Mandarin Immersion Parents Council

By Deena Rahman and Paulina Firozi  |  January 01, 2011

These days, it takes more than just common sense and a college degree to remain competitive in the global business and market arenas. Proficiency in more than one language offers a large advantage to job candidates, especially if that language happens to be the most widely-spoken one in the world.

China has quickly risen as a world power – economically, socially, and politically. More people speak Mandarin Chinese than any other language in the world. 1,365,053,177 people, to be exact.

Broadway Elementary School, has decided to take advantage of this and become the first Mandarin-teaching school on the Westside. Though many private schools in the area have begun offering mandarin classes, Broadway will become the only public school to do so.

Their mandarin immersion program, beginning with the first day of school on September 13, will incorporate a 50-50 model. Half of the classes will be taught in English and the other half in Mandarin.

“The overall goal is for our students to become academically-proficient in both languages, both English and Mandarin, so they will be biliteral, bilingual, and also bicultural,“ Broadway School Principal, Susan Wang, said.
To achieve this, a part of the immersion will be to teach the reading and writing of mandarin characters.
All of the classes will be taught by teachers who have earned Califoria Multiple Subject credentials and state-required Mandarin language certification.

Read more here.