Yes, we repeatedly emphasize that there are various ways a person can learn Chinese language. As far as learning methods are concerned, it is not limited only to one or two ways at all. Even typical schools—not just language schools— that embrace the Chinese culture makes a suitable option to have a formal training for this language. In fact, we are not bound to go to one way of acquiring the language, you know.
Speaking of typical schools, there is an information posted by the Times News where the “staff at West Side Elementary School could choose to teach Arabic, Hindi or Chinese to kindergarten students when they applied for a World Languages Pipelines grant last year.” Starting in the fall of 2012, they chose Chinese language to be learned by a selected group of “5-year-olds from across the county will start learning about the Chinese language and culture through a “partial immersion” program.” Good news, isn’t it?
Stated by the principal of the West Side Molly Stewart, she said that the Chinese language will not be taught as a subject as it traditionally is in their schools. “The students will follow the kindergarten curriculum, but language arts and social studies will be taught in English. Math, science and health will be taught in Chinese. … They’re really going to be immersed in the Chinese culture.”
Such endeavor was implemented since the program was part of the Maryland State Department of Education’s Race to the Top federal grant application. It has been the state’s effort to produce graduates who are strong in STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math — and proficient in languages other than English, according to the director of instructional programs for MSDE, Susan Spinnato.
Well, such good news will not only give us more opportunities to learn Chinese prior to language schools, but it will also allow us to explore the possibilities of hitting two birds in one stone: learning Chinese while improving Science. Wouldn’t this make the learning more comprehensive?
“Using science or math to teach a language is appealing to the children,” Spinnato said. “It helps them connect it to authentic contexts.” I personally agree.
