Key Factors to the Successful Key Factors to the Successful Implementation of Pre-School and Implementation of Pre-School and Early Elementary Bilingual Chinese Early Elementary Bilingual Chinese Language Programs in Weekend Language Programs in Weekend Chinese Language and Heritage Chinese Language and Heritage SchoolsSchools

Deborah K. Chen Deborah K. Chen 陳黛比陳黛比 Gwen Chung Gwen Chung 鍾惠芬鍾惠芬 美華中文學校美華中文學校

May 25, 2002May 25, 2002 ACS ACS 2929thth Annual Conference Annual Conference

Who are We Talking About?Who are We Talking About?

Adopted from China by American familiesAdopted from China by American families One or both parent(s) is/are Chinese, but don’t One or both parent(s) is/are Chinese, but don’t

speak it in the homespeak it in the home Third generation Chinese AmericanThird generation Chinese American Non-mandarin speaking ethnic ChineseNon-mandarin speaking ethnic Chinese Americans interested in learning ChineseAmericans interested in learning Chinese

What Do They Want?What Do They Want?

Learn Chinese language and cultureLearn Chinese language and culture Make friendsMake friends Find their “roots”Find their “roots” Experience “Chinese” environmentExperience “Chinese” environment

Challenges Facing Non-Chinese Challenges Facing Non-Chinese Speaking FamiliesSpeaking Families School is not “user friendly”School is not “user friendly” Culture gapCulture gap Parents unable to help their childrenParents unable to help their children PrioritiesPriorities ExpectationsExpectations

Challenges Facing the Chinese SchoolChallenges Facing the Chinese School

Communication barriersCommunication barriers Cultural differencesCultural differences Teaching styleTeaching style Finding and keeping the right teacherFinding and keeping the right teacher UnpredictabilityUnpredictability

美華美華 Mei-Hwa’s ApproachMei-Hwa’s Approach

Parents attend class with student in Level 1Parents attend class with student in Level 1– Parent and student learn togetherParent and student learn together

– Engages parent’s interestEngages parent’s interest

Parents attend parallel class beyond Level 1Parents attend parallel class beyond Level 1 Coordination between parents’ class and Coordination between parents’ class and

children’s classchildren’s class All students attend regular culture classAll students attend regular culture class Bilingual communications (performances, Bilingual communications (performances,

newsletters, signs, meetings etc.)newsletters, signs, meetings etc.)

Adults Learning Second LanguageAdults Learning Second Language

Language and CultureLanguage and Culture Different Cultural and Logic PatternsDifferent Cultural and Logic Patterns

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Communicate!Communicate! Cultivate mutual understandingCultivate mutual understanding Implement a quality programImplement a quality program

Teaching MethodologyTeaching Methodology

Develop Goals and ObjectivesDevelop Goals and Objectives– Goal: Goal:

• To provide well-rounded cultural enrichment to children and their To provide well-rounded cultural enrichment to children and their families where Chinese is not routinely spoken in the homefamilies where Chinese is not routinely spoken in the home

– Objectives:Objectives:• Develop practical and age-appropriate grammar, vocabulary and Develop practical and age-appropriate grammar, vocabulary and

conversation skills that can be practiced and reinforced in the homeconversation skills that can be practiced and reinforced in the home

• Introduction to phonetic decompositionIntroduction to phonetic decomposition

• Gain insight into Chinese customs and traditions through storytelling, Gain insight into Chinese customs and traditions through storytelling, crafts and gamescrafts and games

• Cultural enrichment through traditional songs and nursery rhymes.Cultural enrichment through traditional songs and nursery rhymes.

• Last but not least, to have funLast but not least, to have fun

Teaching Methodology (cont.)Teaching Methodology (cont.)

Write it down (Handouts)Write it down (Handouts) Record it (Audio, Video, Record it (Audio, Video, SoftwareSoftware))

TipsTips

Be organized, on time, and well-prepared for classBe organized, on time, and well-prepared for class Develop a teaching plan that can be followed from Develop a teaching plan that can be followed from

year to year, teacher to teacheryear to year, teacher to teacher Strike a balance between use of English and Strike a balance between use of English and

Chinese in classChinese in class Take the time to learn and use students’ Chinese Take the time to learn and use students’ Chinese

names in classnames in class– May have to look at adoption papers or create a name May have to look at adoption papers or create a name

for students that don’t have a Chinese namefor students that don’t have a Chinese name

Tips (cont.)Tips (cont.)

Be sensitive to issues facing adoptive familiesBe sensitive to issues facing adoptive families– Avoid the use of the word “adopted”Avoid the use of the word “adopted”

– Don’t ask “How much does it cost?” Don’t ask “How much does it cost?”

– Be aware of non-traditional family structures such as single Be aware of non-traditional family structures such as single parents, same gender parentingparents, same gender parenting

Don’t give out candy or other edibles as treats or Don’t give out candy or other edibles as treats or rewardsrewards

Choose Chinese folk tales with cautionChoose Chinese folk tales with caution Don’t start writing until students are developmentally Don’t start writing until students are developmentally

readyready

Tips (cont.)Tips (cont.)

Don’t overemphasize reading and writing, but Don’t overemphasize reading and writing, but don’t avoid it eitherdon’t avoid it either– One can only go so far in learning Chinese unless one One can only go so far in learning Chinese unless one

can readcan read

If you provide pinyin, make sure you are accurateIf you provide pinyin, make sure you are accurate– Don’t make it up as you goDon’t make it up as you go

Make sure to write a thank-you note for gifts Make sure to write a thank-you note for gifts receivedreceived

DemonstrationDemonstration

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers