Dual Language Mandarin Immersion Program
威廉小學普通話沉浸課程
Chinese Immersion Program
According to world language statistics, there are more than one billion people worldwide who speak Chinese Mandarin (Putonghua), and over 70 million people who speak Cantonese, a Chinese dialect. In recent decades, China has become an economic power in the world. In order for our students to become competitive leaders in the international community, it is important that our students are well-informed in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
Research has shown that in order to learn a second language successfully, it is better to start learning a new language at a young age. Immersion language learning helps children learn a new language in the same way that we learn our native language. In a language immersion program, children are surrounded in a supportive learning environment in which they are encouraged to use the new language for everyday communication. Children also learn about grade-level subject matters in the new language through thematic and interactive instruction. The language immersion model has been one of the most effective models to help children learn a new language successfully as well as to meet grade-level subject matter standards.
The Chinese Immersion Program in William Land Elementary School focuses on teaching Mandarin (Putonghua) students in K-6. It uses an immersion method of instruction in which English speaking students and Chinese speaking students are placed together in the same class and learn all of their subjects side by side including Chinese, English, math, science, history, etc. This approach allows the students to learn from one another and to develop their language skills more quickly than they might in English as a Second Language or foreign language classes.
Our History & Our Future
In order to prepare our students to meet the challenge of international market, William Land Elementary School offers the first kindergarten Mandarin Immersion class in Fall 2011. Parents and educators in the William Land community are excited about this ground-breaking program. With the support of district and community leaders, additional upper grade classes are expected to be added each year until the program becomes a full kindergarten to sixth grade Chinese Immersion Program.
Our Curriculum
Chinese and English are key components of our academic program. Beginning in kindergarten and first grade, students are taught 80% Mandarin and 20% English. In second grade, students are taught 70% Mandarin and 30% English. In third grade, students are taught 60% Mandarin and 40% English. In fourth to sixth grade, students are taught 50% Mandarin and 50% English. Our students are expected to reach a high level of literacy in Mandarin and English by the end of sixth grade.
According to world language statistics, there are more than one billion people worldwide who speak Chinese Mandarin (Putonghua), and over 70 million people who speak Cantonese, a Chinese dialect. In recent decades, China has become an economic power in the world. In order for our students to become competitive leaders in the international community, it is important that our students are well-informed in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
Research has shown that in order to learn a second language successfully, it is better to start learning a new language at a young age. Immersion language learning helps children learn a new language in the same way that we learn our native language. In a language immersion program, children are surrounded in a supportive learning environment in which they are encouraged to use the new language for everyday communication. Children also learn about grade-level subject matters in the new language through thematic and interactive instruction. The language immersion model has been one of the most effective models to help children learn a new language successfully as well as to meet grade-level subject matter standards.
The Chinese Immersion Program in William Land Elementary School focuses on teaching Mandarin (Putonghua) students in K-6. It uses an immersion method of instruction in which English speaking students and Chinese speaking students are placed together in the same class and learn all of their subjects side by side including Chinese, English, math, science, history, etc. This approach allows the students to learn from one another and to develop their language skills more quickly than they might in English as a Second Language or foreign language classes.
Our History & Our Future
In order to prepare our students to meet the challenge of international market, William Land Elementary School offers the first kindergarten Mandarin Immersion class in Fall 2011. Parents and educators in the William Land community are excited about this ground-breaking program. With the support of district and community leaders, additional upper grade classes are expected to be added each year until the program becomes a full kindergarten to sixth grade Chinese Immersion Program.
Our Curriculum
Chinese and English are key components of our academic program. Beginning in kindergarten and first grade, students are taught 80% Mandarin and 20% English. In second grade, students are taught 70% Mandarin and 30% English. In third grade, students are taught 60% Mandarin and 40% English. In fourth to sixth grade, students are taught 50% Mandarin and 50% English. Our students are expected to reach a high level of literacy in Mandarin and English by the end of sixth grade.