Mandarin Immersion Parents Council

Information for parents of kids in Mandarin immersion education

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  • Wow: Asia Society creates very cool Chinese learning site

    From the Asia Society Chinese Language Initiatives newsletter.

     

    China and
    Globalization     BETA

    In the 21st-century classroom, Chinese language learning
    meets the world.

    This month, we are proud to announce the beta launch of a new Chinese language and content learning website. The concept is simple: Make modern Chinese accessible and relevant to a diverse population of learners – from beginners to heritage students – make it interactive and real-to-life, apply sound pedagogy and a flexible format, and offer it freely.

    The focus of these materials is on China and globalization – the interconnectedness of the world in both ancient and modern times. Why China and Globalization? First, China has been a global culture throughout history, one that has been integrally connected with the rest of the world from the earliest periods through to today. Second, language learning should not be separated from the learning of other academic content; rather, intersections and continuities between the two should be consistently explored and built upon.

    Tea, China’s marketplace, and the historical figure of Cai Wenji are the subjects of the first three units. Later this year we will release additional units on Tang Dynasty fashion, ice cream mooncakes, and the global exchange of products. The materials and resources in the China and Globalization series are designed to be used by teachers of Chinese at the elementary and secondary levels, and beyond. Each lesson comes with a set of interactive flashcards and a video that introduces the content. The lessons are generally targeted at beginning and intermediate learners, but can be applied and adapted to just about any Chinese language class. We believe firmly that each individual teacher must adapt and align the materials they are using with reference to the particular needs of their students and courses, and in coordination with their colleagues in the school.

    We invite you to explore the site and test the materials in China and Globalization. We look forward to your feedback!

  • Two new Mandarin immersion schools added to list

    We’re up to 127 in the United States. Click here to open a page containing a spread sheet with the full list.

    If your school isn’t on the list, send me a note and I’ll add it.

  • Orange County Mandarin immersion classes start

    In Capo’s Chinese Classes, Everything Is Going 很好

    Orange County’s first public-school Mandarin immersion program is attracting kids from all over the district – and beyond.

      

    PHOTOS (7)
    A wall display inside Nicole Loh's first-grade classroom at Bergeson Elementary, home of the Mandarin Immersion Program.
    The classrooms for Capistrano Unified School District's Mandarin Immersion Program are very colorful.
    A display inside a first-grade class at Bergeson Elementary where students are immersed in Mandarin Chinese.
    First-grade Nicole Loh teaches her class about shapes and colors in Mandarin Chinese.
    A first-grade student at Bergeson Elementary in Laguna Niguel follows her teacher, instructing her in Chinese.
    First-grade tudents respond to a lesson teacher Nicole Loh leads in Chinese about shapes and sizes.
    Rapt students learn their lesson in Mandarin Chinese at Bergeson Elementary in Laguna Niguel.

    “Nín hǎo!”

    That’s the greeting students in two kindergartens, a first-grade class and a preschool class hear each morning at Bergeson Elementary in Laguna Niguel.

    “Nín hǎo!”

    It’s said warmly by the teachers, and it’s even heard from Principal Barbara Scholl.

    This is the first year of the districtwide Mandarin Immersion Program. Capistrano Unified School District was the first public school system in Orange County to approve one. Since then, officials at Orange Unified also decided to offer the program.

    Students from all over the district and even as far away as Tustin and Anaheim are attending. Enrollment at Bergeson has grown by more than 100 students this year.

    Please read more here.

  • Some new Mandarin comic books

    Getting kids reading in Mandarin means finding books they want to — and can — read. That’s not always easy. Researchers at San Francisco State University ran an innovative program using graphic novels (or comic books or manga depending on how you want to describe them) which found that kids ate them up like candy.

    But finding comic books in Chinese in the United States isn’t easy, especially if your child s learning simplified characters. I got an email today from a local store with an online presence, Little Monkey and Mouse, that’s got some in stock and wanted to share it. Click the link on their name to see what they’ve got.

  • Let Vancouver read your kids a story tonight

    The lovely folks in Vancouver Washington’s Mandarin immersion program have posted teachers reading books for kids online. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? and other Kindergarten hits are up now. You can see their full page here.

  • Parents helping parents in Mandarin immersion

    Starr King elementary wunder-parent Judy Shei is back with her smash-hit homework help videos on YouTube.

    While her videos are specific to the second-grade homework done at San Francisco’s Mandarin immersion program, the model works for any Mandarin immersion school. If you’re a parent who happens to speak both languages, or even just Mandarin, this could be a huge support to students and families in your program. And a shout-out to anyone in Utah – because your program is state-wide, one parent could do this a grade and cover the  entire state…

    I’ve been told that parents are doing something similar in Portland. Any others we should list?

    Read more about how Judy started up her YouTube stardom here.

    Judy herself is quick to say that she’s by no means perfectly fluent — only that she knows more than a second grader. That’s all it takes, so don’t worry that you’re not perfect. Parents who don’t speak a word of Mandarin will be massively thankful for any help at all, and all the kids on your school’s playground will know you as the homework video star!

  • Georgia school district makes Mandarin mandatory

    Some Ga. Schools Make Mandarin Mandatory

    by ADAM RAGUSEA

    Instructor Huiling Li encourages second-grader Trinity Faulkner on the first day of Mandarin Chinese classes at Brookdale Elementary School in Macon, Ga.

    EnlargeAdam Ragusea for NPRInstructor Huiling Li encourages second-grader Trinity Faulkner on the first day of Mandarin Chinese classes at Brookdale Elementary School in Macon, Ga.

    September 8, 2012

    Public schools in Macon, Ga., and surrounding Bibb County have a lot of problems. Most of the 25,000 students are poor enough to qualify for free and reduced lunch, and about half don’t graduate.

    Bibb County’s Haitian-born superintendent Romain Dallemand came into the job last year with a bag of changes he calls “The Macon Miracle.” There are now longer schools days, year-round instruction, and one mandate nobody saw coming: Mandarin Chinese for every student, pre-K through 12th grade.

    Please read and listen  here.