HeritageElementary

Chinese Immersion 2015-2016

Giving your child the gift of a second language

Ni Hao

Why Chinese?

World’s most widely spoken first language.

Third most commonly spoken language in the U.S.

Ancient and rich culture

Important for business and politics

为什么要学中文？

What is Language Immersion?

• Students learn academic content through a second language.

• Students learn second language by encountering and using the language in multiple meaningful contexts.

• Focus on building proficiency—being able to use the language.

Learn

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Why immersion?

Three decades of research shows students achieve as well or better than non-immersion peers on measures of

verbal and mathematical skills as administered in English.

How

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learn

Why immersion?• Cognitive benefits– Mental flexibility– Demonstrate non-verbal intelligence– Answer open-ended questions more

freely– Sensitive to communication– Understand the needs of others– Respectful of differences

How

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learn

Why immersion?• Academic benefits– Better at analyzing language– Understanding relationship of words and

their meanings– Improved performance versus

monolingual students on tasks that call for divergent thinking, pattern recognition, and problem solving.

How

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ildre

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learn

Why immersion?• Employment benefits– Thousands of businesses operate in more

than one language– Many jobs require second language skills

and cultural sensitivity– Speaking and writing in more than one

language cited as the most important qualification in the workforce

How

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ildre

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learn

What are the goals of immersion?

• To achieve competency in the second language (listening, speaking, reading, writing)

• To acquire the same English language arts skills as students in English-only classes

• To gain an appreciation of other cultures

• To master academic content

Goals

WHAT WE TEACH

MATH SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES

CHINESE LITERACY

Instructional Model for Kindergarten

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ENG pm

Chpm

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RegK

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Ext ENGam

Kindergarten Schedule

Monday – ThursdayAM K Chinese Lunch

English• 8:35 - 11:15 11:15 – 11:55 11:55 -

1:30• PM K English Lunch

Chinese• 10:45 -12:05 12:05-12:45 12:45 -

3:30•  

• Friday (No English and No Lunch on Friday)

• AM K Chinese• 8:35 - 10:40• PM K Chinese• 11:15 - 1:15

This schedule is for the 2014-2015 school year.

Exte

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Instructional Model for

1st – 6th Grade• Instruction is divided between two high quality, creative classrooms: English Chinese

50/5

0

Engpm

Engam

Cham

Chpm

The Chinese teacher speaks only in Mandarin

She/He communicates using a range of engaging strategies including: pictures songs games body language expressions pantomime drama, etc.

Instructional Model

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ies

Parents’ Role• Develop an understanding of immersion education• Commit to long-term participation K-6• Support child, particularly during first few weeks • Encourage use of Chinese outside school• Help your child attend school daily• Be on time for school• Willing to help in classrooms• Provide experiences outside of school to develop English

language skills• Parents will learn a few words, but your main job is to

support English.• Consider hosting a Chinese teacher or trainee in your

home. Benefits your child and family as well as the school.

Su

pp

ort

Registration and Information

• Maximum of 84 placements for Kindergarten – three classes of 28 students each

• Immersion families, move-ins with previous Chinese Immersion experience, and heritage language students given priority

• New students selected by lottery, if needed

• Complete Chinese Immersion application and Parent Commitment form returned to school by March 6, 2015.

Polic

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Registration and Information

• Please complete the Track Request separately, they will come home on Feb. 23rd/Mar. 3rd. Due March 6th.

• Most students with siblings in Chinese grades 2-4 will be assigned to D track. Most students new to Chinese or with only a 1st grade sibling in Chinese will be assigned to B track.

• Question/Answer list on website

Polic

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