Exceptional Performances Speak Well of Mandarin Program

Hamden Hall Upper School students were recognized recently for their exceptional performance on the Chinese Proficiency Test – a standardized Mandarin exam for non-native speakers.

According to Mandarin teacher Margaret Wei, Hamden Hall students annually participate in the testing process. Furthermore, she said the prominent performance levels speak well of Hamden Hall’s Mandarin program. 

“I was especially proud of my students’ commitment to achieve more this year. They proved that our Mandarin program is very competitive, and they were well prepared in spite of any interruptions during the school year,” she said. 

Students recognized for their exceptional performance include freshmen Evan Heath, Joshua Huy, Jakob Ressler, and Janessa White; sophomores Tyler Cacace, Lucas Celentano, Caleb Geary, Julian Lord, Daniela McGovern, and Noah Pakutka; and junior Marley Hansen.

Called the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), the test aims to be a certificate of proficiency for higher educational and professional purposes. The HSK test examines many of the most common words and grammatical structures that students will encounter in daily situations. 

“HSK is also the most accepted Chinese language test in the world. By preparing for this test, students measure their abilities to use and understand Mandarin and develop solid language skills for future studies,” explained Mrs. Wei.