[some just hugely useful stuff in here. Again from our pals at the Asia Society.] by Eleise Jones Language learning is on the move. For students of Chinese looking to augment a central text, there are dozens of mobile tools, applications, games, podcasts, and software ready to fill in the gaps. Last month we launched…

[More from those lovely folks at the Asia Society’s Chinese Language Initiatives.] by Yu-Lan Lin In an immersion program’s grades K–6, three things happen simultaneously. Understanding these three areas will help educators develop curricula and identify the materials and resources they’ll need to support the program. First, content knowledge develops, including core concepts in math,…

From the Asia Society Chinese Language Initiative newsletter. by Chris Livaccari I’ve visited many language programs across the country in recent years, and have—for better or for worse—instinctively divided them into two categories. The first are programs that leave me with the distinct impression that they are fundamentally classes that happen in a room in a…

This is really THE big Chinese language education conference in the US every year. If you’re a teacher or principal starting a program, it’s the one you should go to. I went last year and was blown away. Also amazing access to teaching materials in their exhibition hall. Really worth it. And if you want…

[What else should we add? Send suggestions!] Things your teachers and principals wish parents knew: Parents don’t set curriculum The school district, aided by teachers, principal and staff, set curriculum. Parents do not. If you feel the curriculum should be different, take it to the school district.   Don’t presume that if your child is…

By Elizabeth Weise This is a work-in-progress, based on experiences in San Francisco’s Mandarin immersion program and stories from other schools. I welcome stories, ideas and suggestions on other school experiences, so we can add to this document and make it more useful to everyone. Any school that has a Mandarin immersion program can probably…

Hello all, As folks who read this blog know, I’m in the process of writing a book—“A Parent’s Guide to Mandarin Immersion.” I’m about three-quarters done with it and have gotten to the point where I’d like feedback from parents. Right now much of the book is based on extensive academic reading (a little dry,…