Introduction

Confucius Institute, NTU (CI-NTU) is appointed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to be an Approved Training Organization (ATO) for conducting Chinese Workplace Literacy (CWPL) courses, accredited under the Employability Skills (ES) WSQ Framework.

Business Chinese Programme aims to equip individuals with the ability to use Chinese effectively at work. This programme is sub-divided into three essential language course types:

• Listening & Speaking
• Reading & Writing
• Comprehensive

Course Highlights
 

• Acquire the internationally recognised Business Chinese Test (BCT) certificate, awarded by the Office of Chinese Language Council International (HANBAN). (Compulsory for SSG-funded Singaporeans/PR trainees.)
• Increase employability for those who aspire to work for Chinese-owned companies or businesses targeting or invested in Chinese-dominant markets.
• Gain access to CI-NTU’s BC courseware, specially designed by professional trainers with extensive teaching experience, and exclusively available for BC participants only.
• Expand your network; connect with people from different backgrounds and professions.
• Enjoy 50-70% course fee subsidies for Singaporeans/PRs, terms and conditions apply.

Trainers
Our trainers are Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA) and/or National Institute of Education (NIE) certified professionals who meet CI-NTU’s teaching standards. They all possess practical teachings experience with local universities, government schools or private institutions, and are proficient in both Chinese and English.

Medium of Instruction
Mandarin / English (partial)
 

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Curriculum Overview

Programme Structure

Business Chinese Programme offers three essential language course types:

• Listening & Speaking
• Reading & Writing
• Comprehensive

Each course type consists of 10 progressive levels, from Beginner, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate to Advanced.
 

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Area of Studies

Listening & Speaking Programme (Conversational)
 

• Learning focus is listening and speaking. Time will be spent between learning new content and their application via conversational practices.
• Throughout all levels, new terms/phrases, grammar and syntax will be introduced through thematic lessons, with increasing complexity at higher levels.
• Beginner Levels: Chinese phonetics (Hanyu Pinyin); numbers, date/day, time; basic construct of Chinese characters; self-introduction; centred on words, short phrases or simple sentences.
• Pre-Intermediate Levels: begin independent reading with removal of Chinese phonetics assistance; thematic lessons; longer and more complex sentences.
• Intermediate & Advanced Levels: express thoughts and opinion using complex sentence patterns; higher-level business-related topics such as price negotiation, interviews, contracts and project reporting.

Reading & Writing Programme (incl. Listening)
 

• Learning focus is reading and writing. Time will be spent between learning new content and their application via a variety of exercises like reading, comprehension, or composing sentences/essays.
• Throughout all levels, new terms/phrases, grammar and syntax will be introduced through thematic lessons, with increasing complexity at higher levels.
• Beginner Levels: learn and master the Chinese phonetics (Hanyu Pinyin) system; Six Principles of Character Formation; Chinese radicals; Strokes sequence; centred on words and short phrases.
• Pre-Intermediate Levels: start to form longer, more complex sentences; thematic lessons.
• Intermediate & Advanced Levels: compose essays; express thoughts and opinion using complex sentence patterns; higher-level business-related topics such as evaluation & appraisal, advertisements and reporting writing.

Comprehensive Programme
 

• For an all-inclusive training of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
• Content covered is a combination of, but not limited to, the above-mentioned.

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Entry Requirements

Placement Test

• Only fresh learners with no prior knowledge of Chinese may enrol directly into Business Chinese Beginner Level 1.1 + 1.2.
• Applicants with prior knowledge of Chinese are required to take a free placement test to match their Chinese proficiency to the appropriate level.
• Placement tests can be taken from Mon - Fri, 9.30am - 5pm. Please call 6514 1062 / 6592 2539 or email to [email protected] for an appointment.

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Duration & Intake

Programme Duration

Business Chinese programme schedule varies between course type and levels. Generally, they are available either on weekday evenings (usually once a week, 7pm-10pm) or weekends (Saturdays, 9am-12pm / 12:30pm-3:30pm / 2pm-5pm).

Please email to [email protected]  or call 6514 1062 / 6592 2539 for the latest schedule.

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Fees & Funding

Funding / Grants

Skillsfuture Credit Other grants: SSG, MCES, WTS, NSA, UTAP, PSEA

Course fees varies between course type and level, details available on our website at https://www.ntu.edu.sg/ci/.
 
Fee Support

a) SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)

• Enjoy 50% subsidy for course fee.
• For Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, aged 21 years and above.
• Attempted the pre-course placement test conducted by CI-NTU (exempted for Beginner Level 1.1 course applicants).
• Achieve a minimum attendance rate of 75% per course.
• Take the Business Chinese Test (BCT) within 2 months from the course completion date.
• Participate in post-course surveys.

*Proof of identity or relevant documents are required for verification purpose.


b) SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES)

• Enjoy up to 70% subsidy for course fee.
• For Singapore Citizens, aged 40 years and above.
• Attempted the pre-course placement test conducted by CI-NTU (exempted for Beginner Level 1.1 course applicants).
• Achieve a minimum attendance rate of 75% per course.
• Take the Business Chinese Test (BCT) within 2 months from the course completion date.
• Participate in post-course surveys.
• Taking the course for career development and upskilling.

*Proof of identity or relevant documents are required for verification purpose.


For more information on the above subsidies (SSG, MCES), please call the SSG hotline at 6785 5785 or visit https://www.ssg-wsg.gov.sg/.


c) National Silver Academy (NSA)

• Enjoy 50% subsidy for course fee.
• Applicable to Singapore Citizens, aged 50 years and above.

*Applicant is not eligible for any other discount schemes.

For more information, please visit www.nsa.org.sg, call the NSA hotline at 6478 5029, or email to [email protected].


d) Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP)

• NTUC members enjoy 50% unfunded course fee support, capped at $250 annually.*
• Applicable for selected courses only.
• Applicant must be a NTUC member before course commencement, throughout the duration of the course, and at the point of claim.
• The course must commence within the subsidy supported period.
• Unfunded course fee must be $20 and above.
• Applicants must be self-sponsored.
• Achieved a minimum attendance rate of 75%.
• Sat for post-course test by the stipulated deadline.
• UTAP application must be submitted within 6 months after course completion.

*Unfunded course fee refers to the balance course fee payable after applicable government subsidy. This excludes GST, registration fees, miscellaneous fees etc.
For more information, please visit http://skillsupgrade.ntuc.org.sg, or email to [email protected].


e) SkillsFuture Credit (SFC)

• Receive an opening credit of $500 that will not expire and periodic top-ups from the Government to offset the course fee of approved skills-related courses.
• Applicable to Singapore Citizens, aged 25 years and above.
• Applicants must be self-sponsored.

For more information, please visit www.skillsfuture.gov.sg/credit, or call the SSG hotline at 6785 5785.


f) Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) Fund

• Applicants may utilise funds in their own and/or their sibling(s)’ PSEA for the payment of tuition fee and selected course fees, on top of the above-mentioned government course subsidies.
• Applicable to Singapore Citizens or applicants with siblings who have PSEA funds, aged 30 years and below.
• Applicants must be self-sponsored.

For more information, please visit www.moe.gov.sg/psea.

To check the amount of available funds in your PSEA, please call PSE Scheme hotline at 6260 0777, or email to [email protected].


*In case of discrepancy of information on CI-NTU’s programmes between different platforms, the English version on the main CI-NTU website shall prevail.