North
Park Elementary considers the benefits of the Chinese immersion program
By
Kayla A. Swenson
The
second Alisha Green’s first grade students walk into class they are immersed in
the language and culture of China.
This
year the North Park Elementary first and second grade students are enrolled in
a Chinese Dual Language Immersion Program. Last year the school started the DLI
with Green’s first grade class and now the school has Elva Li teaching second
grade immersion students. Teachers, parents and students are working to
continue development in the program.
“The
students are starting to understand that they are learning Chinese,” Green said.
“It’s almost magical because they come in and they don’t understand anything
and right now we are a functioning class in Chinese.”
Students
spend half of their school day learning math, science and social studies in
Chinese and the next half of the day in English. This process will continue
through high school.
“It’s
so much fun,” said Hannah Call, a first grader in the DLI. “I’ve talked to
Chinese people at the Jump Zone, Pizza Pie Café and in Salt Lake City.”
Language
competency comes from listening, mimicking and watching the teacher’s charades.
“I’m
not allowed to speak English in front of my students,” said Li, the second
grade Chinese immersion teacher.
Li
has taught English Immersion classes in China and this year started Chinese
Immersion at North Park Elementary.
“The
big difference is here the students are willing to speak when learning a
language but in China the students are shy,” Li said.
To
promote speaking in the classroom Green doesn’t correct mistakes for the first
two months. She wants students to feel successful and want to continue trying.
“My
focus is attitude,” Green said. “If they don’t love it from the beginning that
won’t change in third grade. You have to make them feel successful. That has
been my focus, that the students enjoy it, love it and it all starts in first
grade.”
Next
year the school will hire a third grade immersion teacher to continue the
program.
Christi
Zook, a DLI parent, said she thinks the program is a huge benefit and is hoping
her son can someday use Chinese in his professional life.
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