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| Louis Huang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston (L5 front), Don Wang, Senior Adviser of Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (L4 front), Sophie Chou, Director of Education Division (R1 front) and the award recipients. |
The Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Houston held the 2017 Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) Award Ceremony on May 19, 2017. Director General Louis Huang and the Senior Adviser of Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, Don Wang, were invited to present the awards. The top 3 examinees of each level were awarded with a prize in addition to the certificate individually.
91 examinees with diverse backgrounds from multiple high schools and Chinese language schools participated in the exam in Greater Houston Area. The TOCFL has three proficiency bands with 6 levels. There were 17 examinees from all 6 levels who received awards this year. Most of these outstanding award recipients are from Bellaire High School, Clements High School, and Lamar High School. Several recipients received full marks in the listening section of the exam. Ms. Shu Yu Wang from Bellaire High School even received full marks in both the listening and reading section, winning first place for Level 6.
The Education Division has administered the TOCFL in the Southern region of the United States since 2009. Nearly a thousand people in the Houston area have since taken this exam. TOCFL is intended for people who want to evaluate their Chinese proficiency, and for those who want to study, work, or do business in Chinese-speaking countries. Examinees who pass the test receive a Chinese Proficiency Certificate which serves as a credential for eligibility for the “Taiwan Scholarship” sponsored by the Ministry of Education for studying in Taiwan. The TOCFL has become a requirement for international recruitment of an increasing number of Taiwan funded enterprises. Gaining this credential is a useful method to demonstrate Chinese language proficiency and can improve your chance for scholarships and employment opportunities.