement/help/ideas for your writing.