The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) is designed for people who want to evaluate their Chinese proficiency, and it is especially helpful for those who want to study, work, or do business in Chinese-speaking countries. All examinees who pass the TOCFL test receive a Chinese Proficiency Certificate. TOCFL has three broad proficiency bands, and each test can be taken at one of six levels. Passing TOCFL at Level 3 makes students who want to undertake a degree in Taiwan eligible to apply for a Taiwan Scholarship sponsored by the Ministry of Education.
The Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston has administered the TOCFL tests in the Southern region of the United States since 2009, and so far nearly a thousand people in the Houston area have taken it. Ninety-one examinees with diverse backgrounds, and from many different high schools and from Chinese language schools, participated in the most recent testing in the Greater Houston Area.
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. Louis Huang, the director general of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Houston, and Don Wang, a senior adviser at the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, presented the awards to the 17 outstanding examinees from all six levels who received an award this year.
Most of the award recipients are from Bellaire High School, Clements High School, and Lamar High School. Several received full marks in the listening section of the exam, and Ms. Shu Yu Wang from Bellaire High School received full marks in both the listening and reading section, winning first place for Level 6. Each of the award recipients received a certificate and the top three examinees at each level were also awarded a prize.

Photo: Louis Huang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston (5th left), Don Wang, Senior Adviser at the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (4th left), and Sophie Chou, Director of the Education Division (1st right, at the front) with 12 of the award recipients.