After school program at Disney Magnet School

Wei Liu

Purpose

To introduce children to Chinese language and culture through games (Chinese checker), Chinese paper cutting and dance so as to motivate children to pursue further language study.

What strategies do you use to promote language learning

Insert Chinese language into after school activities. For example, while playing Chinese checker, children learn to say “xiang qi” in Chinese; while doing paper cutting, children learn to say “jian zhi”; while learning Chinese dance, children learn to say “tiao wu” and so on.

Our purpose is to expose children to Chinese language during these activities and make it an interesting aspect of after school activities.

Outside partners and resources

After school teachers are the same Chinese teachers from our school during the school day. They know the students and their levels well.

Invite experts from Chicago Chinese community to teach children dancing and other culture activities.

Take children to Chinatown to visit local communities and learn about Chinese architecture

Chinatown Gate, 1975

Goals for gifted students who are learning Chinese

Enrich their understanding of Chinese culture by exposing them to physical activities and games from Chinese culture.