Chinese Language Immersion Class
Its an August morning, and scores of parents and students are lining up at Smith Elementary School to sign up for summer camp.This camp, however, isnt in the woods. Its in Chinese.The program attracted many English-speaking American families, and some who come from other cultures.Yen Nguyen, Vietnamese ParentWhen learn language you learn about culture and makes you easier to assimilate. Since shes already learning the alphabet, Id like her to learn a different way of writing.Summer camp, indeed. Some of the wide-eyed young students felt they had been dropped off at boot camp. Smith Elementary School contracted with Chinese-fluent teachers from Brigham Young University to conduct a program called Startalk. For eight days the students are immersed in Chinese-only teaching for part of the day. The second half of each days camp mingles Chinese instruction and English.By mid-morning on the first day, some of the young students are enthusiastically responding in their new language.National language experts confirm that young childhood is the best time to learn languages.Recreation, too, is in Chinese. . . the students are taught Chinese music and dance.After only a week of half-day of Chinese immersion classes, the students show substantial comprehension and response in their new language.At the end of the camp, they are ready to demonstrate their new found culture to their parents, through story . . .. . . and music. And parents were amazed at their childrens progress and comprehension.For more information about regular immersions classes in Spanish, French, or Chinese, call Granite District schools at 385-646-4541, or visit us at www.granitschools.org and search for Immersion.
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