Certification of Hakka Proficiency

Policy Goals:

To incentivize the national study of the Hakka, to raise the visibility of Hakka and to increase the common practice of speaking Hakka, the Council shall promote Hakka proficiency certification and a hierarchical certification structure to strengthen the reliability and validity of testing, for the benefit of cultivating different levels of Hakka-speaking talent and to stimulate future Hakka preservation and expand its effectiveness, and to provide students with step-by-step learning goals.

Implementation Outline:

The Council has implemented elementary Hakka proficiency certification from 2005, and intermediate and upper intermediate certification from 2008. Starting in 2013 the certification method was changed from written testing to computerized testing; this has reduced candidates’ waiting time and saved on paper, producing the benefits of allowing for multiple topics in an eco-friendly process that is convenient for candidates.

To make the foundation and structure of Hakka proficiency certification more complete and the integrity and validity of test questions more consistent so that the Hakka proficiency certification results can align with the international language hierarchical structure; and also to help increase recognition of Hakka proficiency certification credentials in different countries, regions or professional fields, we take part in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages: Learning, Teaching and Assessment, sorting Hakka proficiency certification into three exams, four levels: dividing the exam difficulty according to proficiency rating into basic; intermediate to upper intermediate; and advanced (advanced certification has not yet been implemented). Candidates may refer to the relevant proficiency description to choose and apply for the test level that suits them. At the same time, to efficiently establish consensus regarding the interpretation of certification results among Hakka students, educators or assessors ultimately corresponds with the Council’s long-term Hakka promotion goals.