Mandarin

[Anonymous]

There is Chinese offered after school (and possibly during school?) at Aidan Montessori.

[Anonymous]

The Primary Day School offers the World Languages program covering Mandarin, Spanish and French in pre-K and K as part of its curriculum. It was introduced by the new head of the school this year and will be part of the 1st and 2nd grade classes starting the next school year.

[Anonymous]

Why do they cover so many languages at Primary Day? I would think that it would serve the students better study one language more deeply than to dabble in three. There may be a good reason, so please share if you know.

[Anonymous]

Here is the information on the program from the PDS website:

World Languages: Students are exposed to three modern languages – Chinese, French and Spanish – in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Each language is taught once a week. The emphasis of our program is on receptive language, or listening skills, so that children become confident and comfortable being immersed in the target language. Exposure to languages broadens world views and enhances the child’s sense of curiosity about the world. After this year the program will grow into First and Second Grades and additional curriculum will be developed that blends with existing classroom themes.

[Anonymous]

Mandarin is great fun for a couple of years (that is, a couple of years after a child has really started studying, not just dipping in toes the way so many early foreign language curric. do). But it gets very rote after that. One thing to think about is how many years of teaching these early-start schools can handle. Also, it is pretty hard to actually "get" the language without spending time in China/Taiwan, so think about whether you are interested in opportunities for DC to study overseas and what age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the information on the program from the PDS website:

World Languages: Students are exposed to three modern languages – Chinese, French and Spanish – in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Each language is taught once a week. The emphasis of our program is on receptive language, or listening skills, so that children become confident and comfortable being immersed in the target language. Exposure to languages broadens world views and enhances the child’s sense of curiosity about the world. After this year the program will grow into First and Second Grades and additional curriculum will be developed that blends with existing classroom themes.

Once a week is not being immersed. How is that little amount of time going to develop a "sense of curiosity" Honestly, this sounds like a lot of fluff to make the parents think their kids are actually learning a language. You have to be taking a language class every day, otherwise it really means nothing. As a PP said, especially with Chinese, if you don't plan to go there, your child will never really progress.

[Anonymous]

I also get the sense that the resume value of it, for older kids, is declining. One interesting tidbit: at Blair the highest SATII score is Mandarin, and they do not offer it. Why? Because so many of the kids there, of Chinese background, speak at home and go to weekend school (something that seems just fine to me, so not looking to start a row about that). There are a lot of advanced Mandarin speakers in this country already ... children of immigrants.

[Anonymous]

My DC is in private school and in the 5th year of Chinese. The class meets 4 times a week. DC will go into full immersion for four weeks at a sleepaway camp that specializes in languages. Next year, DC will take advantage of the numerous immersion trips to China.

While it is true that Chinese immigrants speak Chinese and a poster has suggested there are enough Chinese speakers here, there are many government and private companies that would welcome non-immigrant speakers of Chinese. Companies doing business with China in Africa strongly recruit African-Americans who speak Chinese. And some government agencies actively recruit non-immigrants who are fluent in foreign languages.

With that said, I think learning any foreign language is to one's advantage especially starting young. There are numerous early language programs in this area outside of school.

[Anonymous]

PP. Where is your child in school? We have our DD in a Spanish immersion program but she is really wanting to be in Mandarin. We are not in DC so Yu Ying is not sn option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also get the sense that the resume value of it, for older kids, is declining. One interesting tidbit: at Blair the highest SATII score is Mandarin, and they do not offer it. Why? Because so many of the kids there, of Chinese background, speak at home and go to weekend school (something that seems just fine to me, so not looking to start a row about that). There are a lot of advanced Mandarin speakers in this country already ... children of immigrants.

I was told by a senior staff member at Hope Chinese School (which meets on weekends and is open to anyone) when a native Chinese speaker takes the SAT II in Mandarin, the colleges do not view the score the same way as they would for a non-native speaker regardless whether they get an 800. Since they do SAT prep, I tend to lean towards their understanding of prep tests. However, anyone anywhere can take the SAT II Mandarin, so if Blair does not offer it, that's certainly their right.

If I went to school in China and got an SAT II English speaking/translation 800 score (or the equivalent of a similar test) , I'm not sure how much weight it would carry with a college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP. Where is your child in school? We have our DD in a Spanish immersion program but she is really wanting to be in Mandarin. We are not in DC so Yu Ying is not sn option.

Not the PP but I would look at programs like Sidwell Friends, Holton Arms, and GDS. They have excellent programs; however, Holton starts at 3rd grade but offers Chinese starting in 6th grade. They used to start in 5th but that has changed (I think). There are many summer programs that offer immersions. Sidwell has a Chinese sister school so many of their students take advantage. I agree with the poster about Hope Chinese School. You might want to check it out. They have excellent classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP. Where is your child in school? We have our DD in a Spanish immersion program but she is really wanting to be in Mandarin. We are not in DC so Yu Ying is not sn option.

Hope Chinese has weekend classes in Virginia and Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Op again. We are enrolling her in Chinese school right away. Thanks for the information.

[Anonymous]

The Hope Chinese program---are the advertised rates (like $70) per 1-hour class or session or month or..?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Hope Chinese program---are the advertised rates (like $70) per 1-hour class or session or month or..?

You pay for the semester, and it's very reasonable. Everything is detailed on the website.